Last week these Ariva ‘Arived’ here where the S400 resided.I’m pretty underwhelmed to be honest, since i never owned a Naim loudspeaker bloated like this. Midrange is not so good either. These are a new old stock from my Linn dealer. Distance from rear room about 18 cm
3 Likes
That’s a shame for you. Why did you change from S400s to a speaker you like less?
1 Like
Since even the S400 was not my favourite. Out of four systems this Is the one i use the least btw.I Exchanged these a 62/90 Olive with these
My recall is that Naim recommended something like 10cm to 50cm behind the Arivas, so I would certainly want to experiment with that. I also wonder if the right hand speaker is too close to the side wall but I do not know your room.
(I fondly remember Arivas at my dealer’s place with CD5i and Nait 5i etc.)
New old stock does that imply that they still need to run in?
1 Like
At around 20 years old I can’t imagine these speakers are in top condition. The condition of electronic components in the crossover, filling in the cabinets etc. may well be causing issues.
I’ve found that speakers that have been sitting idle can need to be warmed up. For example, my Shahinian Arcs (ex-demo, but in storage during Covid lockdown) took 10 days of regular used to go from poor to great sound despite being well used.
5 Likes
Hi Chris, distance from side walls is the same. However the ceiling Is sloping down on the left one
1 Like
I think so, but usually when something is right, It’ s sio from day one. I guess that the double woofer is overwhelming he rest
2 Likes
Did naim ever recommend arrivas lol?
1 Like
Many years ago I was told by someone at Naim (I won’t say who) that the Arrivas were made for all the people that didn’t like the existing Naim speakers. That probably says all you need to know about how they sound.
2 Likes
I heard Roberto’s Arivas on Sunday. I have had a pair years ago. I think his have the following issues:
- are too new
- the room is not good for them
- Roberto can’t stand untamed bass
- Roberto is strongly biased in favor of Naim at its more classic, so he won’t give the Arivas a second chance. His perfect right.
But I’ve had Arivas years ago and they could sound extremely correct timbre-wise, and their bass could be controlled easily. It’s just that Roberto doesn’t like them so he won’t experiment. It’s true that they’re designed for those who don’t love classic Naim speakers, they’re Ovators without the BMRs, and much better to me. Simpler, more genuine.
Naim did try to sell speakers to those who didn’t love Naim, but why? Sats, IBL, SBL alone justify a reputation as speaker builder. The herd of audiophiles who do not understand the virtue of designs like Roy George’s can turn elsewhere.
2 Likes
When I had my Dyns 20 odd years ago I discussed the Ariva with my then Naim dealer, who I respected greatly, and he said to me, and I can remember word for word, “we’ve tried these in every position possible, with all the amp configurations, and they just don’t work”.
Sorry!
I’m sure this will help Roberto fight the temptation to take them to the dumpster.
1 Like
Hopefully he’ll have the option to be able swap back.
@rsch I got them to sound really good with this system( BD Nac 32. snaps/ Nap 160,
but too much bass when cranked up, very much the opposite to how Naim speakers use to be.
4 Likes
It’ s the same here. My dealer advised me to start getting them close to the wall but i’m afraid that doping so would contravene the general rule that closer you get the more is the bass
I see,it´s a shame they could have been wonderful speakers, the top end is really good,I think.
I found they worked best in a big room and in particular as substitutes for the front left and right speakers in an n-System multi-channel set-up. They gelled surprisingly well with the n-Sats and n-Cent under such circumstances and lent the sound a bit more sense of scale that the n-Sub alone could not compensate for.
I also really enjoyed the first time I used them at a show. It was Montreal and the launch of the CD5i, Naim 5i and Ariva. They were a broad brushstroke kind of speaker and great fun on '60s and '70s rock, soul etc..
5 Likes
I had some too, but unfortunately I found them to be very bad.
I much prefer the nSat btw
2 Likes