I had 2 dedicated demos at my Hi-Fi dealer of R7 Meta last year. Last time right before christmas with my gf.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFpvLC3inYv/
So I was lucky and they gave me a few hours instead of the usual 30-40 min for a booking. This store is nice, they borrowed the speaker from their supplier for me and my gf to listen to, free of charge. She is a chemist in Odessa in Ukraine, so she visit me in Sweden just twice a year. We tried to co-ordinate this booking for 3 years now haha, finally we got it done. But this was a great time for her to experience these speakers. I wanted her permission and opinion. I got the permission for R7 Meta but not for Reference 3 that I also considered, but I was alredy doubting about myself. I am fine by that… and happy she likes them. But it was almost like she did not like to confess it haha.
However, I will use them it for my Spectral Brick BR1501 and a OLED TV in my bedroom. I will get the Supra Sword Excalibur speaker cables in april, so I am already preparing for the speakers with other gear. So, I already got a big part of the amount for the cables at least. I am saving up the cash myself, no loans. And I have lots of time, I do not need to hurry. It can take a couple of more years to finish this project, it is alright. Better planing and make serious research, I want to have the perfect match for me. I try to listen myself, but research and other views makes difference as well.
So far, I tried them out with 4 amplifiers:
- Technics Su-G700M2
- Naim Atom
- Naim Supernait 3
- Accuphase 280
The Technics did not sound so good. It was the most good looking amp, those VU-meters are so sexy. My impression was like if it was more of a lifestyle product. I did not sound bad, just not keeping up with those others. I sound flat and neutral, more like a cheaper amp but simply more fancy. I did actually listen to it with the Naim Atom several months before the Naim Supernait 3 and accuphase. So, I went there once on my own, before.
The Accuphase was too warm to fit the KEF, at least to my taste and did not have the energic sound I felt the R7 Meta needed. No matter playing Oceanlab “Clear Blue Water (Ferry Corsten REMIX)”, Modern Talking “You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul” or Type O Negative “White Slavery”, I felt the Accuphase was too laidback. It felt like the songs sound did sound enough energic and also too warm to fit these speakers, for my taste. I can like a warm sound i.e vinyls, but for some reason I did not like it. I thought, maybe I am not a fan of tube amps either, but I have not listen to that many to be sure about it. I do not know if Accuphase got tubes either, or if it just some tubes I do not like. However, I did not think it fit.
The Supernait 3 had the best sound, I do not recall how much better it sounds than Atom. But the Supernait 3 felt on par with Accuphase, just a different sound signature, while Technics sound just overall cheaper, less 3d and more flat and boring, still neutral than both Naim amps. I do not say it is a bad amp, just not on par IMHO. The Accuphase is also potentially above my comfort zone in price. But it really depends, I could consider the used market as well.
I want to consider other amps in the future to see if something can be even better or if can listen to anything else. I really wanted to listen to those;
- Onkyo TX-RZ70 (for that price I could consider the center speaker and possibly a subwoofer, it has direc live - and purpose of the system will be both movies and music in bedroom, movies really important but music is at least as important) (what makes me doubt is that I do not like it getting too much speakers, I want to keep it clean, uncertain if the sound will be better considering the price of the amp, but at the same time I prefer the Onkyo TX-sound over all other big AVR brands) (pity thing, I had serious problems to find a dealer or somewhere to listen to the setup together , maybe I could try after buying the speakers first.)
- Gryphon Diablo 120, I could consider one that has been used as long as the condition is great despite it would stretch budget a little (independent users says it as an excellent amp for Reference 3)
- Ferrum Wanda DAC, EISA awards winner (maybe even considering the Goldensound Edition) together with some proper power amp maybe?
What do you think would be most value and best fit for me personally, based on what I describe in my personal experiences? Do you have any personal experiences of any of those or do you think the NAIM cannot be beaten here?