Unclear why Naim speakers have to be pre-owned. I bought a new pair of S400s when they were at eol. Dealer prices very attractive!
Since bought more than another pair. So unloved, many that are available are mint - including boxes. One pair currently wip for updated crossovers!
My original S600s always caused concern, in case, without spares available, anything went wrong.
Chanced upon a Naim dealer, with an absolutely mint pair of S600s - which must have been unloved (dealer view knowing some more) and they are a lovelly upgrade to my original pair (kept for spares). Required some running in - ten years old but yes, a running in period has been required!
So yep, have changed speakers and with my extra S600s I stayed with Naim; what was not to like - absolutely fantastic speakers - some made the party, Ovators or previous series - certainly quite a few missed out, it seems!
I was lucky to get pair of Revival Audio Atalante 5 speakers for a home demo. It’s a new pair and familiar dealer was asking if I want to burn-in them.
Yesterday I wasn’t sure whether these work well and if these are something I like. But after system warm up these sounds amazing. If you are able to test these, I highly recommend it!
Now I’m bit sad not to have enough funds for these beauties. Maybe in future.
Years ago, when Naim still made speakers, I tried SBL2’s at home but I couldn’t get on with them, not enough low end for me. Didn’t like the IBL’s at the dealers, couldn’t afford the DBL’s let alone fit them in my listening room. Home demo’d Dynaudio floor standers and loved them.
I went with a small US manufacturer as I lucked into an inaugural pair; the Voice of the Home Havana loudspeaker. I’ve shared images in a few other threads. My Supernait 3 sounds like it’s got 1000w under the hood with these. But I’m in a larger living room in an open floorplan home for now. Suits my use case perfectly.
I don’t know if I am doing this correctly or even if this is on topic, however, my reconditioned Gale 401A chrome ended speakers from 1975 sound fantastic and have a great sound stage with my Uniti Star!
You probably are interested in new speakers that can be purchased today, but these sound great with the newer Naim units. My first Naim 250 was also purchased in 1975 with an NAC12 and wooden ended Gales, Chrome wasn’t quite partner friendly at that time! Got a new partner years later and now have the Chrome ended Gales as my main system!
I listened to the EA3s today. I compared them to the Olympica Nova 1s which is the closest to what I have at home. The electronics were an NSC 222 and NAP 250.
The Electa Amator 3s are the most fabulous speakers I have ever heard. The sound stage is huge, the bottom end low and controlled (amazing for such a small speaker), the top end sublime.
The experience (it really is) is like being in the room with the artist/s. They are magnificent. The Olympica Nova 1 is no slouch but was nowhere near as involving and emotional.
I listened to the following tracks which I know very well and which I brought with me on a USB stick:
‘Thanks to you’ by Bob Scaggs which is fantastically well recorded and proves how good 44.1 can be. For general impression
‘Walk on by’ Dianna Krall 192 for vocals and strings
‘So low’ Custom Blue. 44.1 test for bottom end
It’s only love’ Simply Red 44.1 which is a great test for PrAT
‘Under the bridge’ Red Hot Chilli Peppers 192, I wanted to hear how realistic his guitar sounded. (very real, like he was sitting on the amp in the room, really amazing)
I would buy them today if I had the cash, which looks even further off today, but that’s another subject. Worth saving for.
P.S. I used to work in recording studios, there are two ways of looking at that: my ears are trained or shot by working with too much high volume!
Sounds great and seems you enjoyed what they did. Very interesting
I have 30 demo tracks already pencilled/prepared to put any hardware through it!
For clarity and detail, how would you describe how they performed?
If you would have ‘closed your eyes’, would you have been surprised once opened and seeing the size of the speakers?
Wonderfully clear and detailed without being harsh. I could hear the strings on some chord changes on the guitar which I have never heard before on these particular songs
The speakers disappear so one does not have an impression of size. The soundstage is enormous!