Sometimes I say something like “it’s a a Hifi forum I’m on” but that gets increasingly blank reactions -
Having first to explain what Hifi is and then having to explain what a forum is!
I’ve most success in describing it like a Facebook group for a particular car manufacturer.
That gets me thinking, if anyone considers this is an analogy worth pursuing, what car manufacturer might Naim be?
It’s probably not as high end as say Ferrari but it’s certainly not Ford.
I don’t usually bother naming (Naiming) the forum, also just saying its a hifi forum, but I don’t recall anyone not recognising what a forum is. Personally I don’t feel it is much like Facebook at all, so if I were to try to explain I’d probably say an online discussion group.
The Morgan car analogy seems appropriate, except that anyone who doesn’t recognise the term hifi may never have heard of Morgan! My own first thought was Lotus, but IIRC they started out as kit cars. Maybe Jaguar? Originally specialised, became more mainstream and costly, now after changes of ownership their position seems rather uncertain?
I would equate Naim as being the McLaren of the UK audio landscape. McLaren started out building racing cars and then expensive sports cars. Naim, if memory serves, started out building amps for the studio and then went on to produce expensive amps, etc. Both companies ended up being owned by others and have had ups and downs.
Individual founded
Unique engineering philosophy that endures
Highly recognisable design DNA
Swallowed up and run by a larger entity
Moderately expensive in the middle, but some entry level and supercar offerings
Passionate, bordering on fanatical, ownership base
Good analogy - started very quirky, became less so as the cars became more refined and better (for many), then after takeover became blander and more predictable though still desirable. But sadly it all ended. Let’s hope Naim’s is different.
