Curious to hear from people who had a Naim system and changed it for another hifi brand - and ended up coming back to Naim.
What did you move to and why?
Were you looking for a different sound? How so?
What made you come back to Naim? Any regrets?
Not me, I’ve heard other systems that are at least as enjoyable but a combination of couldn’t be bothered and would probably regret have always had me stay. Some that have left have been quite evangelical about it, and why not, but some have returned. Specifically I know a gentleman on another forum who traded his 252/300 for a Vitus integrated and whilst having not, so far, returned to Salisbury he says for the all virtues of the Vitus the “compulsive groove” that came with the Naim electronics is somewhat missing. Horses for courses!
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I had a Naim CDP and headline years ago. Not a whole system. I went on to a complete Rega system, which presented operational issues.with my vision. The system got trashed in a home renovation. My new system is Naim. Chosen b/c of ease of operation. As it turned out, the sound is superb. I will stick with Naim.
I chose the SN3 and the CD5si because they had buttons which were easy for me. My NDX2 is LCD, which normally would make it difficult but the Naim app makes it easy.
As is the case in NYC, home audition is not possible. I lucked out to end up with a system that sounds great in my LR. A great dealer whose staff knows my space and provides home setup really helped.
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Good expression!
I do wonder why more hifi brands don’t try to emulate the groove/boogie factor. It’s clearly a successful formula.
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I sold my cds2/xps/52/sc/phonosophie bistage/250/SBL in 2015.
Later I bought two seperate Nait1, 72/180 wich I have sold. Bought SL2 last year because a friend of mine sold them and I have always wanted them. They are on loan in another city 600km further north for some years. I have an active Phonosophie Bi Amp 1-4 for the SL2s.
I will not use Naim in my main system, I guess. I am collecting parts for a larger five way active horn system in the future.
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I sold a CDS3, 552, 500 with B&W 800 signature speakers around 2004. I moved to Border Patrol valve amps and Living Voice speakers for a while with an Esoteric CD player. The valve set up made the Naim sound very grey in the mid range and I loved it for a while. But that set up didn’t work brilliantly with every type of music, so I moved onto Ayre amps which were great but they became faulty and the UK distributor was useless and shipping back to the US was prohibitively expensive. So I returned to Naim, because it combined the ability to play all music to a reasonable standard and servicing in the UK is good. Since I returned to Naim I’ve gradually upgraded until I now have a 555 and 552 DR with active ATC 50 speakers.
I still sometimes hanker after that valve lucidity, but in the end Naim is easier to live with, and whilst there may be better hi fi out there, I’d rather spend time listening to music rather than chase around to find it.
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