Same for me seakayker. In that the classic integrated system is all the system i will ever need or want. Yes there is one more box to be had for the grand finale, but that can wait for as long as it takes. I was fortunate enough to come into a nice payout this year and buy my new system out right. Not something that can happen very often. Now it’s back to and all about the music & nothing more! 
3 Likes
LOL! yes @JimDog I am looking out for a, nice/local/used example at the moment.
But I would be quite happy, keen even to consider options which work well from outside the Naim stable.
Don’t we all?
I just dared to buy a switch and a full loom of Ethernet cables from beyond the Naim stable.
1 Like
@opus I hear you but think the main reason there is the fall in GBP/USD from 1.60+ to 1.25 rather than naim repricing stuff. FX rates are kind of out of their control. 
1 Like
it’s because of distributor mark up. In the US we get another level of mark up. In the UK I believe Naim sells direct to the dealer, who then adds their mark up. In the US Naim sell to Focal/Naim the Distributor who take a cut and mark it up, then it goes to the dealer who marks it up. In the US we have an extra middle man.
1 Like
I noticed yesterday when checking out sound second prices that new Naim prices have gone up yet again in New Zealand. Now over $10K for a Nova or 250. The NDX2 is about $3K more than what I paid just over a year ago, and our exchange rate against the pound has been solid. It’s just fleecing it I feel, and I’m just not prepared to carry on playing that game.
It’s like this everywhere. If you buy hifi outside of the region of origin, you get scalped.
- Shipping
- Distributor markup
- Customs duty
- Forex buffer pricing
No one can do anything about this on such small economies of scale. It’s also why trade publications tend to favor domestic brands. It’s not nationalism. It’s the skewing of the product price ranges. In an amp shootout of GBP1000 amps, the British amps are really at the GBP800 level (we subtract VAT) and the Japanese amps (for example) are at GBP400 level but arrive at the dealer with an ex vat tag of GBP800.
Products that consistently do well out of their region of origin have to be really special.
4 Likes
It is, and works the other way around. The Mcintosh MA352 (I am waiting to demo!) costs $6500 in the US and £8495 in the UK…
Had a listen to exposure 5010 pre/powers today at sound cinergy very very musical, also listened to 282 250dr & hi cap dr . to my ears the exposure’s sounded better, so I am going to try them at home.
3 Likes
Some excellent reviews around on these top of the range Exposure amps lots and lots of power too 200 watts into 8 ohms will get hold of any speaker.
1 Like
Yes a lot of power but just so real compared to the naim set up, listening to lucinda williams live album she was more human, less hi more fi.
1 Like
VAT at 20% might explain some, if not all of it. Also shipping costs, distributor margins and any relevant EU import duties if applicable.
Does the US price exclude some or all of the taxes payable? You may need to add federal and state taxes on top of that $6500.
I tried the 3010s2 last year at Fanthorpes in Hull. It was driving the then £3k PMC floodstanders. It was definitely a step up from the £1,000 amps (including the Exposure 2010s2) that I demoed at the same time. I was very close to ordering, but decided almost £2,000 with phonostage was a lot of money, though, in HiFi terms, it is a good value proposition compared with some other options.
Regarding spend on HiFi, like anything else, prudence is best in the long run and ‘addiction’ can have very severe consequences financially, mentally and also on those around us. I have various non - naim rigs around the house and, with care given to placement/set-up, I get great pleasure from them. Ironically, the main system, which contains the most expensive equipment, only really satisfied once I went down the room treatment road. Fortunately I didn’t need much (taming bass as much as anything else) so it didn’t cost a lot and my lounge does not look like a recording studio! The net effect is that I am finally hearing what my circa £1,000 components are capable of and I am more than happy with the results. I have no doubt that more expensive components can sound better and I really enjoy seeing the other system that people have on here, but being content with what one has is important too!
2 Likes
Exposure is one of the brands that has eluded me throughout the years, just like the ATC SCM19. I contacted my dealer to enquire about the 3010S2D integrated several years ago but settled with something else instead in the end. Perhaps it’s fated that I won’t own an Exposure.
I settled with Luxman L-590AXII instead which is very very good to my ears. Built like a tank as well. I still retain the 282/HCDR/250DR as the sound is still unique and one of a kind which fits the Harbeth very well.
Hi alexP, wise words, since my problems with my super 20s I have tried lots of cheaper fixes and have tried different speakers , various integrated amps and pre/powers and the exposure amps have a lovely way with my super 20s so I am giving the 5010’s a prolonged home try out (2 weeks) based on yesterdays dealer demo. I do feel that the super 20s need a better amplifier set up than my old 32.5/160 but nothing is set in stone and unless they blow me away I will continue trying other avenues.
exposure 5010 pre/power with lehmann decade phono stage set up and sounding very good.
1 Like
I initially replaced my NDX 2/SN3 with the 3010 Exposure series pre and mono blocks and also thought they were better and way less money. Loads of power driving a pair of Harbeth P3 and a pair of Neat Minsitra speakers. I really did not need all that power so ended up with the 3010S2D integrated amp. It can easily handle my speakers and I think it is great value and sounding integrated amp.
2 Likes
Have friends who own that same Luxman and familiar with it. It is insanely well built, very musical, detailed and loads of reserve. Nice choice.
2 Likes
Hi ants, all this power has made my super 20s a lot claimer and much better bass control so the sound is a lot more controlled. the phono stage is a revelation, still early days though.
1 Like