A question which keeps me wondering, how many customers do buy such a system in one take? What I see here on the forum is that the most buy a piece a time, some two. But the whole set and speakers in one buy? From a Nova (HE) with speakers I can understand it.
Also, from a Dutch site I understand that the Naim Fraim is also part of the deal. And honestly, I like the looks. Perhaps a grey NDX, a black XPS/DR, grey 282, black Hicap/SNAP an grey 250dr will do the trick colorwise if you want the system in balance.
Possibly, but while they had design input into the deck, arm and cartridge, they are made by Clearaudio. The PS and phono stage are in house of course.
To repeat myself, I believe it makes sense to bear in mind that most Naim customers are probably not posting on the forum.
Nevertheless, if you read the forum you will find people doing just that. I did with my system, more or less, and there are others.
In any case, I doubt Naim is expecting high sales numbers from this. As others have also written, it’s a light-weight anniversary present, just something to celebrate a little and use a marketing opportunity. It’s not a launch event for a new product line
If you are interested, the « Marie Claire « magazine, a true intellectual reference in France, says on the « grey » colour:
«
In the Middle Ages, in the West, gray symbolized wisdom and knowledge, then over time, boredom, depression and sadness. Today, gray is akin to elegance, like black, and is endowed with soothing and calming virtues with a refined connotation. In Feng Shui, gray is associated with metal, a Yin color linked to relaxation, rest, contemplation, leisure. It is particularly recommended in bedrooms and libraries.«
This is in fact how I buy every system. In fact, apart from an NDX instead of NDX2, I bought nearly the same system in 2013 in one go. NDX/XPS/HC/282/250/PMC speakers. And then other than a couple minor tweaks never touch it gain for the life of the system. I’m not a box swapper so buying a total system is the way to go. It doesn’t really cost more or less either because I just save for a decade or more for the next “big bang” full system upgrade. Has the advantage that you can select and match everything right in one go and not then wonder about whether each step afterwards will break the synergy.
Ultimately there are two types of buyer. The box swapper and the system swapper.
As for massive negativity on the thread, I’ll just say, the style isn’t my thing, nor the speakers but no one is holding a gun to our heads. With regards to priorities of Naim, I think the global situation with supply and demand and production is making sure that we are see most companies (not just Naim) at their worst. These are not normal times and conclusions drawn in the current climate might be very flawed.
Shocking color …
It is not clear to me, who decides there, to produce and distribute, high-end equipment, in packaging, reminiscent of a box of transformers for construction inside the wall …
Imagine a world where not everyone has the same color preference. That’s shocking!
By the way:
A stereo system is not a car, but it doesn’t seem impossible that people like gray on average, or that Naim has customer feedback data indicating that gray is most often asked for.
As I and someone else already said above, it’s possible that Naim is gauging the mood for future color options by offering this limited series, similar to how the gauged the mood for turntables by offering the limited Solstice.
SOPRA is made in a variety of cheerful colours.
In my opinion, it would have been appropriate to market the electronics, in the same or similar colour package base on the slogan of “Rainbow in the Cloud”
And in Naim/Focal’s opinion it seemed best to go with gray at least for now. If you want to gauge the mood and have limited resources, you wouldn’t do it with a whole rainbow of colors or with a minority color preference.
Anyway, someone early in the thread was already clutching their pearls at the thought of an orange series.
I don’t and had already edited to Naim/Focal while you posted.
My point was mainly that someone decided for gray and probably had their reasons even though ditton66 does not like gray
