Naim & Focal 10th Anniversary Edition

Yes! A matter of opinion. The brand is looking tired and needs innovation. Enjoy your system : what it is is obviously what you want it to be.

If it’s a matter of opinion, then maybe it doesn’t “just suck”

I would hate it if Naim became a different brand among others that already exist

Yes. Apart from lack of current upgradeability, what happens if Naim ever updates the 282 or 250DR? What happens if the buyer wants to add a phono stage? And if the buyer can put up with non matching boxes in order to upgrade, surely the trade in grey box will have to be discounted?

It may be a short term cashflow fix for dealers (if Naim prioritise delivering these over black boxes), but the dealer won’t get loyal customers coming back for upgrades. It’s also against the ethos of good dealers who traditionally demonstrate a number of options, advise on alternative combinations and sell the best system for the customers’ needs. Maybe they’ll just sell these through Harrods and the new lifestyle Focal/Naim store channels?

It may sell, I can’t tell, but if people want a non-upgradeable lifestyle system, surely they’ll go with a one or two box product (plus speakers), not a five box product (plus speakers)?

But hey, I’m sure they’ve done their research, they’ve done their sums, and they’ve considered their significant long term customer base and decided its all for the best. Well - maybe not the last one but then, to quote the late, great Robert Paulson “two out of three ain’t bad”.

Reflecting on this I suspect that Naim would ideally have liked to celebrate this event with a new range of products, 272/372 and perhaps 250-3 possibly in Uniti/Statement livery, but the current climate precludes against whereas repainting the NDX/282/250 was a relatively simple step.

Regards,

Lindsay

9 Likes

This looks like it belongs on the Death Star.

1 Like

This is where. :+1:t2:

3 Likes

Where does this say that the gray ones will be prioritized?

Didn’t say it did but the grey ones are being or been built and people waiting can’t get theirs.

1 Like

Of course you did say that

Wouldn’t be advertising if they didn’t intend to supply.
So why push product that require DR and there are no DR units to service existing customers equipment.
Wow.
I’m sure that Polarbear will be thrilled to read this and anyone else waiting.

2 Likes

They announced the Solstice and there was a waiting list of many months. It may be the same here. Or it may not, which is why I asked where you had the information from that these will be prioritized. But clearly you don’t have any and made it up

1 Like

I think the colour scheme is kind of sharp
 but
 I’d never buy it for the reasons stated (inability to upgrade in future due to colour mismatch).

Strikes me as a branding vanity project that makes everyone internally feel good, but won’t move the needle from a business perspective. I also suspect these pieces will be much more difficult for resale or future exchange with dealers due to the colour mismatch problem.

They will, @LindsayM they will 


The ones I’ve seen in photographs are obviously built.
I simply pointed out the poignancy of advertising a new product that requires the very DR units that are not currently available for long term customers that have been left waiting.
I don’t get any other point other than you like to argue.

3 Likes

You saw five boxes from outside, I think. They may have stuff on the inside, or not. And there may be one example in existence, or they may have built one hundred.

Let’s not get snippy with each other. It seems to me that the issue, if we take the NDX2 as an example, is that it’s hard to get bits for it, so deliveries are taking a long time. Naim now introduce the Tin version. It needs the same bits. Demand increases. Delays increase. People get grumpy. Naim create hassle for themselves. It just seems so obvious that now is not a good time to do this.

8 Likes

What’s obvious to me is that whatever Naim do there are a bunch of people whining and seeing Armageddon coming based on zero information.

And God forbid that a commercial entity does anything that increases demand. Unheard of.

It’s just the normal units with the boxes painted differently. They may get scheduled just like normal deliveries. Or not. We don’t know

6 Likes

I’m sure if one wanted an XPS DR in Tin livery then Naim would oblige as a customised option. Hardly rocket 


4 Likes

Why are some people so binary here?

If you’re not with us you’re against us
 I don’t get it.

I don’t particularly like the colours either, but pi**ing on Naim/Focal’s attempts to attract other customers is just silly. Also, don’t you think they’re looking at their supply chain and potential sales projections (which to be fair is a limited market, so probably not too much of an effect on overall sales for this set) and are accounting for it?

We’re all so smart when we’re on the outside.

My 2c.

6 Likes

According to the press release the system is available now, so unless extra supplies of the components in short supply have been obtained, which seems highly unlikely, building these will delay the production of the standard models and thereby increase the wait time for customers. Whether upsetting customers is a good strategy or not is for each of us to decide.

2 Likes