Naim Nova + PMC Twenty5 24.i or

[Oldfellow]

Hi,

Recently I traded in my Naim Uniti Star for a Naim Uniti Nova, while keeping my Focal Aria 926 speakers. I immediately heard differences. Of course, the system probably still needs some time to fully settle in and loosen up, but it has also made me wonder whether my current speakers are not really the ideal match — and whether their placement needs more work.

At the moment, vocals, especially female voices, seem slightly recessed, while the bass sounds somewhat confused and not very well defined. After moving the Arias further away from the rear wall, the situation improved, so I clearly need to keep experimenting. Looking at the attached photos, which show the current setup, I suspect I may need to bring them forward a few more centimetres. It is also quite possible that the small table in front of the TV is causing some disturbance to the sound.

This, however, creates more difficulty for walking through the room (and my wife is not very happy about that…).

Considering the room where I listen and the furniture constraints, I’ve started thinking about the possibility of selling the Arias and buying speakers that might suit both the room and the Nova better.

The room is about 35 sqm. I would like to keep the speakers positioned roughly as the Focals are in the photo, with a listening distance of around 3 metres from the TV.

My current shortlist is:

• PMC twenty5.24i

• Neat Momentum SX5i

• DALI (not sure which model yet)

Each of these, in theory, should allow me to place them closer to the rear wall while also making access and passage through the room easier.

The standmount speakers shown in the photos are Opera 1.5, which I will probably be putting up for sale soon.

Could anyone offer some advice or share experiences, especially regarding close-to-wall placement and strong synergy with the Nova?

Thank you

[Dugby]

Have you tried the speakers with no or very little toe-in ?

I used to have the speakers set up like your photos and was surprised how they improved many aspects of the sound stage and presentation with the almost no toe-in.

[mfin99]

Let the Nova settle in for a couple of weeks (ideally a month), and then reevaluate the sound. Keep experimenting with speaker placement to get the best from what you have. When trying new speakers, the old advice is the best - do it in your home with your Nova.

My experience has been with Naim and PMC, which has produced great results.

[feeling_zen]

Having both PMC and DALI speakers, I am satisfied with both.

The DALI are a bit warmer with a smooth top end a very big soundstage if looking at the ranges with ribbon tweeters like the Opticon and up. The PMC are a bit more neutral and aggressive.

In terms of driving, the PMC like a bit of volume and power but are fairly easy to drive. The DALI sound better than the PMC for lower levels but they need a beefy amp when cranked and present a 4Ohm load.

I think floor standing Opticons would be the right match with a Nova. Amazing VFM. The Twenty5.24, in my view benefit from a bit more of everything than a Nova gives. If you rarely listen at very low levels and plan to upgrade to full separates in the future, the Twenty5.24 make a lot of sense. Otherwise, the DALI make a lot of sense.

[dico1]

As mfin99 already mentioned, take some more time and let the Nova settle in. Maybe You could consider Zingali Sei or Otto speakers as an alternative. Fits into Your budget, superb Italian manufacturing and quality, easy to place and high WAF.

[Hifi_Naim_CNNL]

I tried the Twenty5.24i with a Supernait 3 plus Hicap DR and I would say it was OK but the 24’s certainly benefit from more power. The Nova will sound good but won’t be able to control the bass very well as the amplifier section is of a lesser quality than the amplification of the SN3. I would say a NAP 250 (DR or NC) would drive these speakers a lot better.

[HungryHalibut]

Another alternative, if considering the 24i, is to have then active and swap the Nova for an Atom HE. I found the 21i to be a lot better active with an HE than passive with a Nova. It’s smaller and cheaper too.

[Oldfellow]

Hi everyone,

thank you all for your helpful suggestions and for taking the time to share your experience—much appreciated.

Following your advice, I’ve already tried adjusting the speaker placement. I moved the Focal speakers further away from the rear wall and slightly closer to the listening position. I’m also now keeping them parallel, whereas before they were toed-in and more focused directly on the listening spot.

As expected, the bass has improved—tighter and better controlled—and the soundstage depth is also better. Female vocals, however, still seem a bit “recessed” or slightly hidden. I’ll give it some time and see whether the overall presentation continues to evolve with further listening.

For the moment, I’ll keep them in this new position and spend some time listening to see how things settle. Interestingly, my wife hasn’t made any complaints so far, so they can stay as they are for now—the WAF hasn’t kicked in yet… though I wouldn’t rule it out in the future.

That said, there’s always a bit of an itch to try something new. Even if the Focals are performing well, the idea of improving things further is always there—perhaps trying something like the PMC twenty5.24i with a slightly more powerful amplifier at some point.

Thanks again to all of you for the valuable input.