I don’t think so. Having worked for several global companies in the APAC region, one massive challenge they all have selling big ticket items in the region is APAC is so spread out. You have huge wealthy countries with low populations, and lots of poorer countries with big populations all separated by thousands of miles of ocean. It’s just really hard to take care of the APAC market as a whole without a lot of boots on the ground. And that is a really long term commitment and needs a pretty solid forecast of stability and growth because short to mid term, furnishing the sort of structure needed to support such items in such a challenging region is going to run at a loss. Invariable, they have all resorted to trying partner/distributor arrangements but that is of only moderate success.
I am sure Naim face the same problems as all the companies I’ve worked for over the past 25 years.
Naim are almost just an on-line order product in NZ now. There is no promotion and no servicing.
I expect that the reality is that the market here and in Australia (likely Asia and the US too) is too small to attract attention from what is fundamentally a brand now owned by equity investors whose sole interest is return on investment - which means high turn-over.
Whatever manufacturer we choose and if something stuffs up we will have issues on servicing and repairs
I’m a Naim and Linn fanboy of some 40 years so I’ll live whatever comes my way, I have a bit of faith that Naim hopefully will come good and besides my wonderful Naim and Linn dealer of 35 years plus is only 2kms away here in Sydney, he has recommitted as a dealer for both of the brands and I’ll support him into the future
Anyway whatever happens strap yourselves in , it’s going to be a rocky road globally in all facets over the coming years, don’t give up your day job
Bevo – I’m sure you take care of many things yourself, but who looks after your LP12’s – Harry?
I’ve long fancied getting a LP12 (have no turntable of any kind currently) – probably nothing too exotic, something perhaps just above Majik level or thereabouts (though I would like a ARO, perhaps out of nostalgia!) but I really don’t know how viable this would be in WA…I don’t feel the need for a dealer to hold my hand and take care of everything, but I just don’t know how viable a LP12 ownership would be without any form of local expert support…and I don’t know how well they travel either!? (I have read Peter Swain’s transport guide, but that’s like for the back of a car…!)…Ironically, I used to live about 25miles from Peter/Cymbiosis and did get my 282 from him years back…But flying him out here on a jolly to fettle a LP12 seems somewhat excessive…!
Yep Harry looks after my LP12’s , he’s an absolute fanatical expert
Harry and Peter Swain know each other quite well, I have met Peter a number of years ago at Harry’s shop and Peter gave us a demo on all things Sondeks and how to improve
But yes I guess there must be a dealer in Perth that knows LP12’s quite well, you could email the Australian distributor Advance Audio so they will advise I guess
My LP12ARO started its life as Harry’s demo Majik ( good place to start) and has taken some 6/7 years to build it up to full blown ARO
Thanks mate.
Yeah, good idea – I’ll email Advance at some point and see if they can point me in the direction of someone local, even if it’s just for initial setup/support etc…
There must be a dozen or so people on here (or old friends who have had LP12s) who have mentioned Harry! Sadly, when I am in Australia, I am an hour south of Hobart, so getting a turntable to him even occasionally would be quite an exercise. How does he cope with getting Naim stuff re-capped? Can he even get new boxes to sell in a timely way?
I am trying too go Cold Turkey here - no turntable in Tassie and no vinyl buying. I have a spare LP12 that is in theory just waiting to be shipped, but a good look at the wonderful Cymbiosis guide convinced me not to do that.
If I do weaken about having a turntable here, it’ll be a Rega or a Technics.
Most of my gear is pretty new now, I recently traded out of my amp set up for the 332/300/352’s and the NC stuff is amazing…it’s really just my sc2/superline that need a service and I’ll be right for a while. Trades on my old 252/scdr/300 were woeful and it was only some A2A super discounts and extra off from my dealer that made me pull the pin. The second hand kit in Oz is pretty well worthless on trade
If you are already over 50, and live to 100, the Technics will outlive you without needing a service I suspect.
I’ve definitely planned my systems around servicing ease and cost. One main Naim system that I’m commited to. But other systems in other rooms local brands I can get done here. If I was in ANZ, I’d probably go out of my way to see what local brands I can live with for all secondary systems. I know there isn’t a lot to choose from but there isn’t nothing to choose from. And they won’t have the “Australia Tax” on them so you can get a lot more bang for buck so to speak.
Must admit, that’s kind of my backup plan/thinking – certainly more user friendly re setup…P8/10 seem well regarded, though I’m still not sold on the ‘foam’ sandwich looks…Technics 1300G looks good, but a completely different thing really…I don’t really know enough on turnatables as to the pros/cons and merits compared to the LP12…
Re turntables I almost bought an lp12 a decade or so ago but opted for a VPI Scoutmaster…a great table in itself but massively upgradable so the only original part is the plinth…every upgrade you can pretty much bolt on yourself…flywheel drives, longer printed arms, platters, speed controllers…it sounds phenomenal and is an end game unit….a piece of cake to service and change carts on too. Sadly my cdx2 died about 3 months ago and given Naim only do entry level I opted for a Hegel Viking…mind boggling good for the price…plays rebook cds only…a marvellous machine
And now the same is happening to Linn in NZ and ? Australia. Again Chris Murphy and his team are providing and exemplary service and despite this, Linn has fired them. Another slow motion hifi disaster for Australasia. Surely Linn should have been aware of the naim fiasco? Deja vu all over again.
It might be worth contacting Linn and Naim directly in the UK to ask them what the plan is. They may just tell you that your business is worthless and you don’t deserve their kit, but it seems unlikely. Perhaps there is some masterplan.
If there isn’t, we should publicise their attitude more widely so that people don’t inadvertently buy new stuff from either.
Milletta, at a guess it would appear that the distributor has your kit but is awaiting arrival of the service parts from Naim? These would usually be added to any palletised shipment coming from the factory to the distributor. In your position, I would first try getting answers from the distributor. Failing that, you could write to Naim themselves as there may be some issue that is not being accurately communicated along the chain.
If the agents and distributors are all doing their jobs, this should all work smoothly (if not quickly) without Naim having to intervene, shouldn’t it?
