I first got hooked into Naim as a teenager maybe 35 yrs ago, seeing and hearing my uncle’s Naim system, which caught my imagination as something a bit cool and edgy, and sounding like it was alive. Even as a young teenager, I remember thinking this sounds special. Years later, as I had the opportunity to start investing in a decent audio system, I turned to Naim and loved the company’s slightly awkward, user unfriendly but single minded drive to create hifi for people who are more obsessed with music than material style. The local dealer I bought my first pieces from said ‘Linn is for the millionaire who wants a lifestyle piece to complete their living room. Naim is for the lunatic enthusiast who is renting a bedsit with a Naim system worth more than the property they’re renting.’ I started with a 102/180, powering some B&W 704s, replacing a McLaren pre power which ostensibly was twice as powerful as the Naim in watts - not in volume and grip! Awesome. Over the years I swapped the 102 for the 282, then a 250.2 which then had DR’ed by Naim. ND5 cd player literally emitted a puff of smoke one day and was dead (dealer confirmed). Nd5xs which then morphed into Innuos Zen mk3 with a Chord Qutest. Hicap got swapped out for a DR HiCap. Speakers swapped for Dynaudio S40s (good for money but had a slightly hyped feel and a synthetic midrange). Then heard Dynaudio Contour 20i and thought (and still think) they’re amazing - so natural and effortless.
But.
I’ve reached a point where I can’t quite see a way forward with Naim. The number of boxes already seems insane (explain to any normal human why you need a separate box to power just the front panel controls on another of many boxes…). To upgrade to 300dr or 252 just means even more boxes and starting to get cable dressing angst. The new range is priced at a level which seems to give few options for those who approach this as a fun semi-affordable hobby.
Naim are an amazing company and every interaction I’ve had with them has shown how authentically passionate their people are in developing products for people who love music. Their support teams are so knowledgeable and helpful. Their approach of fixing any product they’ve ever made is itself worth the price of entry. I am however going to take a step away from the Naim world, and try a different integrated amp (Luxman 509x). One box v 4 with the Naim.
Maybe I’ll be running back to Naim in a few months. I’m posting this as i know Naim staff read this blog. Hopefully this is helpful in understanding your customers’ thinking. If Naim developed an integrated of the same standard as the 282/250 I suspect I’d be back soon enough!
Naim are well aware of people’s desire for simpler systems with fewer boxes. Thus the Uniti products, and then the New Classics, which offer complete streaming systems in 1, 2, 3 or more boxes. New Classics ditched the NAPSC, and include Naim’s first ever separate preamp in a single box.
@ChrisSU But the 333 and 333 sound better with NPX300 power supplies. I used my 332 and 333 without power supplies initially and they were fine but better when I added them. I would not regard the 332 and 333 as the foundation for a reduced box count system, particularly if you also play records, since you will need a phono stage. My box count grew!
Sure, nobody said you couldn’t upgrade them, like pretty much any HiFi system on Earth. I’m just making the point that Naim systems come in fewer boxes than they used to, not because that makes them sound better (you can’t change the laws of physics) but because their customers were demanding simplicity.
A timely post as I’ve just swapped my 6 box count down to one. My new Nova arrives next Wednesday at the same time I say goodbye to 252/SC, NDX2/XPS, 250, Fraim and DAC-V1 (headphone amp).
I just wanted to simplify my life, time to exit the rabbit hole.
Sometimes I read this forum and wonder why people need, or want to listen to music ALL the time. Second systems do not make sense to me either, you can only listen to one at a time.
I like peace and quiet sometimes too, maybe that is why a lot of folks are downsizing. You look at the investment, and almost feel guilty if you have not put in your time per week analyzing what can be improved.
I doubt it very much, I’m happy with the decision on lots of levels. Feel there’s a few here that stopped listening to music years ago and now spend a lot of time/money chasing their tail.
