Hi Martin
Glad you are enjoying the VMV and are getting the most out of it. Those speakers are very frontally placed and towed in! I’ve never thought of doing that. Better imaging sound stage? I’ll give it a go…
Michael
Hi Michael!
Welcome to the forum.
I think it is a great little performer which gives a good taste of solid state Class A at a remarkably low price.
Just chatting to a friend who uses Avalon PM1 with, amongst other amps, an Audio Note Tonmeister; which outputs 8W. I am going to take the VMV to him for a play. I am NOT expecting it to threaten the AN in any way, but it should be fun.
I tried the speaker positioning after a suggestion from a friend. The idea is to try and cross the speaker just in front of your listening position. Let me know what you think.
I do like the Harbeth P3-ESR you own, and they very work well with Naim amps!
I bought the Grahams as I needed speakers that work well with valves and solid state.
M
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Interesting books.
My LS3/5As sound simply awful in a bookshelf. On stands they are amazing!
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That’s not true in my experience. LS3/5 and 3/5a models may sound a bit better on the appropriate stands, but they sound amazing in a bookshelf too. They exhibit all the characteristics I’d expect them to. And yes, I’ve had them on stands in this room as well. I don’t feel I’m giving much up for a more visually integrated system.
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Indeed they are
Hi,
Just by curiosity, did you finally sell you SN3….keeping only the nait 50 ?
Asking because your profile still mentionning Sn3 
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SN3 is out and the N50 is staying.
Thanks for the nod, I’ll update my profile. 
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Very nice in “all black”
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Had some fun this morning.
Yesterday I spent a few hours listening to a Vitus vs Luxman. The Vitus demonstrated those Class A sound qualities, in particular; which got me thinking of VMV A1, as mentioned above.
For other reasons I decided I needed a powered pre-amp, as I just have a couple of passives at the moment.
The friend I was visiting has loaned me a Nuforce p9; and I have bought an older EAR834L off the bay, basic black box.
This morning I started with the Nuforce replacing the Creek passive I have been using for the last few months, which was itself better than the pre-amp stages in either the Chord Hugo TT or Synthesis Roma DAC.
All into the Chartwell LS3/5a (Grahams).
The Nuforce retained all the clarity and detail of the Creek, while adding some upper mid weight and texture. I thought it could get a bit shouty on occasion, with certain music.
I then slotted in the 834L. It was a bit like coming home! This is a combo I have listened to over the years, a LOT; with the 864 and 868.
I suspect there is a very slight V to the sound Tim engineered, but it fits the LS3/5a like a glove.
I will slot in the VMV A1 at some point - but, I am just enjoying this too much to stop listening to the music!
After a very nice day with my sister-in-law, and an excellent lunch, I have come home and I am now listening to:
Qobuz > dCS Network Bridge > Synthesis Roma DAC > EAR834L > SMSL VMV A1 > Chartwell LS3/5a.
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed the BT250 in the system, so much so that I listened to it for five hours yesterday. This is at least as good.
With the passive pre-amp the VMV delivered a very detailed, but bass accurate & light performance.
Now the detail is there, but a tad less bright, and the bass is here in spades. Listening to Hanna Shybayveva’s performance og Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No1, with the Animato Quartet. The impact of the strings being attacked by the bows is excellent, as are the resonances in the instruments.
Great stuff; and no, I don’t think it is the wine talking!
On to the rest of the playlist.
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I had a friend pop in this afternoon, after he had visited a local record fair.
He had listened to the VMV A1 when it first arrived, when he had bought over his Quad 405-II.
After listening to the system he made two comments:
- The EAR834L works superbly in this system; and
- I didn’t realise the Grahams LS3/5a could be this good!
I fully agree with him.
He asked how the system sounded with the BT NAP250; so I updated him.
I think there is a bit more to wring from the Naim power amp. I suspect that the Chord Hugo TT may suite it a tad better than the Synthesis Roma. But, not today, enjoying things as they are.
The VMV A1 does get toasty warm, currently 57C.
Update: It is 21:15 and my wife has come back from putting the horses to bed …so I will have to turn off the system and be companionable 
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Still happy with yours ?
What is the rear distance of you speakers ?
After several check, put mine slightly tow in (at 32in /35out) from rear wall, still happy by the sound.
Though checking your stands….but still waiting with my “Atacama”
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Hey
Yes, very happy. Haven’t measured the distance however I feel there about 24”- 28” from the front wall. Nowhere near any corners and slight toe in.
In terms of stands, mine are fine but I do often look at open frame stands similar to Kan stands, but haven’t taken the plunge yet.
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Lovely woodwork, I am envious .
I think if you are spending thousands on audio equipment , it should be treat for the eyes as well as the ears
I heard some Rogers LS3/5A with a Nait 50 a few months ago , and they were significantly better than my P3ESR , not enough to spend thousands replacing them though
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Thanks Ian, I think the Wild Oak veneer is a beautiful finish and I’m glad I chose it. These are paired with my Nait 50 and it’s a wonderful combination.
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24 Inches, is far from rear wall no ?
Mine is closer (30 cm => 11 « ) if more i’m loosing most of the low and the richness of the mids.
As far as i know, and as per initial design (infinite speakers) those were supposed taking benefits of rear wall for a fuller tonal balance.
Working this way…at least on my curent setup.
Of course my old Harbeth C7 was not the same and without a minimum of 25 " the low was just to boomy and box sounding time to time……hence my decision to sell them due to space limitation in my new flat
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I think its horse for courses. I read a lot suggesting that 1m-1.3m from the wall is ideal, I wouldn’t want them that far out in my room, they would be constantly knock by people walking by them.
The measurement I believe should be taken from the front of the speaker and not the rear. I have just measured mine and the front is actually only 18" (46cm) and the rear is 12" (30cm).
The closer I get to the wall I gain a little weight but loose some air and separation.
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