I’d been through two Arkiv carts, then Akiva, which back in the day was their top MC carts.
I initially thought I’d save some cash by moving to the Krystal since their range had moved upmarket price wise quite a bit, so at Cymbiosis I did the demo of Krystal v Kandid while the Karousel was fitted.
The Krystal was good, but just lacking something v my worn Akiva, switch to Kandid back came the soundstage of the Akiva and more. A big difference and so it should be for the price, but increased trade in allowance helped somewhat, to me it was worth the extra expense.
I have no doubt that Kandid beats Krystal. I moved from an Arkiv to Krystal. I was worried about the move having tried a Klyde at one point. It was horrible in my system. Anyway, long story short I was at a musical evening at my dealers when everything was played using a Linn streamer - can’t remember which. At the end of the night the dealer played some records using the Krystal. I bought a Krystal. Much better than the streamer. The Kandid will surely be great but the Krystal, at the price point (a price point I was reluctant to exceed) is a very nice cartridge (in my original Ekos). I just wish it was a nice primary colour. Can’t beat a bit of red on a black Ekos.
After a period of ill health, I’d pretty much decided I wasn’t going to have a Turntable anymore, but through a strange set of circumstances i decided to dip my toe once more in the old Triggers Broom and get myself an LP12 again.
I originally intended to buy one of the off the shelf Linn packages - specifically a Linn LP12 Select, but the guys at Loud and Clear convinced me otherwise.
So, here is my deck comprising:
High Gloss Linn Plinth
Radikal 2
Audio Origami PU7Ti
Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua (TKR) MC Cartridge
Trampolin
Keel
Karmen
Revolver
Evenstar
…using the (amazing) Dynavector P75 Mk4 phono stage while I make sure I use the deck enough in order to justify the Accuphase C57 phono stage.
They’re lovely …I personally prefer the LED meters that they put on the Class A Amps (mine is the A80) to the analogue needle meters that the Class AB have, but that’s personal preference I think. The Class A and the Class AB sound quite different, I much preferred the Class A, but I know of people who feel strongly the other way.
Rated at 65W Class A - I’ve never got anywhere near the red zone - the most I’ve ever hit is 36W. Bowers and Wilkins are efficient, but like current - so the Accuphase is perfect for them. The next model down (the 48S) would have been equally fine - but more power is always helpful, and the A80 just really looks the part.
The night glow they bring to the room is a thing of beauty.
I did have full 500 yes. Let me deal with that first…
To be honest, I got frustrated with the buzzing power supplies, the endless boxes, and it could occasionally find the sound a bit full on. I had the Solstice and Naim’s approach on that seriously hacked me off….6 months late, arrived incomplete, a one off instead of the beginning of a true return to analogue…and (most important of all) not actually very good, the cartridge in particular is lacking.
My dealer also suggested that his sales for Naim had fallen off a cliff - which did reinforce the view that the brand was in less than rude health. I hear stories about the software releases breaking things, about them no longer providing upgrades, they just don’t feel like the Naim I used to know - the reality of VC ownership is that things change, but I’m really struggling to see a strategy. Unless the strategy is to disenfranchise long standing customers without winning new ones.
And on that theme, I also see Naim as a firm who have lost their identity - as I’ve said, anecdotally the 200 and 300 series don’t seem to sell that well - and they seem to be available at chunky discounts (tells a story yes - but also undermines the used value) and there is no sign of a 500 replacement offering more modern design and sound…and would I trust them with one anyway…so no…I made the decision to move away and I’ve got zero regrets.
I’ve just got a couple of MuSo’s now and I’m happy with them.
What I want is a system that sounds great - has all the characteristics I love about the Naim Sound (PRaT) and just works. I’d see an increasing number of LP12’s paired with Accuphase, and my dealer noted that most of his Naim business was now going down that path.
So I did a demo and yes - instantly I got the sound I wanted, I got the pride of ownership and the confidence that the brand was here to stay and wouldn’t deviate from their path. The products are hand made by a company that is big enough, but also small enough to be able to have hold a clear strategy, and I like the fact they don’t have a social media presence and no need for a forum.
The following they have in Japan is hard earned, and I love that their home market is so strong and that they’d upgrade products every 4-5 years, and that their products are built like nothing else….next time you get a chance to feel the “clunk” when you change input, do so. Proper engineering.
The 3900 preamp is the best preamp I’ve ever heard - is utterly silent in operation - and the A80 power amp as I’ve said, delivers a slightly warm all day listening sound that keeps the foot tapping and the grooves going. I’d say the brand provides the sweet spot between transistor sound and tube sound - I couldn’t be happier with the transition I’ve made. And yes - going from 2 racks to one, has made things better domestically. The Quadraspire reference racks are something I’d long lusted after.
For me Accuphase also represents great value for money - sound for pound is second to none.
I clearly don’t expect a warm reception to my views here - and that’s fine, this isn’t the place to get that…but there are a lot of people who think the same as me and who after decades of using Naim, have decided that the Naim they bought into actually no longer really exists, and that the grass is indeed greener.
Yes - the 130 Transport and the 160 DAC - lovely sound -great with ROON, and the DAC converts to DSD, which delivers a lovely detailed yet musical sound. Dare I say it sounds Analogue.
FYI, if you’re not aware, I understand the P75 can be improved by the addition of an MCRU PS at ~£320 (IIRC). Having heard a P75 mk4(?) for the first time recently, it’s stonkingly good bare!
I’ve only heard Accuphase a couple of times, and in less than ideal circumstances too (at audio shows). In these unforgiving environments their amps have always impressed. At Cranage this year the Audioworks had the Accuphase 800S integrated (IIRC), fed by a heavily tweaked LP12 / Supatrac arm and the DP770 CD player, and the results were spectacular - one of the best sounding systems at the show.
As you describe, the fit and overall finish is exceptional, and over time I’ve warmed to their (timeless) mid century aesthetic too. I can see myself looking at an Accuphase integrated (or a better Rega integrated), although a much lower model than the 800!
Enjoy the system, and more importantly, continued good health too
…I personally prefer the LED meters that they put on the Class A Amps (mine is the A80) to the analogue needle meters that the Class AB have, but that’s personal preference I think. The Class A and the Class AB sound quite different, I much preferred the Class A, but I know of people who feel strongly the other way.
