Agree and a good thing too, keeps the brand on its toes and striving to produce and develop great product as a result. ( which Naim still do of course).
Brand loyalty is one thing, but brand worship with a “have to have it” attitude for an unseen/unheard product is a marketers dream, and a “special limited edition” for a brand new, never seen before product is just pure marketing imho.
Rule one, unless you have extreme difficulty in accessing product/dealers never buy blind and demo first!
Rule two, see rule one.
I bought my Linn LP 12 in 1978 and over the years it’s had many Linn upgrades, arms,power supplies cartridges, bearings plinths etc.
Now I’ve settled with a Tangerine Audio Stiletto, Armeggedon, Aro, Trampolin 2, Cirkus, Plateau sub chassis and Kiseki Blue NS cartridge.
Very happy with my system all set up by my friend Derek Jenkins R.I.P a dedicated genius on an LP 12 or any other deck. I knew him for 40 years sorely missed by me and many more.
Mark Digman is still at the fore front of Tangerine Audio.
Ironically one of the most contentious elements of the Solstice bundle is the power supply mains lead!
I’d be willing to bet if any of us get to see/hear one at a dealer in the coming weeks it’ll have a Powerline hanging out the back of it
A good friend had a fairly high-end one and I have to say it did sound very good when everything was just right.
However, the janky bias arrangement meant you couldn’t really get the cartridge to track at its best, and I wouldn’t want to deal with center weights, outer rings, etc. Vinyl is enough of a faff as is with the LP12.
While I agree it’s a bit strange not to include it and just charge a little bit more, if a detail like that is the only contentious element, that’s a good sign.
Of course AFAIK no one has heard or operated one, so all could still change.
I don’t think it’s contentious at all. A few people who probably have no intention to buy one are going on and on and on about a decision Naim made about what to put in the package. It’s quite boring to be honest.
I certainly believe that as consumers of luxury products we’re allowed to dismiss some out-of-hand based on looks alone. Their Avenger and Titan tt’s are of styles that do not agree with me either.
I’m pretty sure that it will be a choice between the sound that you prefer rather than which is better…and that the decision should be based on a loooong audition.
There is now a Lifter for the ARO called the, er “Lifter”. It was co-designed by Peter Swain of Cymbiosis and Audio Origami, based around a Rega pot and I had one fitted about 3 months ago. No more DT related mishaps for me!
I find it funny that every time someone mentions buying new speakers, amp, etc., there is a constant “you have to demo them in you listening room”. No so on this new Solstice, I guess.
Speakers’ performance can be greatly affected by the room. Comparing TTs is not so affected, so you can anywhere provided that the system is similarly revealing. But indeed at that price I would think that auditioning is sensible, just needn’t be at home (though of course better if in one’s own system at home).