System Pics 2021

You are not alone in thinking this.

The Focals are very efficient at low/modest volumes so will sound good/OK but wouldn’t be the first choice for some dealers in forming a ‘balanced’ system.

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I too have noticed this of late. Whilst the 1980s extreme focus on the source was unbalanced, I am not sure some of the amp/speaker pairings have not been a little optimistic.

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Yes, and it’s quite surprising that Naim seem to be promoting this approach in some of their suggested setups. I’m sure they’d say something different if they weren’t shackled to the dead hand of Focal. Nova/Kanta 2. £7,000 speakers with a £4,000 all in one. Really? It may sound good but you could do a lot better for the money.

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My experience of current Naim gear is minimal, and my (hi-fi show) experience of Focal was, shall we say, not brilliant. Pairing 7k speakers with a 4k all in one does not sound like a recipe for success.

For 11k I could suggest ATC 40 active floor standers and 4k to spend on a decent streamer with balanced outputs. Each to their own: I have a pair of startlingly unpopular loudspeakers in a room which is theoretically far too small for them, yet in my seating position they work fine.

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I have large DIY Speakers, with scan speak and SBA drivers paired with a Uniti Atom. My speakers have a 1 “ tweeter, 7 “ midrange, and a 12 “ woofer. If purchased from a store would possibly cost somewhere north of 5000 pounds. It sounds amazing! Super smooth midrange and beautiful full bass at low volume. Also, when I turn it up, they can play as loud as that little Atom can drive them. Yes, one day I will want some more power but the Atom is all I could stretch to at the time. It is easy to assume the Atom should be paired with small speakers but it is a waste of potential.
To my ears my system presents me a more pleasing sound than what a 20k system with small 5/6” + 1” bookshelf speakers can. I know that is what some people want, but I see that also as an unbalanced system.

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Great system. Looking stunning. Is it your system which can be found on YouTube with some demo songs?

I am asking, because I was really appreciating those videos a couple of month ago …

My immediate thought for an indoor antenna was a Magnum Dynalab. I used to have one in a bedroom system with a Marantz tuner. It was as good as the loft mounted four element array.
I wasn’t sure if they still exist, so searched and it appears they are. At £168 in the UK not cheap.

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Rega Aria has been returned to front line duties now that the Densen had its Christmas gift fitted and has internal phono stage now.

Other than that, all is as it was, although now have the Duo power supply for the RP6, replacing the original TTPSU.

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Cabin system in 21 config, Densen Beat B100 now has internal DP05 phono stage (which is stunning).

Rega Planar 3 now returned to stock config and all Firm Funk upgrades (boing feet and acromat) retired, new Exact replaced Elys.

Also now using Kudos KS-1 speaker cable in cabin given how good it was on the Naim system.

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Great gym system. Puts my Sonos and Concept Rower setup in one of our spare bedrooms to shame :+1:

Two very nice systems. Scandinavian and British Technology seems to be a very good combo. :slight_smile:

Do you have 2 pairs of the Guru speakers? Are these two different generations?

Yeah, officially I have the mk1s on the naim system and the mk2s on the Densen. Current model from Guru would be mk3. Only reason I say officially is that my mk1’s have some pieces that weren’t originally on them and appeared on the mk2s, so there was definitely some enhance as you go when they first produced them.

I actually prefer the mk1s balance in my main system to the mk2s, which gel that bit better with the Densen gear.

Guru actually offer an upgrade on the speakers to latest specs, which is handy if you want latest one in black as they only do white or grey.

I love them, they manage to sound great even at low volume, so many speakers need to be turned up to achieve a balance, now I’m partial to loud but it’s quite a skill to be able to convey all the message with the wick down low.

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LP12
XS2
Lingo 2
Neat SX1
Simple and harmonious

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Great. But the landscape pictures where very lovely, too. Looked like you are having fun indoor and outdoor. :slight_smile:

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I’ve always had my own gym gear, but been an absolute god send in the last year, managed to add some equipment at the start of lock down, so there’s a few racks in there, a rower (not a concept, which is constantly on the consideration list) and a Watt bike.

I got a load of rubber tiles for the flooring to prevent the weights etc marking the wooden floor and it doubles up as a great sound isolation for the system.

When the weather is better it’s great to open up the double doors and somehow the system is able to fill the garden, the Naim system in the house doesn’t seem to be able to do that.

Think it comes down to the acoustics of the room as the naim system is actually closer to the garden and has patio doors opening out onto it.

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Thanks! But if an error there… they were from a mountain bike trip in the Lakes in the autumn… was frantically trying to work out how to delete them from the forum!!!

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I’m really starting to dig the looks of the Rega P8. Great photo!

Very neat. You’ve given me an idea for a 2021 project :grinning:

Thanks for the explanation. I got my Q10s in December. I am very pleased so far.
I like the idea that Guru offers upgrades for older generations when a new one is available.

If you can afford it I would go for the Rega p10

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