Target audience for the new classic range

All depends on 1) disposable income, after living essentials, and 2) demands on that disposable income. I.e if someone doesn’t drink, smoke, eat out or buy take-aways, no dependants, and have no other hobbies or interests other than hifi, they may be able to afford lots of Naim kit - all the more so if they are prudent and buy ex-dem or secondhand. For others it is a matter of balancing all the different demands. But that is how it has always been. naim products have never been cheap, especially their better ones - and if the “new classics” might surpass old classics higher up the range, then perhaps it is actually very positive. (But that is speculation as I haven’t heard any new or old other than ND5XS bare and with XP5XS.)

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I think the average spend for a music-playing system would only be a few hundred pounds for most people. The idea of spending £17K+ would see like madness. We (and Naim) need to remember that we forum members are in a tiny minority and decreasing annually I suspect (perhaps Richard could confirm this).

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In design terms, I think it sits above the Nova as a higher sound quality system with the same UI and aesthetics. The rub, is that (here in NZ) the 222 and 250 is 3 times the cost of a Nova. That puts it a big step up in price, when historically steps up through the range were typically twice the preceding system cost.

Currently the SN3/NDX2 combo sits below the NC cost-wise, though time will tell whether that remains to be the case or whether the Nait designs will shortly be history.

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Solid analysis Jonathan.

I have always regarded Naim as being both expensive and aspirational. As a young teacher trying to get on the housing ladder it was more Akai than Naim. Getting on to the Naim ladder took a few years and quite a few promotions!

I don’t see the current market very differently, although young Naim customers need to find more cash to start their journey on the housing ladder.

Edit. Just to add that I have always been a UK customer living inside the M25.

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The other thing with Naim here in NZ is you could once rely on rock solid residuals to justify the ticket price but that is now far less certain due to the change in the distributor. It’s not at all clear that servicing is going to be straightforward for older kit and I suspect (and hope to be proven wrong) that once the old distributor stops doing ‘unofficial’ repair and service work the market here will soften significantly. So for us it’s a double whammy.

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Its a luxury product. Also an aspirational product. My approach to this type of product has always been, if i really want it i would find a way. And if i cant afford it i cant have it…simple!

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Fair point, I was thinking of the bottom end separates for some reason. Of course the SN3 is still available.

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Wow what a sad individual :rofl:

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Saying all this, the cost of media has gone down.
Remember in the 1980s spending £15 for a cd.
You don’t have to spend thousands to build a collection nowadays.

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Hi Jonathan,
Great to see some analysis. Can I just ask where you obtained the figures. For example I was a bit surprised to see a figure of £55000 for a year 1 graduate trainee. My guess (emphasis guess) would have been much lower around say £35k.

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When I bought my first Naim amps. 42/110 in the early 80s it was considered extremely expensive. And most people thought I was crazy to spend this amount. I prioritised this over a car and such like as I didn’t need one then. I suspect there will be younger people today who make a similar choice. Naim has always been an expensive luxury brand and will continue to be so. Even a muso Qb costs more than many people’s TV and basic stereo or blue tooth speakers added together. An Atom with speakers is in the reasonable condition secondhand car price range. Affording Naim or similar brands is not just about your total income it is also partly about what you choose to spend your disposable income or savings on.

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Muso’s are the entry point and new or second hand can be an affordable entry point. The new classic range will lower the used price of the old 200 series making them affordable.

When I started my Naim journey in 1994 I could only dream of products like cds2 and 135’s etc. but when the classic range came out they become affordable.

I think starting at the new classic range is a big ask and most of us work up to the higher range. It’s a bit like cars - as an 18 year old it was unrealistic to think I could jump straight into a Bentley and I started with a Ford Escort and over time upgraded into a higher end car.

I would be surprised if anyone without a hi fi jumped straight into £17k worth of kit.

Don’t get me wrong I hope the money men don’t kill the proposition but that’s unlikely - they probably know how far they can stretch price and demand usually tells them if they have gone to far and they discount accordingly.

Gary

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Entry to Naim, but they are not hifi in my opinion, but upmarket high quality boom-boxes.

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Indeed, my 1976 Ford escort was barely a car but on my budget it was all I could afford and I loved it!
Point is we all have to start somewhere and the muso to my ears sounds mighty fine and if I never heard a full system and the muso was my reference point then I would be impressed.

Gary

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Ac/dc we’re at their best end of 1970’s, original fans have to listen at 11 (or ten o clock in Naim speak) because they (we) are old! Youth can’t be bothered with expensive hi fi that eeks as much detail as poss from old music to assist poor hearing because they can get enough enjoyment from an anderoid phone and a pair of ear buds

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It’s funny but as a huge metal fan back in the 80s I only ever listened to it in later years in the car. I have often used “For those about to rock…” as a test track for new kit though.

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Inflation “makes the past a different country”.

I wince at the current price of vinyl LP’s, yet inflation means that they are probably the same/cheaper than in times gone by.

My Redgum LP (£5.99 in 1985= approx £23.50, now, and if (can’t remember) Made in Japan,bought in 1973 was £3.49, that equates to more than £50 now.

Similarly, my 32-5/HiCap/140, bought in two stages cost £1200.00, iirc (over £4k allowing for inflation).

Again, I recently had a Seat Leon FR as a courtesy car. I looked up the retail price as a matter of interest, and I thought HOW MUCH!?

I have said before though, you can charge what you like; whether or not people choose to pay it us a different matter.

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target market - all music lovers who want to join or have joined the NAIM journey

this I would suggest are current owners who wish to trade up from current system to the new NSC 222/250/NPX 300

the “old” classic series I can see many owners who are at or above source/282/AMP moving once side by side demo

I will be waiting until the 300 following on from my demo yesterday

Not me Antz. I am servicing my kit and replacing a Supercap for a new DR version to future proof my system. While I might be ‘interested’ in a 552 or ND555 my post retirement finances simply can’t stretch.

The new stuff looks great though and I am sure it sounds good. I am equally sure new stuff released in the future will challenge my system but it was ever thus.

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Same here SCDR and possibly NDX2 to replace NDX when I need too

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