I really enjoyed parts 2 and 3. They both seem a lot more relaxed. It was really interesting to hear Roger’s comments when listening to his own music, much more insightful than when listening to say the Stevie Wonder. To have been at the mixing and then be able to listen to it at a high quality, noticing the increased space around the sounds and aspects of the mix that he would in hindsight have done differently. And what a nice person he is, so unassuming. It’s a nice bit of promotion for Naim; I wonder if they gave him a full 300 system to take home. Well worth it I’d say.
So its official: it is not the 500 series but a pair of 350s , with 333, and 332 with 2PSs, that is Naim’s classic pinnacle system, and it can’t get any better. Certainly on paper the 350s to me are significantly up on the 500, and the one Naim amp that I’d really be interested in hearing, but I thought Naim’s position was that the 500 is still the better amp.
Interesting the bit at the end where Jason said something along the lines that a better system makes you enjoy genres you didn’t before, but Roger said no way it would make him like one he clearly detests. I’m with Roger on that!
The key word here is ‘Classic’, and the 333,332 and 350s are indeed the pinnacle of the New Classic series. So in no way does it imply that the 500 series and indeed Statement are not superior. They said, it could have been a bit clearer, and many viewers may indeed conclude that the 333, 332 and 350s are the best that Naim has to offer.
But will there be episodes 5 and 6? We wait with bated breath.
Through this forum I am aware of the position as you stated, but anyone watching this video not knowing what has been said on this forum will hear Roger asking: “That’s as good as it gets?”, to which Jason replied: “Yes. That’s the classic pinnacle system.” (wording to this effect rather than verbatim as this morning it is from my memory). He didn’t say “new classic” or use the word “new” at all, nor mention the old classic. The takeaway for anyone unfamiliar with what has been said on this forum is therefore just as I said - without qualifying classic as specifically New Classic, anyone unfamiliar would assume that the word classic include all the classic things done by Naim, now or in the past. The only things outside the umbrella of classic would be all in ones and Statement..
Episode #4 is now up, quite short, a bit of an anti climax, perhaps the cameraman’s batteries were running low
.
Nevertheless an interesting series, and look forward to listening to R O’D’s new album when it’s released.
ATB, J
He uses the Snaic stretcher machine for himself, probably.
It must be down to the new hip!
The real test is doing it with both legs at the same time ![]()
The final episode seemed a good summary of Roger’s “takeaway” from the session, as first highlighted in episode 3, namely that his home studio monitoring system limits what is audible in the music he creates, which, as I said last week in the “Naim lounge” thread, begs the question as to what monitoring system he uses when recording: Certainly the speakers, as visible in online photos of his studio don’t look like “main monitor” type. (Amps aren’t visible in pics I’ve seen). And will he change to something better?
Actually the final episode held one more interesting detail for me: Roger described something coming back (I assume he means after mastering, which I read somewhere is done by someone else, not at his home studio), whence upon playing at home he found he didn’t like the end result - it didn’t sound right to him. To me that raises several questions: Does he not go to hear the mastering as it is done? What system is used for mastering? (Did the engineer hear the same as Roger at home?) And if he finds that it can sound great on the Naim system as demonstrated, but poor on his system at home (assuming the reference to not liking something was the same track), will he aim to make future recordings sound as good as possible regardless of how good or bad the listener’s system may be, mastering for both, doing which I understand is an art in itself?
Finally got around to watching the 4 videos. Nicely done Naim. It was fun watching Roger lean in as each system change was made. By the end he was pining to sit right next to Jason, to occupy the veritable sweet spot in the soundstage!
Alas, I also agree with Roger, no matter how good a Naim system is, it will never make Country music enjoyable for me ![]()
Country sounds great to me
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