You might want to go try some different gear then, as i think you might change your mind if you do.
Even naim themselves in the statement put it all in one box, by using clever isolation. It is possible and as said removes any potential problems the link cable brings, as this is always a problem.
As for weight then yes, my integrated is almost 70kg, it’s heavy but it’s not impossible to move.
Very similar to the SN3’s phono overall (if you’ve heard one), with may be just a bit leaner/forward sound to my ears - not worse though, just down to preference …
Naim won’t bring out anything to replace an item if it’s not better, that’s for sure.
As it would be suicide to do that, and pointless designing in the first place.
As said the current range is so old these days, that naim really shouldn’t have much off a problem finding big gains everywhere
I get your point about isolation etc I’ve been there many times with a Lego collection now I’m happy with a good front end and domestic harmony.
No offence meant.
I wouldn’t see it that way. Quite apart from the fact that Statement is a 3 box amp, it’s about as high as a 6 shelf Fraim stack. If you look inside I’m pretty sure you’ll find that there’s still a cable or two linking the power supply to the amp.
As already said really, its what naim does, plus it brings in money over time, as the all in one monster costs more in one go, but if you buy this bit, and then add this bit, and then get a better ps, then get the even more expensive ps,
then get better cables to go between, you get the picture i am sure, its a great business model, but it doesn’t mean it’s the best way though does it?
As i said it can obviously bring benefits, but i don’t think its really needed at certain levels, as especially if you look inside some off the boxes, there isn’t much inside other than air.
Many of the top amplifier manufacturers can quite happily implement a transformer in the same box, as well as dac’s, pre amps, etc.
Well of course there is cables inside the boxes, but as you say they are inside, and not all hanging about the rear with everything else, like un sheilded powerlines and the like, all trying to touch each other and give off nasty stuff.
But the statement gear each has a very large transformer in the base, of the cabinet, as said it well isolated and this is the key point, do it right and there is no need for separate boxes, unless weight has become the new problem.
What does that mean?
I have around 30 years experience of naim from 90 series right up to 500, and everything in-between.
Just because i no longer own my 500 kit, doesn’t change anything
I think one of the more interesting design changes sort of relates to the idea of seperate versus single boxes, and that is no longer sending the signal back through the power supply with the NPX300, which is a weakness in the Naim design in my experience. That’s one example where removing unnecessary cable or signal routes could improve a design. There is certainly a “design tension” between isolation and minimising connections through the signal path, hence the end;ess “cable gates”.
I don’t really consider the S1 as a single box as such, it’s just the same seperate design, just separated within a larger housing.
With the pre-amps, apart from refining components, the technology is pretty developed, though any improvement in the volume range and better balance control at lower volumes is welcome. But with the cost of the NC gear, I’ll be sticking, that’s for sure.