I’ve had a couple of good long sessions listening to the new FW update and I must admit I’m starting to find it a little tiring. I like the new clarity but it seems to be at the expense of some musicality. The sound just seems less addictive for some reason, like it’s lost some of that Naim colouration and magic. There’s at least three of four of my favourite albums that no longer sound as good as they use to. Sure they sound a bit more real in places but something is definitely missing from them. If anything the sound signature is more like my old Node was. On balance I think, if I had the chance, I’d go back to the previous FW version.
I think Naim should run a pole and if there’s enough of us that prefer the previous FW then how hard would it be to release another update but with no changes to the sound signature? Those that prefer what they hear now can stay with this version, those that want the original sound back just do the update?
I don’t even work for Naim but know that won’t happen. That would mean having two different released products, plus the “tuning” is not a willful change of sound profile, as illustrated here by @davidhendon :
Listening for 3 days to all types of music with the new firmware but I cannot get used to it. The SQ misses the balls that it had with the old FW, it is too bright and there is less emotion in the music.
I seriously consider to contact my dealer whether it is feasible to re-install the old FW.
Not great to hear that your system has gone backwards sound wise.
Can you contact our helpdesk and we’ll aim to get your streamer back to a known state. We have not changed any of the audio processing (identical DSP code on all) but on some systems it doesn’t take much to knock it off voice.
Annoyingly it is. Well at least for some that have spent an awfully long time optimising the SQ to get it closest to a ‘live’ type sound.
Over the last few days I’ve become increasingly frustrated with rather pushy top end. Even the bass is starting to annoy me slightly. On some tracks it can sound great and on others it’s almost too much for my room.
This is especially annoying after spending six months listening to over thirteen linear power supplies that were dismissed because they did the same thing with the bass.
That’s very interesting. The sound has definitely changed - for the better I feel in my case, but not for everyone it seems. So I’m intrigued as to what has caused this given you say it wasn’t intentional.
Same for me. I noticed it immediately and have been very very happy with it. I do wonder if it has anything to do with 3rd party cables or something along those lines. I haven’t noticed anything like brightness etc just an expanded sound stage. Everything just snaps into place. Glad to know it wasn’t that Mexican beer I had the other day
Hi @Stevesky
great to hear - same here. I have done all I can as I would have loved to like it, but for the same reasons the others have mentioned (less emotion, too bright, overblown bass and harsh in my system) I could not get used to it. We had a long weekend (4 days) and I have listened very much!
I have already send an email to support@naimaudio.com (is this the Helpdesk?).
Hope to hear from naim soon.
I had a totally disaster day (job is …) and this information here (that I can go back in FW) brought a little light back.
THANKS for that;
BR
Whether the change in sound quality was intentional or not is irrelevant. Naim must have known the firmware update changed the sound, it would be pretty amateurish if they didn’t monitor sound quality after a firmware update.
Plus we know sound quality variation is discussed amongst the beta testers. @HungryHalibut
What Naim should be doing, is, next the install update button, put a note.
Anyway, it appears Naim are not refusing to facilitate rolling back of the firmware. So, all good.
The implication from @Stevesky is that the ‘change of sound’ impact is inconsistent between systems (I’m not sure why that could be the case between, say, different 333/332 users like myself?), which may make it tricky to replicate?
Hi @Stevesky , if I may, I would like to ask you why many people feel a difference in sound (mostly for the better) if the audio processing has not been touched. What might have caused this? I also wonder what systems might be prone to be broken by a firmware upgrade.
By the way I highly appreciate the effort that Naim puts into developing new firmwares for older products.
Presumably when Naim R&D are developing products, listening tests are carried out using equipment that 99% of the population will be using. Good quality router with as supplied power supply, good quality switch with as supplied power supply, good quality Ethernet cables. So, Naim can be confident their equipment will work very well with standard equipment.
However, apparently there are lots expensive high quality switches, routers, Ethernet cables, cable filters, router power cables, router power supplies……etc. apparently all capable of significantly changing (improving ???) the sound of a system.
There are so many combinations, all possibly producing a different sound, making it impossible for Naim to guarantee an acceptable sound, if non standard accessories are used.
If the new firmware isn’t sounding good, going back to basics might be a good idea.
Might be worth trying a different ethernet cable.
