Which manufacturers I mentioned fall into this category, as far as I’m aware they have all been issuing new products separate to their Munich ‘announcements’
But I’m waiting for the punchline, this can’t be all Naim are going to announce, surely ?
But if the 272.2 is to be part of an amended/refreshed (Classic?) range, then it cannot be released on its own.
It seems the future is white lights not green.
Innuos are the only one of you mentioned that I have been following and their new Pulse series will only be available in September at the earliest.
In other news, the Dynaudio Focus active series look interesting. Fully integrated streaming speakers.
Makes you think why Naim/Focal don’t consider similar, Uniti Active range.
If Innuos are the only one you are aware of why comment, erroneously, on the rest ? I am aware of the September date for their Pulse range, I have no problem with this, do you ?
I have no issue with Naim not having any new products to announce, after reading the pre launch marketing blurb it more than suggested ‘new’ products, not tarted up existing grey ones. I’m almost sure there must surely be more to come ?
Which one?
Simple, sticking to the knitting and making damn sure they can support what they have already
A Core v2 with Roon could be interesting as well.
Also a Core with a DAC in it as well would be nice.
I’m still holding out for my Bentley Jam regardless…
I just felt the obvious synergies between the in-house brands made it an obvious choice.
Certainly as many want a high quality audio setup but not one that consumes half your living space to achieve it.
I imagine looking at relative cost, many would be tempted by a simpler setup with the inherent DNA of each brand baked in.
I’d certainly be tempted myself if nothing else.
Were these items not available before? (I have no knowledge of Focal products).
Focal sell active monitor type speakers and Naim make streamers and amplifiers, just not both together in a single product.
Anything announced recently has been a cosmetic variant of an existing product with an anniversary premise and a bundling of products between brands to position a system offer.
High end active speakers and those that can stream aren’t anything new they just aren’t something Naim and Focal have developed together.
I’m sure they have the capability and experience between them to develop something like that.
A refresh of the Core wouldn’t go amiss, in it’s simplest form that could just be a more capable processor and faster, more efficient memory with the potential to support desirable features with Roon Server capability being my example. It could also have more connectivity options such as optical Ethernet as well.
Sorry, but much of what you suggest is certainly sensible and desirable.
I just have the impression that Naim are struggling to support what they have let alone venture out with products like you are suggesting. Of course I don’t know for sure. That said I am sure that Naim R&D are not idle
I don’t think any of my suggestions are difficult to design and manufacture. Most of what would go in to those products exists already in current products.
It’s about remaining relevant and to be seen as a desirable brand. Changing the colour of a years old product, as good as it may be, and I own many of these myself, doesn’t feel like a forward thinking vision for a brand from a consumers perspective.
There’s a sweet spot in the premium mass market bracket where products remain desirable but can be manufactured in larger quantities with healthy margins that fuel future growth and allow for more niche products with low volume sales to remain supportable and developed further over an extended period of time.
The good news is that all the gear we currently have is not suddenly outdated by something new - horray!
I just feel sorry for those poor sods lusting after a new streaming preamp, that’s the very definition of patience
Only a few years to wait now for the 272 10th Anniversary Edition, in Tin naturally.
I’d be looking at it from a market growth and penetration perspective. Clearly there are those amongst us that have lifetime memberships and enjoy the path we tread with Naim. But considering this from the perspective of someone new to premium audio and how it fits their lifestyle, the competition appear to be offering much simpler and easier to live with solutions that also meet a given quality criteria.
Ultimately, what we do is persue our enjoyment of listening to music with a degree of obsessive refinement, not helped by the seperation design approach of Naim and not to mention the otherworldly obsession of some to persue refinements with exotic cables and expensive “magic boxes”.
Most people I know don’t want that level of complexity. Naim themselves acknowledged that when they developed the muso range and evolved the Uniti range with a trickle down design from Statement that still stands up to scrutiny and mimicry today.
But consumers are fickle and will be drawn towards that which is new and interesting. High end smart speakers and a capable audio hub/server to my mind hits a sweet spot. You end uo with a system that lives with you not that you have to find a way to live with, often with negotiated compromises with your wider family who perhaps don’t share the same level of enthusiasm for the “equipment”
aspect of your hobby but will most certainly enjoy an easy to use and understand as well as capable music system.
Fair enough, I am also not that impressed with the way Naim are going on at the moment compared to others. Enough said
Aren’t you getting just a bit carried away here? I simply wrote “Moreover some of the new products mentioned won’t actually be available until the late Autumn/Winter.”
I don’t disagree with the rest of your reply or indeed what you write generally.
I guess the context of my comments being, “If I was in the market to buy some new hifi kit, what would I find appealing, and would I buy it from Naim”
I’m well down the path myself and happy to stay put where I am and enjoy it for what it is, but looking at the appealing range of options available to a consumer with a reasonable budget, it’s clear that the competition aren’t standing still, nor do they feel an obligation to stubbornly cling on to their past.
I don’t know if you have had a chance to look at the new KEF LS60 wireless system but that type of product would be ideal for a Naim/Focal collaboration