I think mobile phones do have some implications for Uniti range products and for Focal headphones. I have just bought some quality headphones from B&W to go with my iPhone
I am now thinking of a headphone DAC run from my iPhone . Running Focal headphones
Not iPhones are market that NAIM has thought about but I am looking at an ifi Valkyrie …
Whatever market Naim started with it has changed, and I think Naim have done a good job in keeping up. They don’t seem to want to be all things to all men, but neither do they want to a narrow based niche player
The EU wants industrial production back to Europe to reduce dependence on China. So what does China do? They take over the production system within the borders of the union.
Prato in Tuscany is supposed to be an arch-Italian city. But on the other side of the old city walls, the reality is different. Around 50,000 Chinese live here. A quarter of the city’s population. A large part of the clothing factories in one of Europe’s textile centers, the Italian city of Prato, are now Chinese-owned – 5,000 out of the city’s approximately 7,000 textile companies to be exact. Based on cheap, often illegal labor, and then there is speculation about the systematic exploitation of illegal immigrants who work up to 90 hours a week.
Well it’s logical isn’t it? People got too few children so there is no ‘native’ workforce but to sustain our social system we’re dependent on labour hence immigration is the solution.
My last purchases have been from European manufactures. Naim XS3 and PMC speakers. These were good value and competitive on the general market. Designed and made in Britain is still possible. Naim and PMC, do not seem to be haemorrhaging money like those in the Harman group.
I have been playing in the headphone market. Here the Chinese competition is stiff. But my Sennheiser HD800S and later my Heddphone 2Gt, were very competitive, on price and sound quality and have better quality control, from what I have read on Head Fi forums. My SPL Phonitor SE has some pretty unique features, and again was priced honestly. Both Hedd and SPL, were good when I asked some pre purchase questions. Hedd and SPL seem to be small family run concerns. Both are professional gear manufacturers who are dabbling in home audio of late.
In the past here in Italy most dealers would say that British speakers, were the only good choice due to sound quality. I see this has been eroded, in the last few years.
The irony is that those who cannot afford upmarket (and cheaper on the long term) stuff are more dependent on cheaper Asian stuff and therefore even weaken their own long term position.
It’s ironic, some of the significant markets for SME British hifi product including loudspeakers are the far east/China now. I am assuming the appeal is fashion, performance, the ‘British sound’ and the fact it is not mass produced for the surgent Chinese middle classes.
But the largest markets are still the US/EU
One of the best bits of marketing Naim did was putting their cd players in Rough Trade records. Really leaned into their edgy, alternative ‘music lovers’ choice for hifi’ brand and thought was bang on target. They’re no longer in Rough Trade and they’ve lost the edgy ‘go your own way’ attitude which would really help to build up a new gen of customers. I think dropping the green on the latest range was a bigger miss than might first appear. Think the colour had really cemented a visual brand identity at the time - still remember all the green glowing logos in Rough Trade!
Wow a long thread, which sadly often drifts into a sense of loss. I do not have that same sense of loss (many on here have been connected to naim far longer than me, so may be that’s the reason)
the market for ‘hifi’ in volume terms has been shrinking for decades. Arguably the iPod and iTunes was the start of that (phones are a lot to blame for many things imo). Music access is cheap and getting cheaper (I see you Spotify users!)
but in my view it’s not necessarily naim that shrinking, all brands are shrinking in volume terms.
how have others responded-super brands. An integrated amp for £24k (gryphon 333 which is the current flavour). 24k! I don’t judge what people spend on things (a vw golf these days is 30k basic), but the reality is this is a huge amount of money for many people who struggle to go on a single hol or pay bills.
So the answer will likely be for hifi-niche aspirational items with a high margin to make up for falling volumes. Let’s face it, the gryphon doesn’t cost 24k to make, including r&d. so they need the margin for low volume.
the vast majority of youth listen to music on phones and ime are fascinated by vinyl-tangible, music. Their financial focus is on somewhere to live-not hi fi (I know many who would love a system, love music, but other basic priorities take over)
as long as naim maintain excellent post sales support re: servicing, then i will stay with the brand. It’s brilliant and v unusual in our obsolescent driven world. I know little about business, but I always think of Miele washing machines (I have one 15 years old been perfect). Rolls Royce of their type. That’s the model I would follow if naim.
Lastly I hope naim does release new items-not because I want anything new-but simply to give many on this forum something else to talk about rather than naim bashing.
Super brands are not the answer. Some of the most famous ones are failing, or have failed. Some of these companies are basically a guy in his garage. Hardly an inviting proposition. You can find the Gyphon on fleabay for €17000 down from €26000. Or even worse a Taiko Extreme server at €25,000. You can buy one via Hi Fi Shark for €4,999,99.
Naim seem to be pivoting towards the new demands of the market. Look at their Muso, and Unity lines. Or maybe the integrated solutions of the C1 series. They seem to aware that the way people listen to music is changing.
We can all see that music consumption has changed over the years. As has TV consumption. This will not stop, rather it will likely accelerate.
I would say the truisms are. Mobility (no cord) will come to anything that can be mobilised. More music than ever is being consumed. Software and connectivity is ever more important. The world is still dazzled by the aspirational brands and products, physical things, so hardware is still important. All of these things present opportunity for those that are receptive. Hopefully this is Naim.
By the way the shoebox system was a killer idea and still is.
Maybe -I face a language barriere translation, but the word “bashing” often comes up here or there in combination with discussion and debating things with or about Naim.
I hardly see any bashing but a healthy debate which is not just fan boi sheep talk, but in fact showing people have different experiences and opinions.
Current figures appear to include social media / online videos. Dedicated music listening is reportedly down from it’s peak in the 1990s - no surprise really.
From my observation it appears clear that Naim’s heartland is UK, and their main speciality and strength to date has been amplifiers preserving timing accuracy across the frequency range reproduced.
If true (not convinced it is, but I agree Naim have changed), and let’s assume it is for the moment, then for anyone who’s listening preferences regarding hifi haven’t changed with the times, they are left with two options:
Change their preference in order to keep buying something with a Naim badge.
Go elsewhere.
The first makes zero sense to me. You want what you want and if that has become more niche than before then there will always be products to cater for that.
I suppose a third option is to just acquire more money so you can dwell in the realm of the 300 series and higher.