Wish list for new naim products in 2022 and beyond

Yes it’s odd that there can be different warranty periods for the same product. It really is unfair and as you say we pay a premium for the honour. Good thing there’s some good dealers around that often put themselves out to help.

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Hehehe. Be careful what you wish for. Naim might figure they have already built the best phonostage they reasonably can with a Superline/SCdr. But hey, if people are demanding a bigger one that uses not one but two 555Ps, then I’m sure they can build one even if most of the rails go nowhere and do nothing.

I think you might have been better off just asking for “a phonostage better than the Superline” . By stating from the outset you want something that supports two $10k power supplies, you are just setting yourself up to be had.

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I honestly don’t see that happening: the dual 555 PS setup is used to power the analogue and digital sections seperately. This is not inherent with designing a phono stage.

Well, one for the touch screen, adjustment buttons, and logo light, one for the analog circuitry :wink:

I was thinking one per channel :wink:

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My main wish from Naim, a “Naim” coffee mug and t shirt!

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I would like an “approved used” arrangement for discontinued products. A bit like the car dealers do.
Serviced, limited guarantee, trade in etc

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This

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A Naim branded Brompton

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My hernias throb in sympathy at the thought of moving an amplifier that weighs more than me

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Reading the original post, my own input on those ideas is just to make it “shoe box” size…

Shoe boxes are just great.
Design, aesthetics, appeal, form, foot print, ergonomics, ease of use…

FWIW, I genuinely think a shoe box size pre and power combo is a winner. Make it a decent combo - mid range - around similar SQ to 202 + 200. (Maybe modern equivalent of 72 + 140).

It brings limitations… For example, on the pre-amp only 4 or 5 source inputs. Space for limited controls on the front, etc.

Make the focus great sound quality, (rather than long list of features). Keeping it simple, to keep cost sensible.

Obviously, would be great with an option to add external PSU, same shoe box size, like a HiCap.

All this at around £2k per box. So maybe £4-5k for pre and power combo. Plus add a HC for another £1.5k for an up lift in SQ when you’re ready.

I’d gladly invest.

The icing on this cake would be a shoe box size USB DAC. (Not even asking for this to be a streamer too). So, two, three or four separate boxes - of the same style and form - for a great system. Not the very very best. Just plain and simple “great” would do fine.

That’s a perfect wish list for me
(And I didn’t dare “push my luck” and ask for a streamer too).

On market appeal and commercial success - I think that depends on quality. If the SQ is as good, if not better than other items at that price point, it would succeed.

Following other comments from forum members, I see the design alone may have appeal to many. Also, offering users the opportunities to grow their system over time. Start pre + power. Add PSU. Add USB DAC. Add streamer… Maybe also offering Atom users a next step too - into separates - one box at a time.

I was suggesting at 202 + 200 price point. As there is now a gap between SN3 and 282 + 250. So, it might fit neatly into the Naim range at this price point £4-5k

I’d buy. But readily acknowledge that’s a market of one. LOL :joy:

That’s my “two pennies worth”.

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As someone with an atom I think your idea is a brilliant one

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I had a 5 shoe box stack of top Cyrus gear and thought it looked good but was overwhelmed by all the cable and power connections which were all around 1 metre.
So much cable dressing :bangbang::joy:

CK

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Sure, get that idea…
Think it would be exactly same, with 5 full size items, but maybe with more space to “loose” all the same cable behind larger equipment boxes, etc…

However, the shoe box form factor - for me - is so attractive.

BTW, love the Cyrus approach. Have recently looked at the shoe box CDP’s, for CD reply. I’ve ended up going with Innuos Zen Mini mk3 instead. More shoe boxes :wink:

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Great idea, i have both versions of the stageline, S & K on my LP-12 depending on the cart. Also use a HICap with them, but think that there is something missing, maybe another DR HiCap or a slightly better phonostage. Tony from :canada:

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I should add - very much on topic - I’ve been through this whole exercise in the past 12 months and would have gladly bought from current Naim collection if these items were available right now.

Recently looked at Innous Zen Mini mk3. But would gladly have considered Core + DAC V1 (or updated improved V2 version ).

Also, picked up 72-HC-140 last spring. For all same reasons (shoe box system - small form factor / footprint)

So, if Naim are listening, I do think Naim might think about this and other great ideas suggested above. (I worry they are missing sales and market share, particularly in the USB DAC market segment). If the proposed new items were available, I would definitely invest.

As previously suggested, market of one. LOL :joy:

Is that basically a separates version of a SN3, with simplified i/o? Retaining the DR supply to the pre would be great, would the SN3 transformer fit in a half size box?

The NAIT3 was basically a NAC92/NAP90 in one box, and I see plenty of both for sale these days, so assume both sold well back in the day. Would be nice to see.

I do think retro styling sells well, and though I’m sure the temptation to put new products into the new style boxes is high, it would get a lot of folks misty eyed if they did a shoe box separate SN3 equivalent in olive or CB boxes :slight_smile:

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Yeah sure.
Completely agree.

In fact they’ve already kinda done it. The new Soltice SE phono and PSU items. Shoe box size form factor, and new updated visual styling.

It will be interesting to see if those two items become available as a standalone solution, in time…

Why not maybe just test the market - retro styling idea - with 500 limited SE production run.

Haha :laughing:

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I’m not quite sure of the NAIT3 / NAC92/NAP90 genesis story. The internal layout of the NAIT is very clearly separate pre and power boards, put in the same box with connecting wires (that you could cut if you added a separate PS). The SN3 is a single board, so lots of work to separate the functions I guess.

Still, this is all hypothetical, right? :slight_smile: