My first impression was a significant gain in bass weight, which didn't surprise me. The second thing that struck me was the unrefined nature of the SF tweeter compared to the Scan unit, but that is a different matter altogether. We didn't spend a huge amount of time swapping and comparing. What little time we did spend suggested to me that my little SFs were lacking in the bottom end.

Later in the evening, I listened to my SFs again and fully expecting to be disappointed. But I wasn't. There is no denying the bass was lighter, but it was no less tuneful and articulate. Playing the closing tracks of the 2 CD Pink Floyd Pulse very clearly shook the room when required. I wish I had tried those tracks with the larger speakers to see if the room might have been overwhelmed.

So, a simple question for you folks is ... how do you determine what is the correct balance of weight at the bottom end of the musical spectrum? Is it something we get used to, or is there more to it than just moving huge volumes of air? Just in case anyone is wondering, I do discern bass pitch, texture, timing and articulation reasonably well, but just not sure what the correct amount is.

James

Resistance is Futile - You will be ASSIMILATED

I listened to two amps in my integrated search this saturday. A Nait and a Euphya 250, and the euphya certainly had in A/B testing more bass weight and definition than the Nait.

In fact once I start thinking in those terms, bass weight definition, crunchy highs, fruity mids (with sh'bamp'ah on the side maybe ...) then I'm not listening to the music any more, I'm listening to the sound.

Peter

Chris.

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Leave the frequencies to look after themselves and make sure the people are present!

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That MUST be the appeal of Kans.

James

Resistance is Futile - You will be ASSIMILATED

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you are a very lucky man indeed as you can make do with a hundred-pound portable system.

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I wouldn't be here if I was satisfied with a boombox, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy music on such a device. I do from time to time, but when I do I long for the home system.

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When we listen to sounds in isolation we evaluate their role to play in the bigger musical picture.

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Sure we can do that, but if we do what do we gain ? an invitation to Upgraders Anonymous ?

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Bass definition, always a challenge for a music reproduction system, is all about the low notes playing to the same scoresheet as the rest of the notes further up the frequency range. We want to hear them doing their bit towards the whole musical performance.

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Are you saying "Bass Definition = PRaT" ?

I'm a very recent convert to the Naim way, but I have always priviledged rhythmic values in music over harmonic values. Incidentally, this is why for the most part I do not enjoy listening to the Pink Floyd, Harmonically the are extremely gifted, but for rhythm, bof!

Pete

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you can tell what sort of day your girlfriend has had over a telephone line with a three kilohertz bandwidth. What use is a wide bandwidth if you can't tell what sort of day she has had! Leave the frequencies to look after themselves and make sure the people are present

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Hmmmm... sounds like an excuse to me

John

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Harmonics are also very important, hence my insistence on pre/power amps over a simple integrated. Once you get all those lovely layers and the plethora of decaying notes to boot you don't look back...

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I have no argument with the beauty of harmonic richness, that's why people get addicted to tube amps. In fact a well sorted EL34 pushpull amp will give you beauty and grunt, without having to go to separate pre-power. F'rinstance Audiomat's Arpege amp (and for less than 1000GBP, in france) does that harmonic beauty in gobs, while still doing fine in the rhythm stakes (ain't that so, Rob ?).

My perspective has turned from multi amp complication to the simplicity of the integrated. I'm expecting great things from the Nait, I may get the flatcap, and almost certainly will if I get the Stageline for phono. But, if I do that I'm already making things more complicated

Peter

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Leave the frequencies to look after themselves and make sure the people are present!

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Brilliant.

Rico - all your base are belong to us.