By all means keep an open mind, it's your money.
However, you say you've been using Naim gear for years. That being the case I would suggest that you must like what Naim systems do otherwise you'd have changed some time ago. I would advise you to think very carefully before you make a complete change such as this. Go for a dem', use your ears and don't just change because it is different. In the long term you might regret
it.

Also, I'd expect the CDX to perform better with other Naim equipment than with other brands, but then I would say that 'cos I own an 'all Naim system'.

Brian

I'm not familiar with the PassLabs kit, but have spent some time listening to Krell.

To my ears there really is no comparison between Naim and Krell, and would happily take a Nait 2 over a KAV-300i.

I'm a little unsure as to why you are thinking about looking elsewhere for your amplification. Are you unhappy with the "Naim Sound" and thinking that going for one of the big american amps will help?

For my money, i would go for the 82 / hicap / 250, as i think that it offers far more musical satisfaction than the Krell kit.

What speakers are you using?

Cheers

Matt

If you need something worthwhile to compare Naim against, try DNM or Densen.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

You'll have a fast CDX into a rather slow Krell and it's just not a good match. Can't comment about the rest of the American gear, but I assume it's roughly the same.

Personally, the one system that I've heard that was about as involving as low level Naim was a conrad-johnson base preamp and a Premier 11A amp. I also liked the VAC 70 watt amp at Singer in NYC.

If you're contemplating spending Krell/ML money, you can listen to everything, or just buy a NAC52 and a 250!

Also, the Red Rose stuff which is retailed only in NYC is getting a lot of respectable hype, as are SETs. Art Dudley has thrown over Naim for SETs. And Exposure stuff is good. Lots to pick from. Hope you enjoy your search.

Regards.

Phil

(Just thought, you probably bought your CDX from them and are well aware of what they do... )

For example, my dream system would be more like:
Naim CDS-II
Simaudio Moon P5/W5 (better than 82/Hi/250, IMHO)
Dynaudio Confidence 5 (better than NBL, IMHO)

In my experience, Plinius and Blue Circle both work very well with the CDX. I currently run my CDX/XPS into Blue Circle gear. I think Plinius is making the best (and best value) all-solid state gear around these days. Blue Circle gear is mainly hybrid - tube/solid state - and has a little more sense of touch, space, and palpability without sacrificing much low-end authority, which is the usual cost of these virtues. Blue Circle can put the music 'in the room' as no Naim or Plinius gear I have heard can.

Blue Circle also makes some all-solid state gear which is a good value and which has some of the hybrid gear's sound. And they have just announced what looks to be a very fine pair of all solid state monoblocks, BC 8's. If you can get to a BC dealer, that would be the most interesting change you could consider, I would think. You might still prefer Naim but at least you'd know what you're missing. Or not.

Thanks for your reply

I have considered that for 11 year’s, and in that time I have tried among others:
Audio Note, Luxman tubeamp, Electrocompaniet, Tube Technology, Krell, Rotel, Onix, Exposure, Hiraga, Audio Innovation, Audiolab. Maybe some other’s, now gladly forgotten.

I say that no one (excl. Exposure) comes even close to that overall musically and involving presentation which Naim Amp’s is capable of doing. And I don’t bother to waste more time with any other amp’s. If I have had that knowledge 10 year’s ago I should NEVER have sold my Kan’s/250/hicap/72, and for now I have difficulties with getting such a system again. But believe me, thats what I’m gonna do.

I have not listened to Densen or DNM, and some Exposure based systems may be satisfactory.
My source is/was LP12 and Rega Planet, Naim Cdi/CD3, Nat 02.

Regard's
Per

Levinson's decidedly better, but way too expensive. My only problem with Levinson is that it is boring. At least it doesn't hurt your ears.

Can't write anything about Pass, but I can say that you may want to consider Spectral if you're going to spend gobs of cash. It's the only American hi-fi brand of electronics I've heard that I like. I've only heard one demo, but was extremely impressed. I can't make specific suggestions as it was beyond my price range. Spectral shares a propensity for "speed" with Naim. It's definitely exciting.

Also consider Sim Audio. It's Canadian, but what's Canada other than a majority owned subsidiary of the USA? After Naim, it's just about my favorite gear. All of the gear is good, the W-5 being a particularly good amp, and the I-5 a killer integrated.

In the end, though, Naim electronics are better than the above mentioned, the Spectral possiblyexcepted.

I come from a heavy "downsizing" of my system (or at least I thought I was..) from amps such as Gryphon (1 year), Jadis (1 year too), Rowland (3 years), Levinson (3 months !), Metaxas (1.5 years) etc... Let me tell you that nevertheless you will get some differences on single issues such as some more transparency in some brands, or better resolution in some others, the Naim presentation is the more musical oriented and the one that finnaly kept me away of the buy-sell game.

Don´t get me wrong, there are many great options out there, but I do beleive that the system sinergy, balance and the effect that a good engineering applies to get PRaT and just the musical approach that Naim offers (not to mention the scalability factor through the inclusion of external Power Supplies, which will save you a lot of money!) is what really counts in my personal opinion.

[This message was edited by flezama on TUESDAY 12 December 2000 at 00:07.]

2. As you know, Naim gear isn't designed to sound "invisible". So you may find that the CDX will sound best with a Naim backend (by design).

3. Take your time to decide (this related to point 1). You may find the virtues of a new system don't reveal themselves immediately. Take equipment home (if you can) and listen to it with an open mind and open ears!

BAM

quote:

---

I would appreciate some feedback as to whether I should stay within the Naim line

---

HA!... That's a good question on a Naim forum!

No seriously Philip, I think it's very good to keep an open mind towards audio-gear. Only some 3 months ago I changed to an all Naim system after 12 years in the tube-arena. Naim is very good but by no means perfect or impossible to improve on. There are still some things I miss from the various tube gear I had but I'm one VERY happy Naimie.

In my experience the number of very good alternatives increases when you go to a high(er) price-level. Entry- and mid-level Naim gear is pretty hard to beat but at the upper Naim level (52/CDSII/135's etc.) it becomes a different ballgame IMO.

There is no right-or-wrong when it comes to taste or a highly subjective thing like 'sound-quality' but gear from Pass, Levinson and last but not least Spectral give top-flight Naim models a VERY serious and tough run for their money...

Richard

Just a note: with a Supercap, you've got lots of upgrade room in the preamp area - about the only thing that won't improve is a 62 or 92.

Good lick!