I could really do with some guidance regarding possible speaker purchase. My current system is LP12/Ittock/Circus/Lingo/0C9, CDi/82/Hi/250 & Linn keilidhs.
The keilidhs do not really suit my room, this was not so obvious until I upgraded to hi/250 from flat/90. They have to be placed either side of a chimney breast and the bass is just too much at times. It can become a bit boomy. I was thinking SBL's, Kef Ref. 3's etc or maybe even going for a stand mount (AE 1's?). This could facilitate a second hi-cap. Finally, what about ATC's? Good speakers but are they too insensitive (80db)?

Have you heard Royd?
Give the Royd Albions a listen. I did and I bought a pair to go with my 250.
Regards,
Per

Other than Naim own speakers, Naimophiles give good words for Royd, Shahinian, Epos, Linn, Dynaudio (someimes) and ATC. What about the Neats, especially the Petite and Elite? I think HiFiChoice (PaulMesengger?,Malcolm Steward?) rated the Neats with Naim electronics rather positively.

Is there any Naimophile using Neat speakers out there. Would like to know your personal opinion.

Jauhar

You really should check out ProAc, either the Response One SC, the tablette 2000 Signature or the new Response 1.5. The latter is a new floor stander which I heard in Hong Kong last week. You will need to budget good stands for the other two. They are easy on the eye too with an extensive array of finishes. Cheers, Dave

i am vey much drawn to atc's for some reason; they just seem total quality. the sensitivity is a worry though, nap250's are powerful but atc recommend 150 watts minimum. ultimately i will let my ears decide; looks are a consideration though as the other half generally likes a say.

I ran a pair of Neat Petite IIs on the end of a 32.5/snaps/160 and they did groove. A couple of caveats - they had a ribbon tweeter which sounds quite different to a normal dome (almost like there's less mid but the treble carries on much higher). Stands are crucial - they sounded miles better on the slate audio ones than typical iron frame types - but the slate stands cost me £450! They really reward experimentation with location - a few inches either way makes quite a difference. I got mine because I moved house and coulnd't get my kans to work in the new lounge (no useable flat wall), I had the Neats in the bay window about 18" in front of the curtains. I'd guess you could put them either side of the chimney but a bit away from both the back wall and chimney itself.

Having said all this I really miss them, they combined a beautifully open presentation with real insight into the passion and groove of the music. The impression I got was that like all great speakers they were very revealing and therefore would just get better and better as you improved the source and amps.

I still own them and the stands, but when our 1 year old started using the slate stands for mountaineering practice I packed them up, and bolted the old kans to the wall. I hated these at first but now I've upgraded to 82/2xHi/250 they're starting to sound pretty good again, I've resisted the temptation to unpack the Neats to see how good they'd now sound. If you were interested I could be persuaded to sell them and the stands (great condition, boxed, etc.). Drop me an email if you are.
Phil

Woodface,

I'm surprised that using a 250 would make your room sound boomier as the 250 has a much firmer grip. It is possible that it reproduces bass more authoritatively and hence excites resonance to a greater extent.

Rather than replace your loudspeakers with less bass, have you considered if your electronics and source components are properly supported? Airborne and structural vibration can cause boominess through microphony and acoustic feedback. When I installed my system on Mana, bass has gained significantly in definition, control and weight and any trace of bloom is gone. Many of the serious naimophiles here would consider equipment stands a very significant part of the sonic equation.

James

James, thanks for your input here and I think you have summed up the problems I am having more eloquently than I did. Basically the 250 seems to produce more low frequency energy and obviously greater control. In short they are showing the true characteristics of my speakers perhaps? I do have proper stands (target AER 5's, these are very solid and not a flat pack design!)although they are not in the Mana class! Mana is a no no as the wife hasd sanctioned a speaker purchase on a looks basis! I obviously want better sound; my room has wooden floors that are damped with rugs and soft furnishings. I have recently moved house but my previous music room was smaller but generally similar. Has anyone used ATC's with naim eqipment?