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Julian chaired all designs reviews up until December 1999. He and the team felt the Nait concept since number 1 had moved on into a group of products which offered exceptional musical performance at given price levels and that the series 5 had reached new heights within the above design brief.

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One thing I have noticed is that the Nait now occupies a totally different market position than it did originally. I remember the Mk1 Nait cost around 30% more than a Rega P3 or between twice and three times the price of a Nad 3020 when it came out, in other words it was still just about in the "starter system" price bracket. My guess would be that the Nait Mk1 would be priced about 400 quid in today's money, i.e. around half the price of the current amp.

The Nait 5 seems a totally different beast to the old Nait Mk1, whilst I am sure its quality and performance is in a different league, so is its price and market position. Is it not time for an entry level sub-Nait, or was it a conscious decision to move up-market?

Tony.

I sort of agree with Tony. 800 quids is much enough for the first and cheapest taste of Naim, at least for the lower end market. Perhaps it's the time for a cheaper and lower power Nait (15-20 watts) with no remote and less expensive casing etc ? Just suggesting. Good for second system.

Jauhar

Knowing that Julian approveed the new logo makes it easier to accept although I still think the old logo is a work of genius.

Reading your post had me envisaging the scene - a bottle of malt slipping down as you sat together by the fireside listening, green lights glowing in the dark!

regards,

Jonathan

WHilst I quite like the new logo I still think I prefer the old. Bit of a luddite I suppose. I must admit that I don't like the implementation of the new logo on the 5 series. It looks sort of plasticy (IMHO) if you know what I mean and this is completely out of kilter with the rest of the box finish which looks very solidly engineered.

I loved the Nait1 but think the time for such "low cost" audion products has passed. It's already moving rapidly to AV. Give it 5 years and I doubt most people will be buying audio only midi and low end hi-fi systems. It will all be AV. I don't see how it could possibly be worth developing a product to slot in below the Nait5.

Regards

Neil

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I must admit that I don't like the implementation of the new logo on the 5 series. It looks sort of plasticy (IMHO) if you know what I mean and this is completely out of kilter with the rest of the box finish which looks very solidly engineered.

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Neil, I have to agree. Got my CD5 last week, and it sounds great. The build quality is superb, and I like the style of the new logo, it's just the implementation of it on the CD5. It just doesn't look as classy as the logo on say a CDX.

Simon

A crescent with a simple "naim"
or the nA logo with "naim audio"

Which one says it all?

Also, pictograms are always important - particularly with the Japanese.

Andrew

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

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I've said it before. The old nA logo is fantastic.

A crescent with a simple "naim"
or the nA logo with "naim audio"

Which one says it all?

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I am also not totally convinced about the dropping of the 'na' logo, it has such a good history, though I am far more concerned about the dropping of the word 'audio'. The Naim brand to me represents cutting edge audio design, if the removal of that word implies the start of a descent into AV and multiroom nonsense in the same general direction as Linn, then that worries me. It has been such a shame to watch Linn screw everything up and lose all credibility (IMHO the Kan II was their last great design), it would be even worse if Naim took a similar path.

Tony.

Who plugs his Nicam TV into his hi-fi, but claims it is definitely not AV…

Linn has screwed up - particularly with their loudspeakers. They have now turned into a jack of all trades. I have not heard a good Linn demo in years - as for the set up at Harrods.....

When I see products like the Sekrit, Classik and the new Kans, I think of one word: "Bose".

Of course Naim needs to be profitable and if their profits are dropping from their current market - then expand into AV. If I were to advocate an AV product strategy, then look at Tag Maclaren who have clear product lines.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
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I use Linn, because it is the closest example to Naim that I can think of - like most companies they make mistakes to learn from.

Linn still have a core of good products (including the LP12, Kairn, LK240) - however IHMO none of them presently include loudspeakers. I have heard the current batch of loudspeakers many times.

I have only heard the Keltiks sound good in 2/10 demos. Isobariks have always been good, and *my own* Kan IIs are fabulous (indeed I also use a Linn Mimik cd player).

Regarding Naim electronics and Linn loudspeakers - I've heard the combination and the results are what you we expect from two differently "voiced" products.

However a good Linn source is easily the equal to the Naim price equivalent (when used with Naim amps and 'speakers).

There are no politics here - I *REALLY* wish Linn would start to produce good 'speakers again, like the 'Bariks and Kans. Much to Naim's credit, they have launched the NBL and filled the market gap there.

Florian, if you are aware of what Linn were and what Linn are now, you may appreciate how their priorities have tilted.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
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How about:

Naim Audio (with nA logo)
Naim Visual (with nV logo!!!!!)

Different labels for different for lines of product types.

Fantastic, I hope you're making a note of this.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
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That this is a Naim forum is pretty evident, however, there is no need to put down Linn, whatever strategy they might pursue in the AV business. Linn's speakers have been, and still are, excellent, particularly their active versions (Keilidhs, Kabers, and Keltiks). How come that that so many Naim aficionados use Linn speakers.

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I did not really intend to revisit the noble sport of Linn-bashing, but ah well here we go...

You are right, there are many Naim aficionados who use Linn speakers, and those speakers are Kans, Saras, and Isobariks.

None of the new ported speakers even slightly do it for me (and most others here), well I could just about cope with Tukans, but would consider them a massive downgrade from my Kan IIs. Kelteks are to Bariks what something really boring is to something that isn’t.

The hi-fi Linn now produce seems tame, they seem out to compete against (as Andrew points out above) B&O and Bose rather than Naim, Exposure etc. One word springs alarmingly to mind - “lifestyle”. Ok the CD12 may be cutting edge, alternatively it may just be a cynical loss leader to keep up-market magazine cover credibility for the brand. I am very pleased to see the LP12 still in their range, though wonder how long it will fit in with the direction the company seems to be pursuing. It is the direction that I dislike, not just the fact they have made a few duff products. Linn used to have real innovation, imagination, and sufficient bare faced cheek to be at the cutting edge. If it was someone like Audiolab we were discussing no one would remotely care… with Linn its irritating.

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And their amplification, though, different from Naim's, is excellent - from LK 100s to Klouts (not to speak of the new monos.

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Ah, the amps, well rumour has it that Julian V found a use for one, he was a bright man – it would have taken me longer to work out what they were for.

Tony.

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None of the new ported speakers even slightly do it for me (and most others here),

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Tony.

The Kabers are not ported (not sure about their other floor-standers) and are actually pretty good. I agree with the rest of what you've written, although Ivor stole the LP12 from the Systemdeck, who probably stole it from Thorens, who did it a lonog, long time ago, so I'm not so sure about "cutting edge.".

BTW--CD12 is amasing, but ridiculously priced, especially when you suspect a Sansui on Phase 13 will beat it and know that a Planar 9 on Phase 3 will equal it.

Vuk.

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although Ivor stole the LP12 from the Systemdeck, who probably stole it from Thorens, who did it a lonog, long time ago, so I'm not so sure about "cutting edge.".

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I think you meant that Linn stole the sprung subchassis from ARISTON, not Systemdek. I don't know what it is with the Scots and turntables, but the Ariston, the Linn, the Fons CQ30, the STD (Strathclyde Transcription Deck) and the Source all could produce magical sounds. And in that golden era of vinyl the English could only come up with a couple of half-hearted contenders. In fact the naim dealer (in the UK anyway) that was not also a Linn dealer sold a Welsh table (the Roksan). Hey.. how many of you remember the JBE Slate deck?

Tangent off

Ron
Dum spiro audio
Dum audio vivo

http://homepages.go.com/~rontoolsie/index1.html

This story was recounted many times in the UK hifi press in the early 80s.

Another Scot called Hamish Robertson is credited with the design fundamentals of what was originally the Ariston RD11, which Ivor Tiefenbrun then borrowed for the LP12 and patented.

Hamish Robertson subsequently committed suicide.

As far as Scots & turntables, of course they have a history of invention and engineering excellence. Shame about all those 'trying to be American' bands they produce though.