Hi guys. Just wondering if you can offer any assistance

I currently have a CD5 & CD5i (will sell one when I decide which I prefer), Naim 5i and Motive 2’s in a difficult room (diagram below). I have always been really unhappy with the sound (CD player aside) due to the “boominess” of the room. The room is quite large with wooden floors, high ceilings, arches and the main culprit I think, the need to have one of the speakers right in a corner. However, I have bought some acoustic dampening material and placing it behind the speakers (both sides for the corner) has been a revelation. Even my girlfriend commented that it sounds much better.

I now notice that the Nait 5i is struggling with the Motive 2’s to fill the room. The room is approx 9 meters wide, 5 meters long with a distance to the roof of approx 5 meters - so a fairly large space. Doing some research I notice that others agree that the Neat’s can struggle with volume, possibly due to their downward firing bass port.

I think my options are:

1) Change the Nait to a 122x/150x - Would this make much difference?

2)Change to a second hand Supernait - Probably right at the top of my budget.

3)Change the Nait 5i to a second hand 72/180 (or similar) setup - My concern here is the change in voicing from the Nait 5i (which I like) and also that I can’t demo them, lack of remote and once I service them it may be a similar price to a Supernait?

4)Change to some more efficient speakers - Prefer non rear ported to avoid exacerbating the boominess issue

Any thoughts? Now that I have improved the boominess of the room I am beginning to like the Motive 2’s so if I look at speakers I would like a similar sound. I really like the appearance of the Naim Intro 2’s and also the fact that I could use them right against the wall would mean I would only need dampening on the one side wall. Is the sound similar to the Motive 2’s or more lean and mean?

Sound wise, whilst I like PraT I don’t like a harsh top end, hence my preference for CD5 over the CD5i at the mo…

Any assistance would be really appreciated.

Thanks,
Wayne

BTW, the rug isnt 2 sq/m. Thats just Visio...

Thanks

wazza69, you pose an interesting dilemma.

While I am giving my opinion, I am in no way an expert and am not trying to convince you to "upgrade". Spending more more is always easy.

I upgraded recently to the Snait, definite change.... more sound stage, punch, imaging, fullness, everything...but you have other things going on here also.

1. You may have trapped that right speaker and the bass if it is a rear firing port speaker.

2. have you toed in the speakers?

3.Can you move the speaker on the right out from the back wall, a little to the right and toe it in about 20 degrees, though not a common practice, it may work and allow the bass to escape.

4. eliminate the plants on the outside, move to the inside of speakers if there is room.

5. move to left speaker further to the left corner of the wall, with the toe in it may allow the bass to escape past the corner, off the wall/door and into the room and improve your sound.

you may be trapping bass, and as a result of using dampening material, you have settled it down, but have also muted your other frequencies and eliminated your imaging.

hope this helps, otherwise, I am a supernait guy, second hand with a trade in on the Nait5i may be a great deal, and you get a DAC and can power a stageline off the Snait.

GREAT drawing by the way, engineer?

rega1

Thanks Rega, I will defintely try some shuffling around with the speakers. I think you are right regarding the dampening "sucking" some of the other frequencies out but certainly better than how it was.

Regarding the SN, another option is to trade/sell the CD5/CD5i and Nait 5i for a Supernait and use my Airport express for now and get another CD player once the funds allow. Hmmm....

No not an engineer, IT project manager. Plenty of time with visio....

Some folks are really enjoying the Snait airport express, mac book combo. The Snait is a great piece of equipment. Keep the CD5. The 5i seems to be bright to some folks, but not on my end yet. You already have a CD collection, I am sure, and the Snait really flows nice for the CDP's. But I understand your dilemma with funds, make the right decision for your budget, always!!!!

Regarding your speakers. A great many folks here LOVE their totems, so I think you would be acting hastely to trade / upgrade for what you have.

I agree with your comment, you may be losing some other frequencies and having them sucked out of the staging.

post your results after you make adjustments, I would like to know what you discover.

rega1