Persona’s directly to the left / right of your listening chair?
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Persona’s directly to the left / right of your listening chair?
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Boulder & Fyne, you know you want to...
Michael??
I’m my own worst customer.
Nothing decided. My system currently comprises two turntables and a reel to reel sitting on the floor.
Thinking:
Kharma, Harbeth, Pass, Luxman, Sim, Classe, Boulder, NAIM, Block, MSB, Aurender I have Vivid and NAIM in the family room, so maybe try something different in the listening room.
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Ok here goes ,
System 1 : AG trios with subs powered with VAC pre/amplification..
system 2: Kharma Enigma Veyron 4D with Boulder/Gryphon /MSB ..
Hurry up before the Vette gets in and ur distracted ...!
:)
Regards
I know the trios wont fit , the plan is for you to take them to the store for fantastic demo’s
:)
How about a sweet, simple, "to the pont" system:
Harbeth 30.2s
Pass Labs 60.8 amp
Pass XP12 pre
Hegel DAC
Shunyata Denali V2 PD
Shunyata Alpha v2 ICs, SPs and PCs, Sigma USB
You can use one of the two TTs you already have.
This system would likely punch way above its price point.
Great little system, but at the volumes I listen, I would blow the 30.2’s to smithereens in my room. 40.3’s…for sure would work. 260.8’s then.
I have some Franco Serblin Accordo Essence coming next week to go with the little Accordo’s in the store. Maybe those.
Been kind of wanting to live with some 40.3’s though. At least for a few months. Have some ideas I want to
try around ISOacoustics on top of some Skylan Stands for isolation.
Kharma’s remain my ultimate goal. Since you can customize any speaker in the Essence line with a Diamond tweeter and/or Omega-F midrange (from the Enigma Veyron series), I’ve been pondering those or just some stock DB7-S’s or 9’s. Of course, there is always the Exquisite MIDI [emoji848].
We’ll see. No time to experiment this weekend as we have two more installs.
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So, I decided on a NAIM 500 system. 500 DR amp (and power supply) with 552 Preamp (and power supply) and 555 DAC/Streamer (and power supply). Also going with three NAIM SuperLine Phonostages (two for the Avid with two tone arms and one for the Kronos). Two of those SuperLine’s get a SuperCAP DR power supply and the third gets it’s power from the 552. Likely the mono cart will go on the last configuration.
I also have the new NAIM Solstice turntable and phonostage (with power supply coming), a full NAIM FRAIM rack (Cherry with black legs and tinted glass). Cabling will be all NAIM SuperLumina, DIN, Burndy, Power and speaker, except for two XLR to DIN Chord Cables (for NAIM) to run my Studer R2R and Trinov SSP to the 552. The Studer is also getting a new custom made stand from Europe with two shelves (for the Doshi and it’s PSU).
Had to order a custom made glass shelf for one of the NAIM FRAIMs for the AVID TT to fit properly. There is no way to fit the Kronos, so it will go on a separate Quadrasphire rack. App to control the NAIM 555 DR will be the NAIM app, but will experiment with an Aurender going into one of the NAIM’s inputs. I tried this in the store and it was fabulous. Have not decided on power conditioning yet. The NAIM UK folks are so adamant that everything gets plugged into the wall. If I do that, I will definitely be using Shunyata Defenders with all the lightning strikes here in Florida.
Speakers: FOR NOW, Harbeth 40.3XD. I went with Skylan stands filled with white rice, rather than brown rice as the brown is a little too dark sounding (that’s a joke!). Skylan is from Canada and since they have a flat top, I will use four ISOAcoustic Orea Bordeaux’s between the bottom of the speaker and top of the stand. Will also experiment with four GAIA II’s instead of the spikes on the stands.
Long term I will be going with a Kharma speaker, but first want to evaluate a few more. I already have Vivid G3 S2’s with NAIM in my family room, but I did consider a pair of G2 S2’s. Also wanted to live with the Harbeth 40.3XD for a while since Paul Yoo (the audiophile formerly known as “Blue McIntosh”) has been so insistent I do so.
With supply chain issues, I may have everything up and running by Christmas. [emoji6]
Wow…outstanding Mike! I’m sure it will sound glorious. Can’t wait to see the pics.
i tried to get home demo of the 500 system for 3 years without any success so i just gave up
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i’m in portland or
i’m familiar with naim , i even own some naim gear since the 90s and still enjoy it
as for the 500 , i won’t purchase without home demo
thx
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The 500 system is awesome!!!!!
Whats in a Naim ....! :)
Pics would help , less see this new home reference setup ..!
Regards
Thank you. I did. I bounced around the idea for weeks. The hard core NAIM guys on the NAIM forum really feel the 500 is the place to be in the price to performance ratio, unless you need the power. My room is small at home and I just don't see needing the power. In the Statement, I bet that preamp is amazing. That’s what kept me thinking, but the 552 is no slouch and weighs twice what the 252 does in the store.
My only consideration right now is one more PSU for the 555. I blame Jock (The Professor) for putting that thought in my head. He has two on his 555. One for the analog section, one for the digital section. He’s a bad influence.
I’ve lived with NAIM in my family room for about 3 years. I just love it. There I have a SN3 which I’m using as a preamp only since I added the 250DR (a gift from Jock), a ND5 XS2 steamer and HICAP DR.
NAIM’s “must do’s and do not’s” jive with my lifestyle. For example, NEVER turn it off. The preamp for example can take 2 weeks to start sounding great again. NAIM is tweaky in the way the components must be organized and stacked. The smallest thing with NAIM can make the biggest differences and don’t try to understand it because it will make you crazy! But you’re rewarded with the most toe tappingly musical sound with great bass grip and mids and sweet highs.
I was trying to think of a good analogy. I guess NAIM is the Alfa Romeo of audio. A real music lovers product.
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I don't know Naim that well but I remember back in the day it was always Naim vs Linn and it was a big thing and you couldn't be both...
Every time you have Naim in your videos I am always thinking Hmmmm yes... I like that! Even though I don't consider Naim as high as some other brands you have that may not sounds as good in the end anyway...
I cannot afford s**t but I do know that If I could I would buy an Atom in a heartbeat! Funnily though every reviews says it's the less fussy product ever. Just add speakers and boom it sounds wonderful! Then again, it's an all in one product...
A long time Naim owner here--dating back to the Chrome bumper days and before--quite an enigma brand--lovers and haters--bit finicky with speaker cabling in the past --but all seems kosher with the current crop.
It is good to see a major US dealer putting a full house Naim system together--I'm sure it will sound superb--yes to leaving on also-
However I'm sure the tropical season in Florida will mandate variations of that mantra--better to be safe than sorry though I agree!
My own 555's stay on too!
Good listening,
Bruce
Damn Mike, putting Alfa Romeo into the mix, ya bastard! I’ve been an Alfa fan for decades, now will have to seek out some Naim gear and have a listen. If Naim does for audio what Alfa does for drivers, it will be a romantic sound for sure, as Alfa has always been about the “body & soul” of driving, imho.
Maybe Jock will chime in… is your Naim rig at the Oregon coast house?
Alfa’s are great drivers, Once you get going .... !
I've never had an Alfa so I'm not familiar enough to comment on that analogy. My fat @ss never seemed to fit. :(
I had an '86 Spider Veloce. Not fast, but tons of fun. That was back in my early 30s, I was single, so a little ragtop sports car was perfect, though living in Seattle I found all the places the damn top leaked. But the car never failed to start, only left me stranded once with a failed water pump. That can happen to any car, and did to a couple of the beaters I drove as a kid.
Thinking 'bout that car... half a lifetime ago. Brings back some really great memories. Mine was a "champagne" color, like this:
My dream car would be a Competizione 8C. Followed by a picture of the new 8C (whenever it gets released, 0-60 under 3 seconds)
OK, sorry to derail Mike's thread. But he did bring up Alfa!
Great looking car! The new Lotus is bad ass as well.
But I like my “new to me” car. 2021 Cayman GT4. 4L Flat 6. Bought it second hand. 1450 miles on it. Just got it last week.
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The Emira looks amazing. Has me thinking a little.
Mike, your P Car is missing a third pedal :D Just kiddin’
The gear ratios on the stick are all messed up. This is a car built for the PDK. The 6 speed stick has first gear going to 55mph, and 2nd going to 85mph. It’s really designed for PDK. And quite a bit faster with PDK too: 3.4 Vs 4.1.
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Thanks Sean. I can honestly say it’s better than any of my 911’s, even my 2018 911 GTS.
I agree with Doug!
The 2020 Porsche Cayman GT4 Is My Favorite New Porsche - YouTube
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I can certainly see why. We’re at a point nowadays where all new cars are quick enough and have enough power (for the road). The smaller car with mid-engine balance really makes for that great driving experience that is loaded with fun. I never feel cheated in my base Cayman, speed-wise.