moving away from a Nait 5

[gianni78]

Hi everyone,

A few years ago I bought a Naim Nait 5 on ebay and I'm hating the sound (cold, harsh and very tiring). After 10-15 min i find it nerve wracking and i have to either shut down the music or turn it down massively. Perhaps it's faulty or maybe I'm crazy but i put back my old Technics A600 Mk2 and it sounds a lot warmer and more pleasent. The rest of the system is kef 202/2, Denon DCD-635, Imac through motu interface. My bedroom is about 4,20m x 3.50m and i listen to jazz, classical, 60s and 70s, funk and soul. I don't know much about hifi but I'm a professional musician. What amp should I buy? Second hand only please. Also any suggestion about a budget second hand turntaple? Thanks a lot

Gianni

 

[Tzutzu]

I had the same feeling with the same Naim. At that time I had an Arcam A19 so I made a comparison between them two. It's like north and south: totally opposite. I should tell you though that my speakers were Focals.

 

[chebby]

Hi everyone,

A few years ago I bought a Naim Nait 5 on ebay and I'm hating the sound (cold, harsh and very tiring). After 10-15 min i find it nerve wracking and i have to either shut down the music or turn it down massively.

Why have you put up with it for so long? You could have sold it - with no financial loss - at any time.

 

[drummerman]

I just lost a whole post due to trying to post an image on this awfully designed website!!

Can someone tell me how to post one? (I did this loads before but somehow it doesn't work now)

Sorry to hijack the thread but whoever designed this new site should be deported.

regards

 

[drummerman]

Anyway, here is shortened version as I can't be bothered to re-write the whole thing;

I would either source a s/h Icon valve amplifier or, if you want solid state, a John Shearne Phase 2. I had one it would more likely give you everything the Technics does but more.

Hope this helps

regards

 

[chebby]

I just lost a whole post due to trying to post an image on this awfully designed website!!

Can someone tell me how to post one? (I did this loads before but somehow it doesn't work now)

Sorry to hijack the thread but whoever designed this new site should be deported.

regards

Click on 'link' (4th icon from the left under where it says 'Comment') and paste the URL of the image.

 

[drummerman]

Thanks chebby but it still doesn't work. Neither does inserting the URL in 'image' ...

regards

 

[chebby]

Thanks chebby but it still doesn't work. Neither does inserting the URL in 'image' ...

regards

Works here either with link ...

clicky

or image ...

So - for once - it's not the site.

 

[drummerman]

Tried again ... nothing! It just gets stuck.

Thanks chebby. Back to the OP

regards

 

[nopiano]

Works here either with link ...

clicky

or image ...

oooh. Are those pieces of a Dual tutntable?

 

[chebby]

Works here either with link ...

clicky

or image ...

oooh. Are those pieces of a Dual tutntable?

Yes, they are part of my little 'hi-fi museum' / vinyl bits dump.

Spacers, alignment jig, Dual cartridge, cartridge holders, extra heavy counterweight (for heavier cartridges) etc.

 

[CnoEvil]

I have Kef Reference speakers and know how revealing they are. They can sound glorious (with the right source / amplification); or they can sound as you have described.

IMO. In order to scratch the surface of their capabilities, you are going to have to drastically increase your budget.

 

[MickyBlue]

give leema amps a go, i found my elements a smoother more enjoyable sound than the naim.

 

[gianni78]

Hey thanks everyone for your replies. I'll add some more info as some of you requested. I live in london and the reason I kept the nait 5 for about 4 years is because people tried to convince me that it's a very good amp and the problem must be the speakers or the room, the cables, etc. over those few years I had the chance to test it wth other speakers, ( including Linn Katan which i still have) and in different rooms. It took me a while to realize that the problem was the amp. Even now I posted this issue on the naim forum and they all replied that the nait 5 is not supposed to sound harsh and therefore i should just have it serviced. Maybe they are right but to be honest i had enough of trying to make this amp sound decent and I don't want to spend any more money on it so i'll put it back on ebay.

I was hoping to spend under £1000 on the amp. Perhaps i could stretch it a bit more if absolutely necessary but £2000 for the electrocompaniet would be way too much for a poor musician like me. After all I only spent £350 on my kef. The idea of a valve amp sounds tantalizing though. I looked icon audio on ebay and found a Stereo 25 MkII KT88 ex demo for £900 and ST 60 MK2 KT 88 for £1100. What do you think? As a cheaper option a friend reccomended me a NAD C370. they're about £270 on ebay. Would that be a poor choice? thanks

 

[gianni78]

They are 202/2. I got them a few months ago. Was it a good buy?

 

[CnoEvil]

I had no time to go into any depth this morning, so this is a more fleshed out answer.

IMO. You have 2 options - The very expensive one, or the less expensive one.

OPTION 1 (Expensive)

This involves keeping the Kef Ref 201/2 (which I assume they are, as 202/2c is a centre speaker). They will need an expensive gutsy amp from the likes of:

Electrcompaniet (ECI-5) like this one: http://www.fanthorpes.co.uk/second-hand/electrocompaniet-eci5-mkii-integrated-amplifier-2216793-418209-834973.php

Icon Audio - this is a great suggestion, but you would be looking at some of their monoblocks eg. MB150/845s, McIntosh, Classe, Plinius and Bryston

I also think you need a much better source...preferably a Linn Sneaky DS as a minimum

Option 2 (less expensive)

This would mean selling the Kefs and getting something that is less fussy and easier to drive.

Speakers to look at would be Kef LS50s, Harbeth, Spendor, Sonus Faber.

Amps to look at would be Sugden, Electrocompaniet eg http://www.audiodestination.co.uk/used-products/electrocompaniet-prelude-pi-1-integrated-amplifier, Audio Analogue, Rega, Unison Research Unico, Pathos, Arcam, Creek and Musical Fidelity

A CDP from Rega

What you do, must be driven by enjoyment, but will be determind by budget.....you may find a Rega Apollo R + Brio R + LS50s or Rega RS1 or Sonus Faber Toys, would meet your requirements.

Good luck with your search....btw. what country are you in?

 

[CnoEvil]

Can you confirm exactly what your Kef Model is, as the 202/2 (c) is a centre speaker in the outgoing Reference range. The 201/2s are the standmount of that Reference range, but I would expect them to be more than £350 second hand.

 

[CnoEvil]

They are 202/2. I got them a few months ago. Was it a good buy?

Can you give a link to the model you are talking about, as the 202/2 is a single centre speaker.

Are you sure it's not a 201/2

Edit. Are these your speakers: http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/kef-reference-2012-loudspeakers-hifi-74/

 

[gianni78]

Sorry I'm an idiot. They are 102/2

 

[plastic penguin]

I had no time to go into any depth this morning, so this is a more fleshed out answer.

IMO. You have 2 options - The very expensive one, or the less expensive one.

OPTION 1 (Expensive)

This involves keeping the Kef Ref 201/2 (which I assume they are, as 202/2c is a centre speaker). They will need an expensive gutsy amp from the likes of:

Electrcompaniet (ECI-5) like this one: http://www.fanthorpes.co.uk/second-hand/electrocompaniet-eci5-mkii-integrated-amplifier-2216793-418209-834973.php

Icon Audio - this is a great suggestion, but you would be looking at some of their monoblocks eg. MB150/845s, McIntosh, Classe, Plinius and Bryston

I also think you need a much better source...preferably a Linn Sneaky DS as a minimum

Option 2 (less expensive)

This would mean selling the Kefs and getting something that is less fussy and easier to drive.

Speakers to look at would be Kef LS50s, Harbeth, Spendor, Sonus Faber.

Amps to look at would be Sugden, Electrocompaniet eg http://www.audiodestination.co.uk/used-products/electrocompaniet-prelude-pi-1-integrated-amplifier, Audio Analogue, Rega, Unison Research Unico, Pathos, Arcam, Creek and Musical Fidelity

A CDP from Rega

What you do, must be driven by enjoyment, but will be determind by budget.....you may find a Rega Apollo R + Brio R + LS50s or Rega RS1 or Sonus Faber Toys, would meet your requirements.

Good luck with your search....btw. what country are you in?

Mmmm... tricky for the OP as Naim can sound cracking with the right set-up, but get it wrong and it... well...

I've experienced both with Naim.

 

[CnoEvil]

Sorry I'm an idiot. They are 102/2

This is still a Reference Range speaker, so a fair bit of what I said is still valid....though it does explain the price.

The 102/2 may not be quite as clean sounding as the 201/2s, but they still require decent amplification....you might get away with this, if in reach: http://www.audio-cinema.co.uk/electrocompaniet-eci-3-integrated-amplifier-6102-p.asp

Kef have often paired their modern Refs with Electrcompaniet.

Here is some info, if you haven't seen it: http://www.kef.com/uploads/files/en/museum_pdf/90s/Reference_Series_Models_101_2_and_102_2.pdf

 

[gianni78]

That's still out of my budget I'm afraid. I was hoping to stay under £1000. Any other suggestions? Is the nad c370 inadequate for for my speakers?

 

[plastic penguin]

That's still out of my budget I'm afraid. I was hoping to stay under £1000. Any other suggestions? Is the nad c370 inadequate for for my speakers?

Power is one thing, but unless you have the quality of current any amp will struggle. Agree with Cno changing the speakers is the easiest and cheapest solution, however, this amp will give you power and quality. The only snag is it's a little over budget by £150. It is new with a hefty discount.

 

[CnoEvil]

That's still out of my budget I'm afraid. I was hoping to stay under £1000. Any other suggestions? Is the nad c370 inadequate for for my speakers?

Then look at the Electro PI-1 that I linked to, which is under £1k and would do a reasonable job. You could also look out for an ex-dem Musical Fidelity M3i, and since they have brought out the new model, you might get a new one for under £1k.

EDIT. PP's link to the M6i is much more what you need.....try to find the extra money if you can.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Is the nad c370 inadequate for for my speakers?

Hi gianni78

No, the NAD C370 is an excellent amplifier. The C370 had a weighty, smooth, punchy and powerful sound and with it's high current/power will be more than good enough for your speakers

Start off with a C370 and then add the matching C270 power amplifier to bi amplify your speakers which will give even greater control, drive, headroom and performance

This combination should cost around £500 - £600.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft