Starting a new topic as my others are a bit long and I think I'm nearing a decision.
I've got a few more demo's to do but I think I'm near to finding what I want.
Choice currently between Naim Nait 5si and Icon Audio Stereo 40.
Icon Audio Stereo 40 sounded good. When I demoed it I was planning on demoing a couple of amps and comparing Icon Audio speakers. After fairly quickly picking speakers to use, Icon Audio MFV3 Super, I kept just putting CD after CD on to hear what it could do and liked everything. I did briefly try another amp but went back to this one and tried more CD's. I even went out to my car to get another CD to try that I wasn't going to bother using!
I was surprised by the Naim demo. I was not expecting to like the amp. From what I've read about Naim amps and what I have been trying to find I thought Naim would be the worst amp (excluding Cyrus) for me to go for. I liked what it did with the music. Natural, detailed but not harsh, good imaging & very well controlled bass. I think I could live with it and enjoy it long term.
Since the Naim demo I am not enjoying my music as much. I can really hear my systems faults.
I now also do not think I am after a warm sounding system. I wanted that initially as an escape from the Cyrus system I had. After not finding anything that I like by following that route and after hearing the Naim I think I want a natural sounding neutral sound. I think that the Naim does that very well but will get a home demo to be sure. I like the idea of valve amps and the Icon Audio amp was good making me want to keep playing music.
I've got a few more demo's to do but I think I'm near to finding what I want.
Choice currently between Naim Nait 5si and Icon Audio Stereo 40.
Icon Audio Stereo 40 sounded good. When I demoed it I was planning on demoing a couple of amps and comparing Icon Audio speakers. After fairly quickly picking speakers to use, Icon Audio MFV3 Super, I kept just putting CD after CD on to hear what it could do and liked everything. I did briefly try another amp but went back to this one and tried more CD's. I even went out to my car to get another CD to try that I wasn't going to bother using!
I was surprised by the Naim demo. I was not expecting to like the amp. From what I've read about Naim amps and what I have been trying to find I thought Naim would be the worst amp (excluding Cyrus) for me to go for. I liked what it did with the music. Natural, detailed but not harsh, good imaging & very well controlled bass. I think I could live with it and enjoy it long term.
Since the Naim demo I am not enjoying my music as much. I can really hear my systems faults.
I now also do not think I am after a warm sounding system. I wanted that initially as an escape from the Cyrus system I had. After not finding anything that I like by following that route and after hearing the Naim I think I want a natural sounding neutral sound. I think that the Naim does that very well but will get a home demo to be sure. I like the idea of valve amps and the Icon Audio amp was good making me want to keep playing music.