(Naim tuner question) Would it be idiotic.......

[chebby]

...to buy a Naim NAT-05 tuner with - possibly - only a little over 6 years of FM left?

I will try and locate a good used/ex-demo model via my Naim dealer (part of a national chain) but even so, it is still a lot of money given that I am currently using a tuner that cost me a tenner!

Every year that passes will result in less possibility of resale unless the government 'u-turn' on their decision to shut down national FM broadcasting in six years time. So I could be buying what will ultimately be a Naim paperweight!

I have considered every item of my system and cannot find any reason to upgrade it right now, except the tuner.

I know I can use internet radio via my DAC (I do already for BBC iPlayer) and I know I can use good quality Freeview radio via my DAC (and I do for BBC R7 and daytime World Service) but for R4, R3 and R2 even my £10 Denon sounds so much bigger and better than these options and slays DAB of course.

I am in a strong reception area with a good FM roof aerial - only installed last year - and I am keen to maximise the quality of FM whilst it is still there. (FM I mean, not the aerial.)

I listen to radio about 4 - 5 hours a day which is about 3 times times more than CD and about 10 times more than I listen to vinyl in an average week, so I suppose I should really spend some more on it.

(Or should I buy a new camera instead?)

 

[John Duncan]

How much?

 

[chebby]

JohnDuncan:How much?

Brand new about £900 but as I said, I would hope to find a good used (or ex-demo) one for less.

 

[Andrew Everard]

I'd be more inclined to go for a NAT 01 or NAT 02 as my last-ever tuner...

 

[matthewpiano]

Is it worth doing a comparative audition against your Denon?

It seems like a huge outlay for a (future) paperweight. I'd go for the new camera instead if it were me.

 

[Anonymous]

Well on one hand you'll have the best quality radio you can get. On the other you'll be stuffed when it gets switched off and nothing else compares. Buy a better amp instead, you'd get more of an upgrade whilst using Freeview.

 

[John Duncan]

There's one here which will probably go for 600 quid. Which , to me, is silly money. But then I don't listen to the radio as much as you and am happy with Freeview quality...

 

[Tony_R]

This article may help you to make a decision.

 

[chebby]

Tony_R:This article may help you to make a decision.

Thanks. I have read that one and similar articles before. The problem is that the politicians responsible for switching off FM won't be reading it and wouldn't even know what FM is or how to spell it.

The sort of person who is capable of risking a career in politics for free internet porn (a bit like blowing up your house to get to a ten pound note stuck on the roof) is not going to be capable of listening to any reasoned arguments. These people aren't bothered about radio, except for when they are being reported on it. Even then they need to employ someone to tell them what it said.

Thanks for the link. I will read it again.

Maybe it is right. Maybe December 2015 is a bit pessimistic and unrealistic. I hope so.

 

[the record spot]

Not sure what the Naim would cost, but it might well be a good option on a cost per year basis. Alternatively, is there anything out there that will give you similar performance for less cost (see fmtunerinfo for good options)?

 

[John Duncan]

If somebody told you that if you want to keep FM radio for the next five years, the license fee had to double, would you pay it? If so, that's £712.50 you'd pay over the next five years to enjoy FM, with no resale value...

 

[chebby]

JohnDuncan:If somebody told you that if you want to keep FM radio for the next five years, the license fee had to double, would you pay it? If so, that's £712.50 you'd pay over the next five years to enjoy FM, with no resale value...

I have costed it similarly and the answer is "yes, if it good enough".

I have wasted far more money in the past on things I barely ever listened to. (CD for many years until quite recently)

Needless to say, my Naim dealer is shut on a Monday so I will have to wait until tomorrow at least to find out if they have one in stock to dem.

Also I think I remember them saying during a recent naimuniti demo that the shop has no rooftop FM aerial! So it may be difficult for me to hear the NAT-5 properly before buying it.

 

[John Duncan]

You're just going to have to take it home then aren't you?

 

[chebby]

JohnDuncan:You're just going to have to take it home then aren't you?

If they have one to try out. Yes.

 

[True Blue]

Chebby, once agian the shop where I got my speakers from has a NAT03 made in 2001 used for £250. Bit better price

 

[chebby]

My local Naim dealer just called me.

They have snagged me a minty condition used Naim NAT-05 and take delivery of it tomorrow (from another branch).

It is going to cost me "£500 to £550 ish" and will have a 6 month guarantee.

(NAT-05 recent completed sales on ebay show that they normally go for around the £500 mark and that is without any guarantee.)

And it comes with a Naim 5 pin DIN lead. (Important as these cost £75 on their own.)

I will update tomorrow.

 

[plastic penguin]

chebby:

My local Naim dealer just called me.

They have snagged me a minty condition used Naim NAT-05 and take delivery of it tomorrow (from another branch).

It is going to cost me "£500 to £550 ish" and will have a 6 month guarantee.

(NAT-05 recent completed sales on ebay show that they normally go for around the £500 mark and that is without any guarantee.)

And it comes with a Naim 5 pin DIN lead. (Important as these cost £75 on their own.)

I will update tomorrow.

Is this to match the rest of your gear or purely a sonic issue? Or both?

 

[chebby]

Andrew Everard:I'd be more inclined to go for a NAT 01 or NAT 02 as my last-ever tuner...

Sorry Andrew. I am sure either would be fantastic, but current (and completed) auctions for NAT-01 and NAT-02 are around the £670 - £700 level. That was a bit 'rich' for me. The NAT-05 also matches my current gear and has presets and remote.

All the reviews I have found say the NAT-5 is a fine machine for people like me. (Predominately BBC R4, R3, R2 listening rather than local commercial pop channels.)

 

[chebby]

plastic penguin:
Is this to match the rest of your gear or purely a sonic issue? Or both?

Sonic mainly. (Or I would have stuck with my £10 Denon)

Naim synergy also. (It is true with my CD player so hopefully true of the tuner too.)

Cosmetic match? Yes a bit. (See response to Andrew above.)

Price. Partly. I sold a Nikon Neg scanner I no longer needed for £550 last week, so finding a Naim tuner for around the same money is good. Leaves the bank account unmolested.

 

[chebby]

NAT-05 is here. Connected, presets all tuned. Sounding gorgeous