SJCT99 said:
So if it is right that the speakers are the most important thing should I spend £800 on speakers and use the rest getting the Naim UnitiQute? If yes what speakers? The speakers need to be small speakers, nothing taller than 27.5cm which probably narrows the field considerably. Thanks for the helpful info
SJ
Hifi can be very personal on what sound you like and in all honesty for such a big investment i would get out and listen to some hifi shows or visit some dealer open days. Hifi lounge have a naim open day on 8th june or thereabouts as an example (no connection just had good service). They will have a variety of naim systems on demo, with naim employees on hand and offering discounts on day (talking from memory so excuse if wrong).
Every comment on here is correct in their own way however i would recomend you find out your own preferences.
As an example in the last 5 yrs i have owned q acoustics 2010, 2020, nad 326,, Roksan kandy pre and power, ae radiance 3, naim xs, hicap dr, 282 dac v1, 282, supernait 2 and kef r500 / 700. I have also demoed considerably more lol.
On chris point about cost i was at one point running 7k of amp with 1.5k of speakers to great effect so to a degree i agree with him. You can get value you just need to find it. I saw a pair of maggies for 900 yesterday. They produce the most amazing mids and trebles and with some music some of the best sounds you can get. But if you listen to dance music you are buggered as the bass is not as good as traditional speakers.
Recomendations are ok but can be misleading. The roksan kandy for example gets 5 stars and numerous awards. To me it is utter sh1te and one of the worst amps i have ever heard. To others in here because they own it, it is the best thing they have heard.
When i first started out i had the q acoustics 2010 which got rave reviews; punched above their weight etc and i loved them and praised them on here. Now they sound like biscuit tins compared to what i have in my main system. Equally my system would sound poor to others lol.
I personally love naim sound to a degree. Some hate or refuse to like it because of their business values. From my experience with naim amplification you get what you pay for which is why i recomend you not wasting budget on a dac and streamer when you already have it because you will waste sq if you do. The qute is a nice piece of kit but i would imagine the guts of the pre and power are based off the 5i. If you compare the 5i to an xs. Personally there is no comp. The xs kills it. You also leave yourself with the option to upgrade later with the flatcap etc. later on and you get a better power section to drive your speakers.
You will also find different sounds within the naim hierachy. It is not just a case of same sound all the way up the hierachy. The 5i sounds different to the xs. I dont just mean better seperations, more clarity etc.The old SN sounded very different to to xs etc.
Apologies to you and everyone for the long message but i guess what i am saying is that you need to get out and listen and find what you like but dont rush into it on the back of mine or anyones recomendations. ps hifi can be addictive and you run the risk of never being happy again