Naim & B&W kit.

[Robert85]

Hi guys, just thought I'd register as I've just started to collect my first hifi kit. I went to Practical HiFi in Manchester to demo the B&W 601/602 sets and a nad 320BEE with the nad 521BEE cd player (with the intention of buying just the amp and speakers). I was really amazed by the quality...then the sales guy threw a spanner in the works, he brought in the Naim Nait 3 amp. Now, having heard of naim...but no specific product I wasn't sure what to expect. I demo'ed the amp and was surprised to find that it was clearer and louder than the nad.


I ended up buying the naim and the B&W 601 S3's. At the moment I can't afford a decent source, so I've connected my iPod as the source, as I can't tell any difference between it and a 10 year old technics cd player, so I think I'll probably order the nad 521BEE unless there's anything better for the price.

[Richard Torble]

Originally Posted by Robert85

Hi guys, just thought I'd register as I've just started to collect my first hifi kit. I went to Practical HiFi in Manchester to demo the B&W 601/602 sets and a nad 320BEE with the nad 521BEE cd player (with the intention of buying just the amp and speakers). I was really amazed by the quality...then the sales guy threw a spanner in the works, he brought in the Naim Nait 3 amp. Now, having heard of naim...but no specific product I wasn't sure what to expect. I demo'ed the amp and was surprised to find that it was clearer and louder than the nad.


I ended up buying the naim and the B&W 601 S3's. At the moment I can't afford a decent source, so I've connected my iPod as the source, as I can't tell any difference between it and a 10 year old technics cd player, so I think I'll probably order the nad 521BEE unless there's anything better for the price.

Try and find a second hand Naim CD3.5. These can be had for around £350/400 and would be a great match for your Nait 3. You can then also use the Naim DIN-DIN cable between the two. Then lastly get yourself some Naim speaker cable (minimum of 3.5 metres per speaker) and you will have a cracking system!

[Daneel]

Originally Posted by Robert85

I demo'ed the amp and was surprised to find that it was clearer and louder than the nad.

Not to put a damper on your new purchase, but one of the rules of demoing hi-fi kit is to make sure the volumes are the same. Something that is louder almost always sounds better. Maybe you just meant it went louder at max volume but that's not how I read it.

[Alex Simon]

Daneel is definitely right, however the Nait 3 is a stunningly good amp so don't worry about it. Galaxyguy1s choice of CD player is also spot on - you just can't go wrong if you liked the sound of the amp.
Another CD player to try is a Rega Planet. Even a Jupiter might fall within budget.
Try http://www.exdem.com/
or obviously the classifieds here and ebay/loot
Good luck!
Cheers
Alex

[Robert85]

I meant at max volume! I did try them both at the same level

I've hit a problem though. I noticed crackling in the left channel...which went away. Everything was fine - then I got crackling from both channels. I've phoned Practical hifi and they think it's the amp at fault. I'm the sort of person who isn't happy with something after it has been repaired e.g. it'll never be as good (probably not the case). So I'm swapping it for the Nad 320BEE, if indeed it is the amp at fault.

[Alex Simon]

Hi Robert
If it went back to NAIM, then their service dept is first class, just don't expect it back for a couple of weeks.
It would definitely be a great amp once it's been serviced by Naim.
However, I can understand your viewpoint and I'm assuming the NAD is brand new.

[Robert85]

Yeah. If I send it back it'll just take the "shine" from my first hifi setup. So I've decided if the amp is knackered then I want a brand new amp. It's a funny viewpoint but I'd rather have brand new for the money, now the amp's gone funny.

[Alex Simon]

Yep - totally understand
Hope you have fun with it anyway

[Robert85]

The from which I bought it is around 20-25 miles away. I just hope if I get a lift there that it IS the amp which is at fault.

[hutchingsp]

Just to reiterate what others have said, if it goes back to Naim it will come back as new - they're one of the few hi-fi companies who will support/service/repair even their oldest products (well most of them).

Naim gear can be fussy about speaker cable as well, basically use theirs, 3.5m minimum each channel.

You might want to try the Naim owners forum for more info, over at http://forums.naim-audio.com

cheers,
Paul

[Alex Simon]

Yes, good point Paul.
I've never not used Naim cable so I don't know whether it could cause the problems Robert was hearing, but their older kit was indeed known to be very fussy.
Cheers
Alex

[Dellboy]

Contact Mark Ragett at Naim Audio. If he is unavailable leave your number and he will call you back.

This is one of the few companies where their members of staff do return your calls.

[Daveace1]

Hi,

It might not be the amp at all. I have got a creative Zen MP3 player and occasionally I get a crackling from one or both speakers. If I turn the Zen off and then back on again the crackling goes away. I have heard from some other people that this happens on their MP3 Hard Disc players too.

When the crackling happens next, turn the player off and back on again and if it stops you know it is a problem with the player.

[Robert85]

It happened with a cd player as the source as well.

[Joe Fernand]

Robert85

An unwanted noise in your system can be produced by any of the components in your signal chain - source, amp or loudspeakers.

Equally the noise can be produced/induced by things such as a fridge freezer on the same ring main as your HiFi kit.

Your HiFi salesman I fear has thrown another spanner in your works and its one that possibly only extra expenditure may fix.

By introducing you to the Naim Nait 3 he let you experience the resolution and detail a well executed HiFi amplifier can pass from Source to Loudspeakers - unfortunately this resolution has to be paid for and if your working on a fixed budget something has to give; in this case horse power.

You mention running the amp at full volume - this is definitely not an ideal solution to fulfil your listening requirements. If you need to run the amp at full volume its possibly not the best amp for your needs. Either lose some resolution and gain more horsepower with a beefier amp, look further up the Naim ladder for something with more horsepower or learn to listen at lower volume levels.

Running any amp at full volume is not ideal - your likely to be hearing more distortion than you would at lower volume levels and your leaving no headroom for the amp to provide the dynamics of the music your listening too - plus your likely to fry the amp or Loudspeakers at some stage (if you haven't already done so).

Best regards

Joe

PS Does the iPod have a line out or are you using a cable from its headphone socket?