Gavin's HiFi / Naim / TomTom autobiography

[Gavin Wilson]

I began buying music in the early eighties when I was at secondary school aged about 12 and playing it on my parents ‘music centre’. At the time I was massively into rock music, Rainbow, Iron Maiden, that sort of thing.

By the mid-eighties I completely bought into the tales of perfect sound quality from CD. As soon as I started earning a little bit of money I bought my first system from an independent high street shop in Walsall. I hadn’t a clue what I was doing. I just asked for a CD player, amplifier and speakers that cost no more than £600. I was given a Kenwood DP-860 CD player, a Yamaha AX-500U amp and a pair of Celestion DL8 Series2 speakers and some doorbell wire. It was very exciting however I was a bit disappointed with the sound quality, and so the journey had begun. No internet in those days, so I had a flip through the odd HiFi magazine, which alerted me to the importance of cables and set up. I bought some half-decent QED speaker cable mail order and a better interconnect from Tandy. Some Target speaker stands arrived later, as a Birthday present. By now things had started to sound quite good and I had learnt my first HiFi lesson. I could now create some serious rock noise when my parents were out of the house, which caused some friction with the neighbours – my second HiFi lesson.

The next purchase came in the mid-nineties when I started earning a bit more money. I foolishly believed that I could take things to the next level and build a great system simply by choosing 5 star rated components from HiFi magazines. So I went to a local dealer with my chosen list of CD player, amp and speakers, planning to take a quick listen before handing over my credit card. This proved to be my third HiFi lesson – the sound during the demo was not impressive, no better to me than my Kenwood/Yamaha/Celestion gear. How could that be possible given the money I was prepared to spend and that the components were all 5 star rated? I was really disappointed. I think the dealer knew how this demo would go because he’d already got an alternative setup warmed ready to swap to. What a difference, musical, engaging, free from the confines of the loudspeakers. The CD player and amp was made by a company called Naim Audio (CD3.5 / NAC92 / NAP90) and the speakers were Keswick Audio Volantes. The total cost was less than my budget. I ordered the system and so my relationship with Naim started.

The Naim kit was really quite scary for a newbie. On/off buttons at the back! A big thwack through the speakers when you turned it on! Leaving it on all of the time! Opening the CD draw by hand! And the appearance was not like anything I’d seen before. It gave the impression of being almost arrogant with its own ability to deliver great music, leaving me apologetic when soiling it with a CD by someone like The Cult or Pulp.

I was now bitten by the bug. Two Hicaps followed, for the CD3.5 and NAC92. I couldn’t believe the weight of those small boxes, or that the lights in the flat dipped when I switched them on! But the effect was amazing. This provided satisfaction for many years.

It was the late 00s before I got itchy feet again. I picked up a second hand NAC82 and NAP250 to experience what the higher level gear could bring. It was also around this time that I became aware of an imminent Naim DAC. This made me start thinking about the benefits of moving away from CDs to computers/streaming. It was also at this point that I came across TomTom Audio, James and the delights of St Albans. Over the past few years James has provided us (my wife and I) with a great opportunity to try out options and work out what works for us. We have been in the fortunate position over this time to have now given a home to a DAC, 555PS, 552, 500 and Ovator S400.

I've come a long way from the start point. I still love listening to those first few CDs, but now hearing details and life-like qualities that were lying hidden all along. What's better though is taking in a much wider spectrum of music now compared with my narrow minded younger self.

Here's the setup:

[Tom Tom Audio]

Thanks Gav, its been an absolute pleasure helping you both at every stage to build this outstanding system. Debbie and I very much hope you'll be down to sample the very best of what St Albans has to offer in the very near future.

Cheers

James