Forum Discussions - The Tom Tom Club2024-03-28T20:25:48Zhttps://thetomtomclub.ning.com/forum/topic/list?feed=yes&xn_auth=no&sort=mostRecentWhat happened was......tag:thetomtomclub.ning.com,2015-01-18:6506457:Topic:111052015-01-18T12:55:42.672ZAndy Markshttps://thetomtomclub.ning.com/profile/AndyMarks
<p>Over the years I have found myself on numerous occasions explaining to those less well informed what my hifi is, why there are so many boxes and answering the ever present "well I've never heard of it" comment. I certainly don't need to do that here but this is probably the first opportunity I have had to actually sit down, think about how I first got acquainted with Naim and write about it. If only to recount the story to myself and put the events and changes in the correct…</p>
<p>Over the years I have found myself on numerous occasions explaining to those less well informed what my hifi is, why there are so many boxes and answering the ever present "well I've never heard of it" comment. I certainly don't need to do that here but this is probably the first opportunity I have had to actually sit down, think about how I first got acquainted with Naim and write about it. If only to recount the story to myself and put the events and changes in the correct order.</p>
<p>It was probably the late 1990's and I first got a taste for real separates based hifi in the strangest of places. I was sitting in the departure lounge at Luton airport waiting for a flight to Austria to start a family holiday when the urge to go and find something to do took over. I wasn't old enough to drink back then so I made do with the news agent and looking along the lines of popular magazines (no, not those ones) I took a quick flick through the current issue of What HiFi. That will do, I thought, plenty to look through there and it kind of fitted well with a sense that I should consider moving up from my Pioneer midi. A friend of mine already had a Technics based CD separates setup and no matter what I did there was always a sense that his sounded better somehow.</p>
<p>I won't dwell too much on the gear I used back then but none of it was Naim - Marantz, Arcam, Audiolab, Mission, Epos were the chosen few in various mixes and setups over the next few years. My first exposure to Naim was a friend who I'd lost touch with after school, a chance meeting some years later and we were reacquainted and swapping stories. The common ground was music and hifi, I recall his system was a CDS & PS, NAC82, NAP180 and SBL. What a surprise that was, modest looking speakers wedged tight and flat against the wall of his lounge. I can still hear that system in my head as I write this, I even recall flinching on a few occasions when the treble got the better of my ears and felt like someone stabbing me in the head with a sharpened pencil. Evenly balanced it wasn't but there was so much of everything else going on I heard stuff on well known tracks I didn't even know was there.</p>
<p>That was the start of it, a change of CD player came first - a CDX which injected some pace and life into the Audiolab amps and Epos ES22's. The Epos speakers sound great, unusually they are 3-way designs and give their best when at least bi-wired, the Audiolab setup bi-amped them with good effect. So the CDX headed system stayed with me a few years, I drifted away from Hifi for a while and it provided little more than background music most of the time. When I got back to it properly the sound of that SBL system kept crashing around my head. Naim Audio it was then, at least most of the way.</p>
<p>Whichever way I looked at it new kit was going to be costly and with care and consideration there was enough to be found in the used market. The NAC82 and 180 came first then the XPS to add onto the CDX, all things considered for about half new price. I noted at some point that the CDS2 was about to go the way of the Dodo, the CDS3 was on the horizon and I saw my opportunity. The cost was reduced this time around on account of already having the XPS and I found a late serial numbered CDS2 in the classifieds. Up to now the NAC82 had been powered from the NAP180, very successfully I must add. At this point I'd not had any experience of the gains to be had by using dedicated power supplies other than the CDX / XPS combination. The CDS was different, it needed the XPS to work at all. I began to wonder and after looking through the latest Naim brochure I got a real sense of just how much is held in store by using power dedicated power supplies on pretty much every component. I added a HICAP to the NAC82 shortly after. I am still using the ever-present Epos ES22's, yes, they really need a bigger room but I don't have any complaints.</p>
<p>As I write this I am listening to "I Got The Same Old Blues Again" from Eric Clapton and Friends "The Breeze" album. I think I have a good balance, plenty of treble detail but smooth enough, an open mid-range that lets me hear every word and bass that I can feel as much as hear.</p>
<p>There we are then, My Naim Story..... Wakey wakey, I've finished now.</p> Upgrade from active SBL's?tag:thetomtomclub.ning.com,2014-11-25:6506457:Topic:104722014-11-25T20:22:17.223ZDavid Thornewellhttps://thetomtomclub.ning.com/profile/DavidThornewell
<p>I currently run a NAC 52 + SNAXO (from TomTom) and 4 x 135's into a pair of SBL's.</p>
<p>Plan is to update the system with newer (….but used. The pension limits the £££s) speakers. However, the system should still be active, for which the SL2's would be a good shoe in. The Ovators also look like a good update too, but I am not sure I can go active with these using my current electronics.</p>
<p>Does anyone have experience of SBL versus SL2 or Ovator in a similar system, and if so, is it a…</p>
<p>I currently run a NAC 52 + SNAXO (from TomTom) and 4 x 135's into a pair of SBL's.</p>
<p>Plan is to update the system with newer (….but used. The pension limits the £££s) speakers. However, the system should still be active, for which the SL2's would be a good shoe in. The Ovators also look like a good update too, but I am not sure I can go active with these using my current electronics.</p>
<p>Does anyone have experience of SBL versus SL2 or Ovator in a similar system, and if so, is it a significant upgrade?</p>
<p>The SL2 appeals because it is a boundary speaker, which will keep Lady T happy. </p>
<p>Home dems are rare, so any of your input/opinions are valuable to me, as I have not heard either speaker.</p>
<p>Comments please. </p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p> 35 years to make the right decisiontag:thetomtomclub.ning.com,2014-08-20:6506457:Topic:102252014-08-20T21:26:33.388Zmartin abrahamshttps://thetomtomclub.ning.com/profile/martinabrahams
<p>Mike Oldfield's Hergest Ridge was the first album played on my earliest and home made hifi. The year 1973. The kit was an old Garrard AT6 mkIV, a newly built Heathkit AR1214 and KEF Chorales on home made stands, speaker cable was some two core lighting cable. The system didn't make it to the end of side one before bits in the Heathkit began to glow. It took four weeks to get replacement parts and play side two.</p>
<p>My system evolved over the next 35 years before I heard a…</p>
<p>Mike Oldfield's Hergest Ridge was the first album played on my earliest and home made hifi. The year 1973. The kit was an old Garrard AT6 mkIV, a newly built Heathkit AR1214 and KEF Chorales on home made stands, speaker cable was some two core lighting cable. The system didn't make it to the end of side one before bits in the Heathkit began to glow. It took four weeks to get replacement parts and play side two.</p>
<p>My system evolved over the next 35 years before I heard a CDX2/NAC202/NAP200 system and started buying it piece by piece from shop ex-demo kit as funds allowed. Stand out kit that I had along the way and wished I hadn't let go included a Michell Focus One turntable with Hadcock arm - didn't track albums well after five years; EPOS ES14 speakers - wow, detail, oomph but my ears hurt half way through a CD; Arcam cd23 - it went for 250 readies towards the CDX2. I did the home cinema thing but when DVD gave way to bluray, and 5.1 needed to be 7.1, I didn't have living room space and lost interest. The lure of a decent two channel system beckoned. </p>
<p>I have added a napsc and hicap to the 202, which was nice. Adding an XPS recently to the CDX2 was a great decision. It took a lot of internet searches to find the right kit at ex-demo prices, and selling on existing gear to part fund the improvements. My speakers are the only non-Naim items remaining, they are Spendor A9s. I'll get my coat.</p> Unitiqute2 worth changing?tag:thetomtomclub.ning.com,2014-06-26:6506457:Topic:93922014-06-26T07:04:39.588ZAlistair Hodgehttps://thetomtomclub.ning.com/profile/AlistairHodge
<p>Hi Guys</p>
<p>I am the proud owner of a Naim Unitiqute2 with Kef R500 speakers. This is my first hi-end Hifi I have owned and am amazed by the quality of the sound that is produced.</p>
<p>Since listening for a few months now I feel that I think the Kef R500 speakers could do with a little more drive to get the best from them.</p>
<p>My initial thoughts were to just add a power amp to the Qute, something like a seconhand NAP200 (tomtom first on my list) and leave it at that. But don't know…</p>
<p>Hi Guys</p>
<p>I am the proud owner of a Naim Unitiqute2 with Kef R500 speakers. This is my first hi-end Hifi I have owned and am amazed by the quality of the sound that is produced.</p>
<p>Since listening for a few months now I feel that I think the Kef R500 speakers could do with a little more drive to get the best from them.</p>
<p>My initial thoughts were to just add a power amp to the Qute, something like a seconhand NAP200 (tomtom first on my list) and leave it at that. But don't know if I would be wasting my money or should just carry on as is and maybe one day upgrade to a Superuniti. However I don't know how far away that day could be.</p>
<p>Any advice would be much appreciated.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Regards Alistair </p> My Naim Storytag:thetomtomclub.ning.com,2014-06-11:6506457:Topic:93802014-06-11T19:42:39.899ZJohn Leehttps://thetomtomclub.ning.com/profile/JohnLee
<p>I guess it started when I was told that a pair of speakers in the house (bought by my father in the early 70's) were a cut above the rest and should be paired with better equipment than we had at the time, which somprise a Sansui amp and an SR222 turntable. I bought a few mags and began to learn that there was more to hifi than Pioneer et al. which would have been staple fare in Dublin in the late 70's. So I took myself off to Cloney Audio with my father's Dynaco A25's in the boot and demoed…</p>
<p>I guess it started when I was told that a pair of speakers in the house (bought by my father in the early 70's) were a cut above the rest and should be paired with better equipment than we had at the time, which somprise a Sansui amp and an SR222 turntable. I bought a few mags and began to learn that there was more to hifi than Pioneer et al. which would have been staple fare in Dublin in the late 70's. So I took myself off to Cloney Audio with my father's Dynaco A25's in the boot and demoed a few amps. At my meagre budget the choice consisted of the Nait, Nyteck CA202 and Creek 4040. Alas the Nait was over budget and I settle for the Nytech (mostly because of it's shape) and started the long journey many of you will be familiar with. A Rega P3 and Linn K9 followed but so did 2 small children and I consigned the equipnment to the attic until they were a bit older.</p>
<p>The next addition was a Nait2 and things really improved. This progressed to a Nait 5i and CD5i, Linn speaker cables and a Naim Stageline which I did not realise was required to make the Rega sing. I had missed the omission of phonostages from amps while I was out of the game, so to speak.</p>
<p>I then bought a pair of B&W CM1's (a bit of a mistake) and traded them for a NAC112 and Nap 90 as I found a pair of Neat Mystique II a bargain at €275. Had to send the NAC to Naim almost immediately for a service (surging volume) and soon sold the NAP 90 and bought a 180 & NACA5 cables which made a huge difference.</p>
<p>So I have arrived at the current position: NAC112/NAP180/Flatcap2/CD5i/Rega P3/Linn K9/Stageline/Neat Motive SE2.</p>
<p>Have to say I am almost satisfied as now it's the music I am most interested in and the equipment has take a back seat by doing waht it should be doing and producing a captivating sound............but of course this won't be the end........ther is no end is there? And of course my main fear now is that when I die my wife will sell all of the above for what I told her I paid for it!</p> My systemtag:thetomtomclub.ning.com,2014-05-25:6506457:Topic:95242014-05-25T16:21:01.368ZSalvo Carrahttps://thetomtomclub.ning.com/profile/SalvoCarra
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2869275882?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2869275882?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2869276978?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2869276978?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>System composition:</p>
<ul>
<li>Nap 500,</li>
<li>Nac 552,</li>
<li>Superline,</li>
<li>ND5 XS,</li>
<li>Ndac,</li>
<li>QNAP NAS,</li>
<li>NIBIRU Pre Phono,</li>
<li>3 Powerline,</li>
<li>Micro Seiki RX 5000 TT</li>
<li>SME tonearms V and 312s with…</li>
</ul>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2869275882?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2869275882?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2869276978?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2869276978?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p>System composition:</p>
<ul>
<li>Nap 500,</li>
<li>Nac 552,</li>
<li>Superline,</li>
<li>ND5 XS,</li>
<li>Ndac,</li>
<li>QNAP NAS,</li>
<li>NIBIRU Pre Phono,</li>
<li>3 Powerline,</li>
<li>Micro Seiki RX 5000 TT</li>
<li>SME tonearms V and 312s with Dynavector DTR X1s and Benz Micro Glider SL,</li>
<li>Micro Seiki CD-M2,</li>
<li>Studer A810 R2R, </li>
<li>Thiel 2.3 speakers,</li>
<li>SPL PHONITOR 2, Denon AH-D5000 headphone, STAX 507 with SRM006t</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p>Regards,</p>
<p>salvo</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p> Kans and 42.5/140 upgrade advice pleasetag:thetomtomclub.ning.com,2014-05-07:6506457:Topic:88982014-05-07T18:53:40.748ZRichard Todhttps://thetomtomclub.ning.com/profile/RichardTod
<p>Hi All ! I am currently teetering on moving away from my Loyal LP12 + Linn Kan + 42.5/140 set-up which I have enjoyed for quite some time now. My boxes are being service by Naim at the moment and on their return I will be auditioning Kef LS50 for mylsef, possible going to purchase as I have heard so much about them ...however, my ears may be different than others, let's wait and see. In addition to a speaker change (this WILL happen), can anyone offer any comments/experiences on this choice…</p>
<p>Hi All ! I am currently teetering on moving away from my Loyal LP12 + Linn Kan + 42.5/140 set-up which I have enjoyed for quite some time now. My boxes are being service by Naim at the moment and on their return I will be auditioning Kef LS50 for mylsef, possible going to purchase as I have heard so much about them ...however, my ears may be different than others, let's wait and see. In addition to a speaker change (this WILL happen), can anyone offer any comments/experiences on this choice or alternatives in the region of £800 ?</p>
<p>What about stands for LS50's ? Any ideas.</p>
<p>Finally, it has been suggested that following the service to my boxes I consider getting a 'chrome Bumper' Hi-Cap. This may be a step too far but if the right piece of kit is out there I may just stretch this far but must have Naim certification and at a reasonable price. Are there any left out their ? What experiences has anyone had along this or similar route ?</p>
<p>Be grateful for any feedback but budget is the constraint. Cheers</p> A Late Naim World Arrivaltag:thetomtomclub.ning.com,2014-03-23:6506457:Topic:90722014-03-23T09:52:10.280ZMike-Bhttps://thetomtomclub.ning.com/profile/MikeBarr
<p>After a misspent yoof full of playing & listening to classical, jazz, blues & the heavy end of R&R. My early married years was short on serious home based listening until I bought a cheap Technics separates system. Then I bought a Rega-3 to improve the crap Technics TT & WOW, I caught the hifi bug at that point I guess. A Cyrus-1 quickly followed then a Rotel amp,tuner & cassette system. The Rotels were replaced with various Audiolab units. Then I found a Nait-2…</p>
<p>After a misspent yoof full of playing & listening to classical, jazz, blues & the heavy end of R&R. My early married years was short on serious home based listening until I bought a cheap Technics separates system. Then I bought a Rega-3 to improve the crap Technics TT & WOW, I caught the hifi bug at that point I guess. A Cyrus-1 quickly followed then a Rotel amp,tuner & cassette system. The Rotels were replaced with various Audiolab units. Then I found a Nait-2 going for a song & snapped it up thinking about a restore, service & quick sale. But this little baby is better than the Audiolab so its a keeper - & it still is & is now my dining room system; its one of the rarer pre out versions with a phono stage. Then I went thru a series of Pre/Pwr/PSU olives along with a Marantz CD63 & a various tuners - but still with the old faithful Rega-3. All making great sounds, but problems in domestic harmony with the ugly rack & a pile of odd Naim & other boxes ensued. So along with a major room refit with some very nice high end furniture I (we) decided to downsize. It was gonna be Naim or nothing & went for a Supernait. Another WOW, detail, grunt, texture all in spade-loads & in one box - the DAC was a great facility for the AV stuff & the buffered record/tape section was ideal to supply a 8m cable run to the Nait-2 in the dining room. A CDX2 quickly followed & then a NAT-05. I have since added power supplies to the SN & CDX2 - unfortunately not Naim; TBH I prefered both the sound & size of my alternative choice but whatever the CDX2 with the XPS has gone from an excellent player to exceptional.</p>
<p> I make my own cables: the IC's are made to specific lengths to correctly fit between boxes with the excellent Mogami 2549 cable. ditto power cables: made to fit with Supra LoRad, MK silver Toughplugs & LeGO IEC’s connect to a self-made power strip with 1000VA DC blocking filter & on a dedicated supply.</p>
<p>I'm now thinking about streaming, I am not in a rush but sometime it will be bye-bye to the CDX2, but whatever model we are at at that time it will be a NDX level.</p>
<p></p> Naim Latecomertag:thetomtomclub.ning.com,2014-03-21:6506457:Topic:89522014-03-21T18:07:55.469ZIan Tolleyhttps://thetomtomclub.ning.com/profile/IanTolley
<p>My Naim journey began at the age of fifteen nearly forty years ago when the Hifi bug bit. Then as schoolboy it was a "BUSH" separates system with Wharfdale Dovedales, and 'Beatles' & 'Stones' vinyl as de-rigeur. Never reaching the giddy heights of some salaries & with a blossoming young family I was introduced to NAIM by a work colleague (bachelor) who had an amazing NAIM setup feeding a pair of (small bungalow) speakers. A setup I could only dream about purchasing. Then over the…</p>
<p>My Naim journey began at the age of fifteen nearly forty years ago when the Hifi bug bit. Then as schoolboy it was a "BUSH" separates system with Wharfdale Dovedales, and 'Beatles' & 'Stones' vinyl as de-rigeur. Never reaching the giddy heights of some salaries & with a blossoming young family I was introduced to NAIM by a work colleague (bachelor) who had an amazing NAIM setup feeding a pair of (small bungalow) speakers. A setup I could only dream about purchasing. Then over the years gradual changes piece by piece including an enforced CD player when my Thorens Player bit the dust, ending up with a 'CYRUS'. 'ARCAM' arrangement fed by 'MERIDIAN' 200 front end.</p>
<p>Common sense eventually arrived in 2006 when a thoughtful burglar removed my kit & the insurance provider re-introduced me to NAIM. From basic NAIT 5si to a full XS system, now including network player & 'Michell' Gyrodek / SME 3009 (my pride & joy). Now out of work & on a modest company pension upgrades are more difficult although I have managed an ex-demo 202, & am awaiting a NAP 200, currently on order. Apart from possible Power supply options I believe this will be the end of my hardware upgrades, and any future funds being devoted to software. My wife has been fully supportive over these years, but now I accept there is a life outside my listening room, and variety hopefully will be the spice in my life.</p>
<p></p> My Hi-Fi Storytag:thetomtomclub.ning.com,2014-03-19:6506457:Topic:90582014-03-19T19:15:01.171ZHugh Craighttps://thetomtomclub.ning.com/profile/HughCraig
<p>Please note, the following is likely to cause drowsiness!!!</p>
<p>Having played the trumpet for over 45 years and taught it for more than 35, music has always been an important part of my life and, unlike many of my colleagues, I have always made time to listen as well as perform.</p>
<p>My hi-fi journey started when I saved a few shillings (actually it wasn’t quite that long ago!) from my first holiday job and bought a Sony cassette deck and half-decent headphones – hardly audiophile stuff…</p>
<p>Please note, the following is likely to cause drowsiness!!!</p>
<p>Having played the trumpet for over 45 years and taught it for more than 35, music has always been an important part of my life and, unlike many of my colleagues, I have always made time to listen as well as perform.</p>
<p>My hi-fi journey started when I saved a few shillings (actually it wasn’t quite that long ago!) from my first holiday job and bought a Sony cassette deck and half-decent headphones – hardly audiophile stuff but a big step forward from my previous Waltham radio-cassette player! Then, once I started work proper I bought my first hf-fi separates which consisted of an RP3 turntable, NAC 42 NAP110 and a pair of B&W DM14 speakers – a dramatic improvement.</p>
<p>This setup saw two upgrades; the first to an LP12 with basic arm in the mid 80s and the second, more extensive, to an Ittok arm, 32.5, 140 and Linn Kabers in the early nineties.</p>
<p>And that was how things stayed and enjoyed for many years until I got divorced, moved into a small flat and stored it all away for about 7 years.</p>
<p>I now find myself in the fortunate position of having both wife number 2 and a small room that is entirely for my use. So, a couple of years ago I resurrected the hi-fi and got the amps serviced. The LP12 was not in a good state so I decided to try streaming and bought a Unitiqute. Well that was the start, and the bug had well and truly bit. To cut a long story short thanks to James the Qute was soon replaced with an ND5XS, the pre with an 82 and the power with a 200 (via 160) I also added a high-cap – first a CB but now a DR – and replaced the Kabers with Alaes. Oh and James also brought my LP12 back to life. </p>
<p>This system is in a different league to that circa 80s/90s and great to listen to – which I do most days. I do feel there are still issues to be addressed though - I mainly listen to classical music and often find loud orchestral tuttis harsh and muddled, particularly the upper brass. But that is a project for the future when my bank balance has recovered somewhat!</p>
<p>Hugh</p>