Steve's History

[Steve Johnson]

James asked me to give a potted history of my experience with Naim. Here goes:

1987 Linn LP12 with Basik arm, Creek amp and Linn Index Speakers. The Creek amp lasted all of 6 week because I had heard the Naim Nait in the demo and just had to have it. This was my introduction to Naim.

1988 Upgraded to black Ittok LVII. Audiotech wall shelf and Sound Organisation tables.

1989 Upgraded Nait to NAC62 and NAP140

1993 Naim CDI. Although I was and still am mostly analogue, I chose this CD player as it was the most analogue sounding. Also Cirkus and Valhalla upgrades to LP12.

2002 Olive 82, NAP250 and SBL's. Linn Adikt cartridge. A lovely system, but only the beginning.

2005 Olive 52, Supercap, NAP250 x 2, Snaxo/Hicap running active SBL's. Also upgraded the deck with a Lingo PS and Klyde MC cart. Isoblue racks. Hydra.

2009 Disaster, cleaner breaks stylus off cartridge. Upgrade to Akiva. Also upgrade CD player to CDX2 at Xmas.

2011 The Big One, upgrade that is. The children are at University, I've commandeered the large formal dining room as a listening room. 

July: Keel, Radikal, Ekos SE, SuperLine, NAP300, B&W 802 Diamonds.

My wife insisted on joining me to audition the various upgrades. I was worried about her reaction to the price, particularly the speakers. Luckily she loved them and when I asked her how much she thought they were she thought they were more expensive than the asking price. Whoopee! Seriously though, my wifes' patience and understanding has been wonderful throughout but I won't tell you what it's cost me in Mulberry handbags etc.

August: Supercap2 to replace the Hicap running the SuperLine.

Sept: NAC552, like someone opened the window!

Dec: HiLines, Airplug. 

2012

Jan: 2nd NAP300 to biamp the B&W802's. 

Feb: Start experimenting with Naim bearings and glass on the Isoblue. At the time I didn't feel I could justify the cost of Fraim. Started with one set and tried under the deck, 552 and CDX2: solid improvements heard so added to all levels.

Z-AirPlug: lucky for me and due to contacts on the Naim forum I was lucky to have one of the first of these little babies from AVOptions in the USA via Peter at Cymbiosis. As you can see I had made some considerable upgrades prior to this but this little plug was the biggest bang for your buck period. A total in your face improvement: greater clarity, lowering noise, improving the 3D soundstage and tightening  the bass. WOW. Naim have now taken on the production of these plugs and should be available to all soon.

March: Dedicated mains supply. Separate consumer unit with 7 spurs with separate earth from the house mains. One separate socket from house mains for the Radikal (dirty supply). 4 PowerLines.

April: Tiger Paw Khan top plate for the LP12. Further increase in detail and clarity.

May: Full black on black Fraim. Due to peer pressure more than anything else plus my wonderful understanding wife thought it looked better. I have to say that so far, 10 days after the rebuild, the improvement over the Isoblue with the Fraim bearings and glass is not as great as you might think. I will keep you posted on developments.

The Future: I thought I was done for now and had the system I'd always aspired to, but then came the announcement from Naim of the DR upgrades to the power supplies. Following Tom Tom's excellent show this weekend where we were privileged to have the 1st public demonstration of these DR improvements I will be the first at the door, Im sure with many others, to have them fitted to my 552PS and Supercap.

I still have to make some changes to the listening room. In particular I will be laying wall to wall carpet and strengthening the joists under the system and speakers.

Why have I stuck with Naim all these years?

Quite simply I like the sound. It doesn't matter what level of system you have all the Naim systems I have heard are enjoyable. They possess a certain musicality. I still have my old CD1, NAC62, NAP140 and Linn Index speakers as a second system and still gain enjoyment from it when I'm working in that room. 

I will post some pictures of the system in the near future.

ATB

Steve

[Tom Tom Audio]

Thanks for such a detailed overview Steve of your Naim journey which is absolutely fascinating. I loved hearing about your first steps into Naim when we chatted at the Festival.

Cheers

James