MF 1 - Naim 0

Had a little chuckle at this month's (well, November's, but I got it over 3 weeks ago ) edition of Gramophone. In the "Audio Doctor" section, they've gone more upmarket than usual (it's normally something like "wow - this Arcam 82 makes things so lifelike", but it is edited by Andrew Everard). The start system is a Roksan Xerxes, Naim NAC52/52PS/NAP250, Quad ESL 63s with M&K MX-70B active sub, and the upgrade target is the Meridian 508 CDP.

So what do they go for? - a CDX2 . Comments are "faster...vibrant and dynamic", and "slightly more couth". However the punter wanted something "even further than what the CDX2 can offer".

So what do they dig out of the darkest reaches of their gander-bag?......a M/F NuVista 3D . Ahh "the resultant sound is...glorious". Punter quoth..."It's clearly superior, isn't it", with the system performing to a "staggering level of musicality"

(Punter is going to check out the CDX2+XPS2 before buying the 3D though)

Talk about Chalk and Cheese!

(They also jizz themselves over the MF kWP/KWs pre/power).

 

sounds like they are totally clueless

 

I like it!

Naim beaten by better 'musicality'. That'll teach them to bandy about this meaningless word.

 

Each to their own. What might be bollocks to you might be great to them. Doesnt make you or them right does it...

 

Paul, the point is that they are recommending components which sound totally different to each other. There appears to be no consistency with their recommendations

 

I think the point is that they are prepared for the individual tastes rather than just going down one road.

If you turn up with two products offering very different presentations, different people will prefer one or the other. So the guy wants a little comfort zone on the end of his Naim gear, without trying it he would not realise.

Both CD players are no doubt excellent in their own way, and you might equally find some people who prefer a Naim CD player on the end of their Nuvista kit. Kudos to the people concerned for being open minded IMO.

 

Maybe they just liked the MF more, perhaps they were bored...

 

Have you noticed ( or the lack of ) comments about the M/F at the show, must have been all that heat and terminal sleeping dust floating about the room

 

perhaps those who heard it bought it there and then and have since been unable to pull themselves away from there listeing room to spread the word?

erm......... maybe

 

I don't think many of us could be bothered to even go into the MF room

 

Its fine you saying this PBirkett, but on the HFC forum I read a thread you started the other day where you totally slated a HFC headphone review because you didn't agree with what it said...

http://forum.hifichoice.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=7203

you speak with forked tongue boyo

ram
________
CHRYSLER B PLATFORM

 

Ah yes ram, but if you read the thread, then quite frankly its like they've got different product altogether.

Shrill treble they say? Never heard so much bollocks - Believe me, I've heard plenty of cans that could have been said to have strident, tiring treble.

Complete apathy to the bass? So why do they possess some of the best bass I've heard from headphones.

Other things they said which I went into on the other thread, they are stating points which frankly are completely FALSE. That is different to opinion, if these dudes comparing CD players prefer the MF to the Naim and they give their reasons why (as long as they arent talking bollocks) then thats fine. But hifi choice's review was just complete bollocks in every respect, and thats not opinion, thats fact.

Dont believe me, do a search on www.headfi.org and you will see that I am not the only one who thinks this, and rarely ever is a bad word said about those cans.

I dare say I have heard more cans for a longer amount of time than the moron who reviewed those...

 

I would have checked it out just for completeness but there it was always completely packed with a queue of nerds hanging around outside waiting to get in. No thanks There was no evidence that any music was being played in there either (that's not meant to be a witty remark, it's just that all you could hear from outside was nerds chattering about blue LEDs )

Michael.

 

I went in to have a look at the prototype of the new turntable. Looked exactly as you would expect. Has an SME engineered arm. Will be about £3K apparently. I won't be buying one.

-- Ian

 

went in. looked at the glowing feet. went mnyeh. and left. there was music playing but i can't remember what it was like which speaks volumes by itself.
cheers


julian

 

i wouldn't mind a listen to the MF 1k special or whatever they call it - ubervista? has anybody else had a blast.

 

Why so anti-MF?

Just wondered why you guys slag this brand so much. Don't get me wrong, I don't rate the gear myself, but there's plenty of other shit hi-fi out there, and some of it much worse than MF!

So what gives?

Marco.

 

Marco

MF gets such a roasting because it's a triumph of hype over substance. One of the things that most board members object to is the way manufacturers market their products through the magazines and retailers with the whole lot working hand in glove to relieve the punter of his readies. Okay - so it's a business, no different to any other. But the cynicism with which fools and their money are parted rankles, and MF, unfortunately, are the epitome of this.

reg

 

The principal MF knockers here are WM and the local Naimies (oh and the rabid anti-corporatists ). It's that the stuff it does well they don't begin to understand (subtlety, beauty etc... ) - and of course it's a bit mass market for this forum's rather eclectic tastes (although limited edition of 75, >£20K pre/power may not be always be considered "mass market" ).

As for the initial article - well the Naim choice was an obvious one since the punter is obviously interested in a fast sound, with Naim amps and 'stats. But I would agree that the 3D makes a far more seductive job of the music he listened to (Mahler 3, Butterworth, Ravel piano).

 

Reg, outstanding post sir, not forgetting it's mind knumbing ability to induce a coma