The worst proper HIFI you have heared

Agree.

 

Naim I'm afraid. I just don't get it(them)

 

Heathrow show 2005, full dcs rig/verity audio sarastro.
True hifi pap of first order.
Closely followed by the lumley/bat/dcs

 

I'll add Naim to my list, along with Cyrus.

 

I was very underwhelmed by the full naim rig I auditioned at 'Grahams ' Hi Fi, and it isn't cheap is it £35K?

 

I get the feeling that "The Emperor's New Clothes" Syndrome applies to Naim kit.

 

Well, Grahams are True Flat Earthers - they haven't got a clue about reproducing a decent facsimile of the actual musical event. Just so long as the toes start a-tappin'

 

God knows there has been enough correspondence regarding Naim, what I don't understand is how you can lock yourself into the system, upgrade after upgrade, surely they have listened to other kit?

 

Talking of HIFI shows I was once unimpressed with the Henley Designs stand. I think it was a top of range Project plugged into a Rosksan amp with god knows what speakers. To me it just sounded dull, very realistic in the mid range almost life like but the rest just sounded flat and boring.

 

Naim kit doesnt get toes tapping its pure fiction. Both linn and naim are lacking in boogie factor and timing.

 

Wow, all the NAIM bashing! I have have heard very good sounds coming from the cheaper naim separates into Wilson Benesch speakers (notably the Discoveries).

Not that I am very fond of NAIM per se, I just don't think they make stuff that is as bad as suggested here. Although I do think the top stuff is overpriced (but who's top stuff isn't?).

 

for a long time i thought the same, over-rated razor sharp junk for deaf people - until i heard some in a very carefully built system. electra 1027be are shockingly good when everything works for them.

 

Is it just me or talking about a product in isolation of the system and room is pretty inconclusive?

perhaps the same naim or cyrus or beauhorn or whatever was badly matched or the room badly set up... in other circumstances it could be the best sound you ever heard?

my two cents
Jack

 

Jack, your "two cents" probably hit the nail on the head more accurately than other rather wide sweeping comments seen above.

The only comment I'd like to add is that it is all about personal preference, not absolutism.

 

Any Mission and Cyrus combo.
Though I find them a bit duff on their own as well..

 

Not QUITE fair.

 

Its fair - they can be beaten by an enormous margin at 25% of the cost.

 

whatever

 

Worst single component? I'd say the Mission Cyrus 2 integrated I had something like 20 years ago. I read the reviews, thought 'wow this sounds good' so went off to Laskys in Tottenham Ct Rd and bought one.

Got it home plugged in the TT and speakers and sat down to listen. It was an abomination. Singers had all caught colds, the fabric of the music fell apart and musicians sounded as though they were groping around in the dark. Took the amp back thinking it was faulty to swap it for another one - same result.

Re-connected my little Creek 4040. Music/sanity restored. Sold the Mission to some mug who'd read the reviews

 

Agree!