Hi-Fi
Current system
In 2002, I first heard a Naim system (CDX / NAC82 / NAP180 / SBL) costing around £10,000 (which was exceptionally good).
10 months after that, in February 2003, I finally had my own Naim system (CDX2 / NAC102 / NAP200 / Intro2) costing £5,000 (my credit card limit at the time).
In the years since then I have upgraded various components:
- CDX2 - CD player
- 555PS (DR) - Power supply (for CD player) [2015]
- Hi-Line - Interconnect between CD player and pre-amplifier [2006]
- NAC252 - Pre-amplifier [2009]
- Supercap2 (DR) - Power supply (for pre-amplifier) [2006] [DR 2015]
- NAP300 - Power amplifier [2013] [DR 2016]
- Kudos Super 20 - Loudspeakers [2015]
- Chord Cobra - Interconnects to past items (listed below)
Previous system
The other components of the system are made up of items I've previously bought:
- Denon TU-260L - Tuner
- Soundstyle XS105 (Silver/Azure) - 5 shelf hi-fi stand
Future upgrades
Another great thing (apart from the price) about Naim components is that you can upgrade them by buying separate power supplies, so you separate the interference of the mains electricity from the component, making the sound cleaner.
Although it will be a while before I can afford an upgrade (minimum cost would be about £5,000), my plans are:
- Better hi-fi stand, probably a Naim Fraim.
Tips
From my current and previous adventures with hi-fi equipment, there are a couple of tips I've found to get the most out of any system (in no particular order):
- Have a comfortable listening chair.
- Make sure your ears are free of excess wax.
- Try various main cleaners or running a seperate mains socket to the hi-fi.
- Buy a good stand for for the hi-fi.
- Make sure speakers are seperated from the floor either with a stand, concrete slab or spikes.
- Completely unplug and clean all the hi-fi and interconnects about twice a year.
- Any new piece of hi-fi will take time to settle in and be at its best (this can take months).
- Keep the hi-fi turned on all the time (except when on holiday and during thunderstorms).
- When listening to music it will take about an hour for the hi-fi to warm up and sound it best.