Time spent thinking about Hi-Fi

Don't mind you rambling thoughts at all.  I enjoyed reading it, but then I'm just as hooked on the hobby as you are.  Perhaps you'd be interesrted in my new book, "Zen and HiFi". 

I understand, although it has been tempered recently.

Why don't you try a Naim system, it is quite different.

Mmmm, my initial thought is maybe a power amp and upgrade the speakers to something like Spendor SA-1, or even s/hand Wilson Benesch. 

well my take is, that is why we have a hobby,escapism.the movie,the song and the system its played on takes us away from the humdrum of mortgage repayments,redundancies etc it lets us enjoy what we have achievied and contributes to what makes us get up in the morning,our goals and targets.we spend time relaxing enjoying what we have and enjoy the prospectofwhat could grace our living room in the fuure.

change for changes sake? 

Can't comment on Naim and Arcam synergy (temporary or otherwise) but the Petite Sx's, if they are anything like the original or mk.III's, should be real stonkers (no, not stinkers!) and maybe this kinda points you in a Naim direction as they seem to work so well with them. Biggest regret No.126 - getting rid of my petite mk.I's!

Great post Crusaderlord. There are those who come to the forum with a specific question or technical question and then there are us who like to ramble and muse on hifi in general. If you are looking at more free time possibly, can I suggest expanding your hobby and looking at DIY?

glad this post got a few responses - thinking hi-fi is just a nice diversion and a reward for why you work i think.

in response to a couple of posts i have tried the Spendor SA1 quite extensively and thought they were really great, but not better than the Neat Motives which just seem to suit me.

Hence i am really quite keen to see how much better the Petite SX are. If i get the feeling they add to what i have i will sell my Motive 3's and my Rega turntable and get them straight away

As to the Naim - to be honest i have not a reason to change as i really like the Arcams and what they do with acoustic, jazz, blues and electronic music in particular - also despite other opinion i really like them with Led Zepellin and Bowie etc.

However i do need to at least demo the Naim just to see how they are so much different to the Arcams given Naim seems so popular.

And yes this is all really change for changes sake - i have no need to change but hey you have to be aiming for something.

crusaderlord:

And yes this is all really change for changes sake - i have no need to change but hey you have to be aiming for something.

Just be careful and move slow.  Many people have gone down that path only to be unsatiisfied which sets off a chain of multiple upgrades.

I used to think about hifi a lot until I got to the point where I couldn't justify spending any more money on it. Now I just listen to the music and think about photography (which has cost a lot more than my hifi!)

Drummerdave:

I used to think about hifi a lot until I got to the point where I couldn't justify spending any more money on it. Now I just listen to the music and think about photography (which has cost a lot more than my hifi!)

same here, but add cycling into that list, I have spent a small mortgage in the last 3 years on bikes and associated paraphernalia.....wish I was more interested in non gadget type hobbies....

Hi Crusaderlord - When I had an all Arcam system (CD93, A32+P35) I decided on a CDP upgrade and I tried the Cyrus 8SE, Naim CD5x and Arcam CD37.  I ended up going with the CD37 as I felt on balance it was the strongest all-rounder.  However I could have happily had any of the 3, and the Naim did sound pretty good going in to the Arcams - unsurprisingly it had the best timing and rhythmic qualities of the 3 - and that was readily apparent through the Arcam amps - but seemed to lack just a little in the detail stakes and neither of them could touch the Arcam's bass.

So I'd say that a Naim CDP is well worth a try.  However in hindsight, I should never have upgraded the CDP at all because less than a year later I tried out a computer based front end and that spelt the end of my CD playing days. So if that is something that interests you at all then may be worth checking out some options there before shelling out for a new CDP.

Cheers, Dan. 

i kind of dabble with pc music but i still prefer putting on the good old cd and listening right through. i have a wadia 170i and vdac which i use for some music that i dont have on cd but mostly i use that for streaming off the internet via radio paradise or bbc iplayer.

in terms of the cd i am sure the naim will have its strengths but my reflection of the Arcam CD36 is how good its detail and bass is and so its going to be a tough act to beat. Arcam may have some critics for its amps (although i cant fault the A32) but they do have a superb record on CD players.

Dan - given you were impressed with the Arcam cd against the Naim - how do you rate the Naim amps against the A32 ?

crusaderlord:

Dan - given you were impressed with the Arcam cd against the Naim - how do you rate the Naim amps against the A32 ?

I'm not sure how something price comparable like the Nait 5i or XS would compare as I haven't tried them but the SuperNait is really in another league, but then it does cost twice as much as the A32 did in it's day.

After having the A32 on it's own for ages, I added a P35 to bi-amp and that worked great, then later I bought a creek passive pre-amp and used the A32 just as a power amp, then in time swapped it for a P38.  So the system I ended up with was the Creek pre->P35->P38.  That change gave a substantial improvement in clarity and detail.  When I moved onto a computer-based front end I added a CA DacMagic, and that system worked well, but I always felt that it was missing something in terms of dynamics and punch.  So I tried the SuperNait on recommendation and even over that collection of components that was cumulatively in the same price ball-park it was significantly better.  The SN just has so much more 'live' energy, punch and insight, and the bass, oooooh the bass. 

I think it could come down to a matter of taste.  If the Arcam sound is what you love then Naim is pretty much at the other end of the spectrum. However you could find that they balance each other's characteristics nicely.  If I hadn't gone computer-based-source then I think I'd still be happily using the CD37 with my SN.

If the bug has bitten though, then the only answer could be to try it out and see for yourself...

Had a few days away on a work trip (funny how im being made redundant as no longer required and then next breath oh can you just go to a meeting in Edinburgh).

Anyway i always think a few days away gives you a chance to have a fresh listen to your hifi and in this case it came out in flying colours. It really does feel as though the improvements i made have paid off.

I think i will stick to the Arcams and the only thing i feel the need to try out really is some Neat Petite SX now but even there the Neat Motive 3 sounds good enough really.

Probably time to stop upgrading now.