Naim mu-so or amp and floorstanders?
Discussion
Okay, all opinions and advice welcome.
I currently have a Denon Microsystem connected to the Acoustic Energy Aego sub and satellites speakers.
This lives in our kitchen diner, which is where we spend most of our time at home. It is probably 3.5m x 8m and includes quite a lot of glass because of a side return.
We mostly listen to BBC 6, but also stream via Spotify.
When we do want to crank up the volume, the limits of this system are exposed a little bit. We love a little dance after a few drinks, and I quite like a full sound with deep bass.
We tend to listen to classic soul, electronic alternative stuff, a bit of ‘indie’, even 60’s rock.
When listening to music, we could be in the kitchen, on the sofa or sat at the table and invariably we are moving around doing stuff.
I can just about justify spending up to £1,000 on some new kit. Man maths!....
So, I am currently not sure which way to go.
I could go with the Naim mu-so which would look great, be pretty convenient and I think provide room filling sound.
Or, I could spend up to the same amount of money on a nice pair of floorstanders, say the Q Acoustic 3050’s connected to a reasonable amp, streaming via Chromecast Audio.
I will audition the different set ups as a side by side comparison. Have listened to the Naim already and impressed, at least so far.
Will a more traditional set up fill the room with even more sound? The thing is, I will not be listening in the centre of the sound stage very much, so will that lessen the advantage of having a 2 speaker set up?
I get the sense that unless I am sat in a certain chair, the true draw of a trad set up will be lost on me?
I know no one can answer but me, but if anyone has any experience of a similar choice it would be hellpful, because I don’t think it is just down to which is ‘better’ in absolute terms, but which is better relative to this space and how we listen to music.
Cheers
I currently have a Denon Microsystem connected to the Acoustic Energy Aego sub and satellites speakers.
This lives in our kitchen diner, which is where we spend most of our time at home. It is probably 3.5m x 8m and includes quite a lot of glass because of a side return.
We mostly listen to BBC 6, but also stream via Spotify.
When we do want to crank up the volume, the limits of this system are exposed a little bit. We love a little dance after a few drinks, and I quite like a full sound with deep bass.
We tend to listen to classic soul, electronic alternative stuff, a bit of ‘indie’, even 60’s rock.
When listening to music, we could be in the kitchen, on the sofa or sat at the table and invariably we are moving around doing stuff.
I can just about justify spending up to £1,000 on some new kit. Man maths!....
So, I am currently not sure which way to go.
I could go with the Naim mu-so which would look great, be pretty convenient and I think provide room filling sound.
Or, I could spend up to the same amount of money on a nice pair of floorstanders, say the Q Acoustic 3050’s connected to a reasonable amp, streaming via Chromecast Audio.
I will audition the different set ups as a side by side comparison. Have listened to the Naim already and impressed, at least so far.
Will a more traditional set up fill the room with even more sound? The thing is, I will not be listening in the centre of the sound stage very much, so will that lessen the advantage of having a 2 speaker set up?
I get the sense that unless I am sat in a certain chair, the true draw of a trad set up will be lost on me?
I know no one can answer but me, but if anyone has any experience of a similar choice it would be hellpful, because I don’t think it is just down to which is ‘better’ in absolute terms, but which is better relative to this space and how we listen to music.
Cheers
I have a similar space to you and just got one of these: www.teenageengineering.com/products/od-11
I am really impressed with it. I had a listen to alot of the competition (naim, B&O, sonos, Bose this task (in a proper shop, not pc world) I was not able to listen to a OD11, but took a punt based on reviews, and the fact that it looks ace I think you might be able to see one in one of the london richer sounds.
it fills the room with open, natural sound, I discovered spotify streaming last night which works really well - just have the speaker on your wifi network and drive from your phone, It will also do airplay, and I have plugged a blue ray player in with a toslink cable to play cds
if you buy from amazon or conran shop its £500, until recently the price from teenage engineering was the same but it just went up to £699
I am really impressed with it. I had a listen to alot of the competition (naim, B&O, sonos, Bose this task (in a proper shop, not pc world) I was not able to listen to a OD11, but took a punt based on reviews, and the fact that it looks ace I think you might be able to see one in one of the london richer sounds.
it fills the room with open, natural sound, I discovered spotify streaming last night which works really well - just have the speaker on your wifi network and drive from your phone, It will also do airplay, and I have plugged a blue ray player in with a toslink cable to play cds
if you buy from amazon or conran shop its £500, until recently the price from teenage engineering was the same but it just went up to £699
As a bit of an update.
I spent quite a long time in Richer Sounds yesterday in one of their demo rooms.
The Naim is amazing, but not for me. I realised when testing it against separate stereo speakers that I really appreciate the bigger, wider source for the sound (obviously non technical term) that you get from separate speaker units. It’s a great bit of kit but both my wife and I felt the same, the source of sound is still too obviously from one place.
Also, when testing it with my bass killer track (Aphex Twin: Ageispolis) it could only fart through the lowest bass frequencies. Not surprising, as very few speakers can cope, but it was interesting to find its limit, and also for me to recognise that deep bass Is more important to me than I had realised.
The q Acoustics 3050 didn’t have enough low end either, or Monitor Audio Bronze 5’s.
The guy, all credit to him said we should try standmounts with a sub. Monitor audio bronze 2’s and a Cambridge Audio aero 9. Much more like it for me!
I am no audiophile but I found my sweet spot, and it is 3 boxes, not 2, not 1....
I spent quite a long time in Richer Sounds yesterday in one of their demo rooms.
The Naim is amazing, but not for me. I realised when testing it against separate stereo speakers that I really appreciate the bigger, wider source for the sound (obviously non technical term) that you get from separate speaker units. It’s a great bit of kit but both my wife and I felt the same, the source of sound is still too obviously from one place.
Also, when testing it with my bass killer track (Aphex Twin: Ageispolis) it could only fart through the lowest bass frequencies. Not surprising, as very few speakers can cope, but it was interesting to find its limit, and also for me to recognise that deep bass Is more important to me than I had realised.
The q Acoustics 3050 didn’t have enough low end either, or Monitor Audio Bronze 5’s.
The guy, all credit to him said we should try standmounts with a sub. Monitor audio bronze 2’s and a Cambridge Audio aero 9. Much more like it for me!
I am no audiophile but I found my sweet spot, and it is 3 boxes, not 2, not 1....
Edited by alolympic on Sunday 29th October 09:38
I found that my naim mu-so took quite a long time to bed in. Ive had mine close to 4 years now and can tell the difference between mine and my parents one (1 year old). The bass reproduction is soo much better on mine.
Still don’t think that a songle point of sound can compete with a set up like youhave purchased, but I think once you know its limitations than its a magnificent piece of kit.
Still don’t think that a songle point of sound can compete with a set up like youhave purchased, but I think once you know its limitations than its a magnificent piece of kit.
benz0 said:
Yeah for sub bass you need either large woofers (minimum 8 inch) or a separate sub really. You could also try some 8 inch studio monitors
I am amazed with how many people are happy with one box products, be it a soundbar for the telly or an all in one for music.
At the end of the day, they can use all the trickery to make the mid bass sound nice but to play the full range of frequencies, you need a driver capable of moving a large amount of air.
Fine for secondary systems, but for main system you need a large speaker or a sub with it, you can go smaller with a 6.5" in a ATL cabinet like PMC do. Otherwise you know you are missing out on sound that is actually in the soundtrack.
OP - if you like the Naim digital sound, with the new range out, you could get a good deal on the older amp models further up the range/buy used. Keep an eye out for customer trade-in's too.
Edited by hyphen on Monday 30th October 12:43
hyphen said:
I am amazed with how many people are happy with one box products, be it a soundbar for the telly or an all in one for music.
At the end of the day, they can use all the trickery to make the mid bass sound nice but to play the full range of frequencies, you need a driver capable of moving a large amount of air.
Fine for secondary systems, but for main system you need a large speaker or a sub with it, you can go smaller with a 6.5" in a ATL cabinet like PMC do. Otherwise you know you are missing out on sound that is actually in the soundtrack.
OP - if you like the Naim digital sound, with the new range out, you could get a good deal on the older amp models further up the range/buy used. Keep an eye out for customer trade-in's too.
Edited by hyphen on Monday 30th October 12:43
It's a dying hobby
I have a decent setup in the larger kitchen/family room (recently dropped £1100 upgrading it) but I also run a CD player and turn table from the amp. It sounds great and fills the room nicely. It produces plenty of bass. The amp has spotify connect and I much prefer this setup.
I don't own a MuSo but do have a B&W Zeppelin Air in the smaller lounge. The MuSo is a similar one box solution. I don't feel the need for a full Hi-Fi setup in that room. The one box sounds good enough (source quality depending) and generates more than enough punch and bass.
I think you'd probably get away with a MuSo or similar if the room isn't huge. I tested both my Zeppelin and amp and speakers in demo rooms before buying.
I don't own a MuSo but do have a B&W Zeppelin Air in the smaller lounge. The MuSo is a similar one box solution. I don't feel the need for a full Hi-Fi setup in that room. The one box sounds good enough (source quality depending) and generates more than enough punch and bass.
I think you'd probably get away with a MuSo or similar if the room isn't huge. I tested both my Zeppelin and amp and speakers in demo rooms before buying.
I think the Mu-so is a great bit of kit, very covetable and I can see why people own them.
For me, it has been a bit of a reminder of how much pleasure can be had from a quality set up. I feel like I have gone back 10 years in pursuit of big sound, rather than just the best sound from something that is trying to be hidden.
For me, it has been a bit of a reminder of how much pleasure can be had from a quality set up. I feel like I have gone back 10 years in pursuit of big sound, rather than just the best sound from something that is trying to be hidden.
Looking at your primary sources I suspect a Naim might be a bit over-spec. You're not exactly in the realms of lossless or hi-rez audio here. Even the Naim, nice little unit as it is, won't be realising its full potential with lossy sources like radio and spotify.
You could likely get a nicer, more room filling sound if you went for separates (DAC from your PC or TV or whatever) amp and speakers and a sub. But that's more work than going to the shop and getting a single box solution.
If you want a big room filling sound which immerses you in the music then you really have to get floorstanders (at least at this and the next few budget rungs). and a sub. Have a look around for second hand kit too. Lots of awesome bargains to be had, you might be surprised what you can get for your money.
You could likely get a nicer, more room filling sound if you went for separates (DAC from your PC or TV or whatever) amp and speakers and a sub. But that's more work than going to the shop and getting a single box solution.
If you want a big room filling sound which immerses you in the music then you really have to get floorstanders (at least at this and the next few budget rungs). and a sub. Have a look around for second hand kit too. Lots of awesome bargains to be had, you might be surprised what you can get for your money.
Edited by Angrybiker on Tuesday 31st October 17:28
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