robskie

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $13000.00 from Audio Venue

Summary:
I was lucky enough to be invited by Naim to their factory for a tour and demo.

I've listened (auditioned) a fair few systems (some a lot more expensive) before choosing Naim. I've always been a lover of their sound. If everyone could see what goes into these machines, love and pride included, price wouldn't be a factor. I walked away with:
CD555/552/500
The shear weight, detail, base, timig and power etc is simply unbelievable. Whilst there i listened to various combos each one sounding fine, but nothing compaired to the next level. Stopping at the 555/552/500 you realise that nothing else will do, very good sales ploy, you must have it.

I took 6-7 CD's i've listened to for years. It really is quite scary - everything is in exactly the right place at the right time. In terms of power 9 o'clock on the dial is almost too much, it starts at 7. Even when setting up it's like plugging into the Matrix. THe huge Brundy cables deliver enough current to bump start Frankenstein. The 500 drives Sonus Faber Momento's, notoriously difficult to drive... not any more my Krell 2250 ( i realise they're not quite in the same price bracket - also had 400cx for while) found it tricky which shocked me, what shocked me more was the ease with which the 500 picked them up slapped them about and told them who was boss.

I previously had Krell/Meridian - there is no contest. The Meridia/Krell seems crude in comparison.

When the soundstage transends the placement of the speakers and the ambient notes help create a wall of sound that hits you like a tidal wave you know you're onto a good thing. You simply will never run out of power: Krell is like an American muscle car, whilst Naim is more Aston Martin (would actually say more like the Bugatti Veron).

if you can afford it close your eyes and be transported to another world. If unfortunately you cant, organise a demo just so you can understand.

Oh build quality and engineering are equally as good.

Strengths:
Power
Poise
Precision

Weaknesses:
Price
Works even better in an all Naim system

Similar Products Used:
Tried everything now got:
Naim 555/552/500/250/145/DVD5/AV2...
... not gonna change

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have heard a variety of systems with the NAP500. They have been, without exception, the most engaging systems I have heard. On first hearing, the 500 impresses as sounding like it is not even there. There is simply no compression--music is allowed to breathe naturally, to ebb and flow, or to start and stop on a dime. The other truly remarkable element is the 500's supreme tunefulness. With the 500 in the system, it is simple to pick out any musical line you care to and to follow it no matter how complex or crazed the recording. In terms of more sonic qualities, the 500 represents the best amplifier ever from Naim. It is fast, rhythmically correct, and transparent--there really is no sense of a power amplifier working. Perhaps the most surprising aspect to the 500 is this: A friend had Naim NBL speakers driven actively with 6x135s (and all the top Naim bits up front). A single 500 in passive mode was immediately and substantially better, both musically and sonically. The other sonic element that really struck me was the sense of refinement the 500 brings. It is dramatically more refined--it does imaging and soundstaging very well, and uses a much wider palette of tonal colors than 135s or 250s. The 500 has a purity that is addictive. This quality is not only available to users of Naim speakers. In another system, the 500 drove ProAc Response 5 speakers brilliantly, easily eclipsing anything else I've heard them driven with, including some tube amps from the silly price zone. Similarly, the 500 drove Vandersteen 5s better than anything else I've heard. While it is far from inexpensive, I don't know of an amplifier that sounds better. That includes the Linn Klimax solos, which I was able to compare directly. The Linn's just don't have the same level of tunefulness or grip on the music--they sound rather "airy-fairey" and ephemeral in comparison. In conclusion, the 500 is the best power amplifier I have heard, and by a large margin. Truly a remarkable piece of kit and an astonishing accomplishment.

Strengths:
Tremendous sense of ease no matter what--allows music to breathe naturally. The most tuneful amplifier I've ever heard. I think it is the best amplifier available in terms of musical and sonic quality.

Weaknesses:
Price, but since nothing else comes close, this must be taken with a grain of salt.

Similar Products Used:
Naim NAP250, 135. Linn Klimax Solos. Krell FPB-600. Levinson 333. Classe DR-9.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
With this review I want to comment both the NAP 500 qualities and the quality of Jizz's review. The NAP 500 qualities probably only can be fully appreciated and understood if you have extensively listend to other Naim equipment before and have compared lets say a Nait and then Pre/Power combinations with the products of other manufactures. Once you have experienced the way Naim presents Music and transports the intention of the musicans to your home, you will find that not many if not even no other product is capable of involving you into music to a similar extend. It is as simple as that, listen to Naim and you will gain insights to recorded Music you have never experienced before. You will continiousely enlarge your interest in music in general. And you will listen more and more to live music as your experiance grows. The NAP 500 then is in a completely new league. It comletely redifines the capabilities of a power amp. 25 years ago the NAP 250 was miles ahead of competition, and now when other products come close to it the NAP 500 opens a gap to everthing else on the market which will take many years to close for all other manufacturers. Jizz's review is more a psychogram of his personality and has nothing to to with a serious description. Not even a company like Sony is able to produce a product of this high quality, even if they would use all their R&D and supplier resources. Key components are not available to them and they by far do not have the required manufacturing know how.

Strengths:
Rythm, flawless presentation, transportation of micro details which are so key to understand the intention of the piece itself and the musicans.

Weaknesses:
Non

Similar Products Used:
Most of what is currently available (heard but not owned)

Price Paid:  $12000.00

Summary:
Incomparable and astonishing. Tremendous grip on bass. Music is natural and sounds like music. The pinnacle of pace, rhythm, and timing - things for which Naim are wickedly famous. The 250 is muddled and boring by comparison. The 135s are shrill and sterile by comparison. And both are excellent amps.

Weaknesses:
It''s HEAVY.

Price Paid:  $10000.00 from Audio T

Summary:
This amp appears awesome @ fist but when you really start wanting to listen to the music, then compared to a Phase Linear 400 for example, it looses it,s emotion.
Jullian,s vision was nearest captured with the NAP250 ( 135 series )and I would suggest that this is still the best option especially if you can obtain an Avondale modified version.

Strengths:
Clarity,Drive,Technically well designed

Weaknesses:
Listener fatique sets in, after the first, initial impression.

Similar Products Used:
Phase Linear 400, fully modified