fgarib Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 Hello all, I've been popping my head in and out of these forums trying to learn from your guys, and picking your brains now and then with my NUMEROUS questions. Well, here's my latest question: An "audiophile" friend of mine (notice the quotes!) recently challenged me to a shootout of his el cheapo (read: lower end) Naim System, consisting of a NAIT 3 integrated and Naim speakers (don't know the model, but I'm assuming they're the Intro 2's.) against my soon-to-have-the-DeanG-Xover-Mods-That-I-Bought-3-months-ago updated Khorns and an SS Mac 6400 integrated amp. Now frankly, I'm not the competitive sort, nor do I have any desire to get sucked into a subjective discussion of, "Dude, check that bass out!!! Can't you hear it?" But he insisted that he's going to kick my system's a$$... so in my earnest desire to not let you forum members down without a fight(and, in part, because of my ego just exploded) I agreed. Note that this is not going to be a technical contest in the slightest... No measurements to speak of... Even the sources, interconnects, software.. all of it will be variable. He'll play his music, on his cd player, in his room at his house, and me at my house, with my music, and my cd's / vinyl. Thus, this is completely geared up to be an evening of frustration. I think the schedule is that he's going come over one night next week, and then we're going to go over to his place soon after that. Now from what I can tell, this guy does not know the first thing about, say, the effect that the room itself has on the sound... or what makes up a good crossover... or what a midrange is, for that matter. However, the one thing that he does have going for him is that he has a TON of money, and knows that Naim is a darn solid brand. So, based on the reviews he's read, and the advice of his high end audio supplier, he has bought this system used, and plugged it into - get this - a square listening room. And apparently it sounds phenomenal! So my question is this: What the heck do I say to the guy... I have a feeling that nothing you can say will in any way, shape or form start to convince him that what he's listening to coming out of the Khorns is actually a really well rounded sound, and not only bang-for-buck-wise, but objectively it's a kick *** system. I think i'll just have 2 scotches for every one that I serve to him at my place... that way the evening will be less painful at his place with his jibing on and on using words that he's just learned in the June issue of Stereophile... Look forward to hearing your opinions. -Fauzi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J M O N Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 I don't think you need to say a word to him. Let the Klipschorns do all the talking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Def Leper Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 How do you get into these situations? To use an automotive analogy, you're sitting at a traffic light in your Ferrari and some guy rolls up in a Dodge Neon with a NOX kit and challenges you to a drag race. A real Ferrari owner would look at the guy as though he was a dung-covered cockroach and hang a right turn when the light changes, leaving him to go to the next light to find an insecure Mustang or Celica owner to bait. The sound quality of your system is highly subjective. If you really think it is objective (and matter of competition) then you are well on your way to becoming one of those pathetic audiopiles with a system that costs $100,000, sounds like $1,000, and looks like R2D2 expoded in the living room. Good speakers are crap-amplifiers, and will highlight every defect and shortcoming in the recordings you listen to. Mediocre or poor systems do the opposite. They hide or mask much of what is on the recording, so much so in some cases that very poor recordings end up being passable. That's not a virtue, in my opinion. Will your Klipsch system be judged better because the same recording sounds worse on it than on the Naim system? I doubt it. That's an indictment of the listener, though, and not the system. Do yourself a favor and hang a right when the light changes. Your over-testosteroned friend will go looking for a Sony or Harmon Kardon owner at the next light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironwoods Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 Has yer friend ever even seen a K-horn? "That's not a knife.................. This is a knife" Naim has some decent gear, but I've never heard their speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 If you loose, you can always pull out 2 set's of IPOD headphones and ask for a rematch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott0527 Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 "and looks like R2D2 expoded in the living room" perfect description of what some of the high end systems can look like Def. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steamer Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 This sounds like a no win situation for both partys.Oviously he believes his system is better and that mindset will be hard to change.We all have our perceptions of what sounds good.Then on the other hand K-horns and Mac SS gear is a sweet combo.Has he ever heard a K-horn?This could boil down to how open minded he is. As for your impressions of his system,be gentle. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Blacksmith Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 HEY! I drive neon and it is a darn fine little car! I put over 150,000 miles on my first one before the drunken neighbor destroyed it. I now have 110,000+ on my second one and it is still running like new![] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 Those things are easy to win -- no matter how good his system sounds, just keep looking at him like he's an idiot. If you want to get nasty, pick up a couple of the Stereophile test CD's with the exceptionally recorded piano and drum work -- he will have Klipschorns in his house before the year is out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 I agree, don't get inot the situation. But because you already are, just show him what horns can do. Get some recordings that he is familiar with and listen and moderate levels. Let him experience the detail and soundstage. Make sure you have some accoustical recordings too. They are eerily lifelike. If he has an open mind he will see the difference. If not, there is a Bose factory outlet close to where I live... Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffgeorge Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 I say go for it! Worst that can happen is that, he thinks his system is still better than yours. So what! Best that can happen is that he is so impressed by your Khorns, that he buys a set for himself. Another convert! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttrhp Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 I am not familiar with Naim speaker,but I bought an original Naim nait($350) to toy around with my avantgarde horn speaker.I have to admit that this little thing flat out beat my current Krell 400ix int amplifier..It make me kind of curious of their speakers line..if any klipsch fan in the houston area that want to try out this naim nait,feel free to contact me and can borrow to try it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fgarib Posted June 22, 2006 Author Share Posted June 22, 2006 Def, LOLLLL!!!! Looove the analogy! And you hit the nail on the head, when you said "over-testosteroned! I've been brushing up on my Stereophile-speak and AV-Weekly-lingo, and prepped a couple of comments, no matter how much I like his system... which I'm sure I will, because from what I understand, Naim is, errr... a "name" to be respected... The trick is to make the comments start off as compliments... but then stick in a phrase or two in there to make 'em think! - "Wow, dude! Lucid! Very transparent! But, err... is it me or is the midrange just a touch, ummm, spongy?" - If it's toed in: "Man, i think you're toed in too much... the sweet spot could be sweeter." - If they're not: "Dude, gotta toe them in... the sweet spot could be sweeter." - On a nice acoustic guitar piece: "Man oh man, you can hear that bow gliiiide on the violin strings! WOW!" - On a rock piece: "Man, I never realized Bonzo's played the congos in this song... or is that the snare?" Of course, then I gotta work in words like, "Sloooow, stunted, shuddering, airy, boomy, emancipated...." And I'm trying to work on my pensive drawl as i say these words... Any more suggestions on Stereophile-speak? Keep em coming... Wednesday next is d day! -Fauzi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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