Summer 2002 - Naim Audio

News 

Summer 

2002 

News 

Press 

Reviews 

New 

SL2 

Loudspeaker 

New 

NAC 552 

Preamplifier 

New 

axent & axess 

Loudspeakers 

av2 

Interview 

Naim CD 

Releases

Cover photo: Anna Tooth 

Welcome! 

Welcome to the Summer 2002 Naim Audio Newsletter. This Newsletter gives us 

the chance to introduce new products, and to communicate more generally with 

both existing and new customers. Remember however that there’s always up to 

date news available on the Naim web site at www.naim-audio.com where you 

can also gain access to the Naim discussion forum. 

Naim Audio Limited 

Southampton Road Salisbury 

England SP1 2LN 

Tel +44 (0)1722 332266 

Fax +44 (0)1722 412034 

www.naim-audio.com 

Naim Audio North America Inc 

2702 West Touhy Avenue 

Chicago IL 60645 USA 

Tel 773 338 6262 

Fax 773 338 6202 

supercap@naimusa.com 

2 

News Summer 2002 

For this issue we kick off with a tribute to one of Naim’s 

longest serving and most loyal distributors. Jean Bouix, 

through his company Chektone, has been bringing Naim to 

the people of Switzerland since 1979, and he’s our 

Distributor of The year. Jean is pictured here smiling in quiet 

satisfaction at his award. 

And, just before we get into introducing the new products, Naim, as ever, 

has kept the the hi-fi press Worldwide pretty enthusiastic over the last 

few months. Here’s a selection of recent quotes that gave us particular 

satisfaction.... 

av2 

HI-FI WORLD, UK, August 2002: 

“All in all Naim’s first multi channel system 

is a joy. Awesomely fast and dynamic, 

superbly insightful and with massive 

reserves of power, it’s so far ahead of most 

other multi channel systems, it’s almost off 

the map.” 

ESSENTIAL HOME CINEMA, UK, June 2002: 

“The famed “Naim” sound is here with a 

vengeance, bringing incredibly vibrant and 

life-like sound to your vision.” 

HI-FI NEWS, UK, June 2002: 

“The av2 was one of the finest decoders I’ve 

heard.” 

STEREOPLAY, Germany, August 2002: 

“Uncoloured, natural presentation with an 

incomparable clarity of speech that makes 

any film a delight to watch.” 

PRESTIGE AUDIO VIDEO, France, April 2002: 

“The combination of av2 and Naim power 

amps will appeal to real music lovers. As 

soon as a conventional stereo CD is played 

this system shows itself to be no different 

to a very high-end purely audio system. Yet 

behind the “classic hi-fi” presentation with 

perfect musical sound stage hides an 

extremely modern high performance multichannel 

processor which is completely 

convincing in listening.” 

HAUTE FIDELITE, France, April 2002: 

“Straight away it was transparent like clear 

water, fine like the tip of a diamond and 

completely faithful to the original signal. 

These are characteristics that cannot be 

found on a processor three times the price.” 

“Given how comprehensive the 

functionality of this processor is, it is the 

most ergonomic and easy to use of all the 

processors that we have seen” 

“The av2 will revolutionise a market that 

wasn’t expecting it, offering the audiophile 

for the first time a high-end processor, 

converter and pre-amp all in one 

reasonably priced unit.” 

allæ 

STEREO, Germany, April 2002: 

“The allæ is a highly involving, controlled 

speaker and not very fussy when it comes to 

amp partnering. Crackingly good!” 

Fraim 

IMAGE HIFI, Germany, January 2002: 

“The Naim Fraim combines all of the 

benefits one expects from an equipment 

rack and exhibits none of the 

disadvantages.” 

AUDIO ENZ, New Zealand, August 2002 

“The previous limits that I had assumed to 

have been in my equipment disappeared 

with the Naim Fraim”. 

“The improvements with the Naim Fraim 

are in every area: timing, bass extension, 

treble clarity, midrange openness, and tonal 

accuracy.” 

Systems 

HAUTE FIDELITE, France, System of the 

month July/August 2002 (NAC 102, NAP 

180, allæ): 

“Straight away we hear the sound that built 

the reputation of the brand. A subtle blend 

of spontaneity and precision, an almost 

magical warmth and power of resolution 

that adds immeasurably to the music. The 

coherence of the system is undoubtable as 

soon as the melody invades the room. Fluid 

and precise the allæ easily reveals the sonic 

message.” 

“It is impossible to remain indifferent to 

this combination as it is so revealing and 

expressive of every musical nuance.”

Return of The 

King 

philosophy of music making. 

Reproducing every last detail and 

nuance of a performance and making it 

real. The SL2 continues the tradition of 

the original SBL - compact, wide 

bandwidth, easy to use, fast, musical, 

and a total absence of cabinet 

colouration and resonance. 

SL2 

A loudspeaker that defines the Naim 

AESTHETICS 

A new interpretation of a classic. The SL2 

takes the architecture of the SBL but 

introduces 21st century cabinet making 

techniques to create a gently curved form 

that is both unique and elegant, and that 

will integrate with any domestic aesthetic - 

contemporary or traditional. 

TECHNOLOGY 

The SL2 incorporates proven Naim 

speaker technology yet also 

introduces significant new ideas. 

The Precision Acoustic Resistance 

that defines the bass driver 

loading, irrespective of volume 

level, is a traditional Naim feature. As are 

decoupled enclosures and mass dampers 

that defeat cabinet resonance. 

New innovations are the Precision Enclosure 

Interface that enables the speaker to 

operate without any mechanical seal 

between cabinets, and the Tweeter 

Suspension Arm that provides a near 

perfectly decoupled environment for this 

vitally important driver. 

SL2 

DRIVE UNITS 

Naim’s in-house manufactured 200mm 

bass/midrange driver is like no other. Its 

computer modelled die-cast aluminium 

chassis provides not only a rigid backbone 

for the moving parts but carries features 

that help control enclosure panel resonance. 

Its carefully treated cone is matched to a 

natural rubber surround in an assembly 

optimised for natural music making. And its 

split mass aluminium phase plug controls 

high frequency response while improving 

heat dissipation and power handling. 

Scanspeak’s 19mm, low resonance, wide 

dispersion soft dome is also used in both 

the NBL and DBL. It is mounted via a very 

low resonance suspension system that 

maximises its opportunity to perform. 

SPECIFICATIONS 

SL2 

Frequency Response 30Hz - 20kHz ±3dB 

Sensitivity 89dB for 2.83V at 1m 

Nominal Impedance 6 Ohms 

Power Handling 100 Watts (music programme) 

Dimensions (H x W x D) 1030 x 282 x 330mm 


3

A defining philosophy at Naim Audio is that new 

products must better those that went before, so 

developing a preamplifier to improve on the 

legendary NAC 52 was no simple task. Twelve years 

after its launch, the NAC 52 still defines the benchmarks for a high-end 

preamplifier. The NAC 552 redefines them. 

NAC 552 

Raising 

The 

Bar 

4 


There’s no single component or technology that makes 

the NAC 552 so special other than Naim’s complete 

understanding of circuit topology, component selection, 

electro-mechanical engineering, and their influence on 

music. And there is no other way of designing a 

preamplifier to reach the performance of the NAC 552 

without such understanding. 

The NAC 552 both borrows existing Naim techniques 

where appropriate, and 

introduces new technology 

where needed. It features a 

complex printed circuit 

board suspension system 

inspired by the CDS II 

compact disc player, and a 

new split rail circuit topology and outboard power 

supply that reduce noise to near unmeasurable levels. 

New too are the connectivity and control features of the 

NAC 552. In addition to traditional Naim DIN sockets, it 

incorporates two inputs equipped with phono sockets so 

enabling the use of legacy interconnects and equipment. 

Programmable user interface software enables any input 

socket to be mapped to any input button. 

But the NAC 552 is not really about engineering, it is a 

musical masterpiece that can bring new levels of 

emotion, expression and pure enjoyment to music in the 

home. Within a Naim system, the NAC 552 is the 

ultimate musical heart and in the same way that the 

NAP 500 redefined the performance of a Naim power 

amplifier, so does 

the NAC 552 

preamplifier. And 

it will do so for 

the next decade 

at least.

While the role and positioning of a centre 

channel loudspeaker are different from those 

of a conventional stereo pair, the basic 

engineering principles are similar. So the 

axent and axess follow themes and 

incorporate technologies already seen and 

heard in Naim’s SL2, NBL, and DBL. Each 

carries multiples of a magnetically shielded 

130mm bass/mid driver closely related to the 

NBL/DBL midrange unit. And each carries the 

same Scanspeak D2010 tweeter mounted on 

a compliant leaf-spring suspension. Both also 

employ the traditional Naim mass damper on 

every cabinet panel and Precision Acoustic 

Resistance bass loading within the separate 

enclosures for each driver. 

The centre channel role in an audio-visual 

system is vital if dialogue is to be intelligible 

at all levels from a whisper to a shout. And 

the traditional Naim loudspeaker values of 

dynamics, timing and information retrieval 

ensure that the axent and axess are genuine 

front row performers. 


axent 






The Centre Ground 

axent & axess 


axess 

Long-time Naim enthusiasts 

will know that the launch of 

a completely new class of 

product is a rare event. So 

the arrival of the axent and 

axess centre channel 

loudspeakers soon after the 

av2 Processor marks a 

significant introduction and 

reinforces Naim’s intention 

to bring its two-channel 

expertise to multi-channel 

audio-visual systems. 






News Summer 2002 5

Naim’s av2 Audio Visual processor may look pretty understated, 

but in terms of digital electronics and software control it is one 

of the most technically sophisticated products the company has 

ever introduced. Here, Tom Johnson and Ashley Harper, two of 

the engineers most closely involved with its development, talk 

to Phil Ward. 

6 


PW: I suspect there’s a preconception in the 

market that there’s not a great deal to chose 

between different AV decoders, that they all 

do much the same thing. What makes the 

av2 special? 

AH: Well while it’s true that the basic 

functionality of a decoder is pretty well tied 

down by the Dolby and DTS specifications, 

the actual audio performance of the 

product will still respond to good electronic 

engineering practice. In this respect it’s 

similar to a CD player - nobody says that 

Code 

because the specification of the digital data 

stream is tied down by the Red Book 

standard that all CD players sound the 

same. The way the data is handled is vital. 

In the case of the av2, all the Naim inhouse 

experience of dealing with digital and 

analogue audio data without losing any 

inherent information and timing is still 

applicable. And getting that right on an AV 

processor makes a surprising difference. The 

big plus is that the feedback we have had 

from our first customers has been the great 

sound performance, which just went way 

above their expectations. That really pleased 

us! 

TJ: The inside of an AV processor is a pretty 

hostile environment in terms of retaining 

signal integrity and keeping noise low. 

There’s digital clocks and signals flying 

about everywhere and only through really 

ingenious and disciplined circuit topology 

and layout can you hope to maximise 

output signal quality. As Ashley says, these 

are familiar issues at Naim. Retaining signal 

quality is something we’re pretty adept at

doing. Things like signal path, earthing, 

power supply regulation and analogue 

filtering are hugely critical on an AV product 

simply because there are so many signals to 

deal with. 

On a more practical level the av2 is an 

extremely easy processor to set-up and use 

in real world situations. We have a user 

interface that, once you get used to the 

principles, allows really easy access to some 

pretty complex set-up parameters and that’s 

quite important with so many possible 

sources and encoding technologies around. 

Warriors 

PW: That first question leads on I guess to 

asking about Naim’s philosophy where AV is 

concerned. Previously accepted Naim wisdom 

was that integrating an AV processor into a 

stereo system risked the performance of the 

system. What’s changed? 

TJ: Well there are two points to make. 

Firstly, integrating any other AV processor 

within a Naim system you may be 

disappointed. The av2 is designed to 

integrate properly with the earthing and 

signal path practices of Naim systems so it 

is fundamentally benign. It requires just one 

interconnect lead - and I guess if a 

customer was really concerned, they could 

simply unplug that lead. Also, recent Naim 

preamps not only have dedicated AV 

input/output facilities but also the ability to 

set the preamp gain to unity and bypass its 

volume control. Both these help in ensuring 

that there are no problems caused simply by 

the presence of the av2. 

AH: Second point is that the av2 can be set 

up to work in a stand-alone AV system - it 

doesn’t have to be integrated into a 

conventional stereo system at all. In fact, 

because the av2 can work as a conventional, 

very high-quality stereo audio preamp in its 

own right - with the digital circuits 

powered-down when they’re not needed - 

you can really see it as two products in one 

box. 

PW: I think a significant aspect of the av2 is 

the versatility it offers. Speaking as 

part of the design team, what do you think 

are the cool features that perhaps are less 

obvious or might be taken for granted. 

TJ: Well I think, despite the fact that it’s in 

one sense designed to be taken for granted, 

the user interface in 

providing both 

simplicity of operation 

along with easy access 

to all the set-ups is 

pretty cool. If you take 

the time to program an 

av2 to suit your system 

and patterns of usage, the interface really 

comes into its own. 

AH: For me it’s the signal routing versatility 

and the fact that the av2 can work as a 

really good preamp. There’s the analogue 

stereo direct mode that routes the signal via 

the volume control and the classic Naim 

signal conditioning and discrete output 

stage to the main left and right outputs. At 

the same time all the digital processing is 

turned off. Then there’s a multiple input 

mode that can take a previously decoded 

6.1 channel input signal and route it to the 

appropriate outputs - again via multiple 

channels of Naim output stage. 

PW. And how was working with Dolby and 

DTS? Is the relationship between companies 

of their size and one as “small” as Naim a 

problem? I’d imagine they would play pretty 

tough? 

AH: Well not tough so much as professional. 

And I think there’s a healthy respect both 

ways. Despite its relatively small size, Naim 

has a high profile among audio engineers 

throughout the World so it’s not as if we’re 

faced with Dolby or DTS saying, “Naim 

who?”. They seem to know what we’re about 

and that a Naim product will be engineered 

probably better than anything else they’ve 

come across. 

PW: So what’s next. There’s talk of a Video 

Switching product to follow and a dvd player. 

TJ: That’s right, the Video Switcher is in 

development. And it’ll be rather more than 

box with just a big switch on the front. It 

will have many features including some 

really great video enhancement possibilities. 

The dvd player, it’s too early to say ... 


7

Latest Releases 

From The Heart 

Chris Anderson naim cd035 

From The Heart is aptly titled. Chris 

Anderson plays as though his life depends 

on it. Every note is laced with vulnerability, 

every chord with delicacy. Familiar standards 

become mysterious and enigmatic, and 

particularly on “Love In Vain”, through a 

haunting, hesitant vocal, almost unbearably 

melancholic. 

Anderson, now in his mid 70s, is a hugely 

influential jazz pianist. His 50 year career is 

studded with collaborations with the likes of 

Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, Charlie Haden and Dinah 

Washington. He’s often credited too with teaching Herbie 

Hancock, who, to this day remains one of his most loyal fans. 

Anderson however never took a piano lesson in his life and 

this perhaps is a clue to his unique approach to chord voicing 

and harmony. He remains a legend among jazz musicians but 

essentially unknown to the record buying public. 

Grieg’s Folk Dances and Songs 

Håvard Gimse naim cd059 

Håvard Gimse is a brilliant young musician and now 

established as one of Europe’s leading 

pianists. Numerous awards and accolades 

include the European piano competition, the 

Steinway Prize and the prestigious Grieg 

Prize. In this, his second album for The Naim 

Label, Håvard has chosen to record a 

selection of Grieg’s transcriptions of 

traditional Norwegian Folk Dances and Songs. 

Grieg’s music is strongly characterised by the 

culture of his homeland and this is no more 

strongly expressed than in these short pieces. 

Håvard, who shares with Grieg a Norwegian 

cultural background, interprets them with warmth, 

understanding and vitality in equal measure. And Ken 

Christianson captures his performance with the clarity and 

immediacy characteristic of a pure, direct to stereo recording. 

A London Concert 

John Holloway - Violin Jaap ter Linden - Cello 

Lars Ulrik Mortensen - Harpsichord naim cd037 

John Holloway, Jaap ter Linden and Lars Ulrik 

Mortensen are among the most highly 

respected contemporary Baroque specialists. 

They’ve worked together for many years, 

winning multiple awards both as a trio and 

as individuals. For A London Concert they 

selected music by composers active in 

London during the early 18th Century and 

the disc provides a fascinating opportunity 

to hear the kind of programme that would 

have been familiar to the concert-going 

public around that time. 

John, Jaap and Lars Ulrik have produced a wonderfully 

engaging disc that both uncovers some rarely heard music 

and emphasises the seductive personality of original 

instruments. There is a joyous spirit to the music; a 

combination of the material and the relish with which the 

trio play. A London Concert is the first in a planned series of 

discs by the trio. Subsequent releases will feature the music 

of further European cities during the Baroque period. 

Sampler 4 

Classical naim cd061 

Having released consistently highly 

acclaimed discs by musicians such as The 

Allegri Quartet, Iona Brown, Håvard Gimse 

and Yuval Yaron, we decided that it was 

time to collect a few classical highlights 

together on one disc. But don’t just take 

our word for their quality, read some 

critics’ opinions in the box on the right. 

New Dawn 

Dominic Miller and Neil Stacey naim cd066 

Those familiar with Antonio Forcione’s 

recordings for the Naim Label will know of 

his collaborations with Neil Stacey. And those 

familiar with Sting’s live and recorded work 

will similarly recognise the name Dominic 

Miller. Dominic has held down that most 

coveted gig in popular music as Sting’s “right 

hand and left hand man” for the past 18 

years. 

For New Dawn, Neil and Dominic have put 

together a set of ten original pieces, accompanied by two 

covers of Sting tracks, for guitars, keyboard atmospheres and 

percussion touches. Being self produced and recorded this is a 

disc that sounds exactly as the artists intended. There is no 

sense of self indulgence or over-elaboration, just beautifully 

played and arranged contemporary guitar music exactly as it 

was intended to be heard. 

Peace 

Patrick Noland naim cd065 

Naim founder Julian Vereker was a great 

enthusiast for Patrick Noland’s music and the 

two men became close friends. Peace is 

Patrick’s heartfelt tribute following Julian’s 

untimely passing early in 2000. It’s a 

reflective but in no way sentimental or 

maudlin collection of pieces composed and 

played with Patrick’s characteristic poignant 

economy. Seven pieces for solo piano are 

accompanied by one each for wind chimes 

and twelve string guitar. 

Ken Christianson first introduced Patrick’s music to Julian and 

recorded each of his two previous Naim Label releases. Peace 

continues the collaboration with Ken whose expertise and 

artistry with purist microphone and recording techniques 

perfectly captures the spirit and aesthetic of this touching 

collection of music. 

“This (Bruch A Minor Quintet) is its first recording and the freshness 

of ideas and argument is most winning” 

The Guardian. Allegri Quartet, Naim CD010. 

“There are few that are more interpretatively perceptive than the 

Allegri or that bear witness to musical relations between individual 

personnel” 

Gramophone. Allegri Quartet, Naim CD012. 

“A CD that should be on every violin teacher’s syllabus” 

Gramophone. Yuval Yaron, Naim CD018. 

“All four pieces are played very beautifully and are sympathetically 

recorded. A Classic CD Choice disc.” 

Classic CD Eberle Quartet, Naim CD019. 

“The recordings are excellent and this is definitely a pianist to 

watch” 

Gramophone. Håvard Gimse, Naim CD028. 

“The most engaging and musical performance to have graced my 

audio system for some while...a sensitive and emotional 

performance with extremely well-recorded sound.” 

The Listener. Allegri Quartet, Naim CD024. 

Written and edited by Phil Ward 

Produced by K F Design, Fordingbridge

Summer 2002 - Naim Audio

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