I've finally have gotten started, but want to preface all of this with the following "disclaimer"...
I know that the comparison(s) that I did (and will be doing) aren't set up in an optimal way due to my Naim equipment and I/C's (with their DIN connectors) not being inter-changable with other manufacturer's products. So please don't obsess over the fact that I/C's and (for simplicity's sake) power cords being used on the "baseline" Naim equipment won't be identical to what's connected to all of the other amps/pre-amps that I switch in/out of my system. I am well aware of it - Thank you!
With that being said, lets move on.
I listened to my Naim electronics last night and then switched over to my Parasound PHP850 Pre-amp and a borrowed Classe' "Twenty Five" amp and then back again. (Speakers and CD player remained constant.) I was somewhat surprised by the results. The Parasound/Classe' set-up had a smaller left <> right soundstage, which made it rather obvious that the music was coming from my speakers Bass seemed to be slower and a bit bloated. Disappointingly, a very "Hi-fi" sound overall. My Naim set-up was very much the opposite; wider soundstage, more holographic imaging and tighter, quicker bass. The most interesting thing that I realized in this comparison is that my Naim's 70WPC doesn't sound underpowered against the Classe's 250WPC. (Maybe the 89db sensitivity on my VR-4 Gen.III 2012 MOD speakers
will allow for less WPC that I thought!?!)
Just to make sure I wasn't favoring the Naim set-up because it's mine (or because it's the sound I'm so used to) I recruited my daughter & wife (much to their dismay) to listen back 'n forth. I'm sure I don't have to say this, but neither of them could care less which electronics were which (I didn't tell them what I was playing when) nor do they know or use audiophile terminology. Nonetheless, the girls always seem to be a good "litmus test" for system changes I try. Not only is their hearing better than mine, they are completely un-biased in their listening because they have no vested interest in any of it. My wife said the music through "System A" (Parasound/Classe') sounded "smaller & slower". My daughter just said that "System B" (Naim) set-up sounded "more alive and was better".
Obviously, I will need to spend some more time with these two set-ups and listen to more varied music, but for anybody that's keeping score - it sounds like "Round 1" goes to Naim.
T.B.C.
