Hey kids. Linn & Naim get real among the white goods! Or is it a spoof?

[Neil McCauley]

But it is April 1st

http://bit.ly/hd0M2h

and

http://bit.ly/eobwYI

and

http://bit.ly/goFnIV

If it is a spoof then it's a damn good one. If not though, then it's an accurate snapshot of the dying retail side of this industry. Personally I always thought that anything from Nordost deserved to be in dump-bins at Asda, but that's just me - or is it? No doubt Russ Andrews is licking his lips as I write this. Meanwhile, the best comments so far from the PMF site:

"Seems bang on to me, at least Linn and Naim know their target market these days. It's a better plan than trying to flog yet more boxes to a tiny group of flat earthers who still think it's 1982." and ...

"The concept, the cheapening of the Linn and Naim brand, the greed." and ...

"Would Sir like a Smeg with his Klimax DS and by the way Naim recommend Calgon."

[snapper]

Well it's certainly not a spoof as Linn have them listed on their website,Zinc (http://www.linn.co.uk/find_a_retailer_detail?submit_search=&country=GB&retailer_name=zinc&retailer_postcode=&retailer_region=)

Anyway,I prefer the quote below from Rodrat,who seems to be the only poster on that thread with experience of said shop.


They have dedicated demo rooms which are a lot better than some specialist shops I have been in and an experienced salesman who knows how to fettle lp12's. He doesn't get involved with the TV's or domestic appliances and those salesmen don't get involved in selling the hifi stuff. As for greed, they are in business to make money.

[Alex_UK]

I must be missing the point? :scratch: Is it against Linn/Naim rules for electrical shops to sell their products alongside non-hifi electricals?

[DSJR]

Alex, you have to remember the snotty and patronising attitude of Linn/naim dealers of old, who wouldn't dream of doing things this way. As long as this dealer can sell enough to make it worthwhile, yet not enough to annoy Tom-Tom nearby, once the darling of the new-wave Naim dealers, then all will be well.

By the way, have you seen the raft of non-audiophile but very expensive Naim products that have appeared in recent times. The old stuff won't be discontinued, merely, it'll fade away naturally as the old-school market dies off...

[hifi_dave]

I must be missing the point? :scratch: Is it against Linn/Naim rules for electrical shops to sell their products alongside non-hifi electricals?

Linn products were available in Electricity Board showrooms for a while.

[Alex_UK]

Alex, you have to remember the snotty and patronising attitude of Linn/naim dealers of old, who wouldn't dream of doing things this way. As long as this dealer can sell enough to make it worthwhile, yet not enough to annoy Tom-Tom nearby, once the darling of the new-wave Naim dealers, then all will be well.

Thanks for that - I guess I can understand, to a degree. Different world now though of course, and I suspect any sale is gratefully received.


By the way, have you seen the raft of non-audiophile but very expensive Naim products that have appeared in recent times. The old stuff won't be discontinued, merely, it'll fade away naturally as the old-school market dies off...

Do you mean the Uniti, and UniQute? When I picked up the Spendors, the dealer demonstrated them with the system he had running at the time - a UniQute - have to say it sounded pretty good... Or did you mean the clothing and art? (http://www.naimaudio.com/hifi-products/range/11) :eek:

[hifi_dave]

as the old-school market dies off...

Oh come on Dave, you've a few years left...:violin:

[technobear]

Love that first page. Did they put the Marantz gear there to show how other-worldly the Linn and Naim prices are?

Anyone who pays that price for a Naim DAC when they could have two Audiolab 8200CDQ and spare change for some CDs needs their bumps reading.

[Tim]

Love that first page. Did they put the Marantz gear there to show how other-worldly the Linn and Naim prices are?

Anyone who pays that price for a Naim DAC when they could have two Audiolab 8200CDQ and spare change for some CDs needs their bumps reading.
How do you like that CDQ now you have had time to bed it in?

[technobear]

How do you like that CDQ now you have had time to bed it in?

It's very good. Far more musical than the five occasions on which I have heard the Naim DAC.

[DSJR]

The DAC innards aren't that expensive. What you're paying for is the Naim R&D which will be paid for in the first year of production and the directors' pension funds thereafter :)