How do you think they've been able to survive doing such obviously 'niche' products?

Naim have remained true to their original ideals whereas other manufacturers have expanded quickly into new sectors only to get their fingers burnt and lose direction. Naim in comparison have never simply followed fashon and adopted new technology for the sake of it but bide their time to fully understand any new concept before entering the market with statement products that always redefine what is possible at their respective price level. In this way they have constantly been at the cutting edge of performance with stable product ranges which remain in production for a number of years. This makes Naim utterly unique in the 'thousand mile an hour' pace of the consumer electronics industry, resolutely refusing to launch new product or repackage existing models simply for the sake of a quick sale. As a company they have incredible focus and refuse to compromise their values or ideals simply for the sake of fickle market trends. True quality lasts.

How would you describe the Naim corporate culture?

Utterly professional and incredibly warm. I spend a lot of time at the factory and Naim uniquely actively encourage their clients to visit in order to see how the products are built. What strikes you during these visits is the combination of leading edge technology presented with a very human face. As Naim's MD Paul Stephenson regularly comments 'it's all about the music' and this fudamental concept permeates through every team member and in turn every product they produce. These client visits are always immense fun, meeting the characters behind the products and offering customers a real insight into the naim philosophy. Invitations such as these and the quality and depth of the after sales service they provide make the whole Naim ownership experience completely different to any other brand.

What is your favourite Naim product, and why?

This is a tough one and I could name several products from Naim's product portfolio over the last 30 years for which I have a real soft spot, the original Nait integrated amplifer for instance or the Aro tonearm but within the current product line it has to be the CD 555 cd player which stands out for me as a product which satisfies on so many levels. The CD 555 redefines what the compact disc medium is capable of sonically, and in terms of build and execution this product can truly be described as 'statement' offering an unprecedented level of pride of ownership.

The litmus test for any audio product however has to be the effect it has on you when you first hear it. I can well remember my first session with the CD 555 sitting down for a brief listen but ending up transfixed, unable to leave my listening seat for several hours as I truly discoved the magic held on my compact discs. I think of the CD 555 not simply as a CD player but as a time machine, literally transporting the listener back to the original performance. I've heard many excellent audio products in my time but the CD 555 still leaves me breathless.