Thanks, I checked out Aventure but they don't show prices. They seem to be a true distributor; that is they stock Hegel equipment locally and then sell it on to hi-fi stores. 1400 EUR = about £1200 which isn't cheap, but is also not outrageously expensive.
Do you have a link to a dealer in Holland or elsewhere in the EU?
Regarding Naim, I've used their amps since the 1980s, and while their equipment is expensive to buy, it is built to last. My Naim 250 power amp (which was their top of the range at the time) is around 25 years old and is still going strong.
I also gave my "old" Naim 32.5 pre-amp to a friend of mine 10 years ago. I didn't think it would work for much longer, and so I felt bad about him paying me anything for it and wouldn't accept any money for it. He is still using it.
The power amp has cost me £30/year so far, which is exceptional value compared with most of my non-audio purchases (especially cars, which depreciate more than that every month, and then there is insurance, tyres, gas/petrol, annual service costs, etc.).
I wish good cars were as inexpensive as good hi-fi...!
Naim are not to everyone's taste, but based on my history I'll probably buy the Naim DAC if I audition one as it seems to have the usual Naim attributes - their equipment plays tunes well (also called PRaT), which is always my first priority.
I saw your addition of the Musical Fidelity, you were fast with that... 7 minutes! I had to check which order the posts were in, as I thought I'd messed up...
Quote:
Hegel's dealer list;
http://www.hegel.com/euro.htm
The D20 is about 1400 euro's in holland.
MF added to the list, didnt know they're european.
The Naim look interesting and verry nice aestheticaly. High price though.
I'm now at home finishing the workweek with an old slayer cd.
