名廠巡禮 | Naim Audio 第二部：走進 Naim 的日常

文｜Jonathan Gorse  發佈日期：2023 年 2 月 23 日  翻譯｜Gemini  編輯、潤稿｜巨禮小編

原文網址：https://www.ultraaudio.com/index.php/features-menu/in-good-company/1174-naim-audio-part-two-a-day-inside-naim

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The first part of the Naim Audio series focused on my introduction to the brand and the launch of the New Classic series of components. This part will focus on my visit to Naim.

Naim Audio 系列報導的第一部分重點在於我對該品牌的初識，以及 New Classic 系列組件的發表。而本部分將帶領讀者深入探索我親自造訪 Naim 總部的見聞。

 

This visit began over a coffee in the demo room with Jason Gould, brand ambassador for Naim. We discussed how best we might give readers an insight into Naim today. To misquote Spinal Tap, what I wanted was “to capture the sights, the sounds, and the smells of a hardworking audio factory”—and I was able to do just that.

這次參訪始於與 Naim 品牌大使 Jason Gould 在試聽室的一杯咖啡。我們討論了該如何讓讀者最直觀地了解今日的 Naim。套用一句《搖滾萬萬歲》（Spinal Tap）的台詞，我想要的是「捕捉一家勤懇運作的音響工廠之視覺、聽覺與嗅覺」——而我確實如願以償。

 

The tour kicked off in the busy assembly area. I was struck by how large this department is and just how labor intensive Naim’s build process is. Naim provides their build technicians with reference examples of each model in their range, complete with a detachable Perspex transparent lid. Components are selected, measured for tolerance, and distributed to the build stations. All the assembly technician needs to do is to copy the template, routing the wiring exactly the same way and soldering each component in the same place using the same quantity of solder.

導覽從繁忙的組裝區開始。我不禁驚嘆於這個部門的規模之大，以及 Naim 的製造過程是多麼地耗費人力。Naim 為他們的組裝技師提供各型號的「參考範本」，並配有可拆卸的透明壓克力頂蓋。所有零件都經過精挑細選並測量公差，然後分發到各個組裝台。組裝技師只需精確模仿範本，以完全相同的方式配置佈線，並在相同位置使用等量的焊料焊接每個組件。

 

Naim uses what they call a “single-stage build,” where each operator builds a single unit from start to finish. This approach ensures that team members feel responsible for each unit they build, and it creates pride in the product in a way that production line assembly cannot.

Naim 採用了他們所謂的「單人全機組裝」（single-stage build），即每位操作員從頭到尾獨立完成一台機器。這種方法確保了團隊成員對其製造的每一台設備都抱有責任感，並產生了一種生產線裝配所無法比擬的產品自豪感。

 

Of course, when new technicians join, they start off building only portions of the simpler products or performing simpler tasks like fitting transformers to cases. The more difficult work is then handed off to someone with more experience to complete. Gould indicated that it usually takes more than two years for assembly workers to become proficient enough to join the single-stage build line and to assemble the more complex items in the Naim range.

當然，新進技師加入時，會先從組裝簡單產品的部分零件開始，或執行較簡單的任務，例如將變壓器安裝到機殼中。較困難的工作則會交由更有經驗的人員完成。Gould 指出，組裝工人通常需要兩年以上的時間才能達到足夠熟練的程度，進而加入「單人全機組裝」生產線，組裝 Naim 系列中更複雜的產品。

 

After assembly, every unit is put on a test rig to measure its performance across multiple parameters. Anything that fails this testing is sent to a dedicated area of the factory for reworking. Once they’ve passed electronic testing, all completed amplifiers and streamers are then subjected to individual listening tests. Naim is dead serious about consistency, and the firm is determined that the amplifier or streamer you heard and liked in the dealer’s demo room will sound exactly the same as the one that’s delivered to you and installed in your home.

組裝完成後，每台設備都會放在測試台上測量多項參數性能。任何未通過測試的產品都會被送往工廠的專門區域進行重做。一旦通過電子測試，所有完成的擴大機和串流播放機都會經過個別的聽感測試。Naim 對「一致性」的要求非常固執，該公司堅信，你在經銷商試聽室聽到並喜愛的擴大機或串流機，其聲音表現必須與送至你家中安裝的那一台完全一致。

 

It’s interesting to note that Naim uses surface-mount technology (SMT) across their entire range for components that aren’t associated with the audio path, but they use through-hole mounting (THM) for all components in the audio signal path. SMT components are secured only by solder on the surface of the board, while THM components have leads that run right through the board.

值得注意的是，Naim 在全系列產品中，針對非音訊路徑相關的組件使用表面黏著技術（SMT），但對於音訊訊號路徑上的所有組件則堅持使用穿孔插裝技術（THM）。SMT 組件僅靠電路板表面的焊料固定，而 THM 組件的引腳則直接穿過電路板。

 

Through-hole mounting is superior because it offers greater reliability; this is why THM is commonly used in aerospace applications. However, these types of circuits are more time consuming and expensive to assemble and require more space on a circuit board. Naim argues that THM mounting sounds better and is more reliable, which is why they build this way.

穿孔插裝技術之所以優越，是因為它提供了更高的可靠性；這也是為何 THM 常見於航太應用的原因。然而，這類電路的組裝既耗時又昂貴，且需要佔用更多的電路板空間。Naim 主張 THM 安裝的聲音更好且更可靠，這正是他們堅持以此方式製造的原因。

 

 

The NAP S1 amplifier is a behemoth: it’s approximately the size of a washing machine. It also has the biggest toroidal transformer I have ever seen rated at 4000VA. Each NAP S1 mono power amplifier is capable of delivering 768W into 8 ohms, doubling into 4 ohms, or offering burst power of 9000W into 1 ohm. The whole assembly weighs some 222 pounds, about as much as a T-101 Terminator.

NAP S1 擴大機是個巨無霸：它的體積大約跟一台洗衣機差不多。它還擁有我見過最大的環形變壓器，額定功率高達 4000VA。每一台 NAP S1 單聲道後級在 8 歐姆負載下可輸出 768W，4 歐姆時倍增，甚至能在 1 歐姆下提供 9000W 的瞬間爆發功率。整機重量約 222 磅（約 100 公斤），重量跟 T-101 終結者差不多。

 

Jason remarked that when he saw the first prototype, he told Steve Sells, the chief development engineer, that he had built the proverbial “yacht in a basement.” When asked how the hell he planned to get it out of there, Steve retorted, “that’s not my problem.” Seeing a Statement in the process of being built reminded me of aerospace engineering and those times I have visited the hangar and seen the Airbus I fly in my day job being stripped down to bare metal for an A check.

Jason 提到，當他看到第一個原型機時，他告訴首席開發工程師 Steve Sells，他造了一個典型的「地下室裡的遊艇」。當被問到到底打算怎麼把它搬出來時，Steve 反駁道：「那不是我的問題。」看到正在組裝中的 Statement 讓我聯想到航太工程，以及我日常工作中在機庫看到我駕駛的空中巴士（Airbus）為了進行 A 級檢修（A check）而被拆解到只剩金屬骨架的樣子。

 

The enormous complexity and sophistication of the design is readily apparent, even to the untrained eye. All vibration-sensitive circuit assemblies in Statement products are decoupled from the chassis on springs to minimize vibration reaching sensitive components, while the design physically separates the delicate voltage stage at the top of the power amplifier from the current stage located at the bottom of the unit.

即便是不具專業背景的人，也能輕易看出其設計極其複雜且精細。Statement 產品中所有對震動敏感的電路組件都透過彈簧與底盤進行物理解耦隔離（decoupled），以大幅減少傳導至敏感零件的震動；同時，設計上將位於後級頂部纖細的電壓放大級與底部的電流輸出級進行了物理分離。

 

 

Following the six years of work done with Motorola developing the fast-switching NA007 transistor for the NAC 552 and NAP 500 DR amplifiers, Naim set about designing an even faster switching and more linear power transistor for the Statement with Semelab Ltd. This culminated in the development of the Naim NA009 transistor, a component specifically created for the Statement although this transistor has now trickled down to the NAP 250 DR, NAP 300 DR, and NAP 500 DR amplifiers too.

在與摩托羅拉（Motorola）耗時六年為 NAC 552 和 NAP 500 DR 擴大機開發出快速切換的 NA007 電晶體後，Naim 開始與 Semelab Ltd 合作，為 Statement 設計一款切換速度更快、線性度更高的功率電晶體。這項工作的結晶便是 Naim NA009 電晶體，這是一款專為 Statement 打造的組件，雖然該電晶體現在也已下放到 NAP 250 DR、NAP 300 DR 和 NAP 500 DR 擴大機中。

 

The new transistor feeds less radio-frequency noise back into the amplifier circuit and has resulted in a significant upgrade in sonic quality, a lowering of the noise floor, and an even more rapid response to input signals. Naim’s reputation for excellence in pace, rhythm, and timing is the result of its unique engineering from the ground up.

這款新型電晶體回饋到擴大機電路的射頻雜訊更少，進而顯著提升了音質、降低了底噪，並對輸入訊號產生了更迅速的反應。Naim 在節奏（pace）、韻律（rhythm）和時序（timing）方面的卓越聲譽，正是源於其從底層開始的獨特工程設計。

 

Jason reflected that Naim’s philosophy has always been to pioneer new technologies in its flagship products before rolling out the same improvements to models further down in the range. While the Naim Statement series may be out of reach for most people who don’t own a couple of oil pipelines, the firm is passionate about ensuring as many of its customers as possible benefit from the innovations such products engender.

Jason 反思道，Naim 的哲學一直是先在旗艦產品中開創技術，然後再將相同的改進推廣到系列中的下游型號。雖然 Naim Statement 系列對於大多數家裡沒開採幾口油井的人來說可能是遙不可及的，但該公司熱衷於確保盡可能多的客戶能從這些產品帶來的創新中受益。

 

 

As we left the Statement build area, we came upon the impressive flight cases that all completed Statement amplifiers are shipped in. Jason let slip that these incredible cases are made by the same firm in England that built all The Who’s tour cases—but then Naim has always been a company with its heart in rock’n’roll.

當我們離開 Statement 組裝區時，看到了用於裝運已完工 Statement 擴大機的壯觀飛行機箱。Jason 透露，這些驚人的機箱是由英國同一家為「誰人樂團」（The Who）製作巡迴演出機箱的公司製造的——不過，Naim 本來就是一家核心靈魂深植於搖滾樂的公司。

 

As we explored the assembly areas, it was apparent that Naim is firmly committed to the use of toroidal transformers, so I asked Jason whether they had ever considered using switched-mode power supplies. He explained that switched-mode power supplies still cannot deliver sufficient quality for Naim’s demanding requirements, but they have employed switched-mode supplies to provide power for the standby mode in their Mu-so products.

在探索組裝區時，很明顯 Naim 堅定地致力於使用環形變壓器，因此我詢問 Jason 他們是否曾考慮過使用交換式電源（SMPS）。他解釋說，交換式電源目前仍無法提供符合 Naim 嚴苛要求的品質，但他們確實在 Mu-so 產品中採用了交換式電源來提供待機模式的電力。

 

This works right up until an audio signal is present, when the switched-mode power supply is cut out of the circuit and the toroidal switches in. Such innovation is evidence of Naim’s commitment to ingenious engineering to protect audio quality while remaining compliant with the very latest energy efficiency legislation.

這套系統會持續運作直到音訊訊號出現，屆時交換式電源會從電路中切斷，改由環形變壓器接手。這種創新證明了 Naim 致力於透過巧妙的工程設計來保護音質，同時符合最新的節能法規。

 

External power supplies remain at the heart of Naim’s design philosophy. I have witnessed first-hand how the addition of an external power supply in my own system transformed the sound. It’s not just a cynical attempt to sell people more boxes; the company is a strong advocate of running the system off a dedicated mains spur and implementing good grounding practices, none of which results in a single penny of revenue for the firm. It could be argued that a key benefit of this philosophy is that customers can upgrade their systems without needing to replace a preamplifier or streamer because the addition of a power supply provides such a worthwhile sonic improvement.

外接式電源供應器仍是 Naim 設計哲學的核心。我曾親眼見證在自己的系統中增加外接電源後，聲音發生了多麼巨大的蛻變。這並非為了多賣幾台機器而搞的噱頭；該公司強烈倡導使用音響專用電源線路（dedicated mains spur）並落實良好的接地操作，而這些建議並不會為公司帶來一分錢的收入。可以說，這種哲學的一個關鍵好處是，客戶無需更換前級擴大機或串流機即可升級系統，因為增加電源供應器帶來的音質提升是非常顯著且值得的。

 

For decades the company has been renowned for its excellent service on out-of-warranty products. The firm recognizes that their products are an investment made for the long-term love of music, and a long service life is expected. The factory’s ability to service almost every product the company has ever made (some of their early CD transports are no longer available) undoubtedly helps Naim equipment retain its value over the long term and has led to a buoyant secondhand market.

數十年來，該公司一直以其卓越的保固外產品維修服務而聞名。Naim 體認到，他們的產品是為了長期熱愛音樂而進行的投資，預期使用壽命會很長。工廠幾乎有能力維修公司生產過的所有產品（部分早期的 CD 讀取機構已不再供應），這無疑有助於 Naim 設備長期保值，並促成了活絡的二手市場。

 

This approach has built enviable brand loyalty, with many customers using their components for decades. A small example illustrates the point: I was a student in 1991 when my original Naim Nait developed a crackle on the volume pot after several years of use. Although it was out of warranty, I sent the amplifier in to Naim for repair with a cover letter explaining that I was a student and thus had very little money! To my astonishment, I received the amplifier back free of charge via courier with a new volume pot fitted and a test report confirming the amplifier tested “OK.”

這種做法建立了令人羨慕的品牌忠誠度，許多客戶的組件一用就是數十年。一個小例子可以說明這點：1991 年我還是個學生，我的第一台 Naim Nait 在使用幾年後音量電位器出現了雜音。儘管已過保固期，我還是把擴大機寄回 Naim 維修，並附上一封信解釋我是個窮學生，沒什麼錢！令我驚訝的是，我收到了由快遞寄回的擴大機，不僅免費換了新的電位器，還附上了一份確認擴大機測試「正常」的報告。

 

There really aren’t many businesses in the world that would show such generosity to an impoverished undergraduate, but I never forgot it. At the time, I had no connection with the industry, and I wasn’t yet a reviewer—I was just a young customer who had struggled to afford Naim’s most basic amplifier and loved its sound.

這世界上真的沒有幾家企業會對一個窮困的本科生展現出如此慷慨的胸懷，但我永遠不會忘記這件事。當時，我與這個行業沒有任何聯繫，也還不是評論員——我只是一個努力存錢才買得起 Naim 最入門擴大機、並深愛其聲音的年輕客戶。

 

Naim has always recognized the importance of maintaining unusually close links with their customers and being approachable. They do this partly via the Naim Forum, where Naim users all over the world come together to discuss music, whisky, films, and all things Naim. The forum was Julian Vereker’s baby, and from the very earliest days, he was an active participant. That tradition continues to this day, with senior staff regularly posting there and participating in discussions with customers.

Naim 一直體認到與客戶保持異常緊密聯繫並展現親和力的重要性。他們部分是透過 Naim 論壇（Naim Forum）來實現這一點，全球的 Naim 用戶聚集在那裡討論音樂、威士忌、電影以及關於 Naim 的一切。論壇是創辦人 Julian Vereker 的心血，從最早期開始，他就是一名活躍的參與者。這項傳統延續至今，高層員工會定期在論壇發文並參與客戶討論。

 

A million users a month visit the forum, and I suspect it’s a major driver of sales because seeing other people’s exotic systems on the site undoubtedly leads others into temptation!

論壇每月吸引一百萬名用戶造訪，我懷疑這是銷售的主要驅動力，因為在網站上看到別人那些令人驚嘆的系統，無疑會誘惑其他人入坑！

 

A fairly recent addition to the Naim factory is the electromagnetic compatibility chamber (EMC), where they test the electronic emissions from each component. The room is essentially a Faraday cage, and it’s quite an eerie place to visit—being inside felt like being locked in a bank vault or a solitary confinement cell. When I walked in, I almost expected to see the crumbling bones of the last hapless reviewer to pen a negative Naim review decaying in the gloom . . .

Naim 工廠最近新增了一個電磁相容性（EMC）實驗室，用於測試每個組件的電子輻射。這間實驗室本質上是一個「法拉第籠」（Faraday cage），參觀起來感覺相當怪異——待在裡面就像被關進銀行金庫或禁閉室一樣。當我走進去時，我幾乎預期會在陰暗處看到上一個寫了 Naim 負評的倒楣評論員留下的枯骨……

 

 

They do things a little differently in these parts, and Naim remains fastidious about small details that they’ve found make a difference to the resulting sound of their products. One example is heat treating all Super Lumina cables several times over a 24-hour period because they’ve found that this changes the molecular construction of the sleeve/dielectric and benefits the sonics.

在這些環節上，他們的做法確實與眾不同。Naim 對那些被發現會影響最終音質的小細節始終保持挑剔。舉例來說，他們會在 24 小時內對所有 Super Lumina 線材進行多次熱處理，因為他們發現這會改變線皮/介電質的分子結構，進而對音質產生正面影響。

 

All of the firm’s cables enter the factory on huge drums, and the first thing they do is listen to them to determine directionality. All Naim cables are directional, and this is seen as a vital element of maximizing performance. Cables are scored to denote direction so assembly workers know which way to wire a component.

該公司所有的線材都以大捲筒的方式運入工廠，他們做的第一件事就是透過聆聽來確定指向性。所有 Naim 線材都具有方向性，這被視為發揮最大性能的關鍵要素。線材會刻上標記以表示方向，以便組裝工人知道該如何連接組件。

 

That’s not all, though—one of Naim’s more bizarre inventions is the SNAIC shaker! They discovered that shaking their SNAIC interconnects improves the sound quality, so they built a special machine that shakes each end of their SNAIC interconnects 172 times. The company believes that paying attention to all these seemingly tiny details incrementally adds up to a significant and audible performance edge.

這還不是全部——Naim 最奇特的發明之一是 SNAIC 震盪器（shaker）！他們發現震動 SNAIC 訊號線可以改善音質，因此他們製造了一台專門的機器，將 SNAIC 訊號線的每一端震動 172 次。該公司相信，關注這些看似微小的細節，累積起來便能形成顯著且可聞的性能優勢。

 

I came away deeply impressed by the passion and care the firm applies to every aspect of their operation.

我對該公司在經營的各個方面所展現的熱情與細緻入微留下了深刻印象。

 

Naim hasn’t suffered too badly from component supply issues due to COVID-19. Their biggest challenge has been coping with the huge surge in demand caused by the pandemic. With people spending more time at home and less money on going out, demand for high-quality hi-fi gear like Naim has soared.

Naim 並未因新冠肺炎（COVID-19）導致的組件供應問題受到太大影響。他們最大的挑戰在於應對疫情引發的需求激增。隨著人們待在家的時間增加，外出消費減少，對像 Naim 這樣的高品質 Hi-Fi 設備的需求大幅飆升。

 

This is a story I’ve heard echoed by other firms such as ATC, Michell, and SME because the pandemic has stimulated a growing interest in hobbies and pastimes that can be enjoyed at home, like music listening. As a result, Naim’s Salisbury factory has now become a 24/7 operation, and this year Naim has employed 20 more staff in the assembly division alone.

這是我在 ATC、Michell 和 SME 等其他公司也聽到的說法，因為疫情激發了人們對音樂聆聽等居家愛好的濃厚興趣。因此，Naim 位於索爾茲伯里（Salisbury）的工廠現在已進入全天候運作，光是今年，Naim 就在組裝部門增聘了 20 名員工。

 

Jason reiterated how much Naim values its staff and wants to retain and develop them because they are the lifeblood of the company. It takes years for production and engineering staff to become truly skilled, and the last thing the company wants to see is high staff turnover. So the firm continues to do its best to ensure employees are happy at work and feel valued and well looked after.

Jason 重申 Naim 是多麼重視員工，並希望留住和培養他們，因為員工是公司的命脈。生產和工程人員需要數年時間才能成為真正的熟練技師，公司最不願見到的就是高離職率。因此，該公司繼續竭盡全力確保員工在工作中心情愉快，並感到被重視與被妥善照顧。

 

Naim ensures that all its staff have plenty of space around them in their work environment and a good source of natural light. Employees enjoy a generous leave entitlement, and there’s usually a staff summer party with food, drinks, and live music to reward people for their efforts. Jason Gould also remarked on the importance of providing staff canteen facilities, and we chatted over a tasty lunch in Naim’s own canteen.

Naim 確保所有員工在工作環境中都有充足的活動空間和良好的自然採光。員工享有優渥的休假待遇，通常還會有包含美食、飲品和現場音樂的員工夏季派對，以酬謝大家的辛勞。Jason Gould 還談到了提供員工餐廳設施的重要性，我們就在 Naim 自己的餐廳裡邊吃美味的午餐邊聊天。

 

The pandemic has at times made things difficult though. When COVID-19 struck, the canteen had to be closed, so Naim arranged for a local catering company to provide a range of sandwich/lunch choices that could be delivered to individual workstations.

不過，疫情有時也會讓事情變得困難。當 COVID-19 爆發時，餐廳不得不關閉，因此 Naim 安排了一家當地的餐飲公司提供各種三明治和午餐選擇，並配送到各個工作台。

 

What this all adds up to is care. Caring for the employee, the customer, the work environment, and the smallest details in the design and manufacture of products that will deliver a lifetime of musical pleasure in their owners’ homes. Since 1973, these values have been integral to the Naim philosophy, and despite the merger with Focal and steady expansion, the firm still puts this caring attitude at the core of everything they do.

這一切歸結起來就是「關懷」。關懷員工、客戶、工作環境，以及產品設計與製造中最微小的細節，旨在為擁護者的家中帶來終生的音樂愉悅。自 1973 年以來，這些價值觀一直是 Naim 哲學中不可或缺的一部分，儘管與 Focal 合併並穩步擴張，該公司仍將這種關懷態度置於其所做每一件事的核心。

 

In my early days as a hi-fi reviewer, I remember feeling a little lost at industry shindigs and dinners, and the Naim team was always the first to invite me to join them for dinner or a beer.

在我早年擔任 Hi-Fi 評論員時，我記得在業界聚會和晚宴上感到有些不知所措，而 Naim 團隊總是第一個邀請我加入他們共進晚餐或喝杯啤酒的人。

 

 

Our penultimate port of call was to the large dispatch and packaging area. From here goods leave for over 600 dealers worldwide across 50 countries—and cool Naim T-shirts are the order of the day!

我們的倒數第二站是巨大的發貨與包裝區。產品從這裡運往全球 50 個國家的 600 多家經銷商——而且酷炫的 Naim T 恤在那裡可是日常穿搭！

 

My visit to Naim concluded where it had started, playing some music in their superb and newly refurbished demo room. Along the rear and the right wall, pretty much the entire Naim range was arrayed, including the Statement series and the new Naim Solstice turntable, complete with the legendary Aro tonearm.

我的 Naim 參訪之旅在起始點劃下句點，在他們華麗且翻新過的試聽室裡聽了些音樂。沿著後牆和右牆，幾乎整列的 Naim 產品都陳列在案，包括 Statement 系列和全新的 Naim Solstice 黑膠唱盤，並配備了傳奇的 Aro 唱臂。

 

At the front of the room were Focal Sopra No3 loudspeakers, looking rather striking in white. The in-room sound was impressive and seemed more coherent than what I had experienced with earlier Naim/Focal systems. Jason agreed and confirmed that Focal now designs their loudspeakers using Naim amplification, while Naim designs their amplifiers using Focal loudspeakers.

房間前方是一對 Focal Sopra No3 揚聲器，白色的外觀非常吸睛。房間內的聲音令人印象深刻，似乎比我之前體驗過的 Naim/Focal 組合更具一致性。Jason 對此表示贊同，並確認 Focal 現在在設計喇叭時會使用 Naim 的擴大機，而 Naim 在設計擴大機時也會使用 Focal 的喇叭。

 

 

Jason described how the firm has evolved as it’s grown to become a more professional organization with established procedures and processes rather than “flying by the seat of their pants” as they did in the early days. He acknowledged that such changes have been painful at times, as the structures and restrictions of a larger and more professionally run organization came into play.

Jason 描述了公司如何隨著成長而演變，成為一個擁有既定程序和流程、更專業的組織，而非像早期那樣「憑直覺行事」。他坦承，隨著更龐大且更專業的運作組織架構和限制開始發揮作用，這些轉變有時是痛苦的。

 

As a result, some highly valued and long-serving staff members did elect to leave, but this is a transition that happens in many successfully expanding companies. Naim points out that this is what has enabled the company to scale its operation and grow to become the world-class audio manufacturer it is today.

因此，一些深受重視且資深的老員工確實選擇了離開，但這是許多成功擴張的公司都會經歷的過渡期。Naim 指出，正是這一切使公司能夠擴大規模，成長為今日的世界級音響製造商。

 

 

As I departed from the Naim HQ in Salisbury, I reflected on how far the firm has come from its humble beginnings in the early 1970s. Naim is now one of the most widely admired and aspirational audio brands in the world. If you want evidence of the respect their products command—even amongst rival audio firms—just go to any hi-fi show and see how many other manufacturers are using Naim streamers and amplifiers. Heck, even my beloved Kate Bush uses a Naim system at home.

當我離開索爾茲伯里的 Naim 總部時，我不禁感嘆該公司從 1970 年代初期的卑微起步至今，已經走了多遠。Naim 現在已是世界上最受推崇且令人嚮往的音響品牌之一。如果你想要證明其產品所贏得的尊重——甚至是在競爭對手之間——只要去任何 Hi-Fi 音響展，看看有多少其他製造商在使用 Naim 的串流機和擴大機就知道了。天哪，連我深愛的凱特·布希（Kate Bush）家裡也用 Naim 系統。

 

Inside the factory, the atmosphere and philosophy seem largely unchanged since the Vereker era: the aim is still to create products that convey the excitement, dynamics, and energy of a live performance.

在工廠內部，自 Vereker 時代以來的氛圍和哲學似乎基本未變：目標依然是創造出能夠傳達現場演出之興奮感、動態和能量的產品。

 

During the launch week for the New Classic range, Steve Sells, the chief development engineer, and Richard Dane, who captains the Naim Forum, were on hand day and night to field questions from Naim fans all around the world. How many large audio companies offer you the chance to ask their most senior engineer questions about a product and get a response in minutes? I think that’s unique!

在 New Classic 系列發表週期間，首席開發工程師 Steve Sells 和掌管 Naim 論壇的 Richard Dane 日以繼夜地在現場回答來自全球 Naim 粉絲的問題。有多少大型音響公司能讓你向他們的資深工程師詢問產品細節，並在幾分鐘內得到回覆？我認為這是獨一無二的！

 

As a reviewer I’ve had the opportunity to hear scores of systems from various brands over the past 20-odd years, but I have now employed Naim amplification and digital sources at the heart of my system for more than 30 years, which says a lot.

作為一名評論員，在過去 20 多年裡我有機會聽過無數品牌的系統，但我使用 Naim 的擴大機和數位訊源作為我系統核心的時間已超過 30 年，這本身就說明了一切。

 

I think Julian Vereker would be proud of all that this great British audio firm has accomplished since his passing—from record labels to digital streaming, amplifiers to turntables, loudspeakers to lifestyle products, and of course, Naim for Bentley Motors and Princess Yachts, which have introduced the brand to a whole new cabal of listeners.

我想 Julian Vereker 會為這家偉大的英國音響公司自他逝世以來所取得的一切成就感到自豪——從唱片發行到數位串流，從擴大機到黑膠唱盤，從揚聲器到生活風格產品，當然還有為賓利汽車（Bentley Motors）和公主遊艇（Princess Yachts）打造的 Naim 系統，這將品牌推廣給了全新的受眾群體。

 

In domestic audio there are few audio firms in the world that produce such a comprehensive range and can offer so many options for a complete system. Naim continues to build almost all its products in England in the very same factory that they have occupied since the 1970s, and they will indeed probably be there for as long as the cathedral. With more products in the New Classic range on the horizon, the firm is still striving to bring the power, drama, and emotion of music into even more people’s lives.

在居家音響領域，世界上很少有公司能生產如此完整的產品線，並能為整套系統提供如此多樣的選擇。Naim 幾乎所有的產品依然在英格蘭生產，就在他們自 1970 年代以來一直使用的同一座工廠裡；事實上，他們可能會在那裡待得和索爾茲伯里大教堂一樣久。隨著 New Classic 系列更多產品即將問世，該公司仍致力於將音樂的力量、戲劇性和情感帶進更多人的生活。

 

Based on past form, I have no doubt they’ll succeed.

基於過去的表現，我毫不懷疑他們會成功。