Help! Edgy Naim system.

pete

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My accusing finger is pointing towards the SBLs

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Yes - the SBLs are revealing, but the nature of the sound you describe is common with the Naim systems I have owned and heard. Searching for speakers that are smoother with your kit is, in my estimate, an exercise if fault masking. The SBLs are fab - better to fix the problem upstream.

First - are you using a Gray or Black SNAIC? This is the cable that runs from the hi-cap to the 72. The Black is newer and is reputed to remove a good bit of the hash. I was running a 72/hicap setup with a gray SNAIC and never got past the hashy stuff you describe (and I wasn't using SBLs). The black improves things by cleaning up the juice to the 72.

Moving to a higher-level pre like a 102 or 82 can help also. Consider the 5-series as well.

I decided I wasn't willing to spend more on hi-fi so went non-Naim. The upper-level Naim stuff may address the problem and certainly kills what I'm using now.

- Greg

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

- Check ARO pillar sidescrew for over-tightness.

- How long in the tooth is your Klyde?

CDI:

- Ship to Salisbury for general service (capacitors if necessary / pillar screw tightness, etc.)--no need for transport replacement...

HICAP / 250:

Are these recent models, or old enough (over nine years) that they might need capacitor service?

NAC 72:

Re-insert boards (thereby cleaning the pins).

SBLs:

Have these gone over by a dealer (if you've moved them recently, perhaps the gaskets are off or the spike protectors need replacement, tweeter frame bolts, etc.)

Equipment stands:

Check adjustment of spikes and level (if Mana stands, completely disassemble spikes, bolts etc. and let re-set for a few hours before re-installation).

These are real basic suggestions, but fundamentally sound (pun intended). Barring cr@p power or other environmental distress, this system should sing.

Dave Dever, NANA

unplug the Lingo from the wall, and disconnect everything except the CDI from the 72 (including the LP12 earth wire). Should be much better.

The suggestions re black SNAIC & new (slightly-purply shade of grey) CD->72 interconnect are well worth trying.

Remove any LEDs from multi-socket mains adapters. Tighten up all the screws in your mains plugs.

Make sure you're using Naim A5 speaker cable with proper Naim-supplied speaker plugs.

cheers, Martin

I installed a dedicated mains supply for the hi-fi years ago – nothing else feeds from this.
All the gear is MANA’d – reference shelf for Linn and CDI, and amps on tables. I fitted new SBL gaskets about 6 months ago (the previous had lifted in places over the years, presumably due to contraction) – new pads etc. Naim A5 (?could be A4) and Naim plugs. Linn was ‘Nirvaned’ by myself just a couple of weeks ago (some of you will remember the Nirvana kit from the 80s, essentially new springs, rubber, p clip, oil change etc) – most of my problems are with CDs. (Incidentally, I have a serious problem with Linn no longer supplying these types of upgrades to enthusiasts who want to do the job themselves, and have been doing so for years, but I’ll keep my blood-pressure low pro tem).

Borge - I’ll try the MDF slab this weekend.

Greg – I’m using grey SNAICS – I’ll try a change to black – how much are they?

I heard the CD5 a few months ago and really, really enjoyed it in the showroom (demoed with non-Naim ancillaries – I can’t remember what). It seemed smoother and more intimate than my CDI whilst being equally revealing. However, when asking locally for an AB dem, all the advice I’ve had from dealers has been to stick with the CDI – only an upgrade to CDS would be ‘significant.’

When I auditioned the SBLs I listened to the 82 as well – I was stunned by the amount of detail it dragged off CDs but a) it’s expensive and b) it didn’t change the character of the system. For this reason I tend to agree with CKB…an 82 would make the system more hi-fi but without altering its fundamental characteristics (I may get an 82 anyway…I’m getting seriously bitten by the upgrade bug after several years disease free!). On principle, I also feel that throwing money at a system, which has already cost several thousands of pounds, should not be the best way to solve the problem.

So, any of you out there have any ideas for speakers? What are good these days? I’ll listen to them in my system and stick with the sBLs if I need to. I don’t necessarily want to spend the same again and could spend less – I once went from Linn SARAs to KANs (Mk 1), which was a vast upgrade in musicality terms.

Thanks for all the help – I’ll get to it.

Steve

(Pete – Have you had any problems siting the ARCS? I’m told they’re pretty tolerant with the exception of being hard against a wall – obviously my SBLs are hard against a wall and I may not have much leeway with the ARCS…oh for that 30ft listening room!)

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I installed a dedicated mains supply for the hi-fi years ago

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Ebirah,

go back through all the connections on this mains spur & re-tighten (with mains turned off - sorry to be pedantic, I guess you know this if you installed originally yourself, but safety first!)

Do the same inside all the mains plugs, and replace all the fuses with same-spec new ones.

Whilst everything is powered down, unplug & re-plug every cable within your system 10-20 times (this cleans the contacts).

Also, have you tried different positions for the speakers? You can get major differences just by moving them six inches, never mind putting them against a different wall.

Check all the spikes in your stands & speakers, and make sure they're absolutely level & there's no rocking whatsover.

best of luck, Martin

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So, any of you out there have any ideas for speakers? What are good these days?

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Proac Response. Period.

Oh, well, I cannot tell how you feel after three hours of listening to them, as I have only auditioned them for 15 min or so. But I listened to them right after SBL's, and I really didn't like the latter. Great PRaT, of course, but I continuously felt like driving an F1 car. Phew!

As I like it a little smoother, listening afterwards to Miles' Kind of Blue on ProAcs just felt like lazing on a beach, but without getting bored at all. And they had this "beautiful" type of sound that I still like. Basta !

Cheese - may all beings be happy

another thing - get your dealer to source new internal fuses for all your kit.

They must be the same rating as the current ones - should be written on the back of the box, or just take the old ones out & read off the values.

Note, you must get the fuses from Naim as they are carefully sourced.

This really cleaned up the sound for myself & a friend.

cheers, Martin