A Query for Super Lumina Users....

Posted by: Mike Kent on 27 September 2015

I have just bought a Super Lumina interconnect, and SL speaker leads for my system, which I am extremely pleased with. The system is 555CD, 555PS, 555PS, 552, LP12, NAT05, Snaxo/Supercap and a pair of 500 amps into SL2 speakers, all on Fraim and fed by Powerlines.
My next purchase was to be SL interconnects for the LP12 and tuner, but my dealer has suggested it might be better to complete the SL loom and go for the DIN/XLR leads first. This seems a sensible route, but as I have an active system I’m going to need two pairs of the leads which’ll be another considerable outlay… around six grand.
If you use SL, have a similar system, and have gone this route, is the DIN/XLR route worthwhile and what additional benefits can I expect from it? The system already sounds pretty amazing!
Another route I could go is the DR mod, but as none of my kit has been DR’d so far this would be a huge expense. For the pair of 500s alone it would be around seven grand. I’ve heard DR dems three times and although I don’t think many people would agree with me, I’m not certain that the advantages would outweigh the expense. Yes, DR is demonstrably better, but I didn’t find it a night and day experience, whereas SL, to my ears, made a massive difference.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

Posted on: 27 September 2015 by Jonn

If the system "already sounds pretty amazing" why not just leave it as it is?

Posted on: 27 September 2015 by MDS

Mike - I can't speak for the impact in a 500 series active system but I recently tried a SL DIN/XLR in my classic system to complete the SL loom and it made an obvious and very pleasing difference.  Of course, for me the outlay was about a quarter of what you would need to spend as I just needed one cable into my 250.2  but the improvement felt good VFM.   

 

You wonder about the DR upgrade route.  As it happens I recently tried a DR'ed Supercap against my standard SC which I use on a 282.  I'm having the DR upgrade done but I'd have to say that the performance improvement I heard from the SL DIN/XLR was bigger than I heard between the two Supercaps.  

 

Another factor to weigh with the DR upgrades, of course, is the time you will be without the boxes while the boffins at Salisbury do their stuff.  I'm sure you've thought about though.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Mike

 

 

Posted on: 27 September 2015 by 911gt3r

Hi Mike Kent.

If I read your OP correctly and assuming you haven't had your 552 DR'ed yet, I would go for that first. I would also concur with Mike II, that SL DIN- XLRs walk happily with the rest of the loom, however if the choice is one only, I'd still go for the 552. ATB Peter

Posted on: 27 September 2015 by MDS
Originally Posted by 911gt3r:

Hi Mike Kent.

If I read your OP correctly and assuming you haven't had your 552 DR'ed yet, I would go for that first. I would also concur with Mike II, that SL DIN- XLRs walk happily with the rest of the loom, however if the choice is one only, I'd still go for the 552. ATB Peter

Ah, but that imminent DR upgrade on the 500 must be tempting too, Peter.  

Mike 

Posted on: 27 September 2015 by Darke Bear

The best next SL cable upgrade in your Active system is the 4pin DIN- 4pin DIN from the 552 to the Supercap/Snaxo.

 

Just released - less than a third the cost of two DIN-XLR leads and amazing uplift in performance.

It replaces a very old cable design, so the performance increase is rather noticeable.

 

After that the DIN-XLR leads.

 

DB.

Posted on: 27 September 2015 by 911gt3r
Originally Posted by MDS:
Originally Posted by 911gt3r:

Hi Mike Kent.

If I read your OP correctly and assuming you haven't had your 552 DR'ed yet, I would go for that first. I would also concur with Mike II, that SL DIN- XLRs walk happily with the rest of the loom, however if the choice is one only, I'd still go for the 552. ATB Peter

Ah, but that imminent DR upgrade on the 500 must be tempting too, Peter.  

Mike 

Funny you should mention it Mike, I am actually not that fussed. Next up is a K13 upgrade on my little Lotus Elise!  Zoom zoom and ATB Peter

Posted on: 27 September 2015 by ken c
Originally Posted by Mike Kent:

I have just bought a Super Lumina interconnect, and SL speaker leads for my system, which I am extremely pleased with. The system is 555CD, 555PS, 555PS, 552, LP12, NAT05, Snaxo/Supercap and a pair of 500 amps into SL2 speakers, all on Fraim and fed by Powerlines.
My next purchase was to be SL interconnects for the LP12 and tuner, but my dealer has suggested it might be better to complete the SL loom and go for the DIN/XLR leads first. This seems a sensible route, but as I have an active system I’m going to need two pairs of the leads which’ll be another considerable outlay… around six grand.
If you use SL, have a similar system, and have gone this route, is the DIN/XLR route worthwhile and what additional benefits can I expect from it? The system already sounds pretty amazing!
Another route I could go is the DR mod, but as none of my kit has been DR’d so far this would be a huge expense. For the pair of 500s alone it would be around seven grand. I’ve heard DR dems three times and although I don’t think many people would agree with me, I’m not certain that the advantages would outweigh the expense. Yes, DR is demonstrably better, but I didn’t find it a night and day experience, whereas SL, to my ears, made a massive difference.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

our systems are very similar Mike (I have NDS) and i am going through the same thinking process as you -- weighing the various alternatives. i may likely go for snaxo 4-4 snaic first -- i only have SL IC right now. I'd be interested in what you settle on in the end...

 

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 27 September 2015 by Mike Kent

Thanks for the thoughts fellas. Thanks DB... always interesting to read your posts. I didn't know of the DIN Snaxo lead. That sounds very tempting. And to answer Jonn's question… I would have thought that one of the great pleasures of hifi is to see just how close you can get to the excitement and pleasure of a live performance, and, if you can afford it, the higher up the Naim ladder you go, the closer you get to that aim. Or at least, that's what I've found.

Posted on: 29 September 2015 by Neil Bennett

I found the DIN-XLR's made a significant difference, as did the 552 DR. Of course the 500 DR upgrade is not available until 2016 anyway. So perhaps try the 552 DR and DIN-XLRs first as they will improve all sources. The SL on the LP12 was also good, if you listen to a lot of vinyl/have specced-out the deck,, but maybe not worth it for the NAT05 (HiLine is possibly good enough?)

 

Neil

Posted on: 29 September 2015 by Graham Clarke

Having recently got the 4-4 Snaxo DIN cable I agree with DB that it makes a very big difference.

 

I have the full SL loom but can't really say how much of a difference the DIN-XLR cables made because they were installed at the same time as my preamp upgrade.

 

I currently have a NAP 300DR on loan and while it's better the improvement is less than that gained by the SL cables.  However, to caveat that, the 300DR is on my S600 BMRs so is doing nothing for the bass output (which remain two non-DRed NAP300s) and many have said that bass resolution and control is greatly improved by the poweramp DR upgrades.