SuperCap/SuperLine Questions

Ir you can afford all those fancy boxes, surely you can afford an extra shelf to put them on. They need  space around them.

Sten,

Just my two cents. I think most at your level of gear will steer you towards the efficacy of proper racking and the no nos of stacking. Hopefully you're looking to expand your racking, maybe a second stack to get the best from the Superline and Supercap. It's warranted. As a short term solution you could consider placing the TTPSU on an alternate stand or even the floor if cabling permits. Space between the units is key to getting the best performance and I'd avoid any stacking of PSUs. Not to mention that you may be left with a nasty footprint on the cases once you stack gear.

You should not stack as described a system of that calibre will benifit greatly by being on the correctly spaced racking.

Should there be no room for a second rack, and the cost of a (decent) taller rack be beyond the means of the OP at present (note value of latest  purchase, and tgat it was secondhand), then presumably he is seeking guidance on how best to attange things at present.

As I have no detailed knowledge of the specific items I can only suggest generically: I would look at putting the power supplies together, provided there's enough air circulation for them not to overheat, and the most sensitive electronics separated as much as possible from them and power amp, but others more familiar with your gear may be able to offer better guidance.

Thanks - looks like a pretty firm consensus that direct stacking is not ideal. I only asked because pictures of the NAP 300/500 on the Naim website show the amp on top of the PS. 

Will look at rack options possibly moving the TT off the top and shifting everything up. 

Thanks again

If the Amadaus is as big as the Versalex it only just fits on a Fraim Lite shelf so maybe a suitable wall shelf for that?

Once the shelves are sorted I'd also strongly suggest the Z-foil Airplugs for what ever values you finally settle on. They're a significant improvement over the items supplied with the Superline.

Try default loading for your EMT(i.e. no plugs at all - it's 10k/100pf).  I have EMT TSD-15 SFL and it was the best setting by far.

Sten posted:

• Are there any specific load combos you would recommend on the SuperLine? I have read elsewhere on the forum that the 470 is a good choice - should I order one and how much do the cost roughly?

Sten - load and impedance options are cartridge dependent. Please refer to the cartridge manual / specifications for correct settings.

Adam

On loading the cart recommends 200-300ohms but I am not sure how that translates to the resistance and capacitance plugs. 

Will try the default as well. 

What about these Z plugs? Can't find reference to them on the Naim website or am I missing something. 

Sten

Sten posted:

On loading the cart recommends 200-300ohms but I am not sure how that translates to the resistance and capacitance plugs. 

Will try the default as well. 

What about these Z plugs? Can't find reference to them on the Naim website or am I missing something. 

Sten

Sten

Section 3.5 of the manual will give you the loadings. Here is a link:

https://www.naimaudio.com/site...age%20Issue%202B.pdf

I did read that in the manual and at the risk of sounding dim I couldn't figure it out....if the cart recommends 200-300 ohms should I then use the 220 resistance plug and any one of the capacitance plugs  or indeed none. Is there some sort of calculation involved here?

Ok - let's have a go at this differently:

What does your cartridge manual recommend as capacitance and impedance loading?

This is all it says:

Gyger S, Super Fine Line MF
Tracking force 2.3 - 2.4 g.
Impedance 2 x 20 Ohm approx.
Output level at 300Hz (at 0 dB/300Hz) 1 mV, +/-2dB
Frequency response 20 to 30’000 Hz
Compliance 12-15µm/mN
Connection gold plated pins
Weight Silver 11g, Gold 18g ca. 18g ca.
Recommended load 200-300 Ohm
Recom. mass (Tone arm excl. cart) 4-18g

Sten - unless I'm horribly wrong Gyger S is a MM cartridge. The description seems like it.

SuperLine is only for MC catridges.

No it's an MC super fine line, although it is high output hence the SuperLine E

Ok - learned something new today.

Just try the 220 Ohm plug then and leave the capacitance one out. You cannot damage the preamp by inserting plugs / wrong plugs. If you get a 'wrong' one for your cartridge music will just sound weirdly muffled or harsh.

Thanks Adam! Will try the 220. 

The z plugs, are they an actual Naim product? Are they a special order item? Can't find any reference to them on Naim website

As far as I know they are Naim plugs. Best to check with Naim directly. As far as I know they can also make specific plugs for your cartridge.

There is a thread called "Superline loading thread" that may help.

z plug are indeed a Naim product. I ordered mine for my Kandid through my Naim dealer. 

My guess is the load will end up considerably higher. To low an R and bass softens and loses timing, too high and the top end gets a bit much, increasing the cap plug can tame it but too much and timing suffers. Seek out the loading thread.

Z plugs are a development of the airplug which uses the plug of a hiline to house the components, settle on a final loading and then order one from Naim, ~£150.

You can get other values from your existing plugs by using the cap socket for a second R plug. the value on the plug is the resulting R when in parallel with the 10k Ohms of the bare superline, if you don't remember parallel resistors can be calculated by 

1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

one of which will be the 10kR of the superline.

Thanks to everyone for your advice and comments. Will spend the weekend trying to get things just right on the load and the stacking. 

Cheers and happy Friday

Sten

yeti42 posted:

Z plugs are a development of the airplug which uses the plug of a hiline to house the components, settle on a final loading and then order one from Naim, ~£150.

That's just an Airplug with standard resistors inside.

Z plug takes an Airplug one step further by using Texas Components Z foil resistors. Much lower noise than a standard Airplug. As far as I remember the factory does not offer Z plug. ( unless they changed ) What I have been doing is order a standard Airplug and then upgrade to Z plug by AV Options. Improvements are easy to hear.

I have not tried it yet but AV Option made Z plug are now all cryo treated.

Sten posted:

Thanks to everyone for your advice and comments. Will spend the weekend trying to get things just right on the load and the stacking. 

Cheers and happy Friday

Sten

Enjoy and have fun.