I believe that the Supernait 2 is far less fussy about loads, cables etc than other Naim amplifiers and I was wondering whether it would work with Quad 57s. So, I've hooked up my latest spec One Thing 57s to the Supernait 2, using NAC A5 cable, and everything seems fine.
Can any of the experts here tell me if the Supernait 2 is really happy with such an odd load, and whether I'm likely to run into trouble with this pairing?
Posted on: 16 July 2016 by gary yeowell
I can't help with the 57, but i ran 63's with both a Nait 2 and Supernait 2 without issues. The extra grip of the SN2 was welcome in my room, but the Nait 2 did well. My understandind is that the 57 is a less difficult load than the 63, and that a very good combo is Nait 1 and the 57's... but i've no experience with them together.
Posted on: 16 July 2016 by Huge
Where's George gone when you need him?
Yes, it will be fine driving ESL57s. However, as with any electrostatic speaker, because of the high capacitance (and low impedance at HF), you should use a minimum 3.5m NAC A5 speaker cable each side.
Posted on: 16 July 2016 by J.N.
All Naim amps apart from the 'bridged' 500 seem to be happy driving ESL57's. I have a Nait XS2 driving my pair of 57's via NAC A5 and they sound wonderful.
Clearly one has to just be careful about overdriving them, resulting in arcing and burning holes in the mylar transduction panels. 'One Thing' fitted my 57's with safety clamps. You may well have the same.
The uniquely sonically gorgeous (nearly) sixty year old design still has me shaking my head in disbelief on occasions. No wonder Julian Vereker loved 'em and tried to make a pair of commercially viable electrostatic loudspeakers.
Enjoy.
Posted on: 17 July 2016 by Shuggie
Thanks for the replies. The One Thing 57s sounded a tad 'shouty' fed by the SN2 and musically not 'right' so the KEF LS50s are back in, and will stay. The last amp that I used with the Quads was a Lyngdorf TDA2200 and that worked a treat, with a lovely balanced and lyrical sound, but the SN2 is without doubt otherwise a better amplifier. I should really decide whether to keep the Quads since they are not very practical ornaments!
