Tellurium Q Black Nait XS2

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Yes if you use a Hugo with a Naim NAC many of us have found setting the output level to a 'turquoise' setting seems to sound best with the Naim NAC - it also has the advantage of allowing more of the NAC volume control range.

Simon

I'll need to check but I'm not sure if the volume can be adjusted in live level output mode on the Mojo.

ThatsNotMyNaim posted:

GraemeH posted:

I'll say it again - The 2Qute is the core of the problem...ime. 

Replace it with a Hugo and normal service will be resumed - regardless of cable preferences.

G

Hi Graeme,

For what reasons do you think the 2Qute is the issue? There are some other things I need to work out but curious on the DAC.

I did some reading, and spoke to Chord. They said it outputs 3V. And that is higher than your average CD / DAC. 2.2v so it might be a little "hot" for the amp.

The Hugo has output control on it? Do you make use of that function? Or is this twoddle? Reading back some have said the Qute can be shouty and metallic in the hi hats etc. Same as I experience.

 

Cheers

2Qute - A shade shouty and metallic, thin and edgy (through a SN2) is my experience with BNC-BNC DC1 cable. Folks say the USB interface is better with the 2Qute...I think the fact it runs direct from the mains plays a part too.

Yes, I used the volume control of the Hugo, much as Simon notes, and found it an altogether more natural sounding Dac.

See if you can borrow a Hugo to compare.

G

To put this thread to bed once and for all, two things happened today.

Firstly I spoke to Nigel Flynn at Chord. Smashing chap. Very helpful. Sent him some pics of the room. He asked met to switch my room around. So I did. The sound got fuller and much more engrossing.  He said firing cross ways across the room removes the side wall reflections (due to distance from speakers) and that I should notice a difference. I did. Music is much much more coherent, warm and enjoyable. Soundstage actually exists! Still not ideal as I am near field. But still much much better and sounds close to what I heard at the dealer. All the bass has come back too. Notes that I was "t hearing defined well. Not lean anymore either.

Secondly, I spoke to someone at Naim who recommended connecting a 3.5mm headphone jack lead from my iMac to the XS2 RCA input. Bypassing the 2Qute, to see if the 'harsheness / brightness' was reduced. It was/is. Actually although that I know that this sound without the Chord is not anywhere near as cohesive and musical, it's a lot easier to listen to. The grating is far reduced. From an iMac DAC!?! Why would Chord over egg the Qute? Coincides with Graeme's notes too. "Metallic" high hats for sure. Raspy.

I'll thus be investing in acoustic treatment panels with some professional advice and most certainly a different Dac. The 2Qute is REALLY forward. I want rounder. I believe I might get that with a Naim DAC. Though, will try the Hugo based on Graeme's advice too. Detail is lovely, but not ear bleeding. 

Thanks to everyone for their help and patience. Really appreciate it. 

Adam

Great news Adam. 

Adam

So try Naim nDAC (there are some 2nd hand ones too) - it is a beautiful piece of equipment (soundwise of course).

Adam

Repsonse from Chord Electronic (Match your Chord Dacs and speakers carefully!)

Hi Adam

I too have the speaker positioning challenge - can't fire them down the long way as it just doesn't fit - across is best but limited space. Can't win 

Don't get me started on room position. Socket position. Router and TV cables. Power cables. Keeping stuff apart.

I hate that part of Hi-Fi.

The system is sounding absoutely lovely firing across though. Can easily lose myself in the music finally. I could do with some panels behind me and a couple of traps behind the speakers but it's really actually ok. Very full sounding. Crazy what a difference.

Near-ish field listening is quite fun! 

Even with the slightly bright sharp 2Qute I think I could live with this for a while. Very coherent and musical. Weighty. Not short of a detail or two either. 

Still going to try and Hugo and Naim Dac for good measure though.

ThatsNotMyNaim posted:

Don't get me started on room position. Socket position. Router and TV cables. Power cables. Keeping stuff apart.

I hate that part of Hi-Fi.

The system is sounding absoutely lovely firing across though. Can easily lose myself in the music finally. I could do with some panels behind me and a couple of traps behind the speakers but it's really actually ok. Very full sounding. Crazy what a difference.

Near-ish field listening is quite fun! 

Even with the slightly bright sharp 2Qute I think I could live with this for a while. Very coherent and musical. Weighty. Not short of a detail or two either. 

Still going to try and Hugo and Naim Dac for good measure though.

 

 

 

One thing - Do you have the 2Qute SMPS on the same socket as the Naim is drawing power from? If so, try moving it if you can.

G

The SMPS is gone! Well boxed away. I'm using a TP 12/2 regulator. Made significant improvements. Calmed everything down.

The SMPS causes huge mains hum in thr XS2. I tried putting it in a socket on the other side of the room but still hummed!

Had to go. 

OK, you're on it.

G

GraemeH posted:

OK, you're on it.

G

I'm trying! 

I've lined a Hugo for Demo. Look forward to seeing what it does. 

I'll be surprised if you are not impressed.

G

If it's like the Qute but smoother and more natural, I'll have a fit!

ThatsNotMyNaim posted:

If it's like the Qute but smoother and more natural, I'll have a fit!

Let us know.

G

No Hugo yet. Weekend after next. 

But I have borrowed a Chord Shawline Tumed Array RCA cables (2Qute to XS2) to and to my ear (with Odyssey cables), the system is doing everything it did with the TQ cables but with more swing and easier-on-the-ear tone.

Shawline is very tight, detailed and defined, open, well timed, cohesive. Less warmth than the Chameleon that was in my system. More natural that the TQ setup - Felt ADHD to me.

3m Odyssey + Shawline Tuned Array RCA £320.

3m TQB + TQB RCA £600.

Worth looking at. I'm no pro, but my ears and my moods are certainly very seceptible to sound changes.

Boxes first, then wires. Imo.

C.

Agree with ChrisM

I agree after all I've been through. But if I couldn't afford to play about with boxes then you can still get more suitable and pleasing results switching cables with the current boxes. Quite dramatic actually.

The system was unlistenable with the TQ cables (Frantic - I don't doubt they are good cables though, but didn't work for this setup).

Now it's pretty pleasurable with Odyssey and Shawline. The Shawline has helped with the sharpness a bit too. As I said if I had to call it day here I could deal with it. But certainly not when I had the Rumour (Mega boom) or the TQ (Shrill and frantic).

Nigel Flynn recommended I try the Shawline before shipping off the 2Qute. Of he would! But it'a made a nice improvement to listening ease.

Not everyone will be able to go out and spend £1000 upgrading a box shortly after spending £4-5k on their system. And it should be possible to get pretty nice sound with a Chord DAC, A Naim XS2 and Proac speakers. Which I think I have achieved now. A feel less urgent to rush out and swap boxes.

Still trying a Hugo/Naim Dac though. Then a cap or a Supernait. Because I can.

And because I want to warm, smooth and round my system a bit more. I don't like clinical. 

But some music is by it's very nature clinical

Actually more seriously we were at a demo a few years back when the counterweight on the tonearm was changed to give a warmer sound.  Thing is though we were listening to Teen Spirit at the time which prompted somebody to question as to whether the Nirvana had been removed from Nirvana!!!

The Strat (Fender) posted:

But some music is by it's very nature clinical

Haha. I know. I like a bit of colour it seems. I like to be sonically romanced. Sacrilege!  

Not sacrilege at all - I too enjoy colour.

GraemeH posted:

ThatsNotMyNaim posted:

If it's like the Qute but smoother and more natural, I'll have a fit!

Let us know.

G

Hugo is here. Hugo has saved the day.

You were spot on. All the metallic, shouty, harshness has gone completely. The Hugo is so much more natural and analogue sounding. The musical flow is astonishing.

Now I need some further help please ha.

I plugged in using standard USB cable which i assume isn't ideal (regardless it is still much better than the Qute in all those above mentioned ways). Is there a better cable USB cable option? Or is SPDIF converted to USB better?

Also the Hugo hasn't got any galvanic isolation so there is some hiss coming from what i think is the Mac. Not a major issue but how can the RF be controlled without the isolation? 

The hugo TT has GI on the HD USB port ... can you play standard definition through the HD USB on the TT? 

Just wondering how to now maximise sounding quality with the Hugo. TT is probably out of reach the moment. 

Cheers

Adam

Adam if using USB with the Hugo and you can hear ground noise I am afraid you will need a ground isolator (galvanic isolation) or get the TT version of the Hugo that has the USB ground isolator built in.

Also if using a regular Naim NAC then setting the level to 'turquoise' seems to provide the optimum output gain for best SQ. The Naim Highline (phono to DIN) is another worthwhile enabler.

S