Effect of power-line on Supernait 2

Massimo, I find the forum has become less 'C' in your list over the years. When I joined it (well one of its predecessors) severeal years back I felt it was more 'closed' or elitist than it is now... Possibly because in that time Naim has broadened its appeal to a wider audience....

edit.. I failed at reproducing your red capital on my iPad... I like it.. 

Max you have my dream system apart from cdx2 I would have NDX, NDX/282/200DR with a couple of HiCaps beautiful Max well done CDX2/282/200DR is such a lovely system

What I want to know is who Tom Branson and Mr Carson are, and what characteristics make them significant. 

I think the Forum is neither elitist or dumbed down - it's what it is a Forum where a few muso nerds can witter on because they have too much time on their hands - in HH's case literally the case - poor chap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3HemKGDavw

Massimo, I really like your summary of how you bought your system, particularly how people came to you and how simple it all was. Sometimes the right things just happen. I replaced my SuperUniti last year with a 272/250DR. I didn't bother to listen to it first, but had a chat with Naim and felt it would be right for me. I always intended to keep hold of my PMC speakers, which I really liked, but then happened to read on the forum that Cymbiosis had a pair of maple SL2s in the shop. Now, SL2s are the best speakers I've ever heard, so I was on the blower to Cymbiosis immediately, and asked if they would be too good for the amplifier. No, I was told, and because Cymbiosis know Naim as well as anyone, I trusted their judgement and bought them. Had I not read that forum post, I would never have got them, and feel immensely grateful to whoever posted about them. So somehow I've managed to put together a truly wonderful system and a price I could afford and which gives me all I want. And like you, Massimo, I just did it, with no questions in public. Sometimes it's better that way. I wish you hours of happiness with your new system. 

Tom Branson. He works as chauffeur at Downton Abbey. He sympathises with Socialism, is from Ireland, dreams of going back to his homeland and actualise his ideals. He falls in love with the lovely Lady Sybil (daughter of Sir Robert), and she reciprocates after some hesitation – but the affair looks really impossible. They run away together, they get married, have a daughter, the mother dies. Slowly, with great difficulties, Branson is accepted into the family, until he becomes a member of it, conquering the affection of all those who had looked at him with contempt.

Mr Carson. He's the Butler at Downton Abbey, the real 'master', the surveyor of all customs, traditions, roles and hierarchies. He appears as an unbending, iron-fisted controller of all the staff, the protector of the Family. In the end, he will show his human traits, his weaknesses, showing his great love and concern for a world doomed to extinction. In time, he manages to accept Branson, but just because the Family has become fond of him. You have a feeling that Downton Abbey, without Mr Carson, would collapse like the House of Usher.

Get well soon, N.

M.

Bob (The Builder),

I have long thought about the source. The NDX was one of my appealing options, but then who knows, I somehow lost interest. Perhaps the idea (another can of worms to be left unopened here) of using a NAS, or a Mac, or don't know what. I had also considered an HDX, which is surely at least as good sounding as a bare CDX2 (test done and re-done), but again, the computer-ness of it all left me unconvinced. My brother-in-law Andrea is using an HDX since months, and very happily; the convenience seems to match the sound quality. I'll probably get to it someday. For now, a CDX2 is my choice – the blend of body and edginess makes it my player. And it's perfect for the piano, and I love listening to the piano on CD.

M

Massimo Bertola posted:

 

Tom Branson. He works as chauffeur at Downton Abbey. He sympathises with Socialism, is from Ireland, dreams of going back to his homeland and actualise his ideals. He falls in love with the lovely Lady Sybil (daughter of Sir Robert), and she reciprocates after some hesitation – but the affair looks really impossible. They run away together, they get married, have a daughter, the mother dies. Slowly, with great difficulties, Branson is accepted into the family, until he becomes a member of it, conquering the affection of all those who had looked at him with contempt.

 

Mr Carson. He's the Butler at Downton Abbey, the real 'master', the surveyor of all customs, traditions, roles and hierarchies. He appears as an unbending, iron-fisted controller of all the staff, the protector of the Family. In the end, he will show his human traits, his weaknesses, showing his great love and concern for a world doomed to extinction. In time, he manages to accept Branson, but just because the Family has become fond of him. You have a feeling that Downton Abbey, without Mr Carson, would collapse like the House of Usher.

I like the irony of a lesson about a British 'institution' to someone I have taken to be British living in Britain from an Italian living in Italy!

but then not everyone warches period dramas, or indeed other populist TV programmes.

joerand posted:. 

I can't fault anyone for asking a genuine question here, and who's to judge their forthrightness? Often folks are simply airing out their choices, looking for a rebound, and take responses from there. In the case of the OP we've seen that his query resulted from a statement made by a dealer - a presumptive authority on the matter from his perspective.

What irks me more than HH's tribulations is when someone posits A versus B and members chime in with C, D, and E, sometimes even F and G because that's where they're at. The post runs amok and ultimately bears little resemblance to the OP. The thread decays, the usual players get their redundant say for their personal favorites, and the OP can be left scratching his or her head.

For my part I feel It'd serve the forum well for responders to stay on topic rather than diverge from or criticize the OPs. If you find it tedious, then FFS why reply? Let the thread die and send someone off to do their initial research.

Sometimes it can be perfectly valid to introduce another option the OP might not have considered, if the poster considers it to be a realistic option  (e.g. not significantly more costly, and offering perhaps better sound quality or other benefits) - we can each only make the best decisions based on the best available information, and if it seems possible that what the poster genuinely believes to be a good alternative that the might not have been recognised, then really isn't there almost a duty just to mention it, with enough info to make it possible for the OP to have a clear idea of what is suggested - though notbthen repeating ad nauseam if the OP makes it clear it is not for them.

Innocent Bystander posted:

I like the irony of a lesson about a British 'institution' to someone I have taken to be British living in Britain from an Italian living in Italy!

but then not everyone warches period dramas, or indeed other populist TV programmes.

IB,

mine was certainly not intended to be any 'lesson', especially to HH... I happened to be caught into watching the full series of Downton Abbey by the female part of my 'new family' (ages from 8 to 65) and I liked it, sometimes in spite of myself. I think the characters were excellent – within the limits of how fiction is stereotyped, and of my being, I admit it, an Italian living in Italy – and the casting, as is often the case with British and American fiction, extraordinary.

I know how weird it is when strangers talk of our institutions: HH asked, and I thought I would answer with the help of pictures and of my impressions of the 'period drama' (or 'populist TV programme'). But I really hope I haven't given an impression of presumptuousness. I am certain that not everybody watches 'populist TV programmes'; BTW, in my own language populist is not a nice word; and since I suspect that it is not in your language too, I wonder if your last remark was intended to convey a judgment.

I realise that even if your post was not meant to be sarcastic (sorry, but I am not sure about it), Us and Them is still a strong feeling among certain people, which I hope I have not offended.

Cordially

M

I was in China on business recently and the people we met with loved, loved, loved 'Downton Abbey'. They fully expected us to be as knowledgable as they were regarding every plot twist and character foible...I wonder if it is dubbed there...subtitles I imagine!

G

Massimo Bertola posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

I like the irony of a lesson about a British 'institution' to someone I have taken to be British living in Britain from an Italian living in Italy!

but then not everyone warches period dramas, or indeed other populist TV programmes.

IB,

mine was certainly not intended to be any 'lesson', especially to HH... I happened to be caught into watching the full series of Downton Abbey by the female part of my 'new family' (ages from 8 to 65) and I liked it, sometimes in spite of myself. I think the characters were excellent – within the limits of how fiction is stereotyped, and of my being, I admit it, an Italian living in Italy – and the casting, as is often the case with British and American fiction, extraordinary.

I know how weird it is when strangers talk of our institutions: HH asked, and I thought I would answer with the help of pictures and of my impressions of the 'period drama' (or 'populist TV programme'). But I really hope I haven't given an impression of presumptuousness. I am certain that not everybody watches 'populist TV programmes'; BTW, in my own language populist is not a nice word; and since I suspect that it is not in your language too, I wonder if your last remark was intended to convey a judgment.

I realise that even if your post was not meant to be sarcastic (sorry, but I am not sure about it), Us and Them is still a strong feeling among certain people, which I hope I have not offended.

Cordially

M

Not in the least bit meant sarcastically- just expressing my amusement at the strange way things happen in our now global airing of Tv shows etc!!

Sorry, missed off the rest!

In terms of populist I was thinking of rather less refined TV programmes like the innumerable 'soap operas' and so-called 'reality TV' shows we seem to have occupying prime time slots. And I personally enjoyed DA! which I think had some interesting themes (including the clash between  socialist working class and conservative landed gentry and the eventual triumph of personal respect that you raised), and of course it had Maggie Smith in rather a different role from The Lady in the Van... But I think this is getting too far off topic, as I don't think Powelines had been invented in the early 20th century ..unless of course some people had their TV or attached sound systems connected with them!

As an SN2 owner, I wonder what the ranking of the following upgrades would be with regards to listening-pleasure-enhancement per US Dollar? I am guessing it is...

1. Source first / New DAC, be it a NAIM or not ($1500-2500 USD)

2. HiCap-DR ($2595 USD)

3. Power Line x 2 ($1990 USD)

4. Fraim x 2 Level ($2500 USD)

5. Other?

Massimo Bertola posted:

Tom Branson. He works as chauffeur at Downton Abbey. He sympathises with Socialism, is from Ireland, dreams of going back to his homeland and actualise his ideals. He falls in love with the lovely Lady Sybil (daughter of Sir Robert), and she reciprocates after some hesitation – but the affair looks really impossible. They run away together, they get married, have a daughter, the mother dies. Slowly, with great difficulties, Branson is accepted into the family, until he becomes a member of it, conquering the affection of all those who had looked at him with contempt.

Mr Carson. He's the Butler at Downton Abbey, the real 'master', the surveyor of all customs, traditions, roles and hierarchies. He appears as an unbending, iron-fisted controller of all the staff, the protector of the Family. In the end, he will show his human traits, his weaknesses, showing his great love and concern for a world doomed to extinction. In time, he manages to accept Branson, but just because the Family has become fond of him. You have a feeling that Downton Abbey, without Mr Carson, would collapse like the House of Usher.

Get well soon, N.

M.

Ah, that's why I didn't know what it was. Downtown Abbey is appalling drivel with no merit whatsoever. I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than watch it. Ready for incoming attacks. 

IB,

then just forgive my diffident attitude... I never know without the human voice's own tone. Sorry for being slightly paranoid.

Now let's give the thread back to the OP.

Best,

Max

Hungryhalibut posted:

I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than watch it. 

Nigel,

don't you have enough of a headache already..?

Best

Max

joerand posted:

Kevin Richardson posted:

Oh i just wanted to add something.  The best value tweak I have purchased were the Stillpoins.  I put them under all my components and it really quite obviously made the entire system sound much better focused.

Kevin,

When I saw your affirmation for the Stillpoints I immediately went to your system profile to see what rack you're using. I found a well detailed description of all three of your systems including PLs and ICs, but no mention of racking. Please indulge me for system 1,  just for my own curiosity. Thanks.

I have two Quadrispire Q4 bamboo racks. 

joerand posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Actually I think if a thread sometimes drifts from the original OP topic ....

Drifts? So I guess you're okay when a poster asks 'which CDP' and those that may have never owned a CDP jump in about the virtues of streaming? It goes from there....

Just my own pet peeve. No harm, and sure, let the threads wander as they will. I'm one who prefers folks that stay on topic with relevant experience. A forum has an informational side, but certainly social as well.

So where is this thread at now with regard to the OP? Spirited ambiguity no doubt, and I am a guilty contributor. Call it divergent evolution

You know streaming was ok but it wasn't great until I got my Chord Hugo.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Massimo Bertola posted:

Tom Branson. He works as chauffeur at Downton Abbey. He sympathises with Socialism, is from Ireland, dreams of going back to his homeland and actualise his ideals. He falls in love with the lovely Lady Sybil (daughter of Sir Robert), and she reciprocates after some hesitation – but the affair looks really impossible. They run away together, they get married, have a daughter, the mother dies. Slowly, with great difficulties, Branson is accepted into the family, until he becomes a member of it, conquering the affection of all those who had looked at him with contempt.

Mr Carson. He's the Butler at Downton Abbey, the real 'master', the surveyor of all customs, traditions, roles and hierarchies. He appears as an unbending, iron-fisted controller of all the staff, the protector of the Family. In the end, he will show his human traits, his weaknesses, showing his great love and concern for a world doomed to extinction. In time, he manages to accept Branson, but just because the Family has become fond of him. You have a feeling that Downton Abbey, without Mr Carson, would collapse like the House of Usher.

Get well soon, N.

M.

Ah, that's why I didn't know what it was. Downtown Abbey is appalling drivel with no merit whatsoever. I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than watch it. Ready for incoming attacks. 

Yes. The only saving grace of DT was that big cheesy knob presenting the Wine Show recently 

...which was exceptional.

Kevin Richardson posted:

I have two Quadrispire Q4 bamboo racks. 

Thanks for the follow up Kevin.

When  Powerline first was demonstrated by Naim at my local dealer he used the supernait with and without the powerline . The difference was sufficient to convince me of the value. 

Then I started to think why naim is not adding powerline as standart to all equipment from 200 onwards 

I've tested PowerLines in my setup few times but never ended up buying one. The usual effect seems to be this "settling down" as someone described in the beginning of this thread. It smooths out/cleans the upper register little bit. This can be either good or a bad thing, depending on how the rest of the setup sings. It also seems to force the low frequencies and bring more attack to the sound. If your system suffers from brightness or even sibilance, I suggest to try PowerLine out. I have tried many other power cables also but always seem to come back to the stock Naim power cords. They just work so good.

Emre posted:

Then I started to think why naim is not adding powerline as standart to all equipment from 200 onwards 

The annual above-inflation price rise is bad enough as it is, I'm not sure hiking the price of a 200 by 25% would be a very popular move.