Speaker cable advice for NAP300
Posted by: vinylrocks on 22 February 2017
I recently decided to make some changes in my living room and that means changing the place my system is located. Unfortunately the new placement commands for a longer speaker cable which means I have to buy a new one. I own a 252/300 combo driving a pair of Neat Momentum 4i floorstanders. Until now I was using a 2m factory terminated pair of Chord Carnival Silver plus bi-wire cable with great results. It's a cheap cable that was given to me for free with the purchase of the speakers. I since have auditioned the Nac A5 at some point and some more expensive cables like the Nordost Frey 2 (2m length) but wasn't convinced the change was for the better in the latter case considering the price.
The Naim cable seemed very similar to my Chord, with a very tight and coherent musical presentation, but I felt it lacked in the higher frequency delivery, the overall transparency and the micro dynamics compared to more expensive cables. Some of the pricey cables using silver coating sounded more transparent but at the same time gave a more harsh top end which seemed unnatural to my ears.
I know Naim suggests using the Nac A5, but since technology advances and themselves have a better and more expensive speaker cable now, maybe there's a better (but cheaper than Super Lumina) solution out there.
Is the concept of length (over 3,5m for Naim amps) still relevant? I think one of the reasons I liked the Chord so much might be that the bi-wire feature means the effective length resembles to a 4m pair. If it does the cost factor does make things more difficult for very expensive cables.
What speaker cable are you using in your own system? Which brands seem to work best with Naim amps?
Thanks in advance,
John
Posted on: 22 February 2017 by Finkfan
Hi [@mention:27753937197632864] I'm using TQ black speaker cables. I preferred their sound over A5. I haven't heard the Nordost cables but I should imagine with their high capacitance they're not a good match with Naim amps. I'd stick with at least the same type of cable as NacA5. Two parallel cables set slightly apart. The TQ cables are built this way and are highly recommended. The black range is a neutral sound, which I like. The silver range has more detail and top end sparkle without being harsh.
What lengths do you need now?
Posted on: 22 February 2017 by Adam Zielinski
Yes - with higher-end Naim amps stabilising of a power amp with a speaker cable is still relevant. I would strongly recommend using NACA5 or SuperLumina speaker cables, given their specific properties. TelluriumQ are also suitable, with runs of at least 3 meters.
NACA5 sound at its best at around 7 - 7.5 meters, properly terminated with NAIM amp plugs.
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by jon h
NACA5 every time. I prefer it to superlumina too
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Timo
If you are happy with your current Chord, have a look/listen at Chord Epic Twin? And if you feel like splashing out more, maybe Epic Reference? I have the former, and listened to the latter when I demo'ed speakers. Fine cables in my view!
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Timo
P.S. That speaker demo I refererred to was actually with Neat's SX1 -- not quite your Momentum 4i, but coming from the same family. 
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by vinylrocks
Hi [@mention:27753937197632864] I'm using TQ black speaker cables. I preferred their sound over A5. I haven't heard the Nordost cables but I should imagine with their high capacitance they're not a good match with Naim amps. I'd stick with at least the same type of cable as NacA5. Two parallel cables set slightly apart. The TQ cables are built this way and are highly recommended. The black range is a neutral sound, which I like. The silver range has more detail and top end sparkle without being harsh.
What lengths do you need now?
I need at least 3-3.5m runs with this set up. The rack will have to be on the side and not in the middle of the speakers so actually this length is for one of the speakers. I understand it's better to have equal lengths anyway though right? Do I have to go more than that?
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Timo
Equal length is imperative for Naim as the speaker cable is part of the amp's circuitry, and that is also why Naim recommends a minimum length of 3.5m. You spent a lot on your 252/300 -- don't spoil it by saving a few quid getting a too short cable...
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Finkfan
As [@mention:63936634726737555] says keep the lengths the same. If you want to keep it all Naim then 3.5m of A5 is the minimum or 3m of the SL cable. The TQ black is understood to be of very similar capacitance and impeadance to the A5. I've never tried any longer then the minimum recommended lengths. I'm sure longer would sound different, but better or worse would be down to your ears.
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Huge
Using the Chord cable 2m each side biwired as you have done makes the inductance equivalent to more like 1m than 4m and the capacitance equivalent to 4m. This is the wrong way round for a Naim amp, in fact that configuration is more stressful to the amp than using 1m of NAC A5 would be.
Use a minimum 3.5m (and preferably 5-7m) of NAC A5, TQ Black, or if you want a highly 'transparent' but 'lighter' presentation you could try DNM Resolution.
The advice to use the Naim plugs at the amp end and ensure that they are properly soldered to the cables, is very wise and very pertinent.
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Harry
I fiddled about occasionally in my NACA5 years, borrowing cables, trying them out. The NACA5 stayed. I couldn't find anything to compete near the price. I don't think the technology has advanced, just the marketing twaddle and prices! This was with 252/300, 552/300 and 552/500. I never thought it was letting the system down.
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Timo
I guess it comes down to the "default" recommendation: get a few cables for home demo (NACA5, Chord Epic Twin and TQ Black?) and trust your ears... The Forum, I think, is really useful for arriving at a sensible "short list", since one might not want to listen to 20 different speaker cables, 20 different pairs of speakers etc. But that's about it... In any case, whatever you do, no shorter than 3.5m... 
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Adam Zielinski
@Harry - Very, very true.
It only took for a complete SuperLumina loom - interconnect between SuperCap and NAP + speaker cables working in tandem - to convince me to change from NACA5.
Mind you - with my Olive Naim I would not even dream of anything else but NACA5 (using two runs of 7.5 meters into Quad ESL63s)
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by ginelalex
@Harry - Very, very true.
It only took for a complete SuperLumina loom - interconnect between SuperCap and NAP + speaker cables working in tandem - to convince me to change from NACA5.
Mind you - with my Olive Naim I would not even dream of anything else but NACA5 (using two runs of 7.5 meters into Quad ESL63s)
Adam, what length are your SL speaker cables? Just curious..
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
Has anyone tried Chord Signature?
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Harry
When we bought our 252/300 the dealer threw in two 5m lengths of NACA5. This was before they hiked the price. Happy days.
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Adam Zielinski
@Harry - Very, very true.
It only took for a complete SuperLumina loom - interconnect between SuperCap and NAP + speaker cables working in tandem - to convince me to change from NACA5.
Mind you - with my Olive Naim I would not even dream of anything else but NACA5 (using two runs of 7.5 meters into Quad ESL63s)
Adam, what length are your SL speaker cables? Just curious..
2 x 3m - for both systems.
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by ginelalex
@Harry - Very, very true.
It only took for a complete SuperLumina loom - interconnect between SuperCap and NAP + speaker cables working in tandem - to convince me to change from NACA5.
Mind you - with my Olive Naim I would not even dream of anything else but NACA5 (using two runs of 7.5 meters into Quad ESL63s)
Adam, what length are your SL speaker cables? Just curious..
2 x 3m - for both systems.
Thx for your answer, same for my system and i'm happy with them.
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Pcd
When we bought our 252/300 the dealer threw in two 5m lengths of NACA5. This was before they hiked the price. Happy days.
Harry, I use the same dealer and he did likewise when I purchased my 252/250 last year I thought very happy days indeed.
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by vinylrocks
I guess I have to do some demoing. NAC A5, TQ black (maybe ultra black as well?), DNM Resolution, and Chord (epic or signature?) seem to be the one's to choose from. Super Lumina seems far to expensive for the lengths in question.
At some point I may need to upgrade the speakers so I feel there's no point in investing in speaker cable that is going to be obsolete in the near future.
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Finkfan
The ultra black is an awesome speaker cable. It's on my upgrade list.
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Timo
At some point I may need to upgrade the speakers so I feel there's no point in investing in speaker cable that is going to be obsolete in the near future.
Absolutely, buy a "future-proof" cable -- no point of buying something you might wish to change with new speakers... Do you have particular speakers in mind? If you already have your eyes on a particular set of speakers, might be worth to demo the cable with these speakers... Sounds like you will have lots of fun!
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by james n
The ultra black is an awesome speaker cable. It's on my upgrade list.
Is that what used to be called the 'Green' cable ?
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Harry
When we bought our 252/300 the dealer threw in two 5m lengths of NACA5. This was before they hiked the price. Happy days.
Harry, I use the same dealer and he did likewise when I purchased my 252/250 last year I thought very happy days indeed.
Now that's what makes a good dealer
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Finkfan
The ultra black is an awesome speaker cable. It's on my upgrade list.
Is that what used to be called the 'Green' cable ?
The ultra black is an improved green. Green has now been replaced by Ultra black and Graphite replaced by Black diamond.
Posted on: 23 February 2017 by james n
