Superlumina DIN-XLR vs Chord Sarum Din-XLR

Posted by: analogmusic on 04 April 2017

Has anyone been able to try both in their system with NAP 250 DR?

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by ryder.
analogmusic posted:

well, I compared the standard Naim 100 GBP RCA to DIN cable to the 2100 GBP Sarum Super Array RCA to RCA.

On my system I don't hear much difference...?  But I think these may be my speakers fault.

Seem these Dynaudios Focus have quite a strong character of their own...

When I took them to my friends home with 552/500 and Dave, we both could not hear much difference either from my 282/250 DR.

But strangely (there were 3 of us), we all heard going from NACA 5 to Superlumina on my system

And clearly can hear going from Chord Dave to Vinyl?

 

Missed this old post. It is interesting that you compared the standard Naim RCA - DIN to the Chord Super Array RCA - RCA and heard little to zero difference. My experience is with the Flashback RCA - DIN and Chord Signature Tuned Array RCA - DIN. Although I heard a difference, it was certainly not night and day, in my experience.

Did you manage to try an aftermarket DIN to XLR between your NAC 282 and NAP 250 DR ? Personally I am done with the cables in the system. It's sounding very lovely at the moment, with the standard Naim XLR to DIN between the pre and power.

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by Dan43
northpole posted:

I do find this thread rather confusing in terms of the varied conclusions and wonder if part of the reasons for this may lie in variation in manufacturing tolerances.  Is there any chance that these interconnects can sound better or worse if connections aren't made 100% optimally; if there is any variance in how they have been assembled; etc.  That is, if we were to listen to two or three identical interconnect cables, be it from Naim, Chord or another manufacturer, would they all sound the same?  Hopefully they would, but I wondered if anyone has any experience of such a comparison.  Trying to convince my self that it's not all down to differences in how we hear/ process sounds!!

Peter

Could be wonder if we had one room and one build but swapped the same cabling between 3 pairs of the same cables we would hear any difference.

I remember that the HiLine needs to be placed, I was told, so it just 'bites' when used in the amp-streamer and not pushed all the way in, leaving the connection feeling a little loose, and cable dressing is well mentioned causing replay to change.

What voodoo cables can be :-)

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by ryder.
northpole posted:

I do find this thread rather confusing in terms of the varied conclusions and wonder if part of the reasons for this may lie in variation in manufacturing tolerances.  Is there any chance that these interconnects can sound better or worse if connections aren't made 100% optimally; if there is any variance in how they have been assembled; etc.  That is, if we were to listen to two or three identical interconnect cables, be it from Naim, Chord or another manufacturer, would they all sound the same?  Hopefully they would, but I wondered if anyone has any experience of such a comparison.  Trying to convince my self that it's not all down to differences in how we hear/ process sounds!!

Peter

Good imagination. Even if there were differences between the identical interconnects, I wager the difference between the identical interconnects would be relatively minor to the point of indistinguishable when compared to the capability of our hearing to detect those differences, considering that the differences between different interconnects are not that significant to begin with. My opinion based on my limited experience with different interconnects.

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by analogmusic
ryder. posted:
analogmusic posted:

well, I compared the standard Naim 100 GBP RCA to DIN cable to the 2100 GBP Sarum Super Array RCA to RCA.

On my system I don't hear much difference...?  But I think these may be my speakers fault.

Seem these Dynaudios Focus have quite a strong character of their own...

When I took them to my friends home with 552/500 and Dave, we both could not hear much difference either from my 282/250 DR.

But strangely (there were 3 of us), we all heard going from NACA 5 to Superlumina on my system

And clearly can hear going from Chord Dave to Vinyl?

 

Missed this old post. It is interesting that you compared the standard Naim RCA - DIN to the Chord Super Array RCA - RCA and heard little to zero difference. My experience is with the Flashback RCA - DIN and Chord Signature Tuned Array RCA - DIN. Although I heard a difference, it was certainly not night and day, in my experience.

Did you manage to try an aftermarket DIN to XLR between your NAC 282 and NAP 250 DR ? Personally I am done with the cables in the system. It's sounding very lovely at the moment, with the standard Naim XLR to DIN between the pre and power.

I re-did the test there is a difference, the Chord being more analogue, gentle and having a good huge dose of PRAT, better retrieval of low level detail, and a bigger soundstage, and considerably better bass. Well you have the signature tuned array, so you know what that sounds like.

However doing the test too many times, the mind gets tired of listening to the same song with different cables.

 

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by naim_nymph

It does seem a common denominator remains with 552 systems being far more likely to give musical preference to Sarum, and those with lesser pre-amps [ 272 282 et al ] are not, or less likely to feel the Sarum benefit. Maybe it's the sheer transparency of the Sarum that simply conveys the musical ability of any given pre-amp, and the 552 beguiles a benefit that is far more obviously. 

Debs

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by Allante93

Touraj Moghaddam.

The CEO and founder of Vertere, creators of high-end audio cables, has dedicated almost his entire working life to striving for listening perfection.

"[we have to understand what is the weakest link and then produce and design it and get the result that you expected. The advantage is that once you’ve done that it automatically leads you to the next weak link.]”

Knowingly, or not, I think most member on the Forum are faced with the same issues that high end Audio Designers are faced with.

The Weakest Link, of OUR System!

Hence, the endless pursuit of perfection within our own context!

I Remember, not to long ago, the 500 Club, and the Vast Majority of the Forum was rocking with Nac A5, and Standard Naim Interconnects.

Worked Great, within the Context of Mediocre Systems.

SN 2 > Nac 202....>552

But Naim, not being complacent, up the Stakes! 

An $90K USD Pre-Amp, the S1!

In this context, the SL technology was mandatory! 

An $270K USD STATEMENT!

Now within OUR own Mediocre Systems! 

As they say: YMMV

BTW, Vertere Speaker Cables resembles the SL Speaker Cables, cosmetically!

When it's all said and done, I believe we are all in the pursuit of that live performance, or monitor reproduction.

JMHO!

Allante93!

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by analogmusic

Vertere Pulse X speaker cable does not sound like Superlumina speaker cable. 

I can't say one is better than the other, they both are very good.

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by Allante93
analogmusic posted:

Vertere Pulse X speaker cable does not sound like Superlumina speaker cable. 

I can't say one is better than the other, they both are very good.

Now analog, you know me bye now, cosmetically as well as price, neither are cheap!

"Now within OUR own Mediocre Systems! 

As they say: YMMV

BTW, Vertere Speaker Cables RESEMBLES the SL Speaker Cables, COSMETICALLY!

When it's all said and done, I believe we are all in the pursuit of that live performance, or monitor reproduction.

JMHO!"

Furthermore, I don't claim to have your hands on experience, but since you mentioned it, how do those expensive VERTERE CABLES sound.

For better, or worst?

I'm still rocking Standard Naim ICs and Nac A4! LOL

Allante93!

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by Allante93
analogmusic posted:

When I took them to my friends home with 552/500 and Dave, we both could not hear much difference either from my 282/250 DR.

But strangely (there were 3 of us), we all heard going from NACA 5 to Superlumina on my system

And clearly can hear going from Chord Dave to Vinyl?

 

As strange as it may seem, we are on the same page!

Mediocre:

SN2>202....552!

Now $90K USD S1, or $270 Statement.

Perhaps a noticable difference, for the best!

Allante93!

 

 

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by NewNaim16
Dan43 posted:

Thank you Darke Bear

I tested SL both IC & SC and found their delivery far too bright and for me ...

+1 but YMMV

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by Allante93
northpole posted:

I do find this thread rather confusing in terms of the varied conclusions and wonder if part of the reasons for this may lie in variation in manufacturing tolerances.  Is there any chance that these interconnects can sound better or worse if connections aren't made 100% optimally; if there is any variance in how they have been assembled; etc.  That is, if we were to listen to two or three identical interconnect cables, be it from Naim, Chord or another manufacturer, would they all sound the same?  Hopefully they would, but I wondered if anyone has any experience of such a comparison.  Trying to convince my self that it's not all down to differences in how we hear/ process sounds!!

Peter

+2, the Rhetorical approach!

Allante93!

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by analogmusic

How does expensive Vertere cable sound? well they all have in common the ability to sound more detailed without losing any of the Pace, Rhythm and Timing.

You get more detail with Vertere as you move up the speaker cable range (from DFI to Pulse X mini and then Pulse X).

Have to say Pulse X is superb. 

Officially though, Naim will not recommend any other speaker cable other than NACA 5 or Superlumina.

Posted on: 22 May 2017 by Claus-Thoegersen

Has anyone been able to use the latest Sarum version when comparing cables?

Posted on: 22 May 2017 by naim_nymph
Claus-Thoegersen posted:

Has anyone been able to use the latest Sarum version when comparing cables?

There is a recent thread about Sarum T 

https://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/chord-sarum-t