NACA5 Is Still The Cable To Beat

Posted by: ryder. on 08 April 2017

It is all quite fascinating. After having lived with the NACA5 for a considerable period, I tried the Chord Epic Twin last year and commented on the added resolution and refinement of the cable in comparison to the Naim cable. Prior to getting the Chord, I checked with Chord and Nigel Finn advised that the NACA5 is pretty hard to beat when it comes to musical coherence, pace, rhythm and timing. He is surely right in this respect. He recommended the Chord Epic as the closest sounding cable to the NACA5 with improvements in detail, neutrality and naturalness.

Long story short. I just recently swapped the Chord Epic Twin out for the NACA5 and found the latter to be superior with rock music. The NACA5 is better at holding everything together. However, the Chord Epic sounded better with jazz fusion.

It is certainly difficult to describe on the changes in cables with words.
I just re-analysed the whole thing and figured out certain music sounded better with the NACA5 as there was less decay or overhang of notes with the cable. The NACA5 just sounded more coherent and "together". The Chord Epic sounded slightly smoother, softer and less engaging in comparison especially with rock music. Electric guitars sounded more surreal with the NACA5.

However, switch to jazz fusion and the Chord Epic gets my vote with higher levels of refinement and detail. The NACA5 sounded slightly boxy and dull with a slight reduction in detail in comparison. The decay of notes is slightly cut short with the NACA5. All small differences though it is the small little things that count.

One thing is for certain, the NACA5 really shines when it comes to musical coherence. It is really good at holding everything together especially with fast-paced music with transients and charging bass lines. Due to the control of the NACA5, it is compromised in few areas mainly detail, transparency and openness. Nevertheless, the strengths of the NACA5 appear to outweigh the weaknesses.

Since I mainly listen to jazz fusion, the Chord Epic will stay with the system most of the time. The added refinement and detail of the Chord Epic are better suited to these types music. Whenever i feel like listening to U2, the NACA5 will get into the system.

Does anybody frequently or occasionally swap speaker cables to cater for specific music genres? I would have to say, for rock music the NACA5 is pretty unbeatable and is a whole lot of fun.

 

Posted on: 09 April 2017 by james n

Messing around with cables each time i wanted to listen to a different style of music is just too much hassle (for me anyway) but i can understand why it works for you. Given your description of both cables and what you like about each, i'd give TQ cables a try. The only cable (in my Naim days) that i found bettered A5 

Posted on: 09 April 2017 by joerand

Ryder,

Having home demo'd Chord Odyssey versus NACA5 I can well appreciate your descriptions between the two cables. I've always considered speaker cable selection a dichotomous decision. Switching between two per music genre? That seems a bit over the top; however, if it works for you I won't criticize. Plenty of folks use multiple sets of headphones.

Posted on: 10 April 2017 by Alan Willby

I changed to Epic Reference last year. I cannot swap in and out as my cables are now behind the skirting and to be honest I find it a pain even changing an interconnect or power cable these days - let alone 12m of speaker cabling. When I demo'd the Epic against the A5 I pretty much came to the same conclusions as you all but felt that the Epic gave me more of what I wanted so I purchased it and am very happy with the results some 6 months in. That said I could happily have stayed with the A5.

Posted on: 10 April 2017 by Timmo1341

Similar findings to yours - Epic Reference really hits the spot for me, although in terms of sheer vfm Naca5 takes some beating. I also A-B'd ER against Superlumina, and found that, for me, ER definitely had the edge (and for less than half the price, which is a bonus).

Tim

Posted on: 10 April 2017 by ryder.

Thanks for all responses. I'll be sticking to the Chord Epic most of the time as it sounds better than the NACA5 with the music genres that I listen to, mainly jazz fusion. The Chord is an overall more polished, refined and cultured cable than the NACA5. Not night and day differences though appreciable enough.

Posted on: 10 April 2017 by Mike Kent

Loved NACA5 for years, but once I'd tried Super Lumina there was no way back...

Posted on: 11 April 2017 by The Strat (Fender)

I can't really be bothered with changing wires at the best of times.   However, when I bought the S20s I said that after they had settled in I'd try a couple of different cables but frankly it's now sounding so good with the Odyssey once again I'm inclined to leave well alone.

Posted on: 11 April 2017 by whsturm

Please can I ask what lengths of Chord Epic people are using? Does it have the same impedance, conductance etc. as NACA5 so that 3.5m minimum length is recommended for naim pre/power amps? Or does it need longer/shorter lengths ? I know that newer Naim kit is less sensitive but the older kit has stricter compliance requirements.

Posted on: 11 April 2017 by asprin

I'm finding myself swapping back next forth between Tellerium Q Black and NACA5. 

I was really struck by the initial apparent improvement that TQB brought to detail, dynamics be texture. After a while though I began to experience it as a little compressed and flat, in that it appears to be unable to recreate natural space in the way NACA5 is able to. Swapping back the NACA5 seems Lacking in tonal colour and timbral information ... But nevertheless more truthful. 

Frustratingly this his has now left me dissatisfied with both!

Posted on: 11 April 2017 by james n
asprin posted:

I'm finding myself swapping back next forth between Tellerium Q Black and NACA5. 

I was really struck by the initial apparent improvement that TQB brought to detail, dynamics be texture. After a while though I began to experience it as a little compressed and flat, in that it appears to be unable to recreate natural space in the way NACA5 is able to. Swapping back the NACA5 seems Lacking in tonal colour and timbral information ... But nevertheless more truthful. 

Frustratingly this his has now left me dissatisfied with both!

How old is the TQ black ?  If new it can take a while to come on song. 

Posted on: 11 April 2017 by Drewy
ryder. posted:

Thanks for all responses. I'll be sticking to the Chord Epic most of the time as it sounds better than the NACA5 with the music genres that I listen to, mainly jazz fusion. The Chord is an overall more polished, refined and cultured cable than the NACA5. Not night and day differences though appreciable enough.

I feel the opposite. I sold my Epic off and replaced it with naca5. 

Posted on: 11 April 2017 by hungryhalibut

I didn't find TQB compressed and flat - with PMC 23s it was conclusively better than A5. I bought mine used - they were a few years old so well run in, by James...

Posted on: 11 April 2017 by hungryhalibut

Regarding the Chord cables, I've not heard Epic but did have Odyssey for a while. It made the music very neat and tidy but was ultimately boring and uninvolving so had to go, and I returned to A5. 

Posted on: 11 April 2017 by asprin
Hungryhalibut posted:

I didn't find TQB compressed and flat - with PMC 23s it was conclusively better than A5. I bought mine used - they were a few years old so well run in, by James...

Cable was bought second hand off an auction site, I imagine they are well run in as the previous owner said he had them for several years.

I've just swapped them back again to remind myself what I meant. Flat is possibly not the right word. They sound lively, detailed and colourful. The only thing I am finding lacking is some depth; the sound image is there but, in my system, it doesn't seem to have a front to back dimension that conveys space naturally. 

It is appealing in many ways though. Timing and excitement is all there and finding details not apparent with the NACA5.... I just wish I could combine the virtues of both! 

Whilst I don't swap them in and out for different types of music like the OP, I do find myself swapping them back and forth hoping for a happy medium..

 

jim

Posted on: 11 April 2017 by ryder.
Drewy posted:
ryder. posted:

Thanks for all responses. I'll be sticking to the Chord Epic most of the time as it sounds better than the NACA5 with the music genres that I listen to, mainly jazz fusion. The Chord is an overall more polished, refined and cultured cable than the NACA5. Not night and day differences though appreciable enough.

I feel the opposite. I sold my Epic off and replaced it with naca5. 

Interestingly you felt the opposite even though we use different loudspeakers. Perhaps there is a synergy between the NACA5 and Ovator S400 and they are meant to be together.

Posted on: 11 April 2017 by ryder.

Asprin, you have mentioned twice that the TQ Black didn't portray space between instruments as well as the NACA5. Describing the sound characteristics of cables is the most difficult thing to do, not withstanding the many variables that are involved ie. loudspeakers that are connected to the cables and the room. Nevertheless, your experience gave me an idea how the TQ Black would sound like.

I believe all cables are a compromise. A cable can do very well with detail, dynamics and so forth but may not do so well with other things such as space, liquidity, whatever. It can very well be down to personal taste or preference when two cables are compared, rather than one coming up "better" or superior.

Posted on: 12 April 2017 by BigH47

Does the music know what cables it's using or the cable know which music genre it's playing?

Posted on: 12 April 2017 by joerand
BigH47 posted:

Does the music know what cables it's using or the cable know which music genre it's playing?

Obviously not, why did you ask? The listener is aware of the genre and this feeds into bias.