Upgrade speaker cable

I don't think the Naim integrated amps are so picky about cable lengths anymore.

I recently upgraded from Tara Labs Omni ST to NACA5 and the immediate result was deeper bass and previously my treble was a bit fatiguing to listen to, that is also gone with the upgrade to NACA5. But mind you I also replaced the speaker jumpers at the same time with NACA5 - I don't know if the effects can be attributed to the changed cable or the replaced jumpers or whether the both changes gave the improvements I experienced.

If possible then demo the three alternatives - or otherwise I would go for the NACA5 which is a very good cable for the price. But mind you, NACA5 is VERY stiff to work with!

In your shoes, and with the benefit of experience, I'd be looking to avoid future regrets and additional expenditure and  do it right first time - go with the speaker cable around which the amp was designed - NACA5.  However, before you do anything I would remove those nasty metal bi-wire links on the Dali speakers and replace with some short lengths of NACA5 or similar, and better yet, have your NACA5 made up with an F type connection (See FAQ and many other threads on here for details). Just removing the metal links and replacing with hook up wire should bring a considerable improvement.

Good as Audioquest 14/4 is (and for the price it's excellent, nothing clearly beats it at the price) it's about refinement and subtlety, rather more than it's about dynamics.  Don't get me wrong, it's not bad on dynamics, just not as good as NAC A5.  So, given your choice of speakers, I suspect that NAC A5 would be much more to your preference.  It is however a lot more expensive.

If you are looking to the future (and with your speakers) then as Richard says, I think NAC A5 is the way to go (including replacing the link plates with proper wire links or an 'F' connection).

Thanks for your help , I'm going to buy the nac5 and a F connection.

Naca 5 is a very good cable at ANY price,imo. When used with Naim amps it takes a LOT of money to beat it. Even Naims own uber SL speaker cable did not convince me to make the change when I did the demo. Chord Sarum did edge it but the thought of hiding those white garden hoses in my room kept the money in my pocket

I'm very happy with  Chord epic twin speaker cable. 

Kacper posted:

I'm very happy with  Chord epic twin speaker cable. 

The same here. 

Chord Epic Twin is a bit rich for a Nait 5i. I use both NACA5 and Chord Epic Twin in two separate Naim systems. Sounds great.

@RYDER

Would you please share your experience about these cables ?

B-2017,

There are few here who compared both cables and their experience is totally different from mine. In my system, there is surely a difference between the NACA5 and Chord Epic Twin but it is not a night a day thing. They sound quite similar to each other. The Chord Epic Twin is slightly more refined and detailed than the NACA5 with finer nuances in the music coming through. The NACA5 is a lively cable but a bit "hard" sounding when compared to the Chord Epic Twin. All small differences.

Personally I don't think you can go wrong with the NACA5. There are few who thought the Chord Epic Twin sounded dead and shut-in next to the NACA5 though that's their experience. In my experience both sounded equally good with the Chord Epic Twin pulling ahead in refinement. The Epic Twin stays in the main system as it sounds better than the NACA5 to my ears, in my system.

RADER,

Thanks man

No problem B-2017. The NACA5 will fit nicely in your system.

I recently tried some new NACA5 cable as an alternative to my Chord Silver Screen cable that I've had for over 7 years. I could not hear much of a difference between them. Perhaps the NACA5 needs time to run-in. Burn in has been a much debated subject on here, so to each their own I guess.

My epic twin is connected to nait xs2. If the epic twin it's to rich for nait 5i than maybe shawline its worth it to try.

I'll try the nac5 because of my speaker with double tweeter I prefer to try a cable more natural than a silver plate cable which is quit bright in high frequency , I have a pair of Monitor audio 6 and I'm using the QED Silver Anniversary XT for them

A used pair of TelluriumQ Blacks maybe? 

spacey posted:

A used pair of TelluriumQ Blacks maybe? 

+1 superb cables

Hi,

If one can have the NAC A5 made up (in a 'F' configuration) by a very competent dealer, using Naim plugs/pins?

That would be great.

I use NAC A5 on my Nait 5si and could not be any happier, it really does a fine job of making the music sound really exciting, without the presentation becoming too picky or fatiguing.

Hello

I already bought the cable but my dealer doesn't know anything about the F connection( I live in Luxembourg ) and I have to do the soldering myself , I had a solder that was broken , bought a new one that doesn't warm enough the cable for soldering even if it's 100W(return it) , bought another new one that will arrive this weekend , the adventure is go on !?

I'm going to use the solder wire Mudder with components Sn99 Ag0.3 Cu0.7 that is used for audio cable too , I don’t know if it’s good enough ?

Anybody has any idea ?

b-2017 posted:

I'm going to use the solder wire Mudder with components Sn99 Ag0.3 Cu0.7 that is used for audio cable too , I don’t know if it’s good enough ?       Anybody has any idea ? 

Mudder rosin cored solder wire is very good enough.   Its a general purpose lead free solder for all forms of electric work.     

Use a decent 60/40 lead and tin solder - Naim use Multicore Crystal 505 and this works well.  You need much higher temps for lead-free solder and this can cause problems if you're inexperienced in using it. 

There's plenty posted here about the F connector.  Just do a quick search.

OK for 60/40,  but the problem is you can't get lead free solder so easily in some parts of Europe.   60/40 melts at 188'c,  Sn99 Ag0.3 Cu0.7 is 215'c.  I've used it a lot (its all I use now) & have not experienced any temperature issues with it.   

[@mention:1566878603907884]

Thanks for your response , The temprature issue was related to soldering tool not the wire becuase I tried with different solder wire , cables and I had the same issue , concerning my question ,  just wanted to know if this solder wire(Mudder) is good enough for this porpose ?

@Richard Dane

Thanks for instructions

b-2017 posted:

[@mention:1566878603907884]

Thanks for your response , The temprature issue was related to soldering tool not the wire becuase I tried with different solder wire , cables and I had the same issue , concerning my question ,  just wanted to know if this solder wire(Mudder) is good enough for this porpose ?

Hi b-2017,   Mudder is the brand,  its a well known brand,  I have x2 Mudder soldering irons & have used the solder.  The question I see in your post is about the alloy of Sn99 Ag0.3 Cu0.7  (Tin/Silver/Copper)    that is how I answered it.