SL DIN-XLR

Adam Zielinski posted:

Laxton Yeo posted:

Thanks for your inputs.

Based on the comments on Vertere and Chord cables, I wished it were possible to have a home trial for them but it isn't really possible from where I am.

 

I am able to loan the SL and judging from comments, I should do so to maximize the system. 

Good call.

Please note that in the opinion of some fellow Forum members the proverbial grass is always greener on the other side. And that's perfectly OK for some.

However, I decided to make my life a little bit simpler. I assumed that Naim generally know what they're doing so Naim equipment and Naim cables do match each other fairly well.

Cheers,
Adam

But that proverbial grass - on either side of the fence -  is horrendously expensive and therefore buying by assumption would be, frankly, nuts. You could be right, you could be wrong but there's no way way you should rely upon the opinion of others when spending that sort of money. And yes, I do appreciate the logistical difficulties of hearing them side by side but you really do need to do so.

The SuperLumina cables are Naim cables.... it isn't exactly the opinion of others, it is the engineering of Naim one buys when buying Superlumina.

...and just as we don't all buy Naim speakers and some even buy non-Naim Dacs (!!), I think you'd agree that it is quite possible that there are other options out there that, for some, wipe the floor with, in this case, sub-contract manufactured but Naim-branded versions. 

Laxton Yeo posted:

Hi Adam,

Yup I think I'm just delaying the inevitable.

Just for fun of it, I've actually tried to swap back to the stock lavender interconnects and naca5 in place of the SL. In both cases (the tests were done independently), there was a very "old" naim sound with the lavender and naca5 where there was a mid bass hump and lower frequencies sound bloated. Putting back the SL opened the sound up immediately and instruments just took on a very realistic and natural timbre. It's a huge jump that I wouldn't have noticed without reverting to the old cables. It's one of those upgrades where you cannot live without once it's in your system.

My extac feelings, more obvious when you disconnec them.. maybe expect the speaker cables in my case, they were different from the first second...

But test the din/xlr by disconnecting them after a week or two

Dave J posted:

...and just as we don't all buy Naim speakers and some even buy non-Naim Dacs (!!), I think you'd agree that it is quite possible that there are other options out there that, for some, wipe the floor with, in this case, sub-contract manufactured but Naim-branded versions. 

Yes, I bought a Chord Dave..... 

But still...

Sub contract manufactured? I know there is this incorrect rumour that Vertere makes the cables for Naim. Well, the vertere cables do not sound like Superlumina ones.

For instance Vertere cables use gold-plated connectors, but SL ones are silver plated. The connectors are different. Only Naim has the patented Air-plug which makes a massive difference.

Naim has very much designed superlumina to my ears for Naim equipment, and some discussions I had with Naim staff.

The Vertere top of line cables are called HB - Hand built range which cost considerably more than Superlumina !!! And according to some, well justify their prices, easily ! And maybe compete with Chord Music easily and exceed.

What about Nordost? Maybe their cables are even better than everyone else? They cost a lot more than Chord Music.

And Tara Labs cables... ?

But only one company makes Naim amplifiers and Naim cables called superlumina.

I don't think the suggestion is that there aren't other cables out there and for some they may well be better - I've not gotten on too well with Nordost myself but there are plenty who have and swear by them and that's all good.  If they've listened and preferred them, it was an informed decision and that's what it's about.  

Nor is the suggestion that Naim have not designed SL cables for Naim equipment, but that doesn't make them better.  It makes them probably the best they could do within the design, materials and economic constraints that applied at the time.  Several other companies, some of which are cable specialists, have taken a different approach and some of them seem to work rather well with Naim gear, as a few on here have been saying.

Again, if you've compared them and still preferred SL, that's great - Dark Bear says he tried one of the old Sarums and hated it - a somewhat unusual set of results in comparison to others, granted - but at least he tried one and is comfortable with his decision to invest in SL. 

No, the dogmatic approach doesn't work for me I'm afraid - buying blind (deaf) at this level is crazy.  

yes but once out of UK it is not possible to compare.

What should one do then? take a chance with a non-naim cable? Or take a chance with a Naim cable? there are import duties just to try out cables at home once out of UK or EU. Naim dealers will stock (and rightfully so) Superlumina cables. That is what is expected out of them. The OP dealer has SL cables. 

or should the OP fly to the UK for about 50% to 150% the cost of a superlumina cable? forget about the cost, I haven't personally got the time or energy to faff around flying around the planet for a cable. 

One can begin to understand the logic of buying SL cables, particularly when one can audition it at home (well in this case the OP can audition SL cable)

Made by Naim, for Naim...... it's only after all, cables.

We aren't talking about digital sources, or speakers.

Dave J posted:

I don't think the suggestion is that there aren't other cables out there and for some they may well be better - I've not gotten on too well with Nordost myself but there are plenty who have and swear by them and that's all good.  If they've listened and preferred them, it was an informed decision and that's what it's about.  

Nor is the suggestion that Naim have not designed SL cables for Naim equipment, but that doesn't make them better.  It makes them probably the best they could do within the design, materials and economic constraints that applied at the time.  Several other companies, some of which are cable specialists, have taken a different approach and some of them seem to work rather well with Naim gear, as a few on here have been saying.

Again, if you've compared them and still preferred SL, that's great - Dark Bear says he tried one of the old Sarums and hated it - a somewhat unusual set of results in comparison to others, granted - but at least he tried one and is comfortable with his decision to invest in SL. 

No, the dogmatic approach doesn't work for me I'm afraid - buying blind (deaf) at this level is crazy.  

Dave

I see you are one of the posters who just absolutely must get your point accross, regardles of whether it is actually at all relevant to the post.
The OP had a very specific question, within a context of a SuperLumina cables he already owns.

So for the sake of this thread - please stop now.

Thanky you,

Adam

Sorry Adam, didn't realise it was upsetting you. I'll leave it to you...