System Pics 2018

Great pictures Digitalman and a really interesting set up. Looks like you have experimented with some of your cable choices. Can/did you try the standard naim plugs for your speaker cable? Also I notice that you have your locking rings done up - have you tried the recommended unlocking? 

Thank you for your advice I didn’t know about the locking  rings!!!!!!!!Is it better to try unlocking them??????

Digitalman posted:

No bloody wonder at £400 for a cable

Digitalman posted:

Thank you for your advice I didn’t know about the locking  rings!!!!!!!!Is it better to try unlocking them??????

I have tried unlocking, but have never been able to detect any audible difference, although I've not really listened critically. My dealer adopts a halfway position by locking the rings and then backing off a quarter-turn. 

Interesting pics Digitalman.    Interesting in that you've put a lot into competent supports & spent a lot on mains cables but you still use the standard Naim 'Lavender' IC;  not that there is anything wrong with the Naim cable I hasten to add.  But most peeps go the up the IC upgrade path first.

I agree Geoff C's comment about Naim speaker plugs,  nothing wrong with what you have but the 90 degree angle cable exit of the Naim plug stops the banana pins from pulling out so easily.  

sjw posted:

Digitalman posted:

No bloody wonder at £400 for a cable

Worth it!!!!!

Mike-B posted:

Interesting pics Digitalman.    Interesting in that you've put a lot into competent supports & spent a lot on mains cables but you still use the standard Naim 'Lavender' IC;  not that there is anything wrong with the Naim cable I hasten to add.  But most peeps go the up the IC upgrade path first.

I agree Geoff C's comment about Naim speaker plugs,  nothing wrong with what you have but the 90 degree angle cable exit of the Naim plug stops the banana pins from pulling out so easily.  

Thank you for your opinions!!!!!!!!!!!

I tried many IC none had the effect of having the NAIM!!!!!

I just thing Naim IC is the right cable!!!!!

I agree for some sources the Naim Lavender cable gets it just right and I can’t better it.. one example is between my NAT03 and 552..

For the DIN plugs on cables carrying signal only, I remove the locking rings altogether. If you want to keep them, you need to unsolder one plug, but they'll break quite easily if you remove the small screw, slide them down onto the cable, & give them a squeeze with a pair of pliers.

For the record Naim + Audiophysic = Perfection

Timmo1341 posted:

‘Misty eyed’ over a pair of speakers? Get a grip. At best they range from the functional/utilitarian (majority of the oblong boxes) to the supremely hideous.

Seriously, I find little aesthetic appeal in any pieces of hi-fi, Naim black boxes included. I appreciate mine is probably a minority view on this forum, but if I could ‘disappear’ it all, just leaving behind the sound I’d do it in a heartbeat. If wall speakers sounded as good as my ProAcs I’d have no hesitation in swapping

I couldn’t agree more. Black boxes may have been aesthetically pleasing back in the 70s and are probably still aesthetically pleasing to a small group of ageing affluent males. Personally I am going to “disappear” all my black boxes “in a heartbeat” by swapping them for a Linn KDSM and a pair of white active Akubariks. Although sonically beautiful, the Naim Classic series and in particular Focal are no longer an option for me on design grounds. A pity but there it is.

William posted:

Timmo1341 posted:

‘Misty eyed’ over a pair of speakers? Get a grip. At best they range from the functional/utilitarian (majority of the oblong boxes) to the supremely hideous.

Seriously, I find little aesthetic appeal in any pieces of hi-fi, Naim black boxes included. I appreciate mine is probably a minority view on this forum, but if I could ‘disappear’ it all, just leaving behind the sound I’d do it in a heartbeat. If wall speakers sounded as good as my ProAcs I’d have no hesitation in swapping

I couldn’t agree more. Black boxes may have been aesthetically pleasing back in the 70s and are probably still aesthetically pleasing to a small group of ageing affluent males. Personally I am going to “disappear” all my black boxes “in a heartbeat” by swapping them for a Linn KDSM and a pair of white active Akubariks. Although sonically beautiful, the Naim Classic series and in particular Focal are no longer an option for me on design grounds. A pity but there it is.

Unfortunately, for me at any rate, I just can’t get on with the Linn sound, so I’m saddled with the black box look! I had a listen to Devialet last year, but once again felt it simply didn’t give the Naim sound I love. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t find the Naim look objectionable, just not particularly attractive. As for loudspeakers, I really don’t get that anyone would willingly give over valuable living space to upended boxes were there any viable alternative! I don’t hate the look of my ProAcs, but they were chosen for sound and least objectionable looks. Wild horses couldn’t persuade me, or my wife, to have a set of Sopras on display.

Timmo1341 posted:

William posted:

Timmo1341 posted:

‘Unfortunately, for me at any rate, I just can’t get on with the Linn sound, so I’m saddled with the black box look!

Interestingly in my case the Linn sound is very close to the sound I get from my Metrum Pavane DAC into 252/300 DR.

Richard Dane posted:

hungryhalibut posted:

Is this System Pics, or Requotes and Reminiscences? 

Sorry if there weren't enough pictures for you in the last few posts, Nigel.  

I think my short discourse with Yetizone was on topic, and there wouldn't be much point in the thread if we can't talk about the items in the pictures, but I'll try harder next time to post with some pictures for you.

Not quite a system, but here's a picture of one of my ES-14s in my office - I'm trying them out in place of my Kans, which need a bit of tlc to their cabinets;

Having owned a few pairs of ES14 over the years Richard if you can source a pair of Chesham built ones - Concave dust cap, single wire & chipboard cabinets up to circa 2700 serial no - I found them the best balanced.

G

Graeme, these are late ones, and I only have them as they used to belong to a friend (we demoed them together out in HK before he bought them), so I know them very well.

Timmo1341 posted:

As for loudspeakers, I really don’t get that anyone would willingly give over valuable living space to upended boxes were there any viable alternative! I don’t hate the look of my ProAcs, but they were chosen for sound and least objectionable looks. Wild horses couldn’t persuade me, or my wife, to have a set of Sopras on display.

I assume that if someone is blowing £10k and above on music equipment they would have sufficient living space. If one lived in Japan or a small English cottage built 200+ years ago then fair enough. Personally, I would gladly have a pair of Sopras on display

Richard Dane posted:

Graeme, these are late ones, and I only have them as they used to belong to a friend (we demoed them together out in HK before he bought them), so I know them very well.

They all sound nice I think but the early cabinets were more inert to my ear. I think they fell foul of some glue restriction with chipboard and moved to MDF. These early ones are easily spotted by looking at the back where the edges are not veneered and the chipboard simply painted black.

Enjoy!

G

Timmo1341 posted

Unfortunately, for me at any rate, I just can’t get on with the Linn sound, so I’m saddled with the black box look! I had a listen to Devialet last year, but once again felt it simply didn’t give the Naim sound I love. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t find the Naim look objectionable, just not particularly attractive. As for loudspeakers, I really don’t get that anyone would willingly give over valuable living space to upended boxes were there any viable alternative! I don’t hate the look of my ProAcs, but they were chosen for sound and least objectionable looks. Wild horses couldn’t persuade me, or my wife, to have a set of Sopras on display.

Looking at your profile pics, I agree those ProAcs do look a little out of place. Especially in that dark veneer.

TOBYJUG posted:

Timmo1341 posted

Unfortunately, for me at any rate, I just can’t get on with the Linn sound, so I’m saddled with the black box look! I had a listen to Devialet last year, but once again felt it simply didn’t give the Naim sound I love. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t find the Naim look objectionable, just not particularly attractive. As for loudspeakers, I really don’t get that anyone would willingly give over valuable living space to upended boxes were there any viable alternative! I don’t hate the look of my ProAcs, but they were chosen for sound and least objectionable looks. Wild horses couldn’t persuade me, or my wife, to have a set of Sopras on display.

Looking at your profile pics, I agree those ProAcs do look a little out of place. Especially in that dark veneer.

I have yet to see a speaker whose looks I prefer, but, for me, the ProAcs are less objectionable than most. The black ash veneer was chosen simply because we both detest the classic kitchen cabinet door veneers, nor would white blend in. Just as well you don’t have to live with mine, nor I with yours, eh?

iliria posted:

Timmo1341 posted:

As for loudspeakers, I really don’t get that anyone would willingly give over valuable living space to upended boxes were there any viable alternative! I don’t hate the look of my ProAcs, but they were chosen for sound and least objectionable looks. Wild horses couldn’t persuade me, or my wife, to have a set of Sopras on display.

I assume that if someone is blowing £10k and above on music equipment they would have sufficient living space. If one lived in Japan or a small English cottage built 200+ years ago then fair enough. Personally, I would gladly have a pair of Sopras on display

We all know the definition of ‘assume’! Chacun à son goût.

TOBYJUG posted:

Timmo1341 posted

Unfortunately, for me at any rate, I just can’t get on with the Linn sound, so I’m saddled with the black box look! I had a listen to Devialet last year, but once again felt it simply didn’t give the Naim sound I love. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t find the Naim look objectionable, just not particularly attractive. As for loudspeakers, I really don’t get that anyone would willingly give over valuable living space to upended boxes were there any viable alternative! I don’t hate the look of my ProAcs, but they were chosen for sound and least objectionable looks. Wild horses couldn’t persuade me, or my wife, to have a set of Sopras on display.

Looking at your profile pics, I agree those ProAcs do look a little out of place. Especially in that dark veneer.

They look fine, but sure are obvious. Dominating, even. Only smaller speakers would be less intrusive, but as Timmo says, he picked them for SQ, not their looks. Life's a compromise.

Timmo1341 posted:

TOBYJUG posted:

Timmo1341 posted

Unfortunately, for me at any rate, I just can’t get on with the Linn sound, so I’m saddled with the black box look! I had a listen to Devialet last year, but once again felt it simply didn’t give the Naim sound I love. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t find the Naim look objectionable, just not particularly attractive. As for loudspeakers, I really don’t get that anyone would willingly give over valuable living space to upended boxes were there any viable alternative! I don’t hate the look of my ProAcs, but they were chosen for sound and least objectionable looks. Wild horses couldn’t persuade me, or my wife, to have a set of Sopras on display.

Looking at your profile pics, I agree those ProAcs do look a little out of place. Especially in that dark veneer.

I have yet to see a speaker whose looks I prefer, but, for me, the ProAcs are less objectionable than most. The black ash veneer was chosen simply because we both detest the classic kitchen cabinet door veneers, nor would white blend in. Just as well you don’t have to live with mine, nor I with yours, eh?

I would be very happy to live with them, they look very nice and I'm sure they sound awesome.

Richard, the ES14s you have are in stunning condition. That photo had me looking on ebay!

Digitalman

Sorry for late reply, it's a busy Saturday, and I see others have responded. Yes, the unlocking of DIN plugs is a 'suggestion' to try, that has been around almost as long as the plugs have been in production! Ironically the original naim ones had a small 'hook' for location but no rings. It's a freebie, so as they say - try it, you might like it!