RCA cables

Maybe transparent can do this but have to say it’s too much hassle. 

For chord Dave I would buy a hi line or a superlumina 

these are tuned by Naim for life and don’t need to be retuned ever again once it leaves the factory 

even the standard Naim interconnect is awesome

I don't worry about tuning/matching manufacturers with regard to cables. Why would I? The effect of cables (both ICs and mains) on my gear and in my room are what's important to me. Nor do I concern myself with "reference" level titles. I've found inexpensive cables that work superb in my system and that's what I use. Big bucks saved.

My policy is to experiment with cable makers that allow a trial period. Done by mail and all I forfeit if I don't like the cables is the cost of return shipping.  Circa $130 mains cables bettered Powerlines and $120 RCA ICs bettered more expensive Chord cables for me. No doubt, there are lots of small guys producing very high quality cables at significant savings. Just a matter of how adventurous you are, how willing you are to experiment, and how biased you might be by price.

I’d be very careful and cautious  with the  advice given above. 

ive tried a few one man shop cables and they all ended up in the drawer or the dustbin or returned to the company

buy cables made by Naim, simple really when using a Naim preamplifier and power amplifier

I've found a used SL pair of RCA cables, 1.5m.  I know the dealer well so will likely give them a try.  I can then compare them to the Transparent cables.  Could take a few days to set this up, as I am still waiting for the Dave DAC.

analogmusic posted:

I’d be very careful and cautious  with the  advice given above. 

ive tried a few one man shop cables and they all ended up in the drawer or the dustbin or returned to the company

buy cables made by Naim, simple really when using a Naim preamplifier and power amplifier

Here we go again.

The OP is unlikely to go wrong buying Naim cables but if he is in the least bit inquisitive he should also audition cables from other manufacturers as it is entirely possible he may prefer them.

And if you dare utter the words 'Naim intended performance' I will get very cross indeed!

Hi Bryce - re "here we go again" - I certainly don't want this to turn into a free-for-all with regard to which cable is better, this or that.  i was just curious about the concept of tuning or matching interconnects to different pieces and makes of gear, whether or not it makes any difference.

I've found experimenting with alternative cables to be quite an enlightening, revealing, and frankly fun process. AFAIC, it's the tweak that truly optimizes a system for the user's room and ears. Doesn't have to mean you won't stick with Naim cables in the end, but at least you'll have gained an objective, comparative basis from which to speak about them.

Hi Docmark,

The idea of getting the cable tuned ie impedance set to complement the two items you wish to join is a good idea.All the nay sayers are the ones telling you to use Naim SL or such like as they are designed by Naim ,but you are matching a Chord product to a Naim and it makes sense to check what the Transparent cable is set to impedance wise to ensure no issues.If you were hooking up a 272 to a Chord power amp and had Goertz speaker cable it would be ok ,but the same speaker cable would give a Naim power amp a haemorrhage due to capacitive mismatch and not having the required inductance to stabilise the Naim products output stage.If you were just hooking Naim to Naim products their advice would be spot on ,in this case it is not.

Kind regards

RussR

docmark posted:

Hi Bryce - re "here we go again" - I certainly don't want this to turn into a free-for-all with regard to which cable is better, this or that.  i was just curious about the concept of tuning or matching interconnects to different pieces and makes of gear, whether or not it makes any difference.

'Here we go again' was not aimed at you in the slightest.  Apologies if that is how it was perceived.

With a source impedance below 600Ω and an input impedance of 22kΩ or more, cable impedance matching makes no sense whatsoever (in fact it's actually impossible to achieve impedance matching without using transformers or active components!),

joerand posted:

My policy is to experiment with cable makers that allow a trial period. Done by mail and all I forfeit if I don't like the cables is the cost of return shipping.  Circa $130 mains cables bettered Powerlines and $120 RCA ICs bettered more expensive Chord cables for me. No doubt, there are lots of small guys producing very high quality cables at significant savings. Just a matter of how adventurous you are, how willing you are to experiment, and how biased you might be by price.

joerand,
I’m investigating mains cable myself and trying to find one that works in my system. would you like to share more about your findings?

If Naim ship power line with their statement amplifier ..... gotta be the best one in a Naim context surely?

but we’re talking about a Naim context here

No, not necessarily, Naim also make Dacs

To the OP: test the Dave with interconnects you’re familiar with and reduce the variables.

Then and only then try others if you feel like it. Dave will do his stuff pretty much regardless. The cables will add more (or less!) when you’re happy with the hardware.

Docmark, don’t know much about “impedance” matching of RCA cables. But if you consider geting a new cable (dave to naim pre) I would look for a RCA - Din version. 

While I agree with Nick Lees I’ve heard Dave with a number of interconnects including Nordost but the one that ticked ALL the boxes was Superlumina

mainly the cable has the bandwidth especially in the bass, the speed and dynamic ability and soundstage/imaging to show what Dave is capable of

Hi Analog - I'm just about to purchase a used pair of RCA - RCA 1.5m Super Lumina cables.  One previous owner, only ever used on Sundays, lovingly taken care of, etc.  I'm paying half the going price for them.  Sound like a good deal?  Still kind of pricey for a cable I have yet to use with my gear.  Will use between my Dave and 272.  Do these cables deserve all the hype they get?  I have one other SL cable to go between my 272 and 250DR, and I'm glad I made the purchase.

I've heard the SL RCA to DIN with Dave and it's absolutely superb. Not sure about RCA to RCA, no chance to try it?

But.... it sounds like a good deal to me.

The RCA won’t have the air plug but uses the same connectors that Vertere fit on their top Reference cables that cost 2750 gbp

M37 posted:

joerand posted:

My policy is to experiment with cable makers that allow a trial period. Done by mail and all I forfeit if I don't like the cables is the cost of return shipping.  Circa $130 mains cables bettered Powerlines and $120 RCA ICs bettered more expensive Chord cables for me. No doubt, there are lots of small guys producing very high quality cables at significant savings. Just a matter of how adventurous you are, how willing you are to experiment, and how biased you might be by price.

joerand,
I’m investigating mains cable myself and trying to find one that works in my system. would you like to share more about your findings?

I've used one, two and three Powerlines in an all-Naim system variously on integrateds, PSUs, and CDP. My findings were that Powerlines initially sound better, enhancing low frequency performance, making bass livelier, "plumper", and better delineated. All good until I experimented with other mains cables (some borrowed from a dealer and some via guaranteed-return internet sales) and found one with shinier highs and better free flow of music in the mid range. Like a filter had been removed and I was hearing more in the recording relative to a Powerline.

I made these assessments in a dedicated manner, changing the mains cable on one component at a time, evaluating it over time, then switching back. Had my preferred mains cable been equal in price to a Powerline, I'd still have gone for it. Maybe I just got lucky it was far cheaper; however, my experiments with ICs have led me to the same conclusion that price is not necessarily an indicator of performance when it comes to cables.

 

 Maybe I just got lucky it was far cheaper; however, my experiments with ICs have led me to the same conclusion that price is not necessarily an indicator of performance when it comes to cables.

Could you reveal the manufacturer? I myself have tried Nordost, Tellurium Q and Oyaide as a complement to Powerline.

Zu Audio Event power cords (it's in my profile). Zu recently introduced a new line of their Event power cords - the Mk II - but I'm using the original bought direct from the manufacturer on Ebay with 60-day trial period. It's a fire sale of their old stock up for bid. They offer a variety of lengths. I bought 1-m cables which makes dressing them much easier in my situation. The Zu website states that country-specific connectors are available, but I've never looked beyond the North American version.

I should note that I'm now using a Plinius integrated and gave the Powerline a fair shake on it. Preferred the Zu Event.

I have a 1.5 m length of the SL RCA-RCA cable.  I can't tell - is it directional?

A pity Chord don't use DIN solutions

One of the reasons for sticking to Naim source as intended by Naim

I will however order a (non intended) Witch hat interconnect at easter discount, quite happy with their Phantom allready, much cheaper than Lumina.

docmark posted:

Hi all. I have a question, and it may be a dumb one given that a lot of people don't like exotic cables.  Maybe 'exotic' is the wrong word.  I have a pair of Reference RCA cables made by Transparent Audio.  .....  Transparent says that if pieces of equipment change, they can change this tuning to match the new gear.  

They are taking the piss..