Phew! Lucky escape

That’s a sensible decision because though things might sound better they don’t always justify the outlay. I have found this to be true more than once with Naim. 

I sometime think of upgrades such as these as the "anchovy effect". I know that anchovies improve the flavour of casseroles, tapenades and stews but it's difficult to know how as they dissolve to nothing and are virtually undetectable. I still buy them though. Go figure.

I ran into the same thing buying cryo-treated interconnects for my second-hand CDS3/555PS. The slight improvement might have been cost effective if you were buying new equipment, but at the price I'd paid, they weren't worth the outlay.

The real very rare escape occurs only when one reaches the conclusion that his/hers bottomless pit called sound system doesn't need anything more, period. Otherwise, it is all just delaying tactics.

Jonners posted:

I sometime think of upgrades such as these as the "anchovy effect". I know that anchovies improve the flavour of casseroles, tapenades and stews but it's difficult to know how as they dissolve to nothing and are virtually undetectable. I still buy them though. Go figure.

I've figured it: anchovies are a lot less costly than Naim upgrades.

I bought SL cables for my active 500 system and I am delighted with them, although they took a while to bed in fully. There does (or should) come a point though, when you tell yourself 'enough is enough'. I'm thrilled with my system, I listen to it every night and I can't imagine it being much better... so stop spending.' From what I read on the Forum,  I know that DR'ing my kit could well bring even more improvements, but as I've got a lot of boxes it would be a hefty outlay, so I'm not going that route. I'm just enjoying the music.

Just goes to show how good the A5 cables are.For anyone thinking of changing to other cables regardless of cost dont sell you A5 you may regret this in a short space of time.

I bought the super lumina inter connector first and it was so bloody good (addictive) when I tripped over a set of used SL speaker cables I couldn’t help myself. I found the improvement of the pair well worth it albeit at used prices..... 

i think there was some chatter on the benefits of a complete  “loom” so I believe there is a cumulative effect.

the super lumina to my 300 will be the last step as bloody pricey so will have to wait and see if that ever happens..

Gary

I’m not sure how now buying something is a lucky escape: it’s simply a decision to not buy something. I think the SL cables are brilliant with the DR power supplies, and that they really do help me get closer to the music. For me, they represented good value. The cables are additive, and the full loom really does work. There seems to be a bit of a ‘the cheaper the better’ thing going sometimes, but on occasion the expense is worthwhile. To each their own of course. 

SL cables are in the more expensive sounds worse camp for my ears. To each their own, as ever.

intothevoid posted:

My local dealer has an ex-dem 5m pair of SL speaker cables for sale, so I thought I'd give them a try in place of the trusty A5.

Were the SL cables better? Yup.

Were they worth the money? Nope.

A5 stays.

So now I can keep on saving for when the 372 is launched 

I see that you have 2 x 7.5m lengths of NACA5 cables. Perhaps the 5m lengths of SL didn’t sound better because they didn’t reach the speakers 

To chime in,my system is essentially the same as Intothevoid and HH. When I auditioned the SL speaker cables versus the then existing A5s it was clearly different, in some ways better in others possibly not as good although in balance I went for the SL. Was it because they are more expensive and therefore must be better? Im not sure. Sometimes I think that the bass tightness was better with the A5s.

This hobby can certainly have you second guessing.

I listened to a dealer demo pair of SL speaker cables when I had an even more modest setup than I have now...it was 82/hicap into Nait xs2 

While I could clearly hear the SL cables were nicer sounding  than the nacA5 I could not justify them even at the ( nearly half price) my generous dealer was offering

Fast forward to my present system, and I was thinking they might make more of a difference in it

So interesting someone has reconfirmed that it doest suddenly make a much bigger difference with a next level up system

At this level, differences with cables are usually small but it's the small differences that make the big difference. Also, a small difference to a person can appear large to another and vice versa so I can somehow relate to the thoughts of those who have posted here. 

Thanks for all you comments and insights. I'd read all the mixed experiences, so needed to try for myself. My conclusion was not to buy and I'm happy with that. It's scratched the upgraditis itch. My cloth ears are content with the performance of A5 within the parameters of my setup and room.

My dealer suggest that if I couldn't hear enough of a difference the limiting factor is probably my source. C'est la vie.

Maybe it’s those funny speakers!! I can hear the effect of SL perfectly clearly with my old fossils. As you so rightly say it’s only by trying things out that you know what works for you. 

Halibuts are know to eat anything - which includes anchovis.