we all know the weakest link in a interconnect cable is the plug (thats why some people solder there cables directly to the circuit board), but i doubt anyone would want to butcher there prized naim equipment, so..what if you opened your din plug and covered each individual cable and solder join with blue tack right up to the back of the plug?.. Would it improve the sound?.. Should i be taken away by people with white coats?... I posted this question on the pink fish forum and the nasty people laughed at me.
Posted on: 12 May 2003 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
mathew
have you been picking your own mushrooms?
Mike
Posted on: 12 May 2003 by dave simpson
Actually Matthew's suggestion isn't that far-fetched. Simply a matter of dampening vibrations traveling along the wire to the circuit boards.(Whether it sounds better or worse is the real question).
Several years ago I tried wrapping my NAPSC's preamp-end connector's soldered joints with bits of electrical tape because the cable's sleeve wasn't gripped by the connector's..ahem..strain-relief (which allowed those two thin wire's insulation a chance to wear down to bare wire over time as it exited against the sharp back edge of the connector). After wrapping the soldered joints several times (and forming a tight and well-insulated friction fit between cable and connector), I spun some tunes and noticed the rig sounded considerably worse. This was the only change I had made to the rig. Wondering if Naim had supplied this cheesy connector on purpose (for the "microphonics" reason above), I removed the wrap and the sound returned to its original state. I then re-wrapped the connection and it sounded clearly inferior as before. Again I removed it and the sound was restored to original condition. My point isn't so much whether the sound is "better" or "worse" with this type of tweak--but that it does change (and for reasons well understood).
What can I say other than everything Naim does is done "their" way for a reason (including what appeared to me as a "suspect" connector)..and...don't knock something you haven't tried. I'm sure many 82 owners were surprised to find the removal (as instructed by Naim) of one excessive cable-tie (if present in their unit) made an improvement to the sound. Likewise with Naim speaker owners when removing or "relaxing the fit" of NACA connector housings..again, the sound improves (or degrades)for easily explained reasons (nothing "voo-doo" or "snake-oil"..just engineering basics others missed while partying instead of studying;-)
regards,
dave
[This message was edited by dave simpson on TUESDAY 13 May 2003 at 04:32.]
