Isotek substation
Posted by: fled on 18 August 2003
OK, this is not realy a mains spur topic, there are enough of those recently.
I would just like to share my recent findings on Isotek sub station (and mainline, although dissconnected this quickly
).
My system (CD5+Hi+102+Hi+Napsc+180 dyn1.1) has suffered from variable performance (ranging from extreme harshness and hash with undefined bass to a reasonable performance, good bass extension, tunefull but still trble harshness and hash. This has been bothering me to the point of selling. I have read and wondered about the mains spur option to improve matters, but I fear the problem is more western power's than mine !!
espcially in the holiday season ? anyhow the major upheavel of putting the spurs in place is not an option for me. So I decided to give the Isotek an extended 2 week demo. Those nice Audio T folks reccommended a substation for the HIcaps and CD5 and a mainline for the 180 (although I didnt use this)
After this weekend all I can say is - BLODDY HELL, this is what Naim sounds like
, for the first time in 2 yrs I have a system I can play without hash or harshness the bass is unbelivable, some much extension whilst being tunefull, its incridable and this was ALL weekend, this may seem to eager a judgment but its wonderfull.
I know there are lots of you thats going to critisise "filters and conditioning -oh no thats terrible" BUT it has only increased the dynamics, PRAT is in abudance. This may be due to the fact that it was SO crap that any improvement would be joy, and perhaps thats the case - I dont care. The £1000 its going to cost is less than the sparky +redecoration and inconvience, plus I know it works
BUT the caution.. the substation does it all I had to remove the mainline as it compressed the sound, perhaps a qube will fit the bill, but on current performance I dont need it.
I have never been happier. (with respect to HIFI you understand)
Phil
I would just like to share my recent findings on Isotek sub station (and mainline, although dissconnected this quickly
).My system (CD5+Hi+102+Hi+Napsc+180 dyn1.1) has suffered from variable performance (ranging from extreme harshness and hash with undefined bass to a reasonable performance, good bass extension, tunefull but still trble harshness and hash. This has been bothering me to the point of selling. I have read and wondered about the mains spur option to improve matters, but I fear the problem is more western power's than mine !!
espcially in the holiday season ? anyhow the major upheavel of putting the spurs in place is not an option for me. So I decided to give the Isotek an extended 2 week demo. Those nice Audio T folks reccommended a substation for the HIcaps and CD5 and a mainline for the 180 (although I didnt use this)After this weekend all I can say is - BLODDY HELL, this is what Naim sounds like
, for the first time in 2 yrs I have a system I can play without hash or harshness the bass is unbelivable, some much extension whilst being tunefull, its incridable and this was ALL weekend, this may seem to eager a judgment but its wonderfull.I know there are lots of you thats going to critisise "filters and conditioning -oh no thats terrible" BUT it has only increased the dynamics, PRAT is in abudance. This may be due to the fact that it was SO crap that any improvement would be joy, and perhaps thats the case - I dont care. The £1000 its going to cost is less than the sparky +redecoration and inconvience, plus I know it works
BUT the caution.. the substation does it all I had to remove the mainline as it compressed the sound, perhaps a qube will fit the bill, but on current performance I dont need it.
I have never been happier. (with respect to HIFI you understand)
Phil
PR.
The system has evolved rather than buying complete plus most have been S/H, although the CD5 was new. So it would have been difficult to return. I demo'd my exact set up at the dealers a couple of years ago and it was wonderfull, so decided to "collect boxes" as and when the funds came available, but have never been able to reproduce the "Naim sound" at home (until today, that is, in fact its far beter than I remember at the dealers).
I dont know if my modest system benifits more than the higher range stuff, but it has made a huge difference, as a sort of measure, I failed to notice any real improvement when I added the Hicaps to both the CD5 and 102, I could hear a little more detail etc but it also enhanced the hash and harshness, but now WOW. I recently demoed (at the dealers) a 202/200 and bullshit aside, it didnt hold a candle to the sound of my system this weekend.
Phil
The system has evolved rather than buying complete plus most have been S/H, although the CD5 was new. So it would have been difficult to return. I demo'd my exact set up at the dealers a couple of years ago and it was wonderfull, so decided to "collect boxes" as and when the funds came available, but have never been able to reproduce the "Naim sound" at home (until today, that is, in fact its far beter than I remember at the dealers).
I dont know if my modest system benifits more than the higher range stuff, but it has made a huge difference, as a sort of measure, I failed to notice any real improvement when I added the Hicaps to both the CD5 and 102, I could hear a little more detail etc but it also enhanced the hash and harshness, but now WOW. I recently demoed (at the dealers) a 202/200 and bullshit aside, it didnt hold a candle to the sound of my system this weekend.
Phil
Frank et al.
Thanks for the responces.
I will try the mainslead alone, unfortunatly I only have one so will try on the power amp first and then move around to the cd5.
Although I am getting near to the end on this
Last nights performance was one of the worst yet !
hard and glassy in the extreme.
I cant beleive Naim can sell such equipment that has a reqirement of such clean mains.
If I had been made aware of this I certainly would have been more carefull in selecting Naim in the first place, it may be written in the detail of the manual but my dealer did NOT point this out, and who reads the manuals before shelling out the cash ?
After searching this forum it is clear there are many many folks in the same position ! all the way up the Naim scale.
What is of interest is there seams to be a lack of complaints with regard to the reference series.
Again I will ask Richard or someone from Naim " is there any filtering or conditioning in the new stuff, that elimantes/reduces this problem"
?
So perhaps my next question is on the cheeky side, but what are my alternatives that gives me Naim like performance(when its playing well that is ?) and repeatability without ripping up the house infastructure ? whould it be a Sugden, arcam, Linn, Quad, Meriden, Sony ? any thoughts/expieance
Phi
Thanks for the responces.
I will try the mainslead alone, unfortunatly I only have one so will try on the power amp first and then move around to the cd5.
Although I am getting near to the end on this
Last nights performance was one of the worst yet !
hard and glassy in the extreme.
I cant beleive Naim can sell such equipment that has a reqirement of such clean mains.
If I had been made aware of this I certainly would have been more carefull in selecting Naim in the first place, it may be written in the detail of the manual but my dealer did NOT point this out, and who reads the manuals before shelling out the cash ?
After searching this forum it is clear there are many many folks in the same position ! all the way up the Naim scale.
What is of interest is there seams to be a lack of complaints with regard to the reference series.
Again I will ask Richard or someone from Naim " is there any filtering or conditioning in the new stuff, that elimantes/reduces this problem"
?
So perhaps my next question is on the cheeky side, but what are my alternatives that gives me Naim like performance(when its playing well that is ?) and repeatability without ripping up the house infastructure ? whould it be a Sugden, arcam, Linn, Quad, Meriden, Sony ? any thoughts/expieance
Phi
Richard.
yes I initialy liked the Isotek substation, but on a more extended listening period (5hrs) I found that familier pieces of music sounded different, not worse or better just different and on particular notes lacked some extension, but gave greater detail, the timing was the most crucial aspect and I felt a little "off beat" not a lot but enough to register.
so yes it is a great product BUT you have to balance what it gives vrs what it takes away, in the end I LOVE that Naim sound, but if I can only achive it 1 in 10 times you have to ask yourself is it worth the frustration.
The dealers have been very fair with me on home demos of the isotek but I had no offer of a home demo or set up by them, when I bought the CD5 (new) 180 (new) and the 102 (ex dem) from them, perhaps I should of asked, but this is my first foray into the "good stuff" so wasnt realy aware of the ground rules.
I should have gone to this forum first, I would have been much the wiser. I realy dont want to go back to the dealers with an equipment problem, because I am 100% sure this is not the cause, due to the fact that the 1 in 10 listening is perfect, everything I wanted and expected, I just cant repeat it that often.
The dealers reponce to the mains issue was to lend me the isotek (I also bought a isotek plug in thing, but havnt noticed any improvemnt).
So in a nutshell although a great product and its comes close to being perfect it still takes that bit away from Naim sound, unfortunatly its the bit that made us all choose Naim in the first place TIMING.
most go now just had a brown out
Phi
yes I initialy liked the Isotek substation, but on a more extended listening period (5hrs) I found that familier pieces of music sounded different, not worse or better just different and on particular notes lacked some extension, but gave greater detail, the timing was the most crucial aspect and I felt a little "off beat" not a lot but enough to register.
so yes it is a great product BUT you have to balance what it gives vrs what it takes away, in the end I LOVE that Naim sound, but if I can only achive it 1 in 10 times you have to ask yourself is it worth the frustration.
The dealers have been very fair with me on home demos of the isotek but I had no offer of a home demo or set up by them, when I bought the CD5 (new) 180 (new) and the 102 (ex dem) from them, perhaps I should of asked, but this is my first foray into the "good stuff" so wasnt realy aware of the ground rules.
I should have gone to this forum first, I would have been much the wiser. I realy dont want to go back to the dealers with an equipment problem, because I am 100% sure this is not the cause, due to the fact that the 1 in 10 listening is perfect, everything I wanted and expected, I just cant repeat it that often.
The dealers reponce to the mains issue was to lend me the isotek (I also bought a isotek plug in thing, but havnt noticed any improvemnt).
So in a nutshell although a great product and its comes close to being perfect it still takes that bit away from Naim sound, unfortunatly its the bit that made us all choose Naim in the first place TIMING.
most go now just had a brown out
Phi
frank.
Unfortunatly I live some 150 miles from the dealer, but that shouldnt be a problem eh
If they found everythings ok then thats an easy problem to solve I just need to upgrade to higher spec stuff.
But as I have said 1 in 10 its the best system I have heard but 9 times in 10 its no better than my £500 denon in the kitchen.
Even my wife noticed
Phil
Unfortunatly I live some 150 miles from the dealer, but that shouldnt be a problem eh
If they found everythings ok then thats an easy problem to solve I just need to upgrade to higher spec stuff.
But as I have said 1 in 10 its the best system I have heard but 9 times in 10 its no better than my £500 denon in the kitchen.
Even my wife noticed
Phil