Power Cords and Conditioners for Naim

I use Naim cords and cables only.

Mike

I only use naim power cords (as, I think you will find, most people around here do). That said, I haven't done any research on the issue, but I take comfort from the idea that if naim found a better mains cable they'd use that one. I think that given the quality of all the cabling up to the wall socket, I can't really see last metre can be that transformative. Add to that, on my olive kit, the leads are captive anyway.

As far as power conditioners are concerned, I've tried them and they make the system sound worse, much worse.


regards,

Tam

What I like about the Naim power leads, is that not only are they widely considered to be the best with Naim gear, but they come free in the box. Same as interconnects. Unlike any other system I know, hundreds of extra £'s/$'s in the budget to allow for cabling simply isn't required, and to have to sit down and agonise over whether this free one is as good as this one that will cost you two months wages just doesn't make sense.
I'm more than happy to follow the crowd and be assured that I already have the best I can get.
Makes a change, eh?!

Interesting...I find the Naim PCs work well. But I have used them with both the WireMold and Shunyata Hydra and find the Hydra to provide a better sound. The Shunyata PCs cables provide some difference.

SJB - Admittedly the only Naim component left in my system is a new CDS3, but I use a Hydra 8 and Shunyata Pythons for my power cables for the complete system, and very fine they are too.

IMHO they don't power limit or compress dynamics or PRAT and the changes to my ear are real indisputable improvements over the standard Naim cables (as they should be for the price).

Previously I used a wiremold strip with stock cables.

I use a MusicLine PowerIgel. Sounds very good. All the other interconnects I use are Naim and Phonosophie.
JD

SJB, Colin,

My dealing with the Wiremold strip is also ho-hum so far. It kills the transients and the sound become *soft* in my main rig.

They Shunyata Hydra had the same effect also. It lowered the noise floor and added more top end air and what not, but in my system, it slowed down the music too much. I much prefer connecting all components directly to dedicated circuits.

The Shunyata King Cobra II I also had the same effect. I used to use it with a component with too lively trebles.

Entry level Shunyatas are supposedly brighter. A friend uses 'em with his computer monitor and claims they made the screen brighter.

quote:

Originally posted by kuma:
SJB, Colin,

My dealing with the Wiremold strip is also ho-hum so far. It kills the transients and the sound become *soft* in my main rig.

They Shunyata Hydra had the same effect also. It lowered the noise floor and added more top end air and what not, but in my system, it slowed down the music too much. I much prefer connecting all components directly to dedicated circuits.

I agree with you on the Wiremold. On my main system it was not that great. However it does serve my purpose for my Den system - Nait 5. I need the extra outlets. It is a slight sacrfice, but I can live with it.
The Shunyata cables and Hydra is bright at first. Both take a long time to break in. I do not find that the Shunyata affects the transients. I have tried with and without. Once they break in the brightness is gone. I hate bright sounding systems and usually try to fault on a less bright sound. Chord 2 has this quality. Plus I find that if you listen to alot of different music--including poorly recorded it is better to go that direction.

quote:

Plus I find that if you listen to alot of different music--including poorly recorded it is better to go that direction.

Not sure I got you.

The bad brightness is a sign of distortion. A bright but an open sounding system is not tasking on ears. It sounds just more *real*.

Did you mean if you listen to many poorly recorded music, better to round the corners ( i.e. make a system *soft* ) ?

p.s. I also use the Wiremold in my office rig in need of multiple outlets. But I don't mind its effect since I figure it would rather work better for the Olive Naim kit I'm running.

The power cables that came with my second hand 250 and Hicap looked like the dog got to them.
I use Eichmann power cables and distribution plug board with pleasing results (especially a tighter bottom end).

quote:

Originally posted by kuma:

Not sure I got you.

The bad brightness is a sign of distortion. A bright but an open sounding system is not tasking on ears. It sounds just more *real*.

Did you mean if you listen to many poorly recorded music, better to round the corners ( i.e. make a system *soft* ) ?

I agree with you on the distortion. There is a big difference in a bright uncontrolled system than a bright open system that does not make your ears bleed. Set up and attention to detail is the best method to over come most of these issues.
On the second point...not soft by smoother sounding that allows all the info to be heard in a coherent manner. Not etched.
I should have my 202/PSC by the end of this week. I am going to get a HiCap2 the following week and use my FlatCap2 to power the CD5X and Stageline S. I will let you know how it works with my SET amp and also stock vs. Shunyata PCs.

You should try a TG Audio SLVR power cord. Mine really makes my CDSii sing.

skip