A/B test of cryogenically frozen NACA5
Posted by: Stevea on 18 December 2003
About 2 months ago I had my NACA5 cryogenically frozen (down to -195°C for about 3 days). I told my local Naim man, Chris, about this and he indicated an interest in hearing the results. Two days ago I finally got around to taking them down to his shop for a lunchtime listen.
Ideally we would have undertaken DBT but being so close to Christmas we were not able to locate two blind people in time.
I will report the results in terms of his comments and my observations. Since Chris is probably lurking out there somewhere I’m sure he will correct me if he thinks I have miss-represented him or missed something out.
System: CDS3 plus a collection of 5 series boxes (I think) and Intro speakers.
Cable lengths: Mine – 9m, shops – looked like about 5m.
Listening Positions: Chris standing in front of the RH speaker, me sitting in front of the LH Speaker.
Settling in: When I first installed them in my system they took a few hours to settle in. This repeated itself on a small scale over a few minutes in the shop. Chris commented on the change between first powering up and when he came back from serving a customer.
Chris’s comment on the sound (in order I think)
1. Sound more Hi-Fi.
2. More air and space.
3. Definitely sound different (seemed slightly surprised to notice anything).
4. I hadn’t wrecked them.
5. Still sound like Naim cable.
My observations/comments
1. Stronger base.
2. Don’t know what Hi-Fi cables should sound like
3. Agree on more air and space.
4. Most certainly different.
5. Glad I hadn’t wrecked them.
6. Haven’t heard enough different cable to be able to distinguish Naim cable.
Better or Worse: Don’t know. Depends on personal preference I guess.
Steve
Ideally we would have undertaken DBT but being so close to Christmas we were not able to locate two blind people in time.
I will report the results in terms of his comments and my observations. Since Chris is probably lurking out there somewhere I’m sure he will correct me if he thinks I have miss-represented him or missed something out.
System: CDS3 plus a collection of 5 series boxes (I think) and Intro speakers.
Cable lengths: Mine – 9m, shops – looked like about 5m.
Listening Positions: Chris standing in front of the RH speaker, me sitting in front of the LH Speaker.
Settling in: When I first installed them in my system they took a few hours to settle in. This repeated itself on a small scale over a few minutes in the shop. Chris commented on the change between first powering up and when he came back from serving a customer.
Chris’s comment on the sound (in order I think)
1. Sound more Hi-Fi.
2. More air and space.
3. Definitely sound different (seemed slightly surprised to notice anything).
4. I hadn’t wrecked them.
5. Still sound like Naim cable.
My observations/comments
1. Stronger base.
2. Don’t know what Hi-Fi cables should sound like
3. Agree on more air and space.
4. Most certainly different.
5. Glad I hadn’t wrecked them.
6. Haven’t heard enough different cable to be able to distinguish Naim cable.
Better or Worse: Don’t know. Depends on personal preference I guess.
Steve