Naim CD5XS Interconnect

If you're looking for a bigger improvement try a TQ black Din. Brilliant cable 

staffy posted:

Collected my new player today and it sounds fine.  However I am disappointed with the interconnect that came with it.  A grey piece of string with dins on the end.   You would think that when your spending £2245 on a Naim CD player the least they could do is bundle a decent interconnect with it.

Is it the sound of the interconnect that disappoints you, or just that it doesn't look very sexy?

It is sexy after I slap the naked buttocks of my partner.  It's when I reconnect to the player that it sounds cheap. Because it's thin it draws blood. The thicker snaic tends to just leave a red weal.  The squeals of delight are a joy to behold.

The standard Naim Din-Din interconnect that comes with source components doesn't look like much but I suspect you would have to pay a lot to better its performance.   

The basic interconnect is good. I've got a Hiline now - it's better, but it's also a lot more money. TQ Black must be very good, if it's as good as their speaker cables.

Perhaps you've been a bit over-enthusiastic with your alternative use of the Snaic? If you can get hold of a nine-headed Hydra for use in the bedroom, and restrict the Snaic to audio duties, you might have more luck. (Of course, other interconnects are available, if your wallet can stand it.)  

Frenchnaim posted:

The basic interconnect is good. I've got a Hiline now - it's better, but it's also a lot more money. TQ Black must be very good, if it's as good as their speaker cables.

The TQ Black interconnect is just as good as the speaker cable, brilliant vfm

They are cracking cables. Slap one on your system STAFFY. Hopefully it will tickle your fancy 

ChrisSU posted:

Perhaps you've been a bit over-enthusiastic with your alternative use of the Snaic? If you can get hold of a nine-headed Hydra for use in the bedroom, and restrict the Snaic to audio duties, you might have more luck. (Of course, other interconnects are available, if your wallet can stand it.)  

...or a Burndy for the adventurous...

G

The standard interconnect may not look like much, but it's an excellent cable chosen for its sound quality rather than visual appeal. It's more than good enough for your system. 

Given the sytem specs, maximum cable I would advise is TQ Black Din-Din.  

One could experiment with Chord too (but strictly for music playback duties ).

The standard Lavender is a great I/C. A Hi-Line indeed is a next step although you might want to consider upgrading to nDAC first, then HL. This of course if you really have a CD5 XS CDP featuring a digital output as the title of your thread suggests but not your opening post. 

Chag -

I don't have any complaints about the standard interconnect. I would suggest avoiding the quicksand of fanciful cables. It's a quagmire of witch-craft, snake oil and hocus-pocus with very little engineering merit.

DUPREE posted:

It's a quagmire of witch-craft, snake oil and hocus-pocus with very little engineering merit.

This may be why it is so much fun.

Chag - 

DUPREE posted:

I don't have any complaints about the standard interconnect. I would suggest avoiding the quicksand of fanciful cables. It's a quagmire of witch-craft, snake oil and hocus-pocus with very little engineering merit.

Now - this is an interesting response. Would you mind expanding on that?

Nobody's mentioned a Super Lumia interconnect !   In the audio department, the sound is superb. Some may think it an overkill with a CD5 XS, but it's a cable you can use with future upgrades to your equipment (e.g. DAC to preamp, if you get a DAC - as doubtless you will at some point).

And the metal 'air plug' construction should bring a hitherto unexplored excitement if you should choose to put the cable to the alternative use that you aluded to earlier.

Personally, I confine my S/L to audio duties... but then at my time of life.... only memories remain 

Hi guys, someone of you tested the difference between the Hiline and Tellurium Qblack I/C both in DIN-DIN configuration? What are the differences?

I have the Hiline to connect my CDX2.2 to SN2.

damy79 posted:

Hi guys, someone of you tested the difference between the Hiline and Tellurium Qblack I/C both in DIN-DIN configuration? What are the differences?

I have the Hiline to connect my CDX2.2 to SN2.

Yes. TQ Black (not Black Diamond) is not a match for the Hiline.

For me the sequence of sound quality improvements is:

1. Lavender (Naim supplied)
2. TQ Black
3. HiLine / TQ Black Diamond

Adam

Thank you Adam for your reply.

I suppose that the only upgrade for my hiline maybe the TQ Black Diamond or Super Lumina but the latter is very very expensive for my wallet!!!

damy79 posted:

Thank you Adam for your reply.

I suppose that the only upgrade for my hiline maybe the TQ Black Diamond or Super Lumina but the latter is very very expensive for my wallet!!!

From my tests I don't really see TQ Black Diamon as an upgrade to a Hiline - more as an alternative. The differ so subtly it's almost unnoticeable.
I haven't heard the SL yet.

Thanks guys, in view of what has been said I will stick with what I have.  My next upgrade will be the Chord 2 DAC.

The standard interconnect is more than good enough. I dumped my HiLine and went back to 'lavender' interconnect for both my CD5 and CDS3. Trust your own ears and don't be swayed by initial A/B dem's where differences are often perceived as improvements. Spend a couple of weeks listening to one, then the following couple with the other, and decide which period made music more pleasurable.

Chag... posted:

The standard Lavender is a great I/C. A Hi-Line indeed is a next step although you might want to consider upgrading to nDAC first, then HL. This of course if you really have a CD5 XS CDP featuring a digital output as the title of your thread suggests but not your opening post. 

Chag -

profile amended..apologies

staffy posted:

Thanks guys, in view of what has been said I will stick with what I have.  My next upgrade will be the Chord 2 DAC.

I'd certainly like to know what sort of difference your next upgrade makes, that's what I'm aiming for.

Frenchnaim posted:

staffy posted:

Thanks guys, in view of what has been said I will stick with what I have.  My next upgrade will be the Chord 2 DAC.

I'd certainly like to know what sort of difference your next upgrade makes, that's what I'm aiming for.

FWIW the Chord 2Qute is not a match for the Hugo ime.

G