Legend or truth?

They are valid recommendations in context. Numeous threads and posts cover them on this forum. A quick search will help you to know more.

Chag -

1) Where a power strip has to be used - i.e. no better alternative - then allegedly the plug-in order from the inlet can make a difference to sound performance.  But don't ask me what I prefer as I have always tried to avoid using such things. 

2) While Naim cite a minimum length of 3.5m per channel for use with Naim amps, they do seem to prefer longer lengths as the sounds seems to "breathe" better.   I've settled on 6-7metres as just about ideal.  Of course, if you need 8 metres to reach your speakers then that would be even more ideal...

Richard Dane posted:

1) Where a power strip has to be used - i.e. no better alternative - then allegedly the plug-in order from the inlet can make a difference to sound performance.  But don't ask me what I prefer as I have always tried to avoid using such things. 

2) While Naim cite a minimum length of 3.5m per channel for use with Naim amps, they do seem to prefer longer lengths as the sounds seems to "breathe" better.   I've settled on 6-7metres as just about ideal.  Of course, if you need 8 metres to reach your speakers then that would be even more ideal...

Have you tried 8 metres of NACA5 against your 6-7 metres. If you have compared both, I presume the 8m pair "breathes" better?

I recall reading an article on a Steve Sells interview stating that the DR amps can now be used with any speaker cable out there. Is this true?

I have tried many different lengths of NACA5 at the factory when I worked for Naim.  From 3.5m all the way up to (IIRC) about 20m per channel.  It was a long time ago now, so please excuse a potentially fallible memory, however, things were ever so slightly edgy or "forced" with 3.5m.  Moving to 5m was much better, and 7m better still.  I couldn't detect much difference from there until the longest lengths where a slight lack of brilliance began to become apparent, but by then we were at 15m+ and I'd happily live with that length whereas with 3.5m I'd be wanting to add a bit more length...

I don't know about cables and DR amps - probably something best commented on by Naim.

Richard Dane posted:

...
Of course, if you need 8 metres to reach your speakers then that would be even more ideal...

  Brilliant!

I have always thought the opposite, source first and power amp at the end of the power strip, since the cd player should be much more sensitive to the quality of electric current.

Same thing for biwiring loudspeakers used as monowiring.

My nac a5 are directly linked to high frequencies!

I believe that too. But it's dead easy to test for ourselves and whatever sounds best to the individual is the best sounding arrangement in that instance. No rumination required. Empirical. repeatable, reversible and likely variable across a range of systems and ears.

I'm interested on an official naim position on that, if available... I know that would be easy to test...

Naimark posted:

I have always thought the opposite, source first and power amp at the end of the power strip, since the cd player should be much more sensitive to the quality of electric current.

Same thing for biwiring loudspeakers used as monowiring.

My nac a5 are directly linked to high frequencies!

 Well, it makes sense to me, if I was a hungry amplifier with a large transformer, I would want the first shot of juice.  

Dedicated line- Power strip- Amp-Pre/PS-Source/PS-Source-Dig./Source..... 

 But of course, best case scenario,two independent dedicated lines, one for analog gear, and another for digital gear.

Just my two cents!

Allante93!

Naim are on record as stating their amps are designed, tested, and optimized for use with NACA5 or similar spec speaker wire at least 3.5 meters in length.  They warn that using something else may have an impact in sound they do not intend.  No similar recommendations about power sources appear, other than to avoid surge suppressors and conditioners, I believe.

If Naim develop and test using the e.g. Audience PDC, which is reputedly indifferent to plug order, Naim's silence on plug order is understandable.

To me, the interesting question is if this gain in certainty PDC provides comes at some cost to sound quality versus the asymmetric options.  

Revealingly, respected forum members who do use Wiremold et el. disagree about plug order -- evidently it is down to taste, and/or system context.  I do not recall many, if any who testified that the PDC took anything away from sound quality, compared with asymmetric options.

Maybe playing with plug order is just hotrodding, after all. 

Nick

I vaguely recall Naim saying the order is better with power amp first in line, finishing with source at the end. I also vaguely recall testing this in the shop and coming to the conclusion that we preferred it the other way around - i.e. source closest to the wall - though I forget the reasons why! 

It may also depend on the block you're using. For example, the MusicWorks Revive lite has a definite order of preference based on how it's wired, and so the source goes on the best socket etc.

Frank.

Frank Abela posted:

I vaguely recall Naim saying the order is better with power amp first in line, finishing with source at the end. I also vaguely recall testing this in the shop and coming to the conclusion that we preferred it the other way around - i.e. source closest to the wall - though I forget the reasons why! 

It may also depend on the block you're using. For example, the MusicWorks Revive lite has a definite order of preference based on how it's wired, and so the source goes on the best socket etc.

Frank.

Frank, do you believe in the separate dedicated line theory, for analog & digital gear? 

And if so, can you recall what your test source was, digital or analog? 

And BTW thanks! 

""So you're really looking at a CDX2 if the CD5XS doesn't float your boat. 2nd hand, they can just about be had for your budget. I disagree that it's bright and relentless - I always found it quite splendid myself, and far more engaging than the CD5XS. Personally my preference is for the latest version of the CDX2, so anything post 2008 would be my choice.
 
Regards,
Frank. Able""

Picked up a 2008 mk1 ( March 2015)!

Allante93! 

Of course, we could drive ourselves mad if we allowed that each receptical might have a unique personality, independent of its location in the strip.

 We seldom talk about phase in these discussions.  At my dealer's advice, I added two dedicated circuits, a breaker on each phase, terminated with chryo-Hubbels, in case I found one phase better sounding than the other.  I cannot hear a difference, but at least my/his curiosity is satisfied.  

I cannot recall if the difference would be down to what else was on each phase elsewhere in the house, or if the different phases might have intrinsic differences.  No matter, in my case.

Nick

Allante93 posted:

Frank Abela posted:

I vaguely recall Naim saying the order is better with power amp first in line, finishing with source at the end. I also vaguely recall testing this in the shop and coming to the conclusion that we preferred it the other way around - i.e. source closest to the wall - though I forget the reasons why! 

It may also depend on the block you're using. For example, the MusicWorks Revive lite has a definite order of preference based on how it's wired, and so the source goes on the best socket etc.

Frank.

Frank, do you believe in the separate dedicated line theory, for analog & digital gear? 

And if so, can you recall what your test source was, digital or analog? 

And BTW thanks! 

""So you're really looking at a CDX2 if the CD5XS doesn't float your boat. 2nd hand, they can just about be had for your budget. I disagree that it's bright and relentless - I always found it quite splendid myself, and far more engaging than the CD5XS. Personally my preference is for the latest version of the CDX2, so anything post 2008 would be my choice.
 
Regards,
Frank. Able""

Picked up a 2008 mk1 ( March 2015)!

 

Allante93! 

Not sure what the dedicated line theory is to be honest! I tend to find I get better results with a multiway block than using separate wall sockets. As for separate spurs, then a separate spur is usually a very good way to get the juice to the system, and also usually a substantial upgrade on the standard ring main. 

I hope you're enjoying your CDX2! Great CD player.

Frank.

Years ago, on the original Naim forum, those (like me) who couldn't stretch to things like the Music Works block, or a dedicated spur, were steered towards the Micromark muliti way plug, which appears not to be available at the moment.

I'm not an electrician, but I seem to remember that it supported the star earth of the naim gear, and  because all the wires are, in effect, attached to the same terminal, the question of order becomes moot.

I still use mine.

Regards,

Will

Moderated Post: Please don't post unauthorised commercial links in the Hifi Corner, thanks.

Apologies, they seem to still sell them on a certain auction site, they're somewhat more expensive than when I got mine which was admittedly quite e ago.

MM Multi way

Will.

I remember that. It got very popular for a time and then faded from discussion, presumably because everybody who was going to buy one bought one.