Naim Nait XS2 Integrated

The phono stage is still close to 2 PSUs, its own, and the TT supply. It may be happier still if you can keep it away from these. Easier said than done, perhaps, and only trial and error will show if this tweaking actually improves the sound, but a free upgrade is always nice......

ChrisSU posted:

The phono stage is still close to 2 PSUs, its own, and the TT supply. It may be happier still if you can keep it away from these. Easier said than done, perhaps, and only trial and error will show if this tweaking actually improves the sound, but a free upgrade is always nice......

Thanks, I hadn't realised that this would also be of benefit.  I guessed they would sit next to one another. There's an ambilical cable joining the Heed Phono Stage to the Heed Q PSU, but enough length to put some distance between them. 

I will try moving the Phono Pre Amp away from power supplies to see if I can hear the benefits.

thanks again.

So, by and large, has the Naca4  given the 'greater weight and body' you seek? And if so, will you be looking for the right lengths of naim terminated Naca5?

C.

Christopher_M posted:

So, by and large, has the Naca4  given the 'greater weight and body' you seek? And if so, will you be looking for the right lengths of naim terminated Naca5?

C.

The NAC A4 has most definitely helped to get me closer to the sound I am looking for. In some ways I feel my Naim system has almost been revitalised since swapping to the NAC A4. 

I have also been experimenting with my system in a different position too as per the photo I submitted earlier in the thread.

To expand on the terms that I used regarding greater weight and body. Well previously the sound was very much lacking in dimension with the speakers being very obvious in producing the sound. Now with the NAC A4 I am hearing a better, fuller soundstage. The sound appears less forward and less bright than before which I am guessing is helping the speakers to almost appear not to be there on the majority of recordings. The sound now has some depth to it with more appearing to come from deeper behind the speakers too. The greater dimension of the sound now is helping to reveal more detail.

For now the NAC A4 will stay in my system for a while.

Thanks. I asked because IMO unless your room is massive, there's no need for a sub with your properly set up system.

Have you tried the speakers with the bass firing inwards, in latest positioning experiments? And how about with system to one side of speakers? (although maybe you are hobbled by too short Naca4).

C.

Christopher_M posted:

Thanks. I asked because IMO unless your room is massive, there's no need for a sub with your properly set up system.

Have you tried the speakers with the bass firing inwards, in latest positioning experiments? And how about with system to one side of speakers? (although maybe you are hobbled by too short Naca4).

C.

The room size is only 14ft by 13ft so not large by any means. I have the system between the speakers in order to accommodate the NAC A4.

 With regards the side firing drivers in the RX3's I have them pointed outwards at present. Since I have moved the speakers I have not tried them yet with the speakers the other way around so that the side firing drivers point inwards towards each other. A good idea though and I will have an extensive listen with them in that position to see how the presentation of the sound differs.

ink04 posted:

Christopher_M posted:

Thanks. I asked because IMO unless your room is massive, there's no need for a sub with your properly set up system.

Have you tried the speakers with the bass firing inwards, in latest positioning experiments? And how about with system to one side of speakers? (although maybe you are hobbled by too short Naca4).

C.

The room size is only 14ft by 13ft so not large by any means. I have the system between the speakers in order to accommodate the NAC A4.

 With regards the side firing drivers in the RX3's I have them pointed outwards at present. Since I have moved the speakers I have not tried them yet with the speakers the other way around so that the side firing drivers point inwards towards each other. A good idea though and I will have an extensive listen with them in that position to see how the presentation of the sound differs.

I've just swapped the speakers around, so that the side firing drivers are inwards therefore facing each other (Rega RX3). 

Still very early to completely evaluate but initial impressions are that there is greater heft in the bass and percussion, kick drum etc. Listening to Joan Armatrating's Me Myself I album on vinyl for instance. 

The mid bass driver doesn't give off a great deal of air but certainly adds to the presentation and even with the drivers facing inwards there is great deal of control and grip on the sound. 

Good that you're experimenting. I'd be wanting to take out the paving slabs too. IME they slow the bass.....

C.

I think you are doing the right thing experimenting with all the "free" options before buying a new amp - especially inasmuch as I agree with the others here that a new XS2 will be a fair bit of coin for a relatively marginal upgrade. I say this as a former Nait XS owner myself.

I would go ahead and get the NACA5 in the appropriate length as the next money spent period - the NACA4 would be fine were it longer. But the new speaker cables will be a good investment since you can use them regardless of whether you get a new amp or anything else, so it's kind of a no risk proposition.

And given your apparent budgetary constraints, I would really ask you to think about well cared for used gear of recent vintage. Often can be gotten from a Naim dealer as the result of someone else upgrading. You can really get more bang for your buck.

In fact, used might be a good way to get the NACA5, for that matter - it seems to pop up not too infrequently on the usual audio auction sites.

There has been a focus on this thread on cables and speaker positioning. Good to exhaust those, but I'd go back to my original reply here and reiterate that if you're still seeking "greater weight and a fuller sound" the RX3s are the crux of the issue despite any other machinations you've attempted to make them satisfy you. Time to pony up with your speakers.

RX3s - musical yes, bouncy yes, initially engaging yes - but bottom end heft and long term engagement - no. That was my experience with them FWIW.

joerand posted:

There has been a focus on this thread on cables and speaker positioning. Good to exhaust those, but I'd go back to my original reply here and reiterate that if you're still seeking "greater weight and a fuller sound" the RX3s are the crux of the issue despite any other machinations you've attempted to make them satisfy you. Time to pony up with your speakers.

RX3s - musical yes, bouncy yes, initially engaging yes - but bottom end heft and long term engagement - no. That was my experience with them FWIW.

Guilty as charged, Randy!

Ink's been asking about his system for a few years. It only transpired on this thread that he's been using Ixos cables.

My core belief is that pretty much any Naim gear can be made to sound good with attention to setup. And that setup makes the difference between 'Wow!' and 'so-so'. He's so nearly there with decent supports and well-matched gear, which is what is so tantalising.

I'd be surprised if Ink was to start looking for new speakers. Until fairly recently he had Proac Tablettes.

C.

My system has been in this particular from for about two years and only recently after many alterations to the house that I have been able to devote particular attention to room set up. I used to have some furniture in the room for storage only, they have since gone and now I have a decent size space to work with. 

Its really been useful to work with the recommendations provided in this thread and I am really enjoying spending time, focussing on listening to some familiar Vinyl and CD's to establish the differences for better or worse with each change.

What has been a revelation is how deep the soundstage has opened up since setting up in the current position. The depth and space is also revealing more detail than before. The sound appears to be richer with the NAC A4 and I really like it.  Even with the more impressive depth to the soundstage the grip on the sound and control is still there.

Whether it is speaker placement, equipment between the speakers and a more attention to detail with regards set up there is soundstage in my system that I have never been able to achieve before. 

Ive read elsewhere that Soundstage is not a particular strength of Naim but my recent experience suggests otherwise as I am able to achieve an impressive soundstage in the space in front of me whilst at the same time maintaining the timing and rhythm that I have always been aware of. 

I am going to continue to work with what I have got and see what a variety of other tweaks may bring. 

ink04,

Sounds like you're now on track for room treatment if you haven't already gone there. Upper frequency treatment can eliminate clutter and provide cohesion while bottom end treatment yields bass clarity thereby increasing musicality and PRaT. Rule of thumb for room treatment is to start with bass trapping - you may find that less is more when it comes to bass information in your room. Good luck whatever you try, hope you find a happy end.

I would also try the speakers closer to the back wall.