Am I the only one who likes naca5 over TQ black?

I've had all 3 and prefer the open clarity of the TQB.

G

Each to their own. I much preferred the TQ Black to A5 when I demoed them together a couple of years ago.

TQB all the way.

I'm with you Rainsoothe - I trialled TQB on an extended home loan, but much preferred NAC A5. I also trialled Chord Signature but didn't change from NAC A5.

That was with Neat Motive 2's and I think I had got my SN2 by then.

Ive changed a few things since then, but I really did like NAC A5 when I had it.

I am liking the DNM reson as it keeps the naca5 timing and tames the treble just the right amount for my small room.

I have the DNM terminated with Deltron 550s which helps to preserve the Naim qualities.

TQ black cables cables for me and my system, particularly as I'm also using their mains cables and interconnect. 

I tested various TQ speaker cables - the longest test lasted a week. Somehow we could not get on together. So back to NAIM's own for me... currently using NACA5 and SL - depending on a system.

Tried TQB with Naim IBLs and didn't get on with them at all. A5 brought the music back.

My speaker wire experience in Naim systems of my own counts four: in order of cost, Chord Campana (the only Chord cable I have ever had or tried), NAC A5, TQBlack and Vertere Pulse X mini. The two most similar are the Campana and the NAC A5, but the NAC is more open at the extremes and dynamic; the Campana, though, at roughly £4/mt, has an unbeatable solid image and coherence, at the expense of a tad of brilliance. It's my 'spare car'.

I found the TQBlack open and detailed, coherent and organic (and good that it's so, since they advertise having studied 'fighting phase distortion', and the TQBlack is not cheap as chips), but I could never overcome a vague feeling of a voice of its own that it almost imperceptibly imposes on the electronics. The one that struck me most, was the Vertere – the most rich, organic, complete, with the best ambience and timbres, with just a tad of extra warmth. If I were using Naim I'd go for any of the four depending on mood, necessity, budget, philosophical inclination. My only caveat about the NAC A5 is that it favours coherent temporality to an exceptional degree, but its top end is not always refined enough for my taste.

Did you try Chord Epic Twin? I am fairly happy with it. 

When I had PMCs I preferred TQB to A5, but with Naim speaks it was the other way around. I've never hear a Chord speaker cable I like, they have all made the music nice and tidy and organised, but somehow slightly unexciting. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

When I had PMCs I preferred TQB to A5, but with Naim speaks it was the other way around. I've never hear a Chord speaker cable I like, they have all made the music nice and tidy and organised, but somehow slightly unexciting. 

I like tidy and organised --- probably have slight OCD... 

Hungryhalibut posted:

When I had PMCs I preferred TQB to A5, but with Naim speaks it was the other way around. I've never hear a Chord speaker cable I like, they have all made the music nice and tidy and organised, but somehow slightly unexciting. 

Did you listen to the Chord Epic Twin? The results may be more speaker-dependent though I find Epic Twin to sound rather close to the Naca5 with more refinement in the top end and midrange. In a way the Chord Epic Twin sounds tidier than the Naca5 though I have to admit the differences between the cables are rather minute. It is certainly not an easy task for me to pick up the differences as I have to perform several swaps between the cables and do a methodological rather than quick listen. In other words, I have to listen closely or attentively (not leisurely) or the cables will sound the same.

I have not tried the Tellurium Q Black, DNM Reson or other cables that are claimed to be better than the Naca5 by others as I am done with all the searching for the elusive sound.

Massimo Bertola posted:

My speaker wire experience in Naim systems of my own counts four: in order of cost, Chord Campana (the only Chord cable I have ever had or tried), NAC A5, TQBlack and Vertere Pulse X mini. The two most similar are the Campana and the NAC A5, but the NAC is more open at the extremes and dynamic; the Campana, though, at roughly £4/mt, has an unbeatable solid image and coherence, at the expense of a tad of brilliance. It's my 'spare car'.

I found the TQBlack open and detailed, coherent and organic (and good that it's so, since they advertise having studied 'fighting phase distortion', and the TQBlack is not cheap as chips), but I could never overcome a vague feeling of a voice of its own that it almost imperceptibly imposes on the electronics. The one that struck me most, was the Vertere – the most rich, organic, complete, with the best ambience and timbres, with just a tad of extra warmth. If I were using Naim I'd go for any of the four depending on mood, necessity, budget, philosophical inclination. My only caveat about the NAC A5 is that it favours coherent temporality to an exceptional degree, but its top end is not always refined enough for my taste.

Did you try the Chord Epic Twin? See my response above.

Interesting question. I've used NACA5 since its introduction in 1989, and A4 before it, so reckon I've given Naim speaker cable a fair trial.

For the last ten years or so I've had an active setup with SBLs. Just for fun I got two lengths of TQB when it was first released to try on the bass amp (non-DR 250.2). Had a couple of informative email exchanges with the TQ people too.  My first impression of TQB was - where's the bass gone? It came back, mostly, after a while, and I found the stuff really quite good, controlled, delicate, with excellent clarity and passable dynamics. It does, as Massimo points out, impose its own character to some small degree, but for me this was recognisable rather than objectionable.

TQB stayed in place for two or three years, mostly through inertia on my part. Can't be bothered messing with things if they work, and it would probably take a sledgehammer to make the active setup unlistenable.

Anyhoo, put the NACA5 back in a few months ago and it's still there. Despite a bit of comparitive roughness it does communicate the music exceedingly well.

Thanks for the replies. Ok, I thought I was the only one. My experience is similar with some of yours. First of all, about the DNM, I used it for those reasons exactly: to cure brightness and bass boom. But the PM 1 don't do that in my room. And yes, the Naca 5 has some graininess compared to the TQ (and even the DNM). TQ is more spacey, smoother etc, but the overall feeling is that it doesn't let loose somehow. It's like "here's your music, it sounds great", whereas the Naca 5 is like "fk yeah!"

Also, last year I took some drumming lessons, and drums sound closer to the real thing with the Naim cable then any other cable I've used. It's by no means better then the others in whatever situation, though, it is very system dependant (I didn't like it with UQ), but with the components I have, the trade-offs are worth it imo.

ChrisH posted:

I'm with you Rainsoothe - I trialled TQB on an extended home loan, but much preferred NAC A5. I also trialled Chord Signature but didn't change from NAC A5.

That was with Neat Motive 2's and I think I had got my SN2 by then.

Ive changed a few things since then, but I really did like NAC A5 when I had it.

I don't want to hijack this thread but had to ask. ChrisH I see from your profile you changed from motive 2 to twenty5 23. I am considering this and wondered what your thoughts are on comparing the two? As to the original thread I changed from cord odyssey to A5 a number of years ago and much prefer the A5 -  much more dynamic presentation . I have considered trialing TQB but haven't got round to it yet. 

stuart posted:

I don't want to hijack this thread but had to ask. ChrisH I see from your profile you changed from motive 2 to twenty5 23. I am considering this and wondered what your thoughts are on comparing the two? As to the original thread I changed from cord odyssey to A5 a number of years ago and much prefer the A5 -  much more dynamic presentation . I have considered trialing TQB but haven't got round to it yet. 

Stuart - it's worth starting a new thread on the speakers. I'm sure you will have many replies to that.

I did wonder? 

 I like NACA 5 over TQB too myself.

stuart posted:

I did wonder? 

Hi Stuart, to avoid hijacking the thread I posted my reply to your wall. Hope this helps. cheers, Chris

I've heard the Nac a5 , SuperLumina , TQ blacks and TQ Ultra blacks. For me the TQ ultra blacks are my choice,  but that may change as the TQ black diamonds will be on dem in next couple of weeks..

wenger2015 posted:

I've heard the Nac a5 , SuperLumina , TQ blacks and TQ Ultra blacks. For me the TQ ultra blacks are my choice,  but that may change as the TQ black diamonds will be on dem in next couple of weeks..

Looking forward to the summary!

I recently gave in and finished the SL loom on my 252/250 into Ovators. I loved it with NACA5 - but installing a 4-pin DIN - XLR and 3 meters of Sailisbury's most precious cloth line made for a significant difference. There is something in that 'full loom thingy'... 

Adam Zielinski posted:

wenger2015 posted:

I've heard the Nac a5 , SuperLumina , TQ blacks and TQ Ultra blacks. For me the TQ ultra blacks are my choice,  but that may change as the TQ black diamonds will be on dem in next couple of weeks..

Looking forward to the summary!

I recently gave in and finished the SL loom on my 252/250 into Ovators. I loved it with NACA5 - but installing a 4-pin DIN - XLR and 3 meters of Sailisbury's most precious cloth line made for a significant difference. There is something in that 'full loom thingy'... 

Maybe that's it, it needs to be the  'full loom..thingy'....to work at its best.....love these technical terms....( easy for me to understand ) 

I'm really looking forward to hearing those TQ black diamond speaker cables [@mention:50422349809511500]