Used Supernait or new XS2

I changed from a XS to a SN1, and the improvement was no contest. I added a HC (non-DR) and it was better still.

The XS is a fine amp, but the SN1 was better in all ways. More power, grip, and control. Made the XS seem kind of meek by comparison. Even made my KEF iQ3 speakers  ($250) sound much better than they had before and since, on lesser electronics. (At the time I was in a temporary living situation, and just used a cheap Philips DVD player, the SN1 with no PSU, and the KEFs.)

And I really enjoyed the built-in DAC...made my SBT a much more useful and better source than using the SBT DAC...I thought it was a great little extra feature.

Timo posted:

I can't remember how the Rega was called but it was the equivalent model to the Naim. I wonder whether the difference in our observation is due to the difference between XS and XS2.

Sorry, missed this post. Yes, the difference between the XS and XS2 may be one of the possibilities to our differing experiences on the comparison between Rega and Naim Nait XS/XS2, or the Nait XS2 vs Supernait 2.

DrMark posted:

I changed from a XS to a SN1, and the improvement was no contest. I added a HC (non-DR) and it was better still.

The XS is a fine amp, but the SN1 was better in all ways. More power, grip, and control. Made the XS seem kind of meek by comparison. Even made my KEF iQ3 speakers  ($250) sound much better than they had before and since, on lesser electronics. (At the time I was in a temporary living situation, and just used a cheap Philips DVD player, the SN1 with no PSU, and the KEFs.)

And I really enjoyed the built-in DAC...made my SBT a much more useful and better source than using the SBT DAC...I thought it was a great little extra feature.

That's my experience with the Nait XS too (not the XS2). It is a fine amp but just like the Rega Elicit Mk2 sounds a little flat when compared to the 202/200 which gives more detail and portrays finer nuances in music in a more convincing manner. I think the keywords "more power, grip and control" pretty much define the differences or changes in sound when going up the Naim ladder.

DrMark posted:

I changed from a XS to a SN1, and the improvement was no contest. I added a HC (non-DR) and it was better still.

The XS is a fine amp, but the SN1 was better in all ways. More power, grip, and control. Made the XS seem kind of meek by comparison. Even made my KEF iQ3 speakers  ($250) sound much better than they had before and since, on lesser electronics. (At the time I was in a temporary living situation, and just used a cheap Philips DVD player, the SN1 with no PSU, and the KEFs.)

And I really enjoyed the built-in DAC...made my SBT a much more useful and better source than using the SBT DAC...I thought it was a great little extra feature.

We use the built-in DAC in our SN1 for all our audio. It's a great feature.

Hi all and thanks for the replies

I am leaning towards the XS2

Can anyone tell me what lead I would need to connect either the Supernait or the XS2 to a Naim CD player?  Is it 4 pin Din or 5 Pin Din ?

5 pin to 5pin. Don't necessarily worry about other brands. The grey lavender cable is up to the job. 

Furthermore, when I owned cd5xs, I compared that to hiline and chord anthem2. The difference was hardly noticeable if at all. Only when I moved to HDX did I notice a good improvement using a hiline. 

Not only that but the Naim source components (CD players & network players - i.e. streamers) come with the 'Lavender' interconnect in the box.

I now have an XS2 on it's way to me, can't wait ; )

When I get the XS2 I will run it with either a pair of Rega RS3 or Living Voice Auditorium speakers, I have no idea if the Naim will like either of these.  They are 89dB and 94dB respectfully so I know the XS2 will have no trouble driving them but I wonder what they will sound like... how exiting  to try them both...

I only use cd as my front end, which comprises of a Pioneer PD-S505 Precision (the Tom Evans modified one) used as a transport into an Audio Note DAC One 1X Signature

Will be interesting to read your findings with the Living Voice Auditorium speakers and the XS2.

Auditorium have been said to be a revealing speaker but not to be ruthlessly so. Easy for low powered valve amps to drive but respond well to solid state watts. A speaker that you would struggle to get a bad sound out of, but also a speaker that is easier to get a great sound out of it.

I had an XS original and used it with R3 and R7 speakers. It worked beautifully with both, so I think an XS2 and the newer RS3 speakers would be a great match. The R3 speakers really came to life with the XS driving them as loud as you could want, but with great subtlety and control.

Nina, I have enjoyed following the thread and do hope that you give an update on final system configuration and how it is working for you.

As soon as I have the XS2 in my system I will give it a little while and then report back.  As the Living Voice are in position at the moment I will try those first

I am currently using reasonably expensive speaker cable and interconnects and don't know whether the Naim will like them.  I use TQ Ultra Black speaker cable, with TQ UB jumpers, a SLIC Innovations Digital Cable between transport and Dac and a SLIC Innovations Eclipse C Interconnect between Dac and amp;  all together they are worth way more than the XS2 !   

When I get the XS2, hopefully tomorrow, is it really ok to leave it switched on 24/7 ?  That seems wrong to me, especially coming from valve amps which I would never leave on

Yep, display off, mute on when not in use. That's what we all do most of the time. Usual advice is switch off if not used for days or during thunderstorms. Some reckon it can take a day to come on song after power up. And besides, a light bulb usually dies when you press the switch. Constant power up means longer life I believe. 

Great thanks Ray.  i had no idea you could turn the display off.. does that turn the Naim sign off as well as the button lights?

i am also thinking about trying some NAC A5 cable in place of the TQ Ultra Black I am currently using.  Can someone tell me what length is recommended by Naim; I can't remember if it was 3m minimum or something like that

They recommend at least 3m. Coincidently I've just took receipt of Tellurium black II to replace Naca5 and liking it so far. Pre burned.

For me it's calmed the over bearing mid bass and bass whilst improving the mid a little and slightly more open top end. 

Try what you have first and at least demo Naca5 at home before buying.

Many Naim owners like the TQ cable.

I'm using Supernait and PMC 25.23.

And yes, the display off kills all lights.

Correction..,.the logo stays lit  ! Looks good though.  

Well I received the XS2 yesterday but due to a couple of busy days I've only just unpacked it and placed it very carefully in the system along with the Living Voice

Very initial impressions are as follows,  I am useless with 'hifi speak' so I'll just say it as I find it:

(1)  My LV's have been given a 'wake up'   (2)  Sounds absolutely nothing like my valve amps, which is exactly what I expected  (3)  I have bass that I didn't have before  (4)  It tracks a tune very well.. this one is very difficult to explain but I can somehow follow an instrument/tune/beat really easily, in fact it seems to 'lock onto' it

And one final thought that overrides everything is it's a sound that's tricky to ignore... difficult to explain but with my valve amps I could leave the music playing while I go about my business and almost forget the music is on but the Naim grabs more of my attention somehow

Like I said I'm really rubbish at hifi speak but it's the best I can do at the moment

I will come back with more thoughts once I have more time with my new toy    

  you did fine.by the way what model of lv auditorium do you have.

Thanks Leni

My LV's are the standard MK1 Auditoriums, nothing fancy

If the music is more attention grabbing, and it's easier to follow and understand, I'd say you've ended up with a damn good choice.  Music is the reason we own this stuff, and hifi-speak means nothing without music.  I like that your comments are largely focused around music and your perception of it, rather than the usual bass this and treble that.  I'm guilty of rambling about those things sometimes, but it's usually when something 'hifi' is messing up my enjoyment of music.

Thanks Songstream.  I'm glad my thoughts make some sort of sense

You are spot on about the music being the most important thing and definitely not the hifi, although that needs to be right, of course

So far I am very happy with the XS2, and this one does not seem to have any channel imbalance at low levels that I noticed when I had a loaner for a little while some time ago