Would I benefit from a NAP 100?

Oh dear, how to explain the relevance of vertere cables to Naim.

And how did any of this help the OP?

I like how in the Name of subjectivity any opinion can be justified on this forum. That's the funny part 

Especially what is the worth of an opinion from somebody who sold all his Naim equipment because of Roon.

Clearly it is subjective, but clearly some people either get Naim or don't get it.

Nothing new. 

What is there more to understand, paid the money, bought the flashbacks, and now waiting to be thrown away, once I heard the Naim cables.

Muttonjef posted:

 .

Whilst I agree the Naim cables are good, there are many very credible alternatives out there such as Chord and Flashback, which in my opinion offer a better price/performance balance. 

 

I guess Naim gets their raw material cable from cable bulk manufacturers which Chord, Flashback and many others have access to.

That’s nonsense. 

HiFiman posted:

I used a flashback cable cost about £30 and this beat a chord cable I purchased that cost around £80. When i used the chord i tbought things were held back but the flashback restored this. 

I have excellent experience with Flashback cables

Great communications, prompt deliveries and good prices

His cables compete to much more expensive eqvivalents, maybe because he sell direct and need/want no big margin

If only they sounded as good as the naim genuine cables.... sadly they simply fall short

analogmusic posted:

I like how in the Name of subjectivity any opinion can be justified on this forum. That's the funny part 

Especially what is the worth of an opinion form some guy who sold all his Naim equipment because of Roon.

Clearly it is subjective, but clearly some people either get Naim or don't get it.

Nothing new. 

What is there more to understand, paid the money, bought the flashbacks, and now waiting to be thrown away, once I heard the Naim cables.

 

 

I didn't sell "because of ROON" but it led me to look elsewhere due to the lack of support for ROON or any information about it in the future. My current Chord TT and ATC SCM40A's are a significant step forward in SQ in my opinion and for less money, and with ROON is a far better user experience. 

Having looked at my profile you'll be aware I own a Qb which you will find is Naim. And when Naim update the new Unit range to Roon Ready, i'll be buying an Atom. Yes I still get and love Naim Ali!

Mike-B posted:

Perol posted:

Flashback have a RCA/DIN interconnect which looks exactly like Chord Chrysalis/Naim's own

No idea if its the exact same cable though 

Not the same cable at all.   However the best FlashBack cable is the "Premiere" range; this is a coax pair made by  FlashBack & looks like no other brand - & you get a choice of coloured sleeves.  

Thanks Mike

Well it looks like the Chrysalis and Naim Lavender but might very well differ in performance, it does certainly in price.

As for the Premiere cables, I have a couple of these and they are mighty fine

I had a Performance din/rca interconnect (I recall "Performance" is slightly cheaper version of Premiere) which I moved on to a friend, he is mighty happy now using it with an old Myst amp

Chap,

have you read what I wrote? Was it such a silly idea not to even deserve acknowledgment and a reply? Look, I have listened to the Atom a number of times with different speakers and it eats the Qute2 like a cooky.

Or else, if it has become a private discussion between you and a couple of others, there's whatsapp for this.

Max

Max_B posted:

My suggestion: before you add a caravan that costs more than the car that pulls it, listen carefully, and without biases, to an Atom.

You may discover that the swap/trade could make you spare one box and some money.

Best,

Max

Max, unless I'm much mistaken the NAP 100 new costs £750. Atom is £1,750. Trade in on a Qute2 likely to be around the £1,000 mark. 

Whichever route is taken, cost likely to almost same (unless buying NAP 100 s/h, in which case that becomes the cheaper option). I suppose there is the question of extra cabling, but that doesn't have to be silly money to sound good?

Moderating:  I have edited and removed a number of posts from this morning.  Please keep things on subject and away from any personal observations.  I have not taken any further action so far, but will do so if I need to intervene again.  Thanks.

Max_B posted:

Look, I have listened to the Atom a number of times with different speakers and it eats the Qute2 like a cooky.

 

Max

 

Sound interesting Max, I have a Qute sometime used single sometime with a separate poweramp

Could you elaborate a bit more ?

analogmusic posted:

I like how in the Name of subjectivity any opinion can be justified on this forum. That's the funny part 

Especially what is the worth of an opinion from somebody who sold all his Naim equipment because of Roon.

Clearly it is subjective, but clearly some people either get Naim or don't get it.

Nothing new. 

What is there more to understand, paid the money, bought the flashbacks, and now waiting to be thrown away, once I heard the Naim cables.

 

 

Moderated Post:  What you have suggested here (now removed) would be a breach of forum rules.

yes, it was getting quite funky for a bit!

Max, I would like an Atom, they look fantastic (haven't heard one yet). I was looking for a cheaper option as I've just moved house and am a bit skint. I like the idea of buying a second hand NAP 140 with the RCA - DIN cable (the cable alone appears to be a divisive subject), and I'd prefer to keep everything at half width for appearances sake. The UQ2 is my first Naim and I'm loving the way it sounds, perhaps I'm just being a brat wanting a bit more out of the sound?

Flashback cables offer 30 days full returns ex post

Pretty good lenght of period to find out

Timmo1341 posted:

Max_B posted:

My suggestion: before you add a caravan that costs more than the car that pulls it, listen carefully, and without biases, to an Atom.

You may discover that the swap/trade could make you spare one box and some money.

Best,

Max

Max, unless I'm much mistaken the NAP 100 new costs £750. Atom is £1,750. Trade in on a Qute2 likely to be around the £1,000 mark. 

Whichever route is taken, cost likely to almost same (unless buying NAP 100 s/h, in which case that becomes the cheaper option). I suppose there is the question of extra cabling, but that doesn't have to be silly money to sound good?

Yes, but I had a feeling that the thread has moved to 'a NAP200 would be better than a NAP100 as a power amp for the Qute', and this seemed completely absurd to me, and to this I was commenting. But, just my opinion.

Perol posted:

Flashback cables offer 30 days full returns ex post

Pretty good lenght of period to find out

 

And they "seem" to do a good job in those 30 days.

I bought my first Naim genuine RCA to DIN cable much later, and realised that is what I should have purchased in the first place. 

I recall one forum member had the same observation about the how the Naim RCA to DIN was considerably better than Linn Silvers too. The Original, Genuine Naim Lavender interconnect is very, very difficult to better in terms of sheer engagement.

to the OP : if you must buy a NAP 100, Naim make a 2RCA to 4 pin DIN  cable, and that's what I would use.

Perol posted:

Max_B posted:

Look, I have listened to the Atom a number of times with different speakers and it eats the Qute2 like a cooky.

 

Max

 

Sound interesting Max, I have a Qute sometime used single sometime with a separate poweramp

Could you elaborate a bit more ?

Gladly, for the little I can. My dealer has an Atom, served by a Core and a number of other servers, like a UServe and a few HDs. I have heard it with Neat Iotas, with the SX2 and the SX3i. Perhaps with some 30.1s. The Atom, to my ears, is more powerful, more open, wide, without harshness, drives difficult speakers, and is, in short, a piece of gear that justifies its existence in full.

On the other hand, I have never been a fan of the UnitiQute (having also bought one and kept it for a week or so), and I remember that the very first listen, years ago, at my brother-in-law, in comparison with a Nait5, left both with a clear preference for the latter. I find the Qute too mannered, narrow, clean but exactly what it's supposed to be: a desktop or kitchen counter thing, for people wanting good sound while working or cooking and agreeing to spend much more than for some Cambridge Audio. But the idea of using a honest, undoubtedly Naim sounding but unassuming machine with a reduced scope as a preamp for a NAP 200 seems silly to me: here half of the people preach balance and coherence within the ranges, the other half is ready to couple the most unlikely things. It's the old, inextricable vice of the audiophile, who always knows better than the one who actually built the thing.

But I wish Chap to find a completely satisfying solution. For sure, UQute2/200 has not sense for me. An Atom is a modern, clever, new piece of gear that sounds its cost.

Hope it helps.

M.

Indeed it would be interesting to compare new Atom with similar priced UQ/Nap 200 s/h

I had a 100 and later on a 150x running with my Qute, also other brands poweramplifiers

Certainly an improvement in most ways but I tend to agree in the UQ seem to loose a bit of the sheer fun

Offcourse this will depend on the speakers in use

A 140 sound like a good option on the cheapskate but they are 20 years+ so count in a service or look for serviced samples, perhaps a 110

I have to say that in the context of this level of kit the Naim lavender/grey i/c and late Chrysalis are hard to beat for, as Analogmusic puts it, "sheer engagement".  Chrysalis may not be available any more but, if budget is an issue, it goes for a comparative pittance secondhand and there's plenty of it out there.  Just be sure to go for the latest you can, which usually is slightly thicker and more lavender/grey and has the shiny Chord RCA Phono plugs fitted rather than the earlier Deltrons.

I was about to suggest a nice serviced 110 its a cracking amp. Max suggestion if funds permit is to consider the Atom maybe worth an audition.

Timmo1341 posted:

Max_B posted:

My suggestion: before you add a caravan that costs more than the car that pulls it, listen carefully, and without biases, to an Atom.

You may discover that the swap/trade could make you spare one box and some money.

Best,

Max

Max, unless I'm much mistaken the NAP 100 new costs £750. Atom is £1,750. Trade in on a Qute2 likely to be around the £1,000 mark. 

Whichever route is taken, cost likely to almost same (unless buying NAP 100 s/h, in which case that becomes the cheaper option). I suppose there is the question of extra cabling, but that doesn't have to be silly money to sound good?

I saw a Qute for sale very recently for £500, which is much nearer to the likely trade in value. 

And a bargain imo at that price

analogmusic posted:

Perol posted:

Flashback cables offer 30 days full returns ex post

Pretty good lenght of period to find out

 

And they "seem" to do a good job in those 30 days.

I bought my first Naim genuine RCA to DIN cable much later, and realised that is what I should have purchased in the first place. 

I recall one forum member had the same observation about the how the Naim RCA to DIN was considerably better than Linn Silvers too. The Original, Genuine Naim Lavender interconnect is very, very difficult to better in terms of sheer engagement.

to the OP : if you must buy a NAP 100, Naim make a 2RCA to 4 pin DIN  cable, and that's what I would use.

What type of flashback cable are you refering to.

Where you connecting Naim to Naim, or some other manufacturer to Naim.

Flashback standard cable and Flashback performance cable.

It is for my turntable, but it seems the Naim Standard RCA to DIN, and also Chord Chrysalis work their magic on pretty much any source (Naim or not ) that I tried them on.

I don't know lately what's really going on in this forum, why is it that saying that Naim cables sound best with Naim amplifiers  (including SuperLumina), is now open to such debate and challenge?