Witch hat din-xlr cables for nap500

Well I use the Witchhat HatPin DIN-XLR between my SCDR and 250DR. I thought it was a low cost performance upgrade over the stock Naim XLR. 

Nothing wrong with the stock lead, but the HatPin was definitely like a thin veil had been lifted so I left it in.

Can't speak to the Witch Hat interconnects, but I did demo their speaker cable and was not impressed.  NACA5 was superior in every way, the Witch Hat cable was boring and dull by comparison.  I lost all interest in the rest of their product line.  

The stock lead supplied with the NAP500 is not bad.  I compared it to several versions of Chord Sarum's and found it held its own, but was not as detailed.  If you're looking to improve the sound, I'd look at what Chord is offering in their lineup.  

I bought some of their Phantom speaker cable and again was very pleased with it, both sonicly & flexibility. To me they represent good value for money.

Moderated Post:  NFG, I have edited.  Please note forum rules - specifically that discussion of unauthorised modifications, which includes non-Naim "SNAICs" and Burndy cables, is strictly forbidden.

I checked the price of stock leads - price seems reasonable, so I'll get those. Seller of the 500 misplaced his cables (was running superlumina). 

What have you been using so far?

I have heard some of what  Witch Hat Audio can do where amps are concerned and no doubt there are some very talented techs at that company and I have heard great things about their cables I would however stick with stock cables unless of course they are broken in which case try them out I seem to remember a few people on here using them with 300 amps.

MangoMonkey posted:

I need to get new din/xlr cables for the nap500. 

Don'twant to do superlumina yet (and not doing anything else fancy/expensive - will do superlumina eceneventu).

Are the witch hat ones comparable in quality to standard naim ones? Anyone with direct experience?

If you're set on spending [£3,275] on super lumina XLRs [eventually?] then why not simply live with the standard naim supplied XLRs until such time you can afford them... (?)  but don't forget to compare them to SL's nemesis cable [or should that be naimesis?]  the Chord Sarum T DIN-XLR [£2,100] which peoples seem to prefer if they really take the trouble to demo vs the SL.

Debs

Between a 272/555 and a 300DR I use custom made interconnects using Mogami W2497, Preh DINs and Neutrik XLPs.
In my opinion, they are a considerable upgrade on the standard cables (and really cheap to make as well).

If you can't solder yourself, get someone to do it for you - I'm sure there are people you way who'll make them up for a quite modest fee.

Thanks all around. To dispel confusion, I've been using the same leads from my  nap300.

Hi Huge I am very interested in your pre + power cable arrangement - what sort of improvements did you find???

Richieroo posted:

Hi Huge I am very interested in your pre + power cable arrangement - what sort of improvements did you find???

https://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/272-2549-300

and then later...

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...onnects-272-to-300dr

I would just get the original Naim DIN/XLR cables.

You're not going to get the benefit of your 500 by using third party cables.

It seems a pity to me to buy a 500 DR only to undermine the sound by using non-naim cables in this critical place.

I've tried a few non-naim ones and went back to the Naim stock DIN/XLR.

I had a similar experience to Chris Bell. 

analogmusic posted:

I would just get the original Naim DIN/XLR cables.

You're not going to get the benefit of your 500 by using third party cables.

 

That's a sweeping statement. Same as saying all non Naim interconnects are meaningless in a Naim system.

I've tried a few  - and I don't want to name and shame.

I found the same as our moderator did.

"They were all too smooth - to a fault - a degree of tension and leading edge was gone. The music just wasn't so immediate."

Can't comment on the Chord offerings for DIN/XLR, but I can't be bothered to try anymore.

And yet you use non Naim interconnects on you're profile.

Yes  Chord cables and Vertere cables  do a good job as a source to preamp interconnect - but in the DIN/XLR, I found the standard Naim cable and SL DIN/XLR really preserve the intended Naim performance.

My opinion - I appreciate you may have a different view.

fair enough. :-)

The seller found the cables and is mailing them to me now.

Good, and save up for the Superlumina Din/XLR. 

What I really don’t understand is that in my system when I had extended home trials of various cables I found the Super Lumina to be disappointingly constrained and homogeneous. Pleasant enough but uninspiring and not really involving.  Strange. 

I appreciate that people like to fine tune their systems and interconnects and speaker cables are a way of trying 

Although I have not gone real high end I had Chord Signature Tuned Aray interconnects including din - xlr but when I did the take them out and see if you miss them test I didn’t. 

If you have the money it’s yours to spend the way you choose but if like me  you have a relatively strict budget and you haven’t maxed your system then spend your money there. 

No cable will beat a pre a power or a psu upgrade. 

analogmusic posted:

Good, and save up for the Superlumina Din/XLR. 

Don't know man. The cable costs as much as a nait xs.  Or as much as my speakers. :-)

 Now that my source is finally sorted, I do wonder what the nait xs would do in this system. ;-)

MangoMonkey posted:

The seller found the cables and is mailing them to me now.

That's a bonus as I guess you haggled a discount for him loosing them!!

analogmusic posted:

I would just get the original Naim DIN/XLR cables.

You're not going to get the benefit of your 500 by using third party cables.

It seems a pity to me to buy a 500 DR only to undermine the sound by using non-naim cables in this critical place.

I've tried a few non-naim ones and went back to the Naim stock DIN/XLR.

I had a similar experience to Chris Bell. 

 

So, on the basis of "I've tried a few non-naim ones and went back to the Naim stock DIN/XLR.", you state that "You're not going to get the benefit of your 500 by using third party cables."

A bit like "Some men are rapists, therefore all men are rapists."

Your logic doesn't hold.

Chris Dolan posted:

What I really don’t understand is that in my system when I had extended home trials of various cables I found the Super Lumina to be disappointingly constrained and homogeneous. Pleasant enough but uninspiring and not really involving.  Strange. 

In their defence, when I compared them with stock, with SSA and then again with Music, I thought they were certainly better than the standard cables but, as you say, just pleasant, nothing more.  Had the cost been a few hundred, they'd be fine and you'd probably get some but at over £3K, I just don't think they offer vfm.