ATC SCM40A connection to Naim 252, Supercap

Hi Freddie, I would contact Naim to see what is the best connection to use between your 252/Supercap and the ATC SCM40A. I use RCA to XLR between my 272 and Active 40's as advised by Naim but I don't think the 252/Supercap has an RCA out.

Make sure the Active 40's and cabling are fully run in to ensure you hear what the Active 40's are capable of. My 40's are brand new with only 10 hrs use so far but they are brilliant but not quite as good as the demo pair I borrowed. I went from passive 19's with 250DR to active 40's and the difference is massive.

And finally, if you get a chance, swop the standard powerleads that come with the speakers for Naim Powerlines. I was amazed at the improvement these made.

I hope that helps.

All the best

Russ

You would take signal from one of the three stereo pre-outs (DIN4) on the Supercap.  You do need to be a bit careful though with the interconnects, mainly because the Supercap pre-out wasn't designed to drive long cables.  You should stick with low capacitance cabling although you may need to add some resistance to prevent instability.  You won't be the first person to have connected active ATCs to a Naim pre-amp, so between ATC and your dealer (with some input from Naim) they should be able to come up with something suitable.  Also do a search on the forum as this topic has come up a number of times before.

Russt posted:

Hi Freddie, I would contact Naim to see what is the best connection to use between your 252/Supercap and the ATC SCM40A. I use RCA to XLR between my 272 and Active 40's as advised by Naim but I don't think the 252/Supercap has an RCA out.

Make sure the Active 40's and cabling are fully run in to ensure you hear what the Active 40's are capable of. My 40's are brand new with only 10 hrs use so far but they are brilliant but not quite as good as the demo pair I borrowed. I went from passive 19's with 250DR to active 40's and the difference is massive.

And finally, if you get a chance, swop the standard powerleads that come with the speakers for Naim Powerlines. I was amazed at the improvement these made.

I hope that helps.

All the best

Russ

It would be great to get your descriptions on how the sound changed when you swapped out the 250DR and 19s for the 40As, i.e. did it change the Naim sound signature? add something different? etc etc. (I know that demoing is the end game, however, getting insight is a good way to short list what to demo)

Jude :-)

I use RCA to XLR between my 272 and Active 50's. Incredible result, with Mogami cables 7 m long. Highly recommended, guys from Naim here made the cables correctly, it was not obvious 

Jude2012 posted:

Russt posted:

Hi Freddie, I would contact Naim to see what is the best connection to use between your 252/Supercap and the ATC SCM40A. I use RCA to XLR between my 272 and Active 40's as advised by Naim but I don't think the 252/Supercap has an RCA out.

Make sure the Active 40's and cabling are fully run in to ensure you hear what the Active 40's are capable of. My 40's are brand new with only 10 hrs use so far but they are brilliant but not quite as good as the demo pair I borrowed. I went from passive 19's with 250DR to active 40's and the difference is massive.

And finally, if you get a chance, swop the standard powerleads that come with the speakers for Naim Powerlines. I was amazed at the improvement these made.

I hope that helps.

All the best

Russ

It would be great to get your descriptions on how the sound changed when you swapped out the 250DR and 19s for the 40As, i.e. did it change the Naim sound signature? add something different? etc etc. (I know that demoing is the end game, however, getting insight is a good way to short list what to demo)

Jude :-)

Hi Jude, I would say that when I put the 40A's in place of the 19's it was like a thick curtain had been removed from in front of the speakers. The bass is the most obvious improvement which goes much lower and is more prominent but not overpowering.  It has real texture and feels almost effortless. The midrange is also superior as the 40's have their own midrange driver for which ATC are renowned for. The treble is also clearer and more extended. I don't feel like I've lost any of the Naim character by not having a Naim power amp as I believe the character to come from the source and the pre-amp - the 272/555ps in my case. The whole sound is extremely detailed and effortless but it also has real emotion and power that you can listen to for many hours without feeling fatigued. When I had to return the demo 40's and listen to my 19's again, that was when i realised just how much better the active 40's are.

Tesilk posted:

I use RCA to XLR between my 272 and Active 50's. Incredible result, with Mogami cables 7 m long. Highly recommended, guys from Naim here made the cables correctly, it was not obvious 

Tesilk - I'm intrigued, which Mogami cables are you using, are they RCA to XLR, and where did you source them from?

Many thanks

Russ

Hi Freddie

Yes, 4pin din from Supercap > 2 x XLR.

Btw, and fwiw after twelve years of using various Naim pre/ATC active combinations the cable we've found to be the most effective for the job so far is the Van Damme Pro Grade Classic XKE.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Tesilk posted:

I use RCA to XLR between my 272 and Active 50's.

Hi Tesilk

If you've not tried the Din output from the NAC-N272 then please try it as we've found 4 pin Din > XLR gives superior performance with all power amps and active speakers we've used the NAC-N272 with.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Yes I have two cables sets, one DIN4 to XLR (7m), and one RCA to XLR (3m). 

DIN4 to XLR sounds the best, it was difficult to make -  was done finally by Naim people, I use Mogami 2534 Neglex cable, bought it form a studio that was closing, all together for 100 usd approx. Huge cables and sound for the money, I don't think about anything else really. 

Serge 

Musicraft (Derby) posted:

Tesilk posted:

I use RCA to XLR between my 272 and Active 50's.

Hi Tesilk

If you've not tried the Din output from the NAC-N272 then please try it as we've found 4 pin Din > XLR gives superior performance with all power amps and active speakers we've used the NAC-N272 with.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Hi Rick, thanks for your message, thats how it is actually connected.

Best

Serge 

Musicraft (Derby) posted:

Hi Freddie

Yes, 4pin din from Supercap > 2 x XLR.

Btw, and fwiw after twelve years of using various Naim pre/ATC active combinations the cable we've found to be the most effective for the job so far is the Van Damme Pro Grade Classic XKE.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Rick, did you have a chance to compare the Van Damme to Mogami? 

Thanks

Serge 

 

 

Tesilk posted:

I use RCA to XLR between my 272 and Active 50's. Incredible result, with Mogami cables 7 m long. Highly recommended, guys from Naim here made the cables correctly, it was not obvious 

Tesilk - I'm intrigued, which Mogami cables are you using, are they RCA to XLR, and where did you source them from?

Many thanks

Russ

Russ -  DIN4 to XLR, Mogami 2534, sourcing is difficult I guess - please see my previous message.

Serge 

Russt posted:

Jude2012 posted:

Russt posted:

Hi Freddie, I would contact Naim to see what is the best connection to use between your 252/Supercap and the ATC SCM40A. I use RCA to XLR between my 272 and Active 40's as advised by Naim but I don't think the 252/Supercap has an RCA out.

Make sure the Active 40's and cabling are fully run in to ensure you hear what the Active 40's are capable of. My 40's are brand new with only 10 hrs use so far but they are brilliant but not quite as good as the demo pair I borrowed. I went from passive 19's with 250DR to active 40's and the difference is massive.

And finally, if you get a chance, swop the standard powerleads that come with the speakers for Naim Powerlines. I was amazed at the improvement these made.

I hope that helps.

All the best

Russ

It would be great to get your descriptions on how the sound changed when you swapped out the 250DR and 19s for the 40As, i.e. did it change the Naim sound signature? add something different? etc etc. (I know that demoing is the end game, however, getting insight is a good way to short list what to demo)

Jude :-)

Hi Jude, I would say that when I put the 40A's in place of the 19's it was like a thick curtain had been removed from in front of the speakers. The bass is the most obvious improvement which goes much lower and is more prominent but not overpowering.  It has real texture and feels almost effortless. The midrange is also superior as the 40's have their own midrange driver for which ATC are renowned for. The treble is also clearer and more extended. I don't feel like I've lost any of the Naim character by not having a Naim power amp as I believe the character to come from the source and the pre-amp - the 272/555ps in my case. The whole sound is extremely detailed and effortless but it also has real emotion and power that you can listen to for many hours without feeling fatigued. When I had to return the demo 40's and listen to my 19's again, that was when i realised just how much better the active 40's are.

 

Tesilk posted:

I use RCA to XLR between my 272 and Active 50's. Incredible result, with Mogami cables 7 m long. Highly recommended, guys from Naim here made the cables correctly, it was not obvious 

Tesilk - I'm intrigued, which Mogami cables are you using, are they RCA to XLR, and where did you source them from?

Many thanks

Russ

Thanks Russt.  That is very enticing ????

I use a top ATC preamp with massive ATC active speakers, and use the cables that ATC recommended, from Studiospares. There's no reason for me to think that they wouldn't be suitable for Naim gear....

Tesilk posted:

Musicraft (Derby) posted:

Tesilk posted:

I use RCA to XLR between my 272 and Active 50's.

Hi Tesilk

If you've not tried the Din output from the NAC-N272 then please try it as we've found 4 pin Din > XLR gives superior performance with all power amps and active speakers we've used the NAC-N272 with.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Hi Rick, thanks for your message, thats how it is actually connected.

Best

Serge 

Hi Serge

Sorry but only mentioned this as you said you were using RCA out. Anyway good to hear that you are using Din > XLR 

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Tesilk posted:

Musicraft (Derby) posted:

Hi Freddie

Yes, 4pin din from Supercap > 2 x XLR.

Btw, and fwiw after twelve years of using various Naim pre/ATC active combinations the cable we've found to be the most effective for the job so far is the Van Damme Pro Grade Classic XKE.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Rick, did you have a chance to compare the Van Damme to Mogami? 

Thanks

Serge 

Hi Serge

I’ll just say that I am more than happy with the consistency the Van Damme offers between Naim pre amplification and various active speakers. Hence why the VD is part of my system which also includes the NAC-N 272.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft