What has made my S-400 finally flourish?

What was it?

Please don’t tell me it’s a cable....

It's not a cable, it's not cable suspenders, it's not cable dressing, it's not glass slabs or steel balls, it's not switching box position on the Fraim shelves, it's not having a single malt or two before listening, it's not special pads under the CDX2 (which is working splendidly without any extra PSU), it is not resuming Naim *caps instead of the unnameable things from the outer space, which I am happily keeping, and it is not having moved to streaming. It is a simple black box instead of another one.

SN1 ?

Nait 2. 

james n posted:

SN1 ?

Had that. Sold that. 

SN1 has gone yesterday. I have had three, and always loved it.

I have tried, and bought, a Nait XS-2. Here, with my CD and speakers, in this room, by far the best sound I have had so far. Surprised – up to a certain point – but very glad I did.

I don't want to bother anyone with a pean on obsolete equipment (joking), and I surely won't get 1967 replies for an XS integrated, but I still wonder how Naim has managed turning the SN1 into the boring SN2 and making the XS into the little masterpiece the XS-2 is.

Massimo Bertola posted:

SN1 has gone yesterday. I have had three, and always loved it.

I have tried, and bought, a Nait XS-2. Here, with my CD and speakers, in this room, by far the best sound I have had so far. Surprised – up to a certain point – but very glad I did.

Ah, interesting. I’m discussing the XS-2 as an option on this thread, to run with a UC2 in place of a NAP100 to drive my Totem Hawks more -,what do you think of that?

https://forums.naimaudio.com/t...76#77174073696282476

That's all, folks. I only wanted, for once, share my satisfaction (happiness is a big word for me) with you all. Uncle Scrooge is becoming a little more human. As far as I'm concerned, he thread has started and reached its end. M.

Ah that's good. I like the Nait XS and really enjoyed my time with it. A very nice amplifier.

Enjoy your 'new' setup Max.

Massimo Bertola posted:

That's all, folks. I only wanted, for once, share my satisfaction (happiness is a big word for me) with you all. Uncle Scrooge is becoming a little more human. As far as I'm concerned, he thread has started and reached its end. M.

You drive a hard bargain ????

hungryhalibut posted:

Nait 2. 

I think you have a point, HH. Max had separates, then a SN1, now the XS2 - its just a matter of extrapolation.

I started in 1985 with a Nait. In between, my integrates (and their reiterations) perhaps outnumber my separates. I suspect I am simply an integrated and not a separates guy. 

Nice. Sometimes it's more to the match between amp and speakers rather than the integrated amp itself. Perhaps the Nait XS-2 matches the S-400 better than the Supernait 1 (or 2) for select individuals. FWIW I tried the Nait XS-1 for a very brief period many years ago, not on the S-400 but a pair of Harbeth speakers. At that time I was comparing it back and forth with the Rega Elicit Mk2. Both amps sound very similar, just tiny differences. I thought the Nait XS-1 sounded quite nice but rather mediocre when matched with the Harbeth SHL5 Plus which I had at that time. 

ryder. posted:

Nice. Sometimes it's more to the match between amp and speakers rather than the integrated amp itself. Perhaps the Nait XS-2 matches the S-400 better than the Supernait 1 (or 2) for select individuals. FWIW I tried the Nait XS-1 for a very brief period many years ago, not on the S-400 but a pair of Harbeth speakers. At that time I was comparing it back and forth with the Rega Elicit Mk2. Both amps sound very similar, just tiny differences. I thought the Nait XS-1 sounded quite nice but rather mediocre when matched with the Harbeth SHL5 Plus which I had at that time. 

I agree on most of your post, even on the similarities between old Nait XS and the Elicit. Yet, the must be something too in the fact that apparently you don't have the SHL5s anymore...

Max

Must admit I liked my XS 2 ( just to be clear ...the one with the big headphones socket on the front)

Great bit of kit at the time ... definitely NOT improved by adding a flat cap Xs2 to it ..IMO 

HI Max, 

It seems that finally after a few visits and auditions with my system, helped to finally reach  the sweet spot in your room.

Incidentally we have now pretty much the same system (S400 with same veneer too)

Regards

Roberto

Massimo Bertola posted:

 I suspect I am simply an integrated and not a separates guy. 

Ditto, I think the external connecting cables all weaving here there and everywhere can sort of negate what individual boxes is all about, it's lengthening the signal journey for a start.

Enjoy your new amp.

Bravo Max!

Welcome to the XS club

Best, C.

Are sure you don’t want ND555 + 2 x 555DR PSU’s and a full loom SuperLumina.?

Actually, that is precisely what I had entered my friend's audio shop to demo and eventually buy, but my credit card's limit prevented me from doing it, and I was short of change in my pockets.

rsch posted:

HI Max, 

It seems that finally after a few visits and auditions with my system, helped to finally reach  the sweet spot in your room.

Incidentally we have now pretty much the same system (S400 with same veneer too)

Regards

Roberto

The few listening sessions we did at you place, with either the 400s or in the system with the Sats, both with Nait XSes, have always left me open mouthed. Then there was Chris, who once called it 'the best Naim amplifier'. He was right in insisting: as I wrote to him, when I went to my dealer on Saturday I connected the XS-2 after having heard a few notes from a connected Star, and, as I have told him, the XS-2 'had me at hello'.

M.

Christopher_M posted:

Bravo Max!

Welcome to the XS club

Best, C.

My pleasure.

Max