Hi-Fi Corner

I'm pretty sure most of us claim their system to sound better at 'some time' during the day, but we all know the multifarious factors (work day over; kids in bed; fully fed etc.) and these are aside from the key variable I ask: others in our neighbourhood using electricity. And I predict this is the most relevant for most of us. I think. Therefore, when more of our neighbours use electricity, sound quality should go down, yes? BUT in the evening, I personally think my system sounds the best.

some 16 years ago I purchased my first couple of NAIM CD5 & 200 from a highly repected dealer in Leicester changed the system around a lot over the years but the 200 remained - moved from CD5 to CDX2/XPS then downgraded to Unti but still with 200 I can't praise my dealer highly enough for the advise - guidence (and invoices!) over the years they say NAIM is a journey, well to use that metaphor " whilst the journey may not be over I am going to sit on a bench for a while and admire the...

I need to challenge people here as if one looks through older posts, the 52 was once the bees knees. Of course its updated model is better, but then the praise and words said for the 552 make one think THAT was the pinnacle. No post says the 552 is lacking. None. So why desire the Statement? (And how is the 52 now viewed?!) Human fickleness is perplexing. Maybe that's the wrong word, but when the 'Statement 2' comes out, how will the Statement be commented on... e.g. "I was listening to...

I like the one box solution but confused about what is in the box (amp wise). I found the Uniti a bit 'thin', almost harsh sounding. Will an Atom improve on an XS/2Qute or should I just save up for a SuperNait?

Greetings all, I have my Naim (n)DAC and NAC282 connected by RC5 cable for automation. It works fine unless the DAC loses power (on purpose or not). I then have to reprogram the DAC automation. It loses the programming even if only the DAC itself is power cycled, with the XPS left on. So I'm wondering - is DAC automation programming supposed to be persistent (stored in non-volatile memory) or not? Not a big deal, but whenever my DAC loses power on purpose or not, it renders my 282 inoperable...

Who has compared the core as a streamer against using it into a DAC directly and what did you use and what conclusion did you draw? Please don't side track this with a discussion of the superiority of streaming from a NAS.

I dropped off my NAP300 for a DR upgrade this week. The system has been packed away because of a house move and getting the 300 DR'd seems like a good idea during the down time. On the shelf at my dealer is a Uniti Core. They tried to do a quick showroom demo but we were hampered with only minutes left on the car before the risk of a parking ticket and my wife said I can always come back next week when I'm in town! I read this as outline planning permission but I need to understand if what...

I now have 552/555dr three 250s with a recapped supercap serving the active speakers . Would a 500DR bring major inprovement in sound quality. I would need new crossovers for the speakers I was told they are no longer made? Possibly a new snaxo? Are there other changes that need to be made ?

I was wondering about the various upgrades to STAX headphones (or earspeakers !!) and what relative improvements there are when stepping up the range. I am particularly interested in the relative improvement in the headphone and the energiser for each step up. Is it worth changing just the headphone and keeping same energiser or change the energiser and keeping the headphone? I presently have the 313 energiser and 303 headphones. Has anyone got any experience of the new L range?

I ask this question so the consumer gets the product as intended upon purchase. What do you think? (Maybe it's my impatience awaiting the 552 DR, while listening to a fully optimised 252 DR and 24 bit 96 kHz Bob Dylan. And mighty impressed at the present!)

Hi all, I am going to have a chat with my dealer but thought I was ask my learned friends on this forum first. my system is 552 non dr (serviced 6 months ago) 300 dr lp12 NDS /555 non dr (2006 vintage) pwerlines/highline/ Nac a5 / split fraim pmc fact 8's I recently upgraded from 252 / super cap dr to the 552 and was immediately disappointed but given it was a 2006 unit I thought a service would rectify this but after a painful burn in period but the whole system is still ear bleedingly...

I am curious to find out why I get transformer hum at a much higher volume at night compared with during the day. During the day my Nait5i and CDX2 have minimal hum (you have to put your ear close to each to hear it). However, at night, particularly later in the evening and the early hours of the morning it is a lot louder. By morning the hum is back to it's low level. This is a consistent pattern on a nightly basis. There is never any hum through the speakers. I'm not concerned about this...

Good morning from sunny southern California. I recently moved from Florida to California and had my stereo in storage for about 9 months while our new home was completed. I recently put everything together and I now have a problem which I think is linked to my Pre Amp. My system setup is NAC 282/NAP250 -> SBLs - Inputs CDX2/XPS and Linn LP12 + Armageddon. There is a static/crackle on both channels when I use either the volume or balance controls. There is also occasional "static" on the...

Hi all, I am in the fortunate position of having a "spare" supercap DR. Main system is 552 / 500 (non DR) plus Lp12 with Ecos arm into stageline. All interconnects and speaker leads are SL and Powerlines on all important boxes. Stageline is currently powered from the 552. Am I in for a significant sonic upgrade if I power the stageline from the Supercap? Paul

A couple of years back there was some discussion and debate concerning smart meters and whether or not they degraded SQ on a HiFi system by adding "noise" or other unwanted pollution of the mains supply. Smart meters were very new technology then and the debate largely subjective. But as smart meters are starting to become more common, particularly with the government supported roll out now taking place. I was wondering if this might be a subject worth revisiting and to that end has anyone...

After some years of neglect, I have in more recent times made some upgrades to my 1980's based system which now comprises: Audiotech table/1980 fluted LP12 (no base board)/Keel/Ekosse SE-1/Kandid/Radikal Dynamik/Tom Evans Microgroove + X Mk 2/NAC 42.5/HiCap/NAP110/1988 Kans/Grado 325e 'phones powered by a Headline/HiCapDR. The Radikal/Headline/HiCapDR were purchased 2nd-hand from reputable sources whilst the Chrome Bumpers have been serviced by Class A. I have a small listening area and use...

I have 37,000 new tracks. Wesley from AudioSpace in Belfast delivered and installed my DR'd and serviced 500. He had kindly loaned me a 250 DR to tide me over, and it is indeed very good. But the 500 is something else entirely, and it is still cold. If my memory serves (a big if!), it will keep getting better for months. With retirement beckoning in a year, I may even manage to make real inroads into those 37,000 tracks, some probably for the first time. Where to start.......?

Wondering if anyone is using the Nait XS 2 with Ovator S-400 speakers? Comments or thoughts regarding this combination welcome. Thanks

morning all. I currently have a cd5i which is displaying the error message. Dropped an email to naim who have given me an initial quote of approx £400 to look at /repair. i have been told by my local retailer that if I am going to upgrade to a new naim CD player then I need to consider a player with a digital out. Can someone confirm if this is to use with an external dac . I have the naim dac and currently use the sonos through this. If this is the case and the increase is dramatic then it...

I know some of you have tested equipment at home before deciding whether it's for you or not, so what's the best way of going about that? I'd really like a new set of twenty5.23 or 24 speakers, but I can't find anywhere online that offers a try before you buy type of scheme. Can anyone recommend somewhere that does, either close to Manchester or nationwide? I realise there are probably postage costs etc to cover which is fine, but it's the ability to send back that's important.

Just a couple of days ago, noticed that there is no sound coming from one of my SL2 tweeters. Will be seeking help from my dealer to diagnose if its has blown or something else. In any case, if I need to replace the tweeters, should I replace them as a 'matched pair' or is it fine to replace just the spoilt one. Did some searches and found comments that it might be worthwhile going for a matched pair. http://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/sl2-tweeter-repair However, I also emailed Naim UK, but...

I am itching to get a NAC 252 (pre owned or ex demo). Unfortunately, there aren't many around or if there are, they are pretty quickly snapped up. Moderated post: Richard, please be mindful of forum rules. Thanks.

Hi there Looking for a new power amp to sit between a MFA Classic v2 passive pre-amp and my PMC Twenty 26. So far I have a Chord SPM 1050 Mk II which won out over Cyrus Mono X 300 Signatures (close call but the Chord adds a real kick to the bass and looks mental.) I’m mostly happy but I do find I’m sensitive to treble and certain recordings really grate (it was slightly worse with the Cyrus.) I listen to rock so it’s mostly cymbals. I’m still confident these are the speakers for me as rear...

Hi there - my first post. I've been a Naim owner for about 25 years.I stopped buying hi-Fi about 10 years ago to focus my money spending on family things and, while that's still true, I think it is time to upgrade my speakers.And I need some help, please, because I haven't even walked into a hi-fi shop for a decade (far to dangerous!). Firstly about what the speakers will be fitting into: Naim NAC202 pre amplifier and NAP150. My current speakers are Mission 751s on stands bi-wired with Naim...

All some help, I have some Focal Chorus 706 speakers noticed when getting the plugs amp end re soldered that one of the banana plugs speaker end was bent. Problem I have is with NACA5 being pretty stiff, the Focals with banana plugs require the cable to enter from the top Meaning then the cable always falls under tension down and to the right or left. So question is to any other Focal users am i doing something wrong, or is just using binding posts (bare wire i do not have spades) the best ...