Best "laid-back" speaker cable & interconnects for all Naim system?

That aside, as a former Naim junkie, IMO the cables are not your problem.  If the sound is that objectionable, you need to change the amp.

Bad synergy between amp and speakers. That's why you should ask at Naim owners forum.

chayro,

I agree... I think the issue is the amp. It wasn't an issue when I had the 4330SE, and things only changed when I introduced the 5i. Not that the 5i is awful... hardly. Just isn't the right fit.

So this begs the question: What should I get? Of better put: What can I get with a max budget of $675 that is slightly laid back like the 4330SE, but still has really good low bass response (punch).

Rega Mira 3? Options from Musical Fidelity or Arcam? Simaudio Moon iL/250i? Another Creek perhaps? Any of the Evo's similar to the older Creeks? Exposure 2010S? Classe CAP-101, CAP-150?  

See - you are now going through what everyone at one time went through.  You are not satisfied with the sound and you are setting this arbitrary budget of $675 because you have that in your head.  You just have to get used to the sticker shock of what good stuff costs and get something you really like.  Within reason of course.  I remember when I thought $1500 bought the best CD player in the world.  Until I heard the next model up for $3000 and it was all over.  Personally, I think you are going about this in the wrong way.  Find something you like and then either figure out a way to pay for it or find something very close for significantly less money.  But if you can't do that, I would recommend you buy an integrated from Cambridge or NAD with tone controls so you can adjust the sound to something more to your liking.  Those are both very good products at reasonable cost.  

JSbach - although I like Naim products very much, I think their cables are archaic by today's standards. (yes, I am a NAIM heratic)

e.g. Their use of DIN leads was cutting edge at one time - but single ended technology using RCA's has progressed so far and now leaves DIN far back in their wake. I would consider replacing any NAIM cables you have - they may be impacting the effectiveness of the CD player wrt  driving the amp

Is your amp the 5i the mk 1 or mk 2? - if the "I" is in italics it's the MK 2 - same as mine

From what I have heard and read the MK 2 has more punch than the mk 1

As for the speakers - the  Vandersteen are 86db and my Sonograms are 89 DB, so I do not see that 3db as being that much of an issue i.e. if you have the MK 2.

Before the KLEI cables, I was using Van den Hul D-352 - comparable to the NACA5, but more refined with what I thought was substantial bass.

When I received the the KLE gZero2 cables the improvements were jaw dropping...
- first - the gZero2's are skinny compared to the D352
- mistakenly wondered how could these skinny cables be better than the D-352's
- as it turns out - looks are deceiving.
- their top end is superbly smooth and complete
- their bottom end is deeper, more dynamic and better controlled.
- the gZero6's are even better  

NAIM components have a very good reputation - but from my own experience they can be so much better - when treated to the right cables.

After considerable time experimenting and reviewing cables i now consider them to be one of the most important aspects of an audio system - as important as components.

We hear about the synergy between components and speakers and tend to believe cables simply connect components.
- But the fact is - cables can make or break a system.

Buying a more powerful amp will probably get you a more desirable outcome. but you cables will still be impacting SQ.

Having said that - if you have the 5i MK 1 you might want to look at another amp - perhaps a more powerful NAIM ?

If you have the MK 2 - it should drive your speakers without a problem - i.e. with the right speaker and power cables.

Regards...

  

Hi chayro, 
Not exactly... Let me explain. I was totally happy with my system when I had the 4330SE. I regret selling it. The ONLY reason I did was because a 5350SE showed up in the ad listings for sale. These don't come up for sale very often, so I was simply tempted to get the 5350SE because it must have been better, right? Well, I sold the 4330 and bought the 5350. It was better, but it just didn't have the same sound the 4330 produced, so essentially mess up the chemistry of my system. So then I sold the 5350 and bought the Nait thinking that an all-Naim system would be better--wrong--still not what I want. I don't need to spend $3k on an amp or integrated. The onlyl reason for the $675 limit is because that is what i paid for the 5350. Honestly, I'd like to stay under that, but $675 is the max. If a 4330SE showed up on the ad listings today, I would buy it. But since there are scare to none these days, I have to find something that is very similar in sound... a sound that is warm, laid-back, punchy and low in the bass, yet is still very clean. The icing on the cake was bringing it all together with DH Labs Q-10 speaker cables and custom made DH Labs Air Matrix DIN to RCA interconnects. The 4330SE just blended perfectly with the full-range sound of the CD3.5 and Vandersteen 2c's. I was an idiot to sell it.