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

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. 

" 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. "

I think I can give you some info that may help. Most problems in audio can be traced back to the preamp. Its either the whole problem, or at least part of the problem. Very few people ever figure this out, and that's why you see some people always changing components. They're just not aware of the real problem. This is what's wrong with the Naim. Its extremely difficult to build a good preamp, and its even harder to build a good, cheap preamp. I haven't heard every product on the market, but I can honestly say that I've ever heard a good preamp for the $1500 or $1600 that the Naim sells for. Also, take into account that the amp section of the 5i takes up a good portion of the cost.

There are a few manufacturers that under stand this, and instead of including an active line stage in their integrated amps, they use a passive instead. Creek is one of them, Ayre is another, and if you gave me some time to think, I could come up with a few more examples. Either way, it will be a fairly small number.

Going with a passive line stage is away to get around so many obstacles that you run into with cheap preamps. My saying is if you can't afford a good active preamp, don't use one at all.

If you end up finding a used 5350SE, you need to be careful because there are 3 versions. The original 5350SE, a slightly upgraded 5350SE Classic, and the 5350SE Classic made in Asia. I would recommend that you get one made in the UK, even if its an original model.

Another option that will give you a lot more options, is to buy a stand alone power amp and a separate passive line stage. A lot of people do it this way and get results that would otherwise be out of their reach had they gone with an active solution.

Hi sfall, 

Thanks for the info. I think you may have mentioned that on another one of my threads... (regarding passive preamp stages) as the 4330 does have a passive pre, as does the 5350. I am keeping my eye on a Classic 5350SE (UK made). The original had a dedicated source knob for recording, as well as those blasted external pre-out/main-in jumpers on the back. The "Classic" 5350SE got rid of the dedicated recording knob and made the pre-out/main-in connection internal (via a button on the back). The Asian made unit is (I believe) the Evolution 5350. 

As for dedicated power amps, a local audio friend of mine has a McIntosh MC502 amp for sale. He's a big McIntosh fan and said it would sound great with the Vandersteens. I bet that sucker would sound awesome with the right preamp. Or... I can sell my Naim CD3.5 as well and go with a cd player with analog volume control? Theta Miles anyone? 

Anyway, as for Integrateds, I'm leaning towards the Classic 5350SE, as well as maybe a Classe CAP-101, Exposure 2010s, Arcam A85 or Rega Mira 3 (one for sale here now). However, I am unsure on the others if they're have passive or active preamp sections? 

For me at least. I like the speakers to be the foundation of my set up. I would ask Vandersteen users what they use with there speakers. There are MANY out there in forumland, I promise :)

I once heard Vandersteen speakers with Audio Research equipment and it had great synergy. Very natural and dynamic sounding. Maybe find out what Vandersteen voices his speakers with?

When it comes to cables and I want to avoid brightness, I stay away from Silver-clad Copper or plated Silver Copper wiring . I much prefer Solid Core Silver (Clear Day) or All copper (Wireworld Eclipse)..those are just 2 examples.