Help getting away from Naim amplification...

Tony (WM) did this for years with his first Belcanto.

I don't think you can transpose one bad example from another brand and call it a trend.

The reason to do it is simple - get the amp for £500.

 

The point I was making was to make sure if you grey import there are sometimes pitfalls and sometimes it can be a false ecconomy.

I have no problem with people saving money just research before you buy.

 

Graham.

 

Sorry to repeat myself - but the woes reported sound exactly like the NACA5 speaker cable to me - just swap that out and see ....

 

.

 

when i bought naim kit i was advised NAC A5 was the only stuff that would do.....

 

Do what????

 

its true!

 

older naim kit (silver edge and olive) require specific properties of the speaker cable used to prevent some sort of electronic nasties however the newer amps are no longer sensitive to this issue so naca5 or similar cable isn't a necessity.
I'd say that while speaker cable can make a difference it's not going to be a fundamental one and to find an amp with characteristics you are happy with first and then tweak around with cables if that floats your boat.

 

sounds sensible

 

AFAIK the Bel Cantos are (relatively) rather simple to have the voltage conversion performed to convert them from 115v to 230v for use in the UK - if this is true buying one from Audiogon or similar to then use this side of the pond would present little problem.

 

There are no inductors in the output stage of your Naim power amplifier and the design depends on a certain lengh of NacA5 (3.5 mtr's minimum) to preserve stability. You may use other cables providing they have certain elecrtical characteristics. On the other hand certain types of cable can cause instability of the output stage in extreme circumstances.
Im sure someone will come along and explain in more detail and advise on what to avoid.

 

I am now retired from ZG but this makes me mad enough to make a brief return.

For a Bel Canto dealer to say this on a forum when he KNOWS that the S series are multi voltage and work anywhere is both disgusting and dishonest.

Seems Bel Canto needs some honest and helpful representatives in the UK. I will be mentioning this to Jon. Byee.

 

Why so angry?

Why go down the route of using stepdown transformers?

Did I mention anything about the products I represent?

I was talking in general terms about the implications of grey importing?

Whats the problem?

I think things have been taken out of context.

What is dishonest?

In the post quoted I said make sure its suitable for UK mains supply? I don't understand why it would make someone angry?

 

cheers Paul

 

Me too, but Avondale's Black Link works fine in my rig now with much better results than that fairground wire that won't bend round corners

Better bass, smoother treble, and no loss in boogie

 

interesting.......what kit are you using, DFB? (Dominic?)

another forum member was helpfully suggesting nac a5 with older naim kit, which mine is.

actually, judging from comments here I could develp quite a complex about my 72/140/flat cap combo...I'm actually considering camaflaging it lest family/neighbours should spot it.....dear me no..

 

"New" CD5 and "olive" Flatcap
"Olive" 72/180 with "chrome" Hicap.

IE, my amps "need" NACA5, but there are other cables which are also electrically compatible with this (Chord Rumor, I think, is one, and the Linn speaker cable's supposed to be too). The Black Link stuff from Avondale's really impressed me though

 

It's all too easy to forget what Hi-fi is about, if you forget what live (especially acoustic) music actually sounds like then I suppose there is no reference point other than different Hi-fi systems. I find it much more enjoyable to listen to music when I can't see any of the gear (eyes closed), does anyone also find this?

 

I like to listen in the dark too. Wish I could disconnect all those LEDs. Recently I attended a concert in our local High School and was blown away with the sound especially from a group playing clarinets and saxes called "The Reeds" I went home realising what a long way Hi Fi still had to go. Conversly a week later I went for a night out and the band was a four piece two guitars, electric bass and drums. My hifi sounded a million times better!! -