Oh yes when I switched the speaker cable connection I was facing the other way! Awww 
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The second amp was fine for the first 15-20 hours. Sounded superb.
Stupid question perhaps, but what is wrong with just using with balance control permanently shifted? Or does the imbalance change significantly with every change in volume control setting so needing doing oftn upon album change ?
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My friend owns an E800 paired with Avalon speakers, and the streamer is an NDX2. He’s an audiophile who likes trying different speakers, amps and cables, but this combination has stayed with him for a relatively long time and remains his setup today. He once sold his NDX2 after trying options like the Esoteric N-05XD, Auralic and Aurender and more…. but eventually returned to the NDX2.
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Surprising just how many people sell their Naim kit for one reason or another and then subsequently buy it again…….
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ATB, J
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If the second unit developed the identical fault after a few hours this might imply that something else in the set-up was damaging the amps??
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Good question. Along with the imbalance comes a stereo image that’s a bit skewed - the impression is diagonally so. Bass isn’t equal either. When the units arrived they were at 100%. When the channel imbalance became apparent the performance went to 70-80%. Because the tests point to a power amp issue, the thing isn’t firing on all cylinders.
First amp the issue arose after a year or so. Second amp, 15-20 hours. All of the set up is Naim. The cables are from Naim dealer. The Nova is fine. The NDX2 is fine.
This does seem like a helluva coincidence
Which is why getting a third is an option.
I wonder if you have a faulty speaker that went faulty after a year pulling the first amp down on one side, then when you replaced the amp it almost immediately caused the same fault with it too?
The change tonal balance is odd, and the fact that they started OK then fault developed makes @Svetty’s question just before your reply to me a pertinent one, especially as no-one else seems to be echoing your issue.Have the faults been on the same channel? If different then maybe not, but if the same… A third starting ok, but same happening, on same channel, would be very strongly suggesting something not amp related causing the issue, and if it is indeed happening in the power amp that would suggest speaker or speaker cable, though for that if it sounds perfectly okay before the shift happens I can’t imagine what might actually be the cause.
You could now swap speaker cables and speakers from one channel to the other open (or just swap the speaker cable over at the amp, and reverse the input to the amp. That way you will be using the good amp channel to feed the cable and speaker currently on the bad side. Then play as much as you possibly can for considerably longer than it took your second SN3 to fail. If the problem appears on the channel it was good, but it’s been perfectly okay up till now, I’d suggest looking in detail at that speaker cable and speaker. If on the other hand the good channel keeps staying good, then it would tend to negate the the speaker cable or speaker somehow causing harm to the amp.
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It’s a well known issue. As you can see from this 2023 post.
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Same thread, the opening :
« Hi All,
I am going to be crazy with my new SN3. This is my second unit, because the first was replaced due balance problem. My dealer send my another amplifier, but seems the problem stay. It is very irritating. I did check different sources like CD player, ND5 XS2 and turntable. Also, different speaker cables. The unbalance staying when I increase volume. The proper balance I get is when Balance pot is on 2 hours, but dynamic is weaker. Should I learn live with it or ask for another unit? »
Hi James,
thanks for your response, it seems that @Svetty and @Innocent_Bystander are having similar thoughts about the exact same issue appearing in both Supernaits. Maybe there really is something else causing this.
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@svetty Another couple of points to raise would be that when the SN3 has been out of the system, I have used my Nova instead, connected to the Focals, for a longer period than the new SN3. The Nova is fine. Also, the Focals present with no sound problem when played with the Nova. Thanks for your comments though, I will look further into it.
See my two posts above. Two different members from 2023 having the same issue. So very undoubtedly something causing it.
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I run the 222/250 combo and Kanta 2s–with Powerline power cable to the 222 and the NAC A5 cables. Sound is great–but having issues with the streamer acting slow, and pausing at times. Don’t know if it is the Naim app, or the streamer acting slow.
Considering adding the 300–but a lot of money for what I have read is marginal improvement.
Anyway, I looked at the SimAudio Moon integrated at first which I really liked, but it had no streamer–so went with the Nova before upgrading. But the new Compass 371 integrated streamer is getting great comments–and will be available soon. I am going to a Moon event at a local dealer next month to have a listen.
The 371 is $6500, but build quality and sonics of Moon are terrific.
To my ears the NPX 300 is a big step up. Available used for ~£3k+.
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No, a 300 in to a 222/250 is a big step up and it isn’t even subtle
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