Connecting Rega Saturn to XS3 advice?

[Hgben]

Just acquired a Rega Saturn cd player and would welcome advice on best connection options to a Naim XS3 and recommended appropriate interconnect.
Thanks

[whitedragem]

Just take two RCA plug outputs, the ‘DAC CD analogue output’, and connect to some RCA inputs on the XS3.

If you are yet to spend some nice money on interconnects, I would look into a cable that goes from RCAs (2) to Naims’ DIN plugs. (inside the XS3 the DIN have a better connection.)

[IanRobertM]

@whitedragem

I would look into a cable that goes from RCAs (2) to Naims’ DIN plugs

Pretty sure Chord will have some options here.

I wouldn’t blow the budget though… But, YMMV.

[HungryHalibut]

In theory, a din plug at the Naim end will be best. Naim make an excellent RCA phono to Din cable, which costs around £120 and can be bought from Naim dealers. If you prefer to have RCA at both ends, Rega’s Couple cables are very good and again, not silly money.

[ratrat]

@HungryHalibut is spot on, with those recommendations. Could save yourself a lot of time by simply making a choice between those two alternatives.

It’s possible to go higher.
Hope these related posts make for interesting reading…

Innuos Zen Mini - a Journey into Streaming Audio

Our new Innuos Zen Mini mk3 arrived home Friday night, last night. It took just minutes to set it up and start using it. It’s so simple. So, now it’s being used (a lot) and we are going through a few experiments, before we settle with it. It really is as quiet as a mouse. [image] Here is an update, on some of the details… Streaming For now, we are going to resist subscribing to Qobuz. So, keeping it simple, just focus on our CD’s for a while and get that part right. Position and stacking …

Innuos Zen Mini - a Journey into Streaming Audio

Which Interconnect? One detail we’ve been considering is a decent interconnect to go between the Zen Mini (internal DAC) analogue output to our Naim NAC72 pre-amp. The configuration is a simple stereo RCA phono pair to Naim 5 pin DIN source. I’ve spent a few sessions tinkering with these loan demo cables… [IMG_1336] Shown, in order Chord Chrysalis ( as a proxy for the Naim equivalent currently available) Chord Clearway Chord Shawline Chord Epic Here are our thoughts … The Chrysalis and …

Innuos Zen Mini - a Journey into Streaming Audio

Update - Which Interconnect? Update on thoughts for interconnects, since the last report, a few weeks ago… [IMG_5512] Naim 2 RCA to 5 Pin Din My wonderful dealer sent me a Naim Interconnect - 2 RCA to 5 Pin Din, 1M. (Up to this point, we had been using the Chord Chrysalis, which is supposed to be similar / same). Well, when the Naim cable went in, compared to the Chrysalis it sounded different, better, a bit more open. So, we then decided to leave it in for an extended listen. To my ears…

Innuos Zen Mini - a Journey into Streaming Audio

Finally committed to a new Chord Shawline - RCA to DIN - to go between the Innous Zen Mini mk3 and my Naim NAC72 Pre-amp. (Timing wise, also made possible with some birthday monies). [image] Came home from the dealer this week. Now installed and just settling in. [ Note : For full story, see notes above ]

Maybe stretch to go to Shawline. But with those items, might not get (hear) any further benefit, beyond .

Ideal situation would be to ask your local Naim dealer to loan some cable options, from their loans / demo room stock, just over a weekend. Find out for yourself.

Good luck
R

[Ian2001]

The Saturn is reputed to be a really good player , it needs good connections to you XS3 ( again a quality component) , I have just bought a Chord Shawline for my Naim CD5si and Nait 50, I also have a Naim UnitiQute that I use as a DAC and streamer for internet radio

That too is connected via Chord Shawline to the Nait 50 , indeed I have gone one step further than that in that both UnitiQute and CD5si use Chord Shawline power cords .

[whitedragem]

Those links certainly suggest the Shawline level of interconnect is not choking the potential capability of the ‘amp’ rendering a GREAT playback. (better was identified going ‘higher’ but the Shawline was the base level for being a jump above a good Naim cable; identified as being better than the lower two tiers (that were tested) by @ratrat.)

the linked to thread regarding cables had a couple of posts that really cleared up ‘what to expect’ in real world usage… (and described things as I would likely do when noting ‘cable differences’; so lines up with my expectations and is easy for me to take onboard as ‘potentially true’)

Cables arguably are the last steps of sorting out a systems sound.
Unless, like me, you have a few cables sitting around begging to be used, and can, with no expectation bias ([i]maybe previous samplings of ‘said cable’ in previous systems, “sure”), or ‘need to net value’ from a purchasing decision etc… loading my bias’.

Oddly enough I replaced a flagship Kordz cable with a mid tiered Chords cable and have loved the pairing with the Nait amplifier.
I believe (if) it is an electrical properties matching thing; perhaps Witchhat (?) brand cables are another to consider (ex Naim employees I read in a thread here somewhere).

Took a couple of weeks to settle… by present setup is musical in every regard and I’d argue, certainly at ‘low volumes’ a better listen for me than my previous (higher tiered) amp in situ.

Not on all recordings quite yet (a few are still “a little grainy” as of a couple of days ago; might need be rechecked though based on listening today so far!)

OP: Saturn is a nice CD player, and likely going to be the DAC in the system from streaming sources etc… great way to use one set of ‘cable’ to improve multiple sources!!

[Hgben]

Thank you all for your suggestions. Think I’ll give the Naim din to rca cable a go to start with. Looking forward to giving my cd collection a new lease of life

[whitedragem]

I’d warn against switching cables, as can prove false economy

You can only use one set (at a time), splitting ‘investment’ pointlessly isn’t wise.

[Neilb1906]

For clarity, you need a RCA to DIN .

[PerF]

I agree in using DIN inputs are usually preferred.

However when using Rega CD players I’ve always preferred Rega Couple interconnect(any edition is fine), only available RCA configured.

Rega Couple is known as a variant of Klotz or Mogami cables, usually for studio use, nice free of any audiophile snake oil.