Hi to all, I’m running a Rega Couple 2 between my Nova & Marantz SA-12se and contemplating changing the I/c for a Chord Shawline or equivalent? My budget would be around £250:00.
Thanks.
In terms of interconnects from non-naim sources I do like Chord interconnects and on the whole have not heard a bad one or one that has not changed things for the positive especially of course over the often rubbish interconnects that come with non-Naim sources.
I have not tried any from the shawline range as most of mine are Crimsons and have not felt the need to look for something else.
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Do Naim still make/sell I/C’s?
I use a 2x RCA to DIN Naim cable on my Node and it’s great. I paid less than half of your budget too.
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Found one seller online doing them at £115, with an option for custom termination on request.
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The Rega Couple is a good cable. I’d stick with it. Any improvement from a £250 Chord is going to marginal at best.
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Thanks for your replies and I like the price list , (thank you Skeptikal), I didn’t know Naim made so many cables for general sale.
If I went for a Naim i/c are they directional like other cables ? Obviously mine would be CDP to amp.
Are the classic cables a lot better sounding than the standard cables? I know that sounds a bit silly but I’m learning on the fly here…
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I cannot endorse this comment enough. The whole Chord product range and pricing is designed to make you always think you should upgrade and spend more. The price increase is huge but the improvements are marginal. Having wasted a lot of money, my advice is to steer clear or land on a range you are happy with and close your wallet.
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I have an IC from the Thorens to the StageLine, one from the FC to the Nait XS, one from the TEAC to the XS. They’re all Lavenders, properly terminated for each source - RCA to RCA (Naim’s own plugs, factory soldered at one end), RCA to DIN 180°, DIN4pin 240° to 180°. I don’t use other interconnects. I have had HiLines in the past, but I still stick with the Lavender.
How’s that been working for you recently? 
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Just wondering whether going from RCA to DIN on the Nova would sound any better than phono to phono ?
I’ve been saying that for ages. 
Just asking 
RCA wins for me every time. 
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I thought you’d be sceptical…
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I’ve known better times…
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When I look at the pictures of the RCA inputs on 552 it to me looks like naim connected the ground on R/L (green wire) so they are one point ground. So the shield travel through 2 cables vs 1 on DIN but still connects together directly on the RCA connector. How will this make a difference compared to DIN?
Good advice 
Not seen inside before, but the wiring circled in Red looks a but strange, it looks like it has melted??
DG…
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It looks like blurring - see the yellow Tants in the same area.
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