How long does it take to break in my Naim speaker cable and Kanta 2s? Running the Nova with it, which i found a sweet deal on with very low hours, but not sure I like the setup.
I tried the new Focal Aria Evo 2s–and out of the box they sounded better than the Kanta 2s. I tried them with a Moon integrated amp. That combo was pretty sweet, but felt I wanted a little bigger sound in my 11x16 ft size room. Thought maybe the Kanta’s would delivery a bigger, stronger sound even they have the same size drivers and midrange speakers as the Aria’s.
Kanta’s seem bright out of the box, and any tips for dialing in the sound before i return everything? Was hoping I would love the Naim/Focal setup–but so far, a little bummed.
Kanta 2s have beryllium dome tweeter which can take upto a year to break in. I have Focal Sopra 2s, bought them 6 months old mint. But 18 months later the tweeter is fully broken in.
That is why they sound bright at rhe beginning.
They should still sound good out of the box but get better with time.
Focal speakers are not for everyone. They are very forward and full on in my view. The tweeter is really sweet. The drivers are very good and the power is there. They are great speakers.
Some complain of brightness and this is normally because they are not properly broken in.
Is my 180 square ft room too small for these? I might need to put some foam in the rear port to keep the base loading down.
And what amp are you driving them with? I might try the Moon integrated I did with Araia Evos, but by all accounts, the Unit Nova should be a good match.
There is risking obviously keeping these long enough to break in when i then can’t return them.
You should check which firmware your Nova is running.
If it is the current release version a number of people, including me, feel that it has ruined the sound quality. I find it far too bright & screechy, plus lacking in bass. There is no accounting for taste as some feel that it sounds wonderful!
If you are running the latest firmware I would suggest that this is why your system sounds bright to you. If you are running older firmware my advise would be to not install the current version & to wait for Naim to release a new version when they have fixed an issues in the current version.
I think the issues are rather more fundamental than different taste. I have the update on both my Nova and NDX 2. I am not finding it shrill and the bass is definitely better than previously. It really does seem to affect different systems in different ways. I wouldn’t be able to stand it if it was shrill.
Appreciate all the input. Hating the sound of the system right now. As I said, the Focal Aria Evo X 2s were much better out of the box–but running with the Moon amp. So don’t know if it is the Nova I hate or the Kansa’s. I will try with the moon again.
As I said, everyone has very different opinions of the SQ of the current release version. I am firmly in the ‘it sounds awful’ camp & my money would go on this is why your system sounds unpleasant for now.
I am a Beta tester & am currently running newer firmware & am not allowed to say anything about it. All I can say is that there does appear to be an issue which is being worked on & will, hopefully, be sorted fairly soon.
In my opinion, my Nova has sounded great for the five years I have owned it, until I installed the current release firmware. Sure it will sound great again before long.
I hope I did not imply that there was not an issue. I am sure there is; I am not of the school of thought that those affected are imagining it. It is clear there are some real problems out there.
Equally it does not seem to affect every system. I am really sensitive to shrill sounds and my systems simply haven’t shown any deterioration on that score with the update. Maybe I don’t listen to it loud enough? - Although my wife would disagree!
On my system the harsh/shrillness was very evident at any volume & I therefore have every sympathy for all those that appear to be experiencing the same symptoms. The simplest description I can give is that the system sounded like a transistor radio with the treble full up & the bass full down.
The fact that it had always sounded very good strongly suggests to me that Naim will sort the issue &, for many, the sooner the better!
I did demo briefly. I went in thinking i was going with a different brand, and they wanted me to hear the kanta 2s. It was in a bigger room with higher ceilings and driven by 500 watt mono blocks. The sound really was terrific with the tracks i played. Simon Phillips Protocol just cranked.
I will try that Moon amp again to see if i notice an improvement over the Nova to determine if that is the issue. My speaker cables are the NCA A5s.
There is a problem with the firmware which gopefully will be ironed out soon. I don’t think the problem lies with the speakers. Can you stream from the Moon Amp ?