“LP12/52/135’s/Kans and then swapped the Kans for Isobariks”
A very musical system that, IMHO, even in the modern day can out class many more expensive systems.
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You were dong just fine with the XS3 and CM1s. If those are 705S3s you’re going to run out of headroom very quickly with an XS3. You’re now in SN3 territory - at a minimum.
Too much too fast?
We were promised a ‘long time coming’. Wait for it … we’ll see 500 level in 2 years time.
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You may well be right! There’s certainly a lot going on listening now. Perhaps a bit too much! I will do a fair bit more dedicated listening and let you know. The advantage of auditioning!
The thinking was to roughly match the cost of the components and the man maths was that if you divide the outlay by 40 years (I’ve not spent anything for 20 years so I won’t be spending any more for the next 20) it works out at roughly £187 per year, which is about what my wife spends on her hair every 6 weeks!
So far, I think the XS3 is staying and I remain amazed at how good the CM1s are, so the 705 S3s have some work to do.
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OP: if you can source one, get yourself a nDAC to pair with the ND5XS2. It raises the performance of your front end to a whole new level.
Many have commented that it is difficult to hear any difference between this pairing and WLwhat would be the wildly more expensive NDX2.
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Lovely kit and really like the double Isoblue!
ps: I have plastic dust covers on the dac & streamer USB sockets, easier to the eye.
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That’s a really nice touch.
Idea noted 
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That’s what I did when I had the NDAC in my system. So much easier to the eyes.
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Hi Mark
IF you want to upgrade, you have a very good dealer in York not far from The Minster where I bought my first real hi fi system. This “organisation” used to let you complete your audition at home and refund if it did not work acoustically in your listening room. Both the XS3 and Supernait 3 should sound good with your ND5xs2, and I would listen to them both with your current speakers. I would also perhaps check out another brand of amplifier to ensure you really like the Naim sound. I buy mostly preloved Naim which is cheaper but you have to sell it on if you don’t like it! I advise you take things step by step. The XS3 is the natural partner for your streamer, a Supernait is capable of taking an NDX2. I hope this is helpful, but your own ears are the final judge. The Supernait can take more expensive speakers than the XS3 so this will almost certainly be quite a lot more expensive in the end. The Supernait 3 is a brilliant integrated for my current set up.
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Really helpful thanks. Yes Hamish steered me in my first Naim purchase 20 years ago and I have discussed SO many other things more recently. I’m enjoying trying different kit and listening to my music and hearing new things. As I said, at the moment the 705s sound like a step too far, but we will see.
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I am surprised that the 705s are a step too far but I am not listening to them in your home acoustic. I think the higher frequencies are good on these speakers and better than the 707s. It is a tricky decision whether to splash the extra cash. Speakers choice was the hardest for me and it makes the most impact on sonority and the naturalness of the sound.
By the way, the shop of Hamish also sells Spendor Classic 4/5s and Russel red 50s which are slightly cheaper and have synergy with Naim. I take it you might have already auditioned them but auditioning is free!
PS Received wisdom for testing bass response is the Leonard Cohen track “The Runaway Horse” on Jennifer Warnes 80’s tribute album. Works for me, might work for you too …..
If it were me I would go for adding a Naim DAC with an XPS DR and swapping the amplifier for a Nait 50. That would be amazing value and should sound wonderful (though probably more with your current speakers than the on trial ones…)
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TOE IN!!!
By ‘eck that’s reyt grand!
So the CM1s sound at their best straight ahead in my room. The 705s did not sound good in that position but about 10 degrees of toe in has transformed the sound! I would never have thought it made that much difference.
In what respect? Arguably no speaker is too much as long as amp can control it adequately, subject of course to budget and fitting in the room (and re last point, many floorstanders take up no more room that speakers on stands). But of course if upgrading periods are measured in decades then the system must be sufficiently balanced fif your overall happiness with it.
Yes, any speakers need to be in the right place to shine and now with the Naim ND5xs2 and the Nait XS3 you can hear far more detail than before. A veil is lifted. And Naim kit somehow adds some emotion too, it is detailed but never harsh.
This video on YouTube “place your speakers for perfect sound ….” worked for me, I got a mate to come around as a second pair of ears, it took us an hour or so, and we celebrated with a couple of beers at our local pub.
Definitely. Are you keeping those cool speakers?
Well, the splurging is over and I am now free to settle down to enjoy the fruits of my labours in my favourite slippers!
The end result was a new ND5 XS2 with its own Cat6 dedicated ethernet connection. The CD5i is staying. The Nait 5i has been replaced by a refurbished Nait XS3 from Sevenoaks. The Atacama equinox has acquired a new shelf for the streamer. The FS 700 speaker stands are staying but have now been 2/3rds filled with sand. The B&W 705 S3s are replacing the CM1s. The Naim speaker cable is staying (not least because I ran it under the floor back in 2006 to keep the aesthetics tidy). The standard extension 4 gang lead has been replaced by a Tacima 6 gang, under the bottom shelf (it has helped my system, though I know others differ in their view).
The 705s took some fettling to get a big improvement in sound. I ended up with a tiny bit of toe in (about 5 degrees!), bringing them slightly closer together and filling the speaker stands! The result in my room is excellent and an improvement over the CM1s (although not the 4x as good as the price differential). They were B-stock and a lot cheaper than the new price.
Thanks all.
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It all looks very good indeed. Now to get those pictures up…..