I really do not think that Naim’s information to us as their customers on this might be to instil unnecessary insecurities mainly to protect their NACA5 and SL sales from competitors? I may be naive but this would surprise me and I personally highly trust Naim in this respect. I believe there is no special hidden agenda and it’s genuinely not easy likely stemming from the long history and complexity in their amps with updates and adjustments between models and generations but I do think a better job could be done with this, especially with the latest generation models.
I think that you’ll find that this is still the current advice. See the FAQS.
Some people choose to stick with Naim cables or other manufacturers, but of similar specification. Others do not as it is still a free world.
At the end of the day, it is up to you what type of speaker cables and lengths you want to use with your system. Obviously, there may be risks associated with that, but again, that is also your choice.
Enjoy your music whatever type of cable you go for.
DG…
I agree entirely. My point is that previously it was a requirement.
Responce from dealer when I enquired if they use Naim speaker cables in store.
"We use Non-Naim or Non-Naim normally. But it’s at our risk! LOL. I understand where you’re coming from…all I can say is we have a lot of Naim owner customers that don’t use Naim cable and have not had any issues…
I put Non-Naim to protect them.
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In-Akustik speaker cables.
Who knew!
Following on from all of the above.
I had the follwing email conversation with Naim Support.
I note from the manual from my SN3 the following statement “however, a wide range of speaker cable types can
be used without risk of damage to the amplifier.”
Are there any type of loudspeaker cables that should definitely not be used with the SN3?
Thank you.
Kind Regards.
Roger
Hi
Sorry for the delay in responding.
Twisted cables add load to the amplifier, and can cause the amp to overheat, so we advise against using those. Parallel cables, with the red and black running side by side, are the best, like our NAC-A5 cable, found here: Naim Audio NAC A5 | Audio Speaker Cable
Kind regards,
Duncan
Hi.
So that I can make an informed decision what is the maximum pF per M of the cable recommended for the modern Naim amps such as the SN3?
Thank you.
Kind Regards.
Roger.
Hi Roger,
That information isn’t available.
We advise on a minimum length of 3.5 meters per side, and of non-twisted cable for maximum performance.
Kind regards,
Duncan
Hi Duncan.
Due to space constraints and loudspeaker configuration, I need 2.5M and 1M jumpers. I do not have room to form 1M loops of NAC 5 cable and I cannot afford your more expensive cable.
I appreciate we live in litigious times and Naim only want to give out standard information and not to go off the script.
It is an unfortunate sign of the times that is the line companies are taking.
Oh, how I long for the days long gone, when companies were customer centric.
Kind regards
Roger
I’d like to think that we’re still of the older order, and very much focused on providing the customer with whatever it is that they ask.
I made some enquiries, and this is what I found, I hope it’s sufficient.
Nominal NAC A5 specification is:
9 mΩ
16 pF/m
0.9 uH/m
A supernait 3 should be OK with double that capacitance, but note that you should use the same lengths on both channels.
Kind regards,
Duncan
I then had the following email conversation with Audioquest.
Good Morning Alasdair.
Do Audioquest make any loudspeaker cables that can be used with a Naim Supernait 3 amp?
I understand that Naim amps will not tolerate high capacitance cables.
I “heard” a rumour on a forum that the Rocket 88 can be “retuned” to make it suitable for use with Naim amps. Is this correct?
Thank you.
Kind regards
Roger.
Hello Roger,
Alasdair is no longer working for AudioQuest, but we’d be happy to assist you. You are correct that Naim amps are particular with the type of speaker cable used with them. We can do a special Naim audio preparation on any of our Rocket series speaker cables that will work perfectly with Naim amps.
Dustin Cairns
Hello Dustin.
Would the pF per M be less than 30pF per M?
Less than 30pF per M is the requirement of my modern Naim amp.
Thank you.
Kind regards
Roger
Hello Roger,
I checked with our senior director of engineering, he said the Naim preparation build ALWAYS works with both current and legacy Naim amplifiers. It has been tested repetitively.
Rocket 88 with Naim construction: 140pF / meter - 1.8uH / meter.
Dustin Cairns
So I purchased a 2.5M stereo pair and 1M stereo pair and have been using them for two weeks and my SN3 is perfectly happy.
The Rocket 88 are, IMHO with my ears in my room, far better than my old WH Phantoms. The noise floor is at lot lower and all the “hash” has disappeared and the presentation is natural and neutral. The top end is clear and I can turn the volume up without wincing. The bottom end is tight and fast.
I am more happy then a happy thing.
Very strange these cable stories… buy an amplifier from a reputable electronics manufacturer who knows what it takes to make his equipment perform optimally but ignore his advice.
Then buy a cable from a reputable cable manufacturer who has a different design philosophy that is not compatible with the electronics but provided a trick you can modify the design of that cable making it almost suitable.
Sounds almost like grinding the studs off your all-terrain tyres to fit them under a sports car…
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It seems that some people need to be saved from themselves. (But just will not follow a manufacturer’s very clear advice on how best to set up the equipment.)
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Some manufacturers suggest cables for example not always for SQ but convenience.
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Hello everyone. My contribution to this topic would be that I operate my manageable system (SN3, ND5XS2, NDAC, ND5si, Project Debut pro directly to SN3), with which I am extremely satisfied and happy, with 2x3m Kimber cable 4VR to SonusFaber Olympica II. I have been using these cables for over 20 years, including Uniti1, Supernait and now on SN3 without ever having had any problem. On the contrary, I do not have the desire at the moment to change anything in this area. Please excuse my bad English.
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