Nac A5 fun

I think you would hear a difference with longer cables mate. I listened to mine again tonight and they’ve deffo improved over the 1st session.

Clive

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I have a set sitting doing nothing can measure to see if they help

And how does it compare to the 4.5m A5? I just ordered 2x 5m NAC A5, coming from 2x 2m NAC A5, so I’m very curious what it will do!

As said, the 1st listening was a bit duller than with the shorter lengths but 2nd listening sounded a bit sweeter and balanced. Ill stick with the longer for a while then swap back to the shorter and make a judgement on which presentation is most enjoyable.

Id be interested to hear what your experiences are too.

Clive

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Good - mine is 8m I think :blush:
The last item of my 90s naim system still in place :blush:

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Ok I’m really confused here… I just received my 5m NAC A5 cable with NAIM plugs on the amplifier end. And I’m connecting it right now to my Nait XS3. But I’m seeing on the amplifier that the red (+) outputs are mirrored, but on my speakers (Dynaudio Contour 20i) the red is always on the left (from the listening position). Should I then put one NAIM plug up side down? Maybe it’s a dumb question but I’m kind of confused… If true also, I’ve been listening to my speakers out of phase for years :laughing:

I’d open the SA8 plugs and swap the pins accordingly.
They just push out.
I found this picture not mine.

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So basically it’s true you have to put one plug upside down OR swap one of the inside plugs on one of the NAIM plugs? Or maybe reverse the cables on the speaker end?

I’d swap the pins over and keep everything as the colour or identified positive is the same.
Better to fix one than remember to fudge the rest. :+1:t2:
I thought most dealers knew about Naim Siamese Pairs. :thinking:

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I’d have used Naim plugs on the speakers too. The stiff cables will then hang neatly down to the floor putting less stress on the cables, plugs and sockets.
Always worth checking that the cable supplier understands the socket arrangements and solders them to match rather than you having to do a botch job to make them fit. If they’re not right, I’d get them remade. It’s simple enough for a dealer to do.

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Well, JV says MAX 20picofarads, so not far from the perfect 16; and specifies loop for the resistance, meaning forth and back for each wire, so again not so different…

I’m really not sure what to swap because it’s all soldered and it seems fixed like this. Also I tried putting it upside down but the sound was worse after that. Distorted stereo image, so maybe it’s just fine when I leave the plugs in normal order with the cable coming down.

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Ciao Max, come stai?
Naim amps are not so critical over capacitance, provided it’s not excessive. The same for resistance.
The most important is inductance as this applies the required (must have) series inductance load to the amp outputs to provide stability against possible damaging oscillation caused by capacitive reactance

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Those plugs are not properly soldered. If you want the cables to perform at their best find someone who knows how to do it and get them to start again.

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Those plugs are a mess I’d go to an experienced Naim dealer to terminate them.
I don’t know where you are but Cymbiosis is the best I’ve ever seen.
Should be like this then put in the housings.
IMG_7071

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I’m in the Netherlands, I think the cables are assembled directly at the NAIM distributor, probably Latham Audio. Does anyone know a recommended dealer in the Netherlands?

For the left/right story… I checked the cables again and the plugs are 180 degrees rotated with respect to each other. So there is a left and right cable and everything was and is correctly attached :slight_smile: Big relief :laughing: Thanks for the help!

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Ciao Mike,
tutto bene so far, grazie.

I’m using either 2 x 5.5 mt. of K20 (NAC A4) or 2 x 2.5 mt of Vertere Pulse X. Nait 5 seemed more sensitive to K20, SN is apparently unconcerned… :slight_smile:

M.

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This picture has become a classic… Deservedly. If I could solder NAC A5 like this, I could even start to love HiFi…
:slight_smile:

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Reporting back on my upgrade from 4m lengths of nac a5 to 8m to settle the harshness of the Harbeth Compact 7 XD; the harshness is calmed, the speakers tamed, the sound is more musical. I’m glad I went with the longer cables.

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