Now used as desktop system connected from PC to Linn Komponent 104 via Epiphany Acoustics eDAC. What would be the recommended 1M pair speaker cable. Using some decent QED cable at present but wanted the best option re Nait ?
I wouldnāt use speaker cable of less than the recommended 3.5m for the NAIT 2. Naim NAC A5 is ideal but probably a bit stiff for a desktop system. Take a look at Kudos KS-1 as a thinner and very effective alternative.
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Thank you. Well aware of recommended length. Just trying to avoid getting my legs tangled in 3m of cable 
As James has said you really need to stick to at least 3.5m / channel for correct performance. Thatās essential. In normal circumstances I wouldnāt personally deviate from NACA5 but in a desktop system itās probably impractical. In which case the Kudos seems the best alternative. Itās very popular on here with many people using it very successfully. From my own experience of QED cables I would say itās not the happiest of matches with Naim so I would expect quite an improvement with Kudos.
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If you have to use less than the recommended minimum length, which is simply applying the minimum output stage inductance load relative to NACA5, you need to find a cable with a known and high as possible inductance. The problem is not many cable vendors publish this.
NACA5 inductance is set by (among other things) the spacing distance between conductors. Maybe look for some of the very wide spaced TQ cables.
Or think about having single core cables run to each + & -. This was the way Naim did it many years ago and a metre or so of 4x single core wires running behind a desk or office furniture should not be a problem. It will not give the ārecommendedā inductance, but for sure it will be more than your existing QED cable.
I spoke to someone at Naim a few years ago who said that the minimum cable length requirements were less critical on the Nait and Nait 2 than they were on the separate power amps of the time. Nonetheless itās still good practice to use the minimum length of 3.5m as Naim advise. (Remember that this is the minimum recommended: optimum is longer than that.)
Also bear in mind that these are length recommendations for NACA5. Virtually all other cables will need to be longer in order to achieve the same inductance and capacitance spec that Naim recommends.
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This should help here:
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Thereās several ways to solve this issue.
Search for how people coil up or tie their cable below their rack.
If you wish to destroy your amp, just use 1M of cable - goodbye.
Not only does a longer length provide the inductance required for the Nait 2 but as Iāve learned recently the longer cable sounds much better. The shorter cable length will sound uneasy. Iām not saying use as long as I did but 2 metres did not sound good. Perhaps the Kudos cable recommendation is exactly what you need
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To the point
I will take a look at Kudos at correct length and folded correctly. I already have some old NAC A5 which maybe correct to look at first. Already got the main system in the same room so I know the joys of NAC A5
Many thanks for all your input
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Iām sure Kudos will be OK, but the known inductance load problem remains as Kudos do not publish this data.
Given the Naca5/minimum length business with older naim gear, id suggest the nait 2 may not be the best answer in a desktop/near field application. I mean , who wants to wrestle 3.5M ( min) naca5 in a desktop?
The kudos ks-1 works well in later naim systems, but im not sure it works well in CB/Olive. I certainly use it in my second system with a Nait 50, but thatās a different ball game.
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Remember that the Kudos ācorrectā length will be longer than the NACA5 correct length. It is of course an easier cable to handle, though.
Will need some work to coil correctly. I may just move NACA5 from main system N50 which is the only reason the 2 was demoted. Given there is a tempting Super Limina 3m pair offer out there
Yep just done the maths. Looks like 5m NACA5 will be getting its figure of eight done this weekend. There is space behind desk ā¦ā¦.just
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never had any good experience with Naca5 in short length, probably bright and lean.
iirc Naca5 was designed with 10m-20m in mind, whilst working good starts from 5m (and the longer the better).
Mine is 10m, bold and rounded, great contour, perfect prat and plenty of low ends.
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Why not fold it within a decent-sized cable tray under the desk? 3.5m wouldnāt be particularly challenging, I wouldnāt have thought, so long as the tray had a bit of width to it.
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Iāve had a Nait 1 and 2 on a shelf in the living room. I used Linn K20 cable, which is the same as Naim NacA4. The cable was cheap, easy to bend in a SSS shape to get it behind a desk, and sounded almost as good as the NacA5.
Iāve read the original manual and it states that you should not use short cables on a Nait 2. Not as much for sound quality, but for keeping the cable within secure specs for the amp.
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Thought of Linn. Yes shorter is not a great idea but my oversight when moved to desk. Currently off as I have a house wide low level hum ( just moved old house ) Main Nait 2 muso which I am working on