I bet that new lead sounds way better than the mains cable excuse that naim shipped the 250 with ? My cable was confined to the box. Currently using a nice, second hand Chord between HC and 250. Although, as i have just ordered 5M of the same mogami cable, i could be tempted to make up one too.
I tried it but in the end felt I preferred the snappier standard cable, so back in it went.
@Murmur A buddy has a good CB 250 and it has the same sort of (for want of a better description) ‘brown sound’ as mine. It’s not unpleasant, but (in hi-fi terms) it seems recessed and lacking definition in the midrange.
I usually end up with my default position of 102-psc/HiCap/110 as that’s what’s given me the best results in the long run, but it’s just possible this cable can tip the balance in favour of the 250.
@suzywong @Thegreatroberto The ‘mains lead’ didn’t last long here and after some trial and error I ended up using a black SNAIC-4 with a DIN to XLR adaptor at the amp end. Still not quite as articulate and engaging as the 110 though. The Mogami cable has definitely shifted the goalposts in the right direction so we shall see.
A reasonably obvious question now might be why not try the Mogami with the 110. Well, I’m almost certain the end result would likely initially be impressive, but too detail-focused and analytical in the longer term. I want to clearly hear lyrics and nuances in playing, but not detail to the point where it becomes a distraction.
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Ive got 5M of 2549 cable to make up a bespoke length into a 4-5 interconnect between my HiCapDR and 282. The original naim gray cable needed resoldering and was very thin. My attempt at using a S/H hiline failed. It had to be returned as it hummed ( no continuity on the earth connection) plus it had hiline plastic rot.
This 2549 cable looks and feels robust.
It oozes quality - in particular the copper looks incredibly pure (and I’ve soldered an awful lot of copper in my time!). Interestingly it’s not very flexible for a microphone cable, but they do a stage version which probably is, but perhaps at the expense of outright performance.
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They didn’t sound good. I was getting clipping distortion because the reservoir capacitors in the 250s had gone bad so they needed a service.
Ok so a week has passed and already there is a story to tell (albeit with an unexpected twist).
In short, the Mogami din- xlr between HiCap and olive 250 has significantly altered the sound of the 250 to the point where it now stands up very well in the all important midrange. It sounds really good now with a broad range of music, giving better insight and enjoyment, with just a touch of additional warmth that’s inherent in these amps. It’s a keeper now at last.
And the twist ?
Just for fun (and to say ‘told you so’ to @Richard.Dane ) I swapped in the original ‘mains flex’ lead to remind myself how it filtered out some of the mids. Only I figured to be fair I should first give the plugs a quick clean. The din was spotless, the xlr wasn’t ! Have a look at the before and after pics. End result ? The standard lead now sounds really good, with almost the same lack of smear and resolve as the Mogami, but with a little added something that seems just right in the context of my system as a whole.
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What did you use for cleaning?
Looks like xxxx grade wire wool.
@suzywong @Thegreatroberto Servisol switch cleaner/lubricant aerosol. Clamp the plug in a vice, spray a little onto a small strip of cotton cloth and buff each pin. Repeat using untreated cloth to remove residue. If the tarnish needed anything more abrasive to shift it, I would scrap the plug. The recommended routine of plugging/unplugging works well for DIN connections but not for XLR.
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Shows the benefit of keeping the contact pins clean.
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Probably. My can is years old (a little goes a long way) so may have been rebranded since to the above.
Mine-
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Yes, they’ve been taken over!