New NAIM XS3 delivered - loudspeaker socket cap quiery

Hi-Fi Corner
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Hi folks,
I just took delivery of the Naim XS3, and have what is probably a VERY noob and obvious question.

The loud

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speaker input connections on the rear are covered by a cap, see photo.
What is this and how is it removed?

Thanks!

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Have you read the instructions ?

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They are the Naim speaker connection blocks that can be used for the speaker termination by the looks of it.

But @TOBYJUG offers some very sage advice.

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Just remove them and stick your bananas in there.

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Indeed - “A stereo set of speaker connection sockets is provided
on the rear panel. The sockets can accept standard 4mm
plugs, but to comply with European legislation the Naim
connectors supplied should be used.”
So that says pull them out?

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Well you can get your speaker cables terminated with the provided Naim blocks. This is the ideal solution. Or you can do what many of us do and @HiFiman’s suggested.

Roger

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Yes. If I remember rightly those speaker caps were bundled together in a separate bag along with the power supply shorting thingy when I bought my XS2.

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Try soldering speaker cables onto those plugs without pulling them out and I promise you it will end badly.

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@Judge_Drokk this is an interesting thread

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So those black covers lift up to reveal the plugs that Naim would rather me connect to rather than the ones in the back of the XS3 itself?

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They are Naim SA8 Speaker connectors. Pull them out and then open them up and solder them to a nice set of NACA5 speaker cables - preferably 5m-10m per channel. If soldering isn’t your thing then best get your Naim dealer to do them, as well soldered connections sound much better than those that haven’t been soldered well.

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Just pull the black plugs (SA8) away from the amp and you will have these in your hands

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Then its up to you, use 4mm banana plugs or opt for NACA5 speaker cable that can be soldered to the black plugs as per link above

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Thanks, very helpful I wasn’t expecting anything plugged in (and tight), and wanted to be sure from the start. Tnx

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Enjoy your new XS3 amp, its a lovely bit of kit.

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Does anyone know what European legislation has got to do with it? Other manufacturers don’t provide special plugs as far as I know?

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Possibly down to Europeans using Schuko mains plugs

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But this seems to be about bananas…

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I believe the issue is that it is possible to insert banana plugs into Shuko sockets, and Naim have taken a very strict view on EU legislation designed to discourage that, it doesn’t seem to be a common interpretation of the directive.

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Thanks - I changed my whole setup, I was ‘vintage’ previously, but continuous age related issues (not mine, well mostly) decided me to move up to the modern age.
The last amp I purchased was an AV reciever amd that had the speaker terminals blocked with plastic plugs what you needed to lever out. There was also a hideous plastic cover -grille over the vent on the top - all requirements of EU regulation. You had to open up the reciever and cut some plastic tags to get it off - it was white and ugly. (The receiver was dark grey).
With the XS3 ,my confusion was down to the manual being rather vague about pulling them out. I mean, you would have to pull them out regardless of what cables were to be used. I’ve not soldered for 29 years and don’t plan to start now. Thanks again!

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Thanks - done now. The manual was very vague - if you’re going to use the blocks then you need to remove them anyway so there was no need to ship with them fitted. Probably just appeasing EA regulations, and then if you take them out it’s your “fault”, and not NAIMs as they have stuck to the rules.

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