My niggle as to why Naim have Din-Din as the recommended default output:input of the 333:332 needed testing beyond the supplied ‘Lavender’, as I just wasn’t getting why it is supposedly superior to XLR.
To test, the Lavender has been replaced by a 5pin din-din Chord Sarum Super Aray. NOW I get it. Transformational in terms of scale, naturalness, transparency and sheer musicality.
Just when I thought the 333/300 332/300 had no more to give…
Happy bunny.
G
Replaced by an xlr or din Chord?
Oops! I have now clarified that it’s a 5pin din-din.
Well spotted - thanks!
G
To establish which methodology is better, surely you’d need to compare to balanced XLR using the same cable brand and model?
Unbalanced is a simple circuit bonding signal hot and signal ground. So that’s a big plus. But it has no active noise rejection so is reliant on cable quality and shorter lengths. Balanced really just has active noise rejection in it’s corner (well, and the canon plug is superior to RCA). It’s a much more complex circuit.
As such you tend to find that XLR performs better over long runs like where power amps are next to speakers or to active speakers. But over short runs, single ended wins out.
But the above should come with a warning. It’s a generalisation only. How noisy your environment is in terms of RFI; how good the balanced output stage of the source endpoint; how good the balanced input stage is of the destination endpoint; these things will all play a role.
So you won’t necessarily have a reason to go one or the other all the way from source to preamp to power amp either. Single ended might make more sense on one leg and less on the other.
I have tried all three types of output and much prefer the XLR.
Sure, I agree.
I’ve tried three different balanced interconnects from Mogami, Vertere and Chord (albeit not SSA) and found the differences very marginal.
By comparison, the differences between Lavender, HiLine & Chord SSA din-din are most evident.
I use long run 5.5m standard Mogami balanced cables to active ‘speakers. Perhaps differences between balanced cables would be more evident over these lengths, but at quite a price.
G
OK, but I didn’t mean the differences between different implementations of balanced / DIN - I meant any differences between the balanced and unbalanced version of the same cable.
Yes, I understood that - a controlled experiment.
G
Yes, that would be interesting.
XLR did it for me.
Agree. Since acquiring a naim Core and Serving rather than Streaming, I’ve found the XLR advantage more pronounced.
A key test is the solidity or presence of musicians ‘in the room’, and here even the humble Mogami XLR-XLR is winning out.
G
Thanks for the info G. I will try it. Currently my 333 is connected to 332 via a built to order 5 pin din cable that uses a Mogami stereo microphone cable and Neutrik connectors.
After a spell trying Lavender (and Chord SSA) din-din, because that’s what Naim recommend, I’ve settled back with XLR-XLR. It draws me in more in its overall presentation. The din-din has its moments, particularly the Chord, but it’s not as coherent and engaging.
G
I thought you might get here, with time. 
Hehe. It’s the first ‘empty house’ few days I’ve had for an extended listen. I honestly don’t get the ‘din’ preference by naim between these two units. I kept trying to hear why it’s supposedly better, but it isn’t.
Simple as that.
G
Totally agree with your findings. I went through the same trials and tribulations, but to no avail. So, like yourself, just using Mogami XLR’s and happy as a pig in poke.
However, how is it going with the Shunyata Gamma ethernet?
I’m enjoying the Shunyata more for what it’s taken away, than what it’s added. If that makes sense.
G
I think I understand the cut of your jib.
Considering buying one myself, to replace current BJC or Audioquest Vodka on last leg.
However, cannot decide if the Theta at £150 extra is worth it 
Each to their own, but £350 was my absolute ceiling and, for what it’s removed (a raggedness with C-Stream), I consider it good value. Voices and piano are good tests I find, and both became more natural with the Gamma in play.
G