It could have been me - it was just so noticeable how clean and precise the colours became
I have tried quite a few tweaks; many recommended on this forum. The only one that made a significant difference (and much to my surprise) was a Powerline. Buy one on the auction site as I did and if you think it is a waste of time you can move it on at probably no cost (prices have gone up noticeably recently).
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I’ve bought both mine via naim dealers but at significant discount. One brand new (athough it was advertised as ex demo so that was worth the phone call), one lightly used but as new.
Certainly wouldn’t be paying full price for them when you can get used ones for under 2/3 new price.
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In my limited experience, I suspect the Wireworld Matrix strip may be the bottleneck to the mediocre performance of any system, especially with amps plugged into it. The full potential of the system may be unleashed if you can do dedicated mains as suggested by HH. If that’s not practical, there are alternative power conditioning products but they are usual quite costly in comparison to the WW Matrix.
FWIW I have WW Matrix 2 too but have made some adjustments. My critical components now go direct to the wall outlet.
Are your sockets for the hifi wired directly to the dis board (with no tap offs)
To me to plug a powerline into a socket that’s daisychained around the house makes no sense…
spend the money on a dedicated electrical feed.
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Not sure that accusing Naim of peddling snake-oil on their forum constitutes good manners…
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When I bought my ND5XS2, I had traded in my Turntable on it, so I had a credit with the dealer. He said I can have a Powerline for the ND5 with the credit, I passed and grabbed a pair of Kef LS 50 Meta’s with the money. I can actually hear the Kef’s, unlike adding Powerlines in my experience…so I agree with David.
Maybe it is a Canada versus UK power grid difference, but I always had to convince myself I heard an improvement when adding them.
For the money they charge, it should be obvious right away, not the case.
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You have a point. I have made a small edit.
For the price of two power lines here in NZ could upgrade my P6/Ania to a P8/Apheta.
Personally I would spend any money on peripheral upgrades unless I had my end game source.
In terms of value for money upgrades putting it into the source always yields more band for your bucks IMHO…
Upgrading hardware at this point would involve 282/hicap or sc and a furniture change as current slots are full. 272 would then be straight box swap for NDX2.
So I’ll happily tinker around the edges by changing to Powerlines and adding Superlumina if possible ex demo in the meantime. In the knowledge that it will all be worth it when the end game hardware arrives.
Dedicated mains possibly on the cards but not 100% sure we’re staying in current property for the long term so haven’t pushed button on that yet.
The only negative I’ve found with the Powerline is the same as the only negative comments you ever see on Naim equipment: It’s expensive. It made me wonder why it isn’t standard. Though it was fun going through the upgrade so I guess that’s why…lol. But as for it’s value or utility, it had an instant improvement with my Nova. Obvious and wonderful. And now, a couple weeks later, here listening at a (I just mentioned this elsewhere) common level, set at 50, it was abnormally loud. So I checked with the meter, 110dB! I’d say the Powerline is burning in.
And absolutely I second the dedicated circuit for the unit. It isn’t expensive to have an electrician run one, or two. Yeah. Two. I ran one and have them coming back to add another. (Future proofing…lol…)
As for snake oil, I’m starting to think power conditioners are that…
Having 2 power lines on my 552 and 500, I can confirm the ones I made myself sound exactly like them, but cost about 5% of the price
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Woah, I take it you stuck the DB meter right in front of the speaker?
And that is probably peaks?
That was peaks, and no, the meter was on my iPad next to me. It wasn’t that loud for long.
Power conditioners aren’t “snake oil” when you have crappy electricity. I lived in a high rise built in the late 60’s and the electricity was so awful my plasma display had horrible picture. I purchased a power conditioner hoping it would help and it absolutely worked. In my current home, the same display is plugged into a wall outlet and the picture is perfect.
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Well I’m sure the quality can be replicated. I’d also note, if able to make an equal cable yourself, having purchased two Naim Powerlines, myself, for 10% of the cost I’d make two more and sell the Naim cables. People are always looking for them. But in buying the Powerline I knew what I was getting because I’m not making my own. Not to mention, if I ever have a problem, in using NACA5, Powerline and Naim anything else I’d need in the future, there won’t be any question about links in the chain.
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Not going to sell them as part of the 552dr and 500dr package
But the shielded one’s I made using good cable and ends, certainly sound just as good
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Hi David, I was referring to the amp and DAC as critical components which go to the wall outlet.All other components go to the power strip.
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