SN2 vs SN3

Did you get to try this out @NO-QUARTER?

So adding an SL din interconnect between Ndx2 and sn3 added more to sq than adding an xpsdr?

Is that a generally agreed point, or are you unusual in finding this?

What cable did it replace?

I ended up trading my SL cables in on a Chord Mscaler Mike, so I never did get to try them on any SNait, I kind of went in a different direction, and currently only use a Naim Core/NDS/XPSDR as my source into Chord MscalerTT2 directly driving speakers.

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I added just a HiLine to my NDX following a demo between it and an XPS Dr and thought it did more for the sound so I wouldnā€™t be surprised.

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When you say that a Hiline did more than an XPSDR can you say a bit more about the differences between how the cable changed SQ and the PSU did?

I added an XPS DR first, about 4 to 5 months ago and then a Superlumina interconnect just a few days ago. I think they very much complement each other and I do follow the source first principle, so happy with the order I did it in. Having said that, I think the SL has the bigger impact, that seems odd though.

I think the XPS just clears everything up at the source, so giving a lower noise floor with resulting more detail, and a much wider soundstage were the most direct impacts.

Adding the SL is more like removing a choking in the music stream for what of a better description. It significantly tightens up the bass and gives more nuanced sounds of each instrument so you hear the changes in sound as it developed - a change in frequency of a pipe being blown for example. It also took some of sibilance off high female vocals. Another noticeable impact is more slam across the board, and a more forward/back presence in the sound stage - this is where it feels like a full on black box upgrade, itā€™s quite astonishing really. How much is this would be realised without the PS upgrade though, I donā€™t know. What is obvious though, is that as good as the lavender interconnect is, it holds something back that wants to get through to the amp.

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Its always difficult to describe sound but for me HiLine added a lot more detail and a clarity that is audible without giving it a second thought. The XPS Dr gave weight, soundstage and depth.

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Good description, Mike.
Sounds like a great way to get the most out of that set up.

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Nice description. I went through DIN ICā€™s between my ND555 and SN2. First the Lavender then the HiLine them the SL then an Ansuz A2 DIN IC. Each change made a noticeable improvement. Enough in each case to justify the cost. Iā€™d like to try a D2 level Ansuz DIN but I stopped spending that kind of money on cables.

I fully intended to stick with Naim when I got to the SL but was talked into trying the Ansuz by a friend who owns 500 level Naim kit. He has the D2 level Ansuz DIN IC.

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What made you go with the ND555 with the Supernait2?
I was reading a Hifi Critic magazine the other day and one of the authors uses the same combination.
However it just seems so unbalanced.

Cheers

I agree but I wanted to stay with a Naim one-box-solution that included a headphone amplifier. I could have stayed with an XPS2 but my experience with high end streamers (Lumin X1) left me a bit disappointed with it so I swapped if for the ND555/555PS.
I have Harbeth 30.2ā€™s played at moderate levels in a small apartment. The SN2 works well for me. Besides, Iā€™m a firm believer in Naimā€™s source first philosophy.

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How was the X1 sounding vs nd555/555? What was disappointing if you can explain ?

What I meant was that after owning the X1, the XPS2 was a bit of a let down. Iā€™ve also owned an Aurender N10 w/the DAC in the Aavik U-300 and Iā€™d rate the X1 even better. IMO, if you own Naim, youā€™d want the ND555, otherwise Iā€™d recommend the X1.

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I bet it sounds great, are you using a SL interconnect? Dose it give you the impression that the Supernait is holding anything back?

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I think that this is a great approach. Certainly with an NDX2 and then an XPS DR and Superlumina Interconnect, the SN2 has delivered massive improvements and responded to source first upgrades. Itā€™s interesting how many have amplification further up the range without better sources, I wonder how necessary that is unless the speakers have a demanding load. The SN is no slouch in that regard.

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I had been using an SL but a friend with a Naim 500 level system and also my Naim dealer recommended switching to one of the new Ansuz DIN cables. I replaced the SL with the least expensive A2 Ansuz DIN. It is clearly better. Iā€™d like to have the Ansuz D2 but itā€™s way too expensive.

Iā€™ve been working hard on my home network with Nordost Heimdall Ethernets from the wall to an Ansuz Power Switch. Then Ansuz Ethernets from the switch to a Lumin L1 Library (NAS) and to the ND555.
I had a 272/250DR in the past and my current system with the SN2 is better. I think it has to do with all the work Iā€™ve done on the home network and on clean power.

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Well Mike, I have watched your journey with interest and am delighted that you truly have maxed out your source (barring 555Ps of course).

I use the NDX2 with Lavender into SN3 but have maxed out my speakers first (Kudos Titan 606). I am very content at the moment but if I had a win or other sudden source of income, I would certainly consider an XPS2 for the NDX2.

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Although I do not have a SN2 to compare to, my month old SN3 seems very sensitive and I cannot turn up the volume past the 7 oā€™clock mark. At the 8 oā€™clock mark it would be very loud, 9 would be impossible to listen to right now in my listening environment. This is only with a digital source, an NDX 2. When using the phono stage, I am able to bring up to 12 oā€™clock and it sounded amazingly good.

Form what I am reading on this thread, SN2 owners seem to have a little more headroom with the postions of the volume pot.

I just got my SN3 running 15 minutes ago. It will be difficult to discuss sonic differences. I say this because I last really listened to my SN2 back in late October. Now Iā€™m running SN3 with Contour C20 in a new home. Very difficult to compare with SN2 with Focus 260 in a old home. Not only that but the setup was broken in and this is all literally minutes out of the box and very very cold. The SN3 was cold to the touch after having been delivered by FedEx an hour or so ago. The Contours were delivered some 4 hours ago!

Immediate observations:

  1. The box looks and feels cheaper than the SN2 box I just sent back to my dealer.

  2. The amp did not ship with caps in the rear speaker holes like my SN2 did.

  3. The new remote is better.

  4. It does need to travel the dial a bit more to get the juice the flowing than the SN2. I rarely went beyond 9:00 on the dial on the SN2. To go up to 12:00 was rare and loud. Never went beyond 12:00 the years I owned it. The SN3 gets going around 9:00-10:00.

  5. My foot is tapping. It sounds lovely with Contour.

Otherwise, canā€™t comment much.

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  1. Then we can confirm SN3 need more on the dial to get going compared to SN2. Same experience here. What about the amount of bass and feeling of power? To my ears SN3 feel more nimble and SN2 more powerful. My SN3 will go for repair after holidays. Hope to get it back fast to do new comparisons :blush: