Speaker cable replacement in 500 system

Bottom line is Naca 5 are designed for Naim systems and it’s a great cable. Yes, there may well be better cables out there or more expensive ones.

I would stick with Naca 5 or Superlumina because Naim designed them to work with their systems. It’s how they test them.

So I am sure other speaker cables may sound preferable. But we are looking at different tones here. And are they safe as well?

You want a cable with low capacitance and moderately high inductance.

Alot on here use Kudos KS1 which they prefer because it’s easier to manage than Naca5.

Personally I like Naca5 and have got used to shaping it. Must be something about it that keeps me there with it.

I have heard the Superlumina but not on my system. Like David says, if something sounds great…

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Surely in part that will depend on the speakers, so only truly relevant where someone has same as you.

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I’ve tried NacA5 and Linn k20 etc and got more depth and slam with KS-1 :+1:t2:

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If you had an all Naim system with naim speakers I would trust that Naim cables made sense being part of their “synergy tuning”. But if you have a different speaker at the end of a naim system
that is not naim it doesn’t make any sense saying naca5 is best. That’s why so many Kudos speaker owners prefer KS-1 for example. The synergy can be totally off or spot on depending on your choice of speaker. And then you can add the room on top of it that is more than 50% of what you hear in the end (bright, neutral, damped)

With a “bright” speaker like naim speakers often is claimed to be (depending on a lot of factors but in general) I’m sure naca5 is part of the overall synergy making the system sound great. But with a more gentle/neutral speaker the naca5 will kill the top end and you need something else if you want the inner details and top end shimmer. I don’t see why one should settle with naca5 when there are so many great options and when I know it is a big part of your final tweak to make the system great. Be openminded and evaluate at home and see recommendations as a guide only.

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Yes. But David is saying he likes Naca 5 as am I. The cable works well in our particular systems.

I do absolutely take your point that they might not work with all systems. But they are correct for Naim amps, in that the cable was designed for them. They are meant to be used as part of amplification. Or Superlumina.

Having the correct speaker cable doesn’t mean other cables of similar inductance or capacitance can’t be better.

Speaker choosing is difficult enough. Speaker cabling becomes another tone control. I am glad you have found the cables that work best in your system @Blackbird.

I’m happy with Naca 5 right now. No doubt I will eat my words and end up with some boutique expensive speaker cable in a few months :rofl:

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I swapped from NAC A5 to SuperLumina in an all 500 series system. I found it more refined than the NAC A5, which sounds slightly aggressive in comparison. After living with the SL for a few years, I tried Kudos KS-1 (I have Kudos speakers), which many members of this community were very enthusiastic about. However, the KS-1 didn’t work for me, sounding as though all the excitement had been sucked out of the music. I think I now know why that was, so I really ought to try it again sometime, but can’t really be bothered right now as I’m happy with the SuplerLumina.

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Just curious to know why?

@Clive do you use any of the other SL cables in your system as well as the speaker cable ?

Yes, the interconnect between ND555 and NAC552 is SL, although on reflection, I think the HiLine, which was supplied with the ND555, might have been better. I use the Naim Lavender on the NAT01 and Sarum T from the Urika. I also use Sarum T between NAC552PS and NAP500. Burndies are all Naim as supplied.

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Do I really have to confess? Oh well, when my 808s were delivered, Peter plugged the SL cables into the upper box. Later I saw in the Kudos instructions that the speaker cables were plugged into the lower box. So, I thought I’d give the KS-1 cables (which I had on loan) their best chance and copied the Kudos instructions. They sounded dull.

It was only when I went to the demo of the Sigao crossover that I discussed this with the guys from Kudos. They asked me if I’d turned the link wires round too because they’re directional. Doh!

Don’t tell anyone else though, this is strictly between you and me.

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Maybe I will go in loft and get hiline out of ND555 box. Superlumina should be better

We all do it😂

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Got hiline set up now. Think it’s unused. Sounds great. Will test the two!

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I’ll be interested in the outcome. I’ve had an SL interconnect years now. First between NDS/252, then ND555/252 and finally my current set up. I’ve never considered swapping back to the HiLine.

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So Hiline in. Sounds rougher, darker and more forward than Superlumina. I’m listening to some drum n bass and it suits the music very well.

Superlumina is clearer, more accurate and a bit mellower!

Gonna leave the Hiline in for a few days to settle in. And then put Superlumina in. I am enjoying the sound with Hiline. It’s not major. Just a tone adjustment. Bit like turning the bass up a bit and having a little less clarity!

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You should be a hifi journalist

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A new career path when building becomes too much Gazza! :cowboy_hat_face:

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There’s cowboy builders and cowboy hifi journalists! :cowboy_hat_face: :rofl:

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Yee…haw shoot from the hip

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"The improved three dimensional soundstage of the Gaia Is gives the 500DR system greater gravitas, less distortion and envelopes the sound into the listening room.

The Hiline, being more forward than the Superlumina gives a more direct albeit somewhat less clarified presentation."

I think that could be in HiFi critic magazine!

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