I have a Supernait 3 driving Focal Kanta No.2 speakers and am considering purchasing a Holo Audio Spring 3 DAC.
The Spring 3 specifications indicate approximately 2.9V RMS output via RCA and 5.8V RMS via XLR. Since the Supernait 3 only provides RCA and DIN inputs, I would be using the RCA outputs.
A Holo dealer raised a concern that the Spring 3’s output voltage may exceed the Supernait 3’s input voltage limits and could potentially cause input-stage overload or clipping. Unfortunately, I have not been able to obtain clarification from either my Naim dealer or Naim support regarding the maximum acceptable input voltage of the Supernait 3.
My temporary source is a Bluesound Node X (approximately 2V RCA output), and I typically listen between 9 and 10 o’clock on the volume control.
My questions are:
Has anyone successfully used a Holo Audio Spring 3 (or Cyan 2) with a Supernait 3 or other recent Naim integrated amplifiers?
Does anyone know the maximum input voltage the Supernait 3 RCA inputs can accept before overload or clipping?
Is 2.9V RCA considered a concern in practice with Naim integrated amplifiers, or would it simply result in a lower volume control setting?
I’m interested in both technical information and real-world experience from owners who have used higher-output DACs with Naim equipment.
IIRC Naim’s preamps can take up to 7V input without overload. However, do note that 2.9V is a fair bit higher than the Redbook 2V standard so you may have a limited volume control range with modern “loud” digital mastering.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. That’s very reassuring to hear. If you happen to recall, is the 7V overload figure from a Naim specification, published measurement, or your own experience with Naim gear? I’d be grateful for any additional details.
It’s part of the design architecture. The 7V figure was confirmed in a post by Naim co-founder Julian Vereker back on the first iteration of the forum, in response to a similar enquiry where the poster was worried that a high level source might overload the input of a Naim pre-amp.
While the 2.9V output is higher than the Supernait really wants, it won’t be unsafe as Richard says, but it will further reduce the useable range of the volume control, which was originally designed to cope with lower input Voltages from vinyl playback.
Your speakers are quite sensitive, which won’t help here, especially if you have a smallish room and/or listen at low volume levels. The only real way to find out if this is manageable is to try it. Perhaps your dealer can help with this if they want your cash.
In practice I found that using a DAC with a variable output was a good solution to this excessive Voltage issue. It needs to be a well implemented volume control that preserves sound quality, and I had good results with a couple of Chord DACs which gave better sound quality at a reduced output level than they did at max output, as well as making the Naim volume control useable in my system. Not sure how Holo DACs would work in this respect.
Thank you all for your helpful responses and for sharing your experience.
The information regarding Naim’s input overload margin and the discussion around gain structure versus actual compatibility has been extremely valuable. It has helped me better understand the difference between a potential overload issue and simply having a reduced volume-control range with a higher-output DAC.
I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond and share their knowledge. This has given me much more confidence as I continue evaluating DAC options for my Supernait 3 and Kanta No.2 system.