And I plan to try them all on both the Boulder phono and the Weiss DAC.
Basically I need a new cable for the new DAC, but I might want to upgrade the Boulder IC cable instead and use the AVO I already have for it on the DAC. TBD!
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Fascinating thread. I own two of the cables on the list: AV Options and the Shunyata. The former between my Esoteric pre and my 300DR and the latter between my Esoteric DAC/streamer and pre.
The AV Options was my only choice as they’re basically the only company outside of Naim themselves that make an XLR cable that is wired for the 300DR’s weird configuration.
Looking forward to reading your observations.
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Have you properly blind tested the different cables, including the cheap ones, as only results from blind testing in a properly controlled test environment have any validity?
This is established as the only scientifically valid method of testing. Psychoacoustics play a huge part in this arena. It is pretty well established that the price of the cable plays a huge part in the psychoacoustic part of choice.
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@gk_audio I did a similar audition recently (see here ), yet not so extended and well prepared as you do. More then agree with you that the XLR has substantial impact on the sound quality; more then expected to be honest. I looked at some alternatives and ended up with The Chord SIgnatureX
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I’d be bit careful with Grimm based on your comments 
I’ve learned that things that cause a massive effect first hour,days often are colored in a way that long term might make you change your mind.
I’ve had a bunch of expensive wow cables here that eventually felt unbalanced since they pushed some frequency extremes to catch your attention but that lost the beautiful Naim coherence.
What’s your summary on Sarum T? I sold mine pretty quick too.
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I completely agree that psychoacoustics are a powerful force in this hobby. My system is certainly more than just fancy wires, and I’ve lived with a wide range of gear over the years, including plenty of inexpensive cables.
For this shootout, I’m not claiming scientific proof, I’m sharing my experience after months of living with these in a relaxed, long-term environment. When I’m sitting down after a long day to just listen to music, the hardware and the price tags are the last thing on my mind. I’m simply reporting on what I hear when the reviewer brain switches off and the listener brain takes over.
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I don’t trust initial impressions either, I think that initial shock is often just a specific frequency emphasis that grabs you immediately but ends up feeling off over the long haul. That’s exactly why I forced myself to cycle through these for weeks rather than deciding in days. The Grimm is definitely a wild ride but I kept coming back to it again and again.
As for the Sarum T, I’ll keep it brief: it just wasn’t for me. I found it softened the presentation and the PRaT took a notable hit. I can see it being a great option for someone looking for a more relaxed or laid-back listen, but it took away some of the drive I specifically look for in my Naim system.
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Or just go with FR’s expensive items 
Apparently he’s always right on these matters….
Or maybe it’s just throwing lots of money at the system and then saying it’s the very best… FR knows what I’m talking about
I’m sure the Audioquest Pegasus XLR‘s sound ok…. But not everyone has that sort of money to throw at it… FR thinks that just because he can throw money at it then it must be the best
I’m sure if I simply threw money, which I’m lucky enough to have enough of, at the system like FR does then maybe I might also argue that I have the best system mostly due to the amount of money I spent on it….. I’m lucky in that’s not what I do and I save a lot of my hard earned in the process….
It’s so easy to just throw your money at a system and get it sounding ok but the knack is getting to experience a system that just sounds great and if you manage that you’re good to go
Any idiot can throw lots of money at a problem but the skill is getting a system together that works extremely well together and sounds great
If you throw money at a problem you are more inclined to try to justify your expense and always say your system sounds better than anyone else’s… that’s simple but these people generally miss what’s important…. It’s about enjoying your music and the system getting out of the way. I happen to think that doesn’t mean just throwing large amounts of money at it… just get a well balanced sound from a number of items which together make a complete and ‘whole’ sound
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Totally agree that it’s easy to get lost in amplitude changes. I think the time and phase differences show up over longer periods of time (and likely where the primary differences lie).
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I am amused that some people spend more on a cable, than what I spent on my whole system.
I wonder how I ever manage to really enjoy listening to music on my system that is made up of a plebian Naim XS3 and a pair of PMC bookshelf speakers.
Pass the smelling salts when I relax with this, that cost less than a grand. A crime on the ears.
Threads like this make me wonder if the HiFi market has gone mad, in its quest for a perfection. Or maybe I just have van Gogh’s ear for music.
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I’m sure you wouldn’t even notice if electricity went out listening to that system.
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The AQ Pegasus are expensive but not hugely more than the Chord Signature, and the latter not so difficult to improve on. I think in the price range, worth trying too, especially if looking for richer, darker tones. E.g. a good Shunyata would do that, Audience will make it all (too?) smooth, while I believe the Grimm would be more like the Signatures.
I am slightly surprised that the OP finds the Sarum too soft, although in a way, compared to the Signature, its refinement may be likened to a softness. It still had the foot tap factor ok for me.
I would take a guess that for directness, energy and lifelike tuning, the SL are uniquely symbiotic with the NC. I returned my audition pair as I could not quite justify the cost in the context of my system but who knows, may be another day.
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Don’t worry about it Nigel
I also have a ‘plebian’ (as you call it!) XS3 but I absolutely love the way it sounds and believe it would take many thousands of pounds to better it. I owned a SN2 some years back but I definitely prefer the XS3 with my current setup….which is:
XS3, MXN10 streamer, partners Rega turntable (recently serviced with new cartridge etc), my partner’s Arcam cd player… I have rca connectors from the streamer to the XS3 at the moment but have ordered a genuine Naim RCA/DIN cable to replace it… all through NACA5 cable to my demo ATC 19’s soon to be replaced with brand new pair… speakers sitting on Custom Design FS104 stands.., soon to be replaced with specific 104 SCM19 stands
Somehow I’ve come up with a system that sounds amazing…. I don’t care that some posters have said the XS3 isn’t enough to drive the 19’s and my source just doesn’t cut it…. I can only report what I’m listening to and it sounds incredible… trust me!
It just might be that I’ve found what works well in my room but non of that matters to me as I’m listening to absolutely superb music reproduction
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Hi Nina, hope you are well.
If you look at the opening thread, you will see that my Pegasus cost around 2k euros. I bought them second hand, at half. I could return them if not satisfied.
Then the cables cited by the opening thread are mostly more expensive vs mine, quite twice more, apart one less.
You make some attack on me, after my tongue in cheek post to you in another thread.
Fair enough.
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Vs the Chord signature, the Pegasus have more snap, more bass, and are more dynamic.
The impact of the drums for example is bigger.
They have very natural tones too.
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Absolutely no attack from me FR.. you’re obviously just too sensitive and that’s your problem not mine
What I was saying is that just because someone throws money at a problem it still doesn’t make it the best sounding system around
I am lucky that, if I wanted, I could throw money at my hifi setup but what I’ve done instead is listen to a lot of different systems… different amps, different speakers etc and I’ve come up with a system that sounds incredibly good to my ears
I’m extremely happy with the sound my current setup is giving me and to be honest I don’t care what others might think about it… unless you are sitting next to me hearing what I’m hearing then nobody can appreciate the sound I’m experiencing which, to me, is just simply incredible
I feel we share that particularly then….
Just to point that I don’t criticise your recent choice at all. You know the best what sounds better to your ears and in your room.
As the matter of cables, I don’t consider throwing my money. It’s money well spent for me. Then I don’t think these cables are the best. Sometimes less costly ones work better.
We will see which ones the OP will choose.
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After the holographic shock of the Grimm, I want to focus on a cable that feels much more like home for a Naim system. The AVOptions Signal XLR is born from a deep, almost obsessive understanding of the Naim philosophy. For those of us based in NA, AVOptions is a name synonymous with keeping the classic Naim sound alive, so my expectations for their New Classic XLR were centered almost entirely on preserving the boogie.
You absolutely must pack your patience if you decide purchase this cable. This was, without question, the longest break-in period of any cable I have ever owned. I’ve had it the longest of the group, and it is a true shapeshifter. I heard the first significant shift at 100 hours, and then a major click at the 200-hour mark where the instruments finally found their permanent homes in the room. Even then, it took a full two weeks of continuous playback to reach what I felt was its full potential. During those first ten days, the soundstage can feel quite narrow and discouraging, but once it opens up, the width expands significantly and the imaging settles into a rock-solid presentation.
Sonically, the Signal XLR is a “wet” and fluid experience. It is incredibly seductive. While the Grimm is about thunder and space, the AVOptions is about soul and flow. It fully maintains that sense of pace and timing that makes you want to tap your feet, and it does not feel clinical doing so. The standout feature of this cable for me is the vocal liquidity. It gives voices a “look” and a texture that is liquid and deeply enjoyable to listen to for hours on end.
However, keep in mind that this cable required some care when it comes to setup as I found it’s quite sensitive to its environment. In true Naim fashion, it does not like to be crowded. During my testing, I noticed some ground-loop style noise when the cable was allowed to touch or run too close to a power lead. Keep it hanging free and clear of other wires, and it rewards you with a completely silent background. Touch a power cord, and it will let you know. I don’t see this as an issue at all in my setup, but I thought it was an interesting observation.
While it might not reach the hyper-holographic heights of the Grimm, it’s soundstage is still significantly more expansive than the stock cables, and at the same time it provides a tonality that feels fundamentally right for the NC. It doesn’t try to change the character of the electronics - it just tries to be the best possible version of them.
For the asking price, I haven’t found anything else I’d rather have in this system. It is a remarkably solid choice that punches well above its class, delivering a level of engagement that usually costs a lot more. If you want to maximize the performance of your 300 series without needing a second mortgage, this is highly recommended.
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You’re correct, the validity will have more to do with confirmation bias than anything. Pretty typical here.
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“The cable changes the sound” - just show the evidence for that via measurement or blind testing. And then we’re done. That is the elephant in the room.
But that never happens and there’s only one reason why.
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