Always very interesting when old models perform better than new ones. Probably doesnāt just apply to speakersā¦
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Been a long time since I bought any new Naim gear. Just purchased a used nDAC to mate with my Nait 5si. Source will be my Raspberry Pi4 w Pi2AES- Lite output to the nDAC.
Should receive it Thursday. Will post a system pic.
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Nice. My 10 year old AVR X4000 gave up the ghost just last night. The caps are gone and loud rustling noises started before it went into protection mode. I could recap it but it is pre ATMOS and I have 4 ceiling speakers as yet unused installed and wired up waiting. Iām hoping to pick up a new X6800 at Xmas and the second sub.
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T+A dac200. Can be run as a pre direct into my ATCs or via the 252. Also has a discrete dsd Dac for hq player. Sounds really good either vi HQplayer or PCM.
Not tried the analog input yet
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Although not technically new gear, I just received back my old 2006 nac 202 after having had it recapped. I use it intensively in my second system in a small office. After recap it sounds as if new, especially when playing records on my 1980ās Technics SL 1700 TT connected through Stageline. The improvement is quite large and enjoyable.
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They are real and can display all manner of things:
Input level
Output level
temperature
Stream quality
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I hope the X6800 works our for you - I considered the X4800 but from what I could make out, the difference from the X3800 is the amplifier which I only plan to use for height so there seemed little benefit in spending more.
Denon have been offering an additional 30% off their refurbished prices which make some models better value than my usual go to store for refurbished Denon / Marantz gear. I toyed with the idea of replacing my X4000 as well, but itās working great so I exercised restraint!
Used isoacoustic Orea indigo to try under my novaā¦ sounded and looked a bit rubbish directly under the chassis, but transformative under fraim glass . Iāll run it for a few weeks then take them out after Xmas and see what I reckon.
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Of course, directly under the chassis and bypassing the feet is how they are meant to be used, and thatās what I did, and they both looked crap and changed the sound in a way I didnāt like. So now you have Isoblue - a brilliant stand in its own right, plus Fraim glass and now the pucks. Stack āem high!
You know Iām joking of course. Why canāt we leave tweaking alone? Iām not cured either, as I have some Quadraspire Q plus supports on the way. It will be interesting if they make a difference, as I hold Quadraspire in high regard.
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Nice! Interesting idea. Looking forward to read your post in the new year.
I use the Qplus under my UQ2 in the office. They make a difference but as youāve said before, additional feet can look naff. So I donāt use them on a different far better system that also lacks a rack because I can see that system and they are a bit distracting.
You are a very naughty boyš
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The story is over in the cafe 
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You can get away with it. One thing about the LP12 is that it is iconic to audiophiles and we know itās value, but the design itself, to the uninitiated doesnāt scream āexpensiveā. You could totally tell a non audiophile that an LP12 was about $99.95 new and itās completely believable.
If Iād brought an LP12 home instead of the much much much cheaper deck I did, I doubt Mrs. FZ would have asked any questions at all.
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Hungry Halibut said much the same, Iāve put some Orea under my CD5si and it certainly "Lifts and separates " , but of course my CD5si has moving parts , so I wonder if that it is the difference maker ?
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quite likely, but using them under the glass has made a difference to the nova too, more bass and it just sounds bigger with more space, but time will tell if the top end is a bit pushy and i wont really know until i have better speakers in the house (in between at the moment and using an old pair of 1990ās missions!)
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My Quadraspire Q Plus Evo feet arrived earlier. They donāt look as silly as the IsoAcoustics and it will be interesting to hear what they do for the sound, if anything. As I bought them used for Ā£60 I can always sell them if they donāt make any improvement.
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How do they work? They donāt say anything about it more than itās a piece of bamboo with a metal ring?