Naim speaker cables??

[Bigbird]

Hi guys,

Iv been pretty busy over here the last few months putting together a linn LP12(picture on my profile).
Managed to snag an ortofon rondo red cart from a needle docotr in germany (axel schurholz??) who had upgraded it with a nude shibata. And i have to say im blown away by the improvements over my RP6 and soundsmith cart. Its incredible... All the extra saturdays have really paid off.

Iv now moved onto the amplification side and have picked up a minty clean, newly serviced naim nac 72 ,hicap, and wil try find a power amp in the coming weeks . Possibly. 180 or 250 if i can stretch the budget or find a billy bargain.

Iv been reading that i should only use the naim nac a5 cables but it seems a bit pricey at nearly 200 quid for a pair of the recommended 3.5m lengths . Is there anything else out there that i can use that wont break the bank and stil sound good??

Cheers
Karl

[jandl100]

Wow
That LP12 plinth looks stunning!

Older Naim power amps need NACA5 type speaker cables to keep the circuit stable (and not blow up!).

[Bigbird]

Thanks mate i went for santos rosewood. Lovely character.
Yeah im aware of the capacitance issue was just wondering if anything else out there did the job as well?

[Ammonite Audio]

Naim speaker cables often come up in the classified ads, at pretty sensible prices. I still choose to use NAC A5 cables even though I no longer have a Naim amp in the system - these are very good cables by any standard, and although awkwardly stiff, would still be my logical choice.

[Bigbird]

Ok i shall keep my eyes peeled mate, cheers . Would prefer to use naim as it was designed for the job , just dont like the price ha. Iv read linn cable is usable but not sure on how it would sound?

[paulf-2007]

Ok i shall keep my eyes peeled mate, cheers . Would prefer to use naim as it was designed for the job , just dont like the price ha. Iv read linn cable is usable but not sure on how it would sound?

It was designed to take money off gullible audiophools

[Bigbird]

Do you have any recommendations for an alternative.?

[Scooby]

I'd try Linn K20.

Going back to the time these cables were first made, Naim were having NAC A4 made for them (by BICC?) after JV discovered its properties worked with his amps. It started out as a lighting installation cable: The sort they used for things like Blackpool illuminations. Linn went to the same supplier and had a very similar cable made, which they introduced as K20. It does sound very slightly different to A4 and has slightly different outer material.

Naim then had A5 made to a slightly different spec, which they claimed was ideal for their amps. It does have a different tonal balance (brighter and sharper I'd say) but differences are more a matter of taste than outright quality.

The thing is, these spaced conductor cables (Linn, Naim, Kelvin, Exposure and Cable Talk) were all very similar and only cost £2-2.50 a metre at the time. Fast forward to today and those that remain are not massively more expensive......except Naim who have hiked their price massively.

You will have to draw your own conclusions about it being worthwhile bit I would echo the sentiments above and only buy a used set. It's far too expensive new for what it is.

[paulf-2007]

Do you have any recommendations for an alternative.?

Twin and earth mains cable, 2 core flex preferably 1.5mm or bigger to reduce resistance. I've used both and cat 5 before other versions were available. All do the same thing. For those that to want spend their hard earned on fancy named cable, fair enough, but it's a waste of money, it's your money.

[hifi_dave]

Early Naim amps needed a minimum of 3.5 mtr of their own or similar cable to prevent them going unstable. Later ones are safe with any cable which isn't highly capacitive. A good one, which doesn't cost the earth and is easier to work with and hide than NACA, is Talk 3 at £4/mtr.