Internconnect - AV amp to 2 channel amp?

roger06

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Hi

My Yamaha RXv1065 will hopefully arrive soon. I'll be using its front L & R pre outs into a Naim Nait5i in AV mode.

Will interconnects make a huge difference here? I actually have the choice of an IXOS lead - don't know which one but it was about £15 or a QED Qnnex - which was around £20 I think.

With this level of kit should I spend a bit more or will I not notice the difference?

Thanks
 

Gerrardasnails

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roger06:
Hi

My Yamaha RXv1065 will hopefully arrive soon. I'll be using its front L & R pre outs into a Naim Nait5i in AV mode.

Will interconnects make a huge difference here? I actually have the choice of an IXOS lead - don't know which one but it was about £15 or a QED Qnnex - which was around £20 I think.

With this level of kit should I spend a bit more or will I not notice the difference?

Thanks

Well, I went from the infamous Gotham interconnect to Chord Chameleon Silver Plus and the difference was HUGE!!!
 
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Anonymous

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I started with with a QED Qnect 2, can't remember the price (about 20 -25 quid) but at the time it served as a link between a Marantz CD 67SE and a Yamaha DSPA2. I upgraded to an Onkyo 905N and added a Naim CD5X about 18mths ago. With the help of my freindly local specialist HIFI dealer I demo-ed several pairs of leads including Chord Crimson, various Nordorst and Atlas and ended up spoiling myself with a pair of Chord Anthem interconnects. Each set had their own particular qualities in the way they delivered but my final choice although expensive gave me the best balance for what I wanted. However they were all an improvent over the QED's and the cheapest I think were the Crimsons at about £50.00.

I do believe that a more expensive cable will suit more expensive kit but also your ears will be the ultimate judge. Speak to your local HIFI Specialist and ask to demo some leads.
 

roger06

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Thanks guys - that's really interesting. I think I'll let the system bed in for a few weeks and then try a few different cables. My trouble is I have no local hi fi specialist!
 

FuzzyinLondon

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I'd say that for watching movies, any gains from spending more would be marginal. Your centre speaker is going to be taking a large amount of the load (depending on the movie of course) and that will be driven by the av amp. As long as you use a lead of decent quality and calibrate the system properly, I don't think you'll notice a huge difference. Of course, the interconnect between your cdp and the nait5i is a whole other story.
 

Gerrardasnails

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FuzzyinLondon:I'd say that for watching movies, any gains from spending more would be marginal. Your centre speaker is going to be taking a large amount of the load (depending on the movie of course) and that will be driven by the av amp. As long as you use a lead of decent quality and calibrate the system properly, I don't think you'll notice a huge difference. Of course, the interconnect between your cdp and the nait5i is a whole other story.

But we have given details of our experience, you are guessing.
 

roger06

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FuzzyinLondon:I'd say that for watching movies, any gains from spending more would be marginal. Your centre speaker is going to be taking a large amount of the load (depending on the movie of course) and that will be driven by the av amp. As long as you use a lead of decent quality and calibrate the system properly, I don't think you'll notice a huge difference. Of course, the interconnect between your cdp and the nait5i is a whole other story.

Actually that begs a good question too - ie what speaker cable to use for the centre? The front L & R as are powered by the Naim amp use Naim NAC A5 cable. Currently the centre stuff is quiet basic QED stuff - around the £5 pm mark...

The CD5i and Nait5i use the standard Naim DIN lead...
 

Gerrardasnails

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roger06:
FuzzyinLondon:I'd say that for watching movies, any gains from spending more would be marginal. Your centre speaker is going to be taking a large amount of the load (depending on the movie of course) and that will be driven by the av amp. As long as you use a lead of decent quality and calibrate the system properly, I don't think you'll notice a huge difference. Of course, the interconnect between your cdp and the nait5i is a whole other story.

Actually that begs a good question too - ie what speaker cable to use for the centre? The front L & R as are powered by the Naim amp use Naim NAC A5 cable. Currently the centre stuff is quiet basic QED stuff - around the £5 pm mark...

The CD5i and Nait5i use the standard Naim DIN lead...

I would either match the others or get something a little nearer. I use Chord Odyssey for my front two and Rumour for the centre.
 

FuzzyinLondon

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Gerrardasnails:

But we have given details of our experience, you are guessing.

Fair comment given that I didn't really explain my own experiences properly. My current system is an Onkyo 875 hooked up by pre-outs to a Cyrus 8XPD Qx with a Monitor Audio GS10s and a GS LCR across the front - the Cyrus driving the GS10s and the Onkyo driving the GS LCR when watching movies. The Cyrus is a new addition and I'd lived with the system for a while before I added it. I was happy with the system as it was for movies but wanted to improve the musical performance hence the system as it is in its current form. I use a pair of Chord Crimsons to connect from the Front L & R pre-outs to the input on the Cyrus. After calibrating and correcting all my volume settings, I haven't noticed any degradation of performance when watching movies. My advice would be to try it out yourself and compare. Try watching movies with just the av amp for a little while and then add the your hi-fi amp and use the interconnects you have and see if you're still happy with it. I'm certainly not advising against demoing if you can but if you can't, I wouldn't rush into buying a more expensive set of interconnects until you've done a bit of your own testing.
 

roger06

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Adamk69:
I started with with a QED Qnect 2, can't remember the price (about 20 -25 quid) but at the time it served as a link between a Marantz CD 67SE and a Yamaha DSPA2. I upgraded to an Onkyo 905N and added a Naim CD5X about 18mths ago. With the help of my freindly local specialist HIFI dealer I demo-ed several pairs of leads including Chord Crimson, various Nordorst and Atlas and ended up spoiling myself with a pair of Chord Anthem interconnects. Each set had their own particular qualities in the way they delivered but my final choice although expensive gave me the best balance for what I wanted. However they were all an improvent over the QED's and the cheapest I think were the Crimsons at about £50.00.

I do believe that a more expensive cable will suit more expensive kit but also your ears will be the ultimate judge. Speak to your local HIFI Specialist and ask to demo some leads.

Blimey - Chord Anthem cables - £325 !!! Ouch...
 

Gerrardasnails

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roger06:Adamk69:
I started with with a QED Qnect 2, can't remember the price (about 20 -25 quid) but at the time it served as a link between a Marantz CD 67SE and a Yamaha DSPA2. I upgraded to an Onkyo 905N and added a Naim CD5X about 18mths ago. With the help of my freindly local specialist HIFI dealer I demo-ed several pairs of leads including Chord Crimson, various Nordorst and Atlas and ended up spoiling myself with a pair of Chord Anthem interconnects. Each set had their own particular qualities in the way they delivered but my final choice although expensive gave me the best balance for what I wanted. However they were all an improvent over the QED's and the cheapest I think were the Crimsons at about £50.00.

I do believe that a more expensive cable will suit more expensive kit but also your ears will be the ultimate judge. Speak to your local HIFI Specialist and ask to demo some leads.

Blimey - Chord Anthem cables - £325 !!! Ouch...

You can get them much cheaper second hand on Ebay - and you don't have to go that mad. I got my Chameleon Silver Plus for about £70 on Ebay - they got a 5 star rating at £125.
 

roger06

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Ebay is where I was looking - but they weren't second hand...

Think I'll set up an auto search as don't reckon they'll come up for sale all that often. The Mrs has just text me to say the Yammy amp has arrived - If I get that centre channel problem again then I'll go bananas!
 

Gerrardasnails

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roger06:
Ebay is where I was looking - but they weren't second hand...

Think I'll set up an auto search as don't reckon they'll come up for sale all that often. The Mrs has just text me to say the Yammy amp has arrived - If I get that centre channel problem again then I'll go bananas!

I forgot that was you!! Please post back later - I am intrigued!!
 

Gerrardasnails

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roger06:
Ebay is where I was looking - but they weren't second hand...

Think I'll set up an auto search as don't reckon they'll come up for sale all that often. The Mrs has just text me to say the Yammy amp has arrived - If I get that centre channel problem again then I'll go bananas!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Chord-Chameleon-Interconnect-1M_W0QQitemZ290361930268QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL?hash=item439aeb721c
 
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Anonymous

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Interested in this thread because it's about the significance of marginal changes which interconnets and cabling bring.

I'm about to pursue the theory by using the pre outs R and L of my Denon 2309 to connect to a Nait xs av by pass .

The dealer said it wasn't a particularly crucial hook up so that Chord Chrimson 2 rCA to 5 pin din or their precursor the Chrsaylis would be adequate . However the speaker cable and the analogue interconnects were important and they would require Nac 5 naim and Chord Cobra 3 or above - the reasoning being that higher end kit can make the most of higher end cables in fact it does a disservice.

I 'm a little sceptical but am prepared to be persuaded by my own ears. The trouble is that unless you upgrade all the interconnects I don't know how you can decide what is making those marginal positive differences. I' m worried about entering the land of audiophilia and never getting out !
 

roger06

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So what did he recommend from the AV amp to the Naim?

I would have thought this was quite a crucial link...

I'm using a cheap IXOS at the mo and it sounds great. I have a slightly more pricey QED I'll try as well and see if I can hear a difference. If so I might sell both of these and upgrade to a Chord or something.
 
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Anonymous

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I am with Gerrardasnails on that one, I too use Chord Odyssey 2 for the fronts and centre and rumour for the sides and rears. I ordered them all made to length by Chord with their own plugs factory fitted, so much better than bare wire or self fitted plugs. I also use Odyssey 2 jumpers. Have to say they all work great!
 

Gerrardasnails

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Adamk69:I am with Gerrardasnails on that one, I too use Chord Odyssey 2 for the fronts and centre and rumour for the sides and rears. I ordered them all made to length by Chord with their own plugs factory fitted, so much better than bare wire or self fitted plugs. I also use Odyssey 2 jumpers. Have to say they all work great!

My Odyssey were terminated by a company with Chord bananas. However, I did my centre speaker myself and I've bought lots of speaker cable and made my own terminations and sold them on. I don't think bare wire or self fitted plugs are a problem. My rears are attached by very cheap cable that came with my old Jamo speakers that were chased into the walls when we decorated.
 
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Anonymous

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LOL!! Yeah it was a bit of a swallow... That is the risk of having an afromentioned freindly hifi dealer, they lure you in with their wears man.....LOL! That said they did show a noticeable improvement in the areas important to my listening over all the others I tried.
 
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Anonymous

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I suppose it was more a cosmetic thing for me regarding the terminations. They just look tidier.
 
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Anonymous

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The argument regarding cabling upgrades will go on forever I fear but what I would say is that there is no point in doing just one bit as every part adds a little somthing to the overall effect. All the way from Russ Andrews Power socket to the mains blocks and conditioners, through the power chords to the component chords to the speaker cable. A lower grade cable in the chain will make a small difference to the overall effect but all the elements added together make a big difference. I reckon...... By the way the Chord Anthems were an x demo pair from my local Audio T in Camberley. It's worth asking if your dealer has anything good going for sale as as much as 25% off is a chunk of money at this level.
 

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