Question What's your next HiFi purchase?

[Al ears]

Don't Use the C word on a hifi forum!😉

Joking aside I agree with everything @Allears said. probably no benefit to changing. The only caveat to that is make sure your speaker wire is of sufficient gauge for its length. probably not an issue for you, if I remember correctly your amp and speakers are close together.

That's @Al ears ..... 🙂

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Now that I'm done with the big buys, I'm looking at the peripheral parts of the system. That unfortunately leads me (you'll see what I did there) to the topic everyone loves:

CABLES!

I currently have a couple of 3m lengths of QED XT25s. I've nothing to compare them against. They're plugged in. It sounds fine. Is it actually, ACTUALLY, worth me looking to upgrade these? Looks like they're about £75 which seems modest given the speakers and amp they're connecting. Is there a tangible benefit to getting a different set of speaker cables or is it yet another of those snake-oil "audiophile" traps?

Your NAIT50 is very susceptible to the correct cable selection. As is your power supply cord being plugged into the mains outlet and not an extension adaptor.

Naim typically used to recommend NACA5 for the NAIT amplifiers due to the capacitance in the cable matching speaker load and the amplifiers output stage….. Your NAIT50 is less susceptible to the older amps but it’s not immune….

Inevitably, you have a phenomenal amplifier (it is after all a 200/500 hybrid of parts in a shoebox) and a worthy speaker, why strangle the performance?

I will assume you’re using the correct NAIM soldered plugs for the banana ports on the speaker terminal ports ?

Think of cables as fuel in your Ferrari………

My next purchase perhaps a QUTEST….

 

[RTHerringbone]

Your NAIT50 is very susceptible to the correct cable selection. As is your power supply cord being plugged into the mains outlet and not an extension adaptor.

I will assume you’re using the correct NAIM soldered plugs for the banana ports on the speaker terminal ports ?

It can't be that susceptible to issues as I'm both plugged into an extension lead AND using whatever terminations came as standard with my speaker cables. No audible issues at all.

This is one of (many) areas of audiophile mythology that I cannot be bothered or enticed to experiment with, without a good, audible reason. Naim supplied a stock power cable to be shipped with the amp they designed. If that isn't good enough then they have failed at the initial fulfilment stage in my opinion.

I get that these are businesses and they want peripherals to act as a secondary trickle of revenue, but they can try it on with the next guy. The whole Hi-Fi hobby seems to be build upon people chasing rainbows and upgrading forever. I've been guilty of that for the past year or so but I've drawn my line in the sand now.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

I never said the supplied powerlline lite mains cable was unsuited.. I said it’s best plugged direct to mains outlet.
The nait50 is a high current design. An extension block may restrict the ability of the Naim to deliver the full suite of current output to the speakers.

In addition, you specifically asked about speaker cabling. I gave justification as to why certain speaker cables will work more optimally than the QED XT25 you’re using.

Your system, your ears. I was only replying to YOUR question.

Edit: however you ought to be using the supplied Naim speaker plugs, soldered to whatever cable you decide upon, as the plugs are specifically designed for the NN50 connector female entry and the wired internal connection.

 

[Jasonovich]

I've just bagged second hand Swedish wonder, the Primare NP5 Prisma Streamer, this will replace my WiiM Pro Plus in the Study.

It resembles the Weeeeeeeeeee in many ways, small minimalist look, the sound quality suppose to be top notch.
This is Primare's basic offerings, they're more renowned for their excellent amps.

Looking forward to receiving this.

Got mine for £260, I've seen a few more on eBay, if you're looking for a cheap second hand streamer with good sound quality, worth checking out.

 

[Shrek]

I've just bagged second hand Swedish wonder, the Primare NP5 Prisma Streamer, this will replace my WiiM Pro Plus in the Study.

It resembles the Weeeeeeeeeee in many ways, small minimalist look, the sound quality suppose to be top notch.
This is Primare's basic offerings, they're more renowned for their excellent amps.

Looking forward to receiving this.

Got mine for £260, I've seen a few more on eBay, if you're looking for a cheap second hand streamer with good sound quality, worth checking out.

View attachment 10867
View attachment 10868

Jason when will you stop buying will be that much better than the WiiM ?

 

[Jasonovich]

Jason when will you stop buying will be that much better than the WiiM ?

I'll soon find out! 🙂

The reviews are favourable, not really a necessary purchase.
My personal cash kitty is half empty and our washing machine, after 20 years of reliable service (Zanussi) is acting weird today....in hindsight, hmmm

I usually get a voice in my head....I must be going deaf listening to him! 🤣

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

I usually get a voice in my head....I must be going deaf listening to him! 🤣

Perhaps you should tell your voice, to give you a kick up the backside...

 

[Jasonovich]

Apparently it kicks a$$!

View: https://youtu.be/l9lCox87z_I?si=nDVM3-Vcl7LFr-dH

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Let us know how it performs, cheaper solution than a QUTEST

 

[Jasonovich]

Let us know how it performs, cheaper solution than a QUTEST

Oh absolutely, should have it delivered in 2-3 days. I saw brand new NP5 selling on Primare website for 600 euros and on Richer Sound, even cheaper £475 (VIP price).

Bear in mind, it's just a streamer, no DAC.

I have 5v linear power supply + AC/DC power purifier, I have the right kit to extract the best possible sound from the NP5, I'll keep you posted. 🙂

https://www.richersounds.com/primare-np5-mk2/#tab-reviews

 

[Al ears]

Let us know how it performs, cheaper solution than a QUTEST

Why would you want to compare it to a Qtest?
Chalk and cheese.....

 

[Jasonovich]

Why would you want to compare it to a Qtest?
Chalk and cheese.....

The closest match and same price point is the other cutey LAiV uDAC.
Some rave reviews appearing on YT.

https://www.laiv.audio/harmony-udac-specs

Here's Lachlan's spin on this - definitely closest Chord Qutest competition.

View: https://youtu.be/wT6QyBXTKqg?si=G0Iz9JQhNKo38S8u-

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

I’ve no idea , but looking to upgrade my streaming options
I’ll look at the LAiV too

 

[Jasonovich]

I’ve no idea , but looking to upgrade my streaming options
I’ll look at the LAiV too

I thought you might, has the same kind of vibe as the Chord Qutest. 🙂

 

[jjbomber]

and our washing machine, after 20 years of reliable service (Zanussi) is acting weird today..

My 'washing machine' acts weird everyday, and she even blames me for it! In my case, it's 21 years, but I don't remember breaking 3 mirrors!

 

[Al ears]

The closest match and same price point is the other cutey LAiV uDAC.
Some rave reviews appearing on YT.

View attachment 10869

https://www.laiv.audio/harmony-udac-specs

View attachment 10870
Here's Lachlan's spin on this - definitely closest Chord Qutest competition.

View: https://youtu.be/wT6QyBXTKqg?si=G0Iz9JQhNKo38S8u-

understood however one is a DAC and the other a Streamer......

Oh! I see he says he's bought a Streamer but I didn't look back far enough to realise he had mentioned the Qtest.....my bad.

 

[Fandango Andy]

That's @Al ears ..... 🙂

Him too 😳

 

[record_spot]

Thinking a cassette deck next...

 

[Toad66]

Going to try a Arcam A15+ and compare it to my Marantz PM6007.
Waiting for some new old cd's, one being BB King, Live at the Regal.

 

[Al ears]

Thinking a cassette deck next...

And why not???......
Portable or static?

 

[record_spot]

And why not???......
Portable or static?

Static, just fancy a bit of nostalgia and looking at older silver face players. Maybe not exactly those lovely old Pioneer decks with all the bells and whistles, just a decent, but well built deck. Serviced too given the likely age or condition.

 

[Jasonovich]

Let us know how it performs, cheaper solution than a QUTEST

Received my Primare NP5 today, drum roll, here's my review 😎


The Primare NP5 is really on another league to the WiiM Pro Plus, this is going to be my dirty secret! This tiny box is dynamite. Makes an excellent transport for my Eversolo DAC.
Worth the investment, £260 is absolute second hand bargain.

I thought the WiiM Pro Plus was small, the Np5 is about half the height, length wise it’s about the same as the WiiM. It makes minimalism respectable.

It’s so simple to operate, once it detects a signal it switches itself on, then switches off auto when not in use.

It has Spotify and Qobuz software built into the hardware (not sure about Tidal), once you open your Spotify app on your mobile, it’s there waiting for you, ez-zi pee-zi peeps!



Here are my findings (based on hours of listening to Spotify)

Pros
Good attack
Crispy
Solid bass
Excellent detail
Natural tones
String acoustics sound really natural.

Cons
Doesn’t come with a remote (but why do you need it?)

Here are some pics

Red lights - initialising

Two greens and white - is fully operational

 

[RTHerringbone]

I like gadgets but there's way, way too much stuff going on there for me 😆

 

[skinnypuppy71]

I used to own a prisma...something really annoyed me about it..but I don't remember what it was..lol.....I think I moved to the Mytec Brooklyn bridge after that...these days in my living room set up is the SOtM sms-200 neo ultra, that really is a excellent streaming transport,