Bart001
New member
Sounds right. But I have no specific experience with the Blades. Their sensitivity numbers are decent (KEF says 91dB). But there's a lot more than that.
What's the source of your "bad news?"
Mike's system
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
Sounds right. But I have no specific experience with the Blades. Their sensitivity numbers are decent (KEF says 91dB). But there's a lot more than that.
What's the source of your "bad news?"
That may be the case although the Blades combination of low impedance and multi driver complement will be a serious challenge to the 250’s power supply. It may shut down or go into protection at extended sessions or bass heavier material.
My current Accuphase and Ultima 5 amps are having no issues… but thats expected.
This news is coming to me directly from Naim.
- Thread Author
- #383
Maybe 500… although at that point Ive completely missed the mark on just trying a Naim system out lol. Goal was to aim at the middle… first world problems right.
- Thread Author
- #385
Well, 500, now you’re talking! Time to get your big boy pants on for that one!
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Hi!
As a long time Naim user i can confirm that the units should be left on at all time and that it will take a couple of weeks for them to come ‘on song’ when new. After the initial running in my experience is that it will only take about 5 days to get back to full performance after they have been switched off. For Mike and everyone else I have some good news; after 3-5 months there is a marked increase in performance again. This was especially noticable with the DR power supplies.
Best regards
Hans
As a long time Naim user i can confirm that the units should be left on at all time and that it will take a couple of weeks for them to come ‘on song’ when new. After the initial running in my experience is that it will only take about 5 days to get back to full performance after they have been switched off. For Mike and everyone else I have some good news; after 3-5 months there is a marked increase in performance again. This was especially noticable with the DR power supplies.
Best regards
Hans
- Thread Author
- #388
What?s my home system? Kharma MIDI Exquisite 3.0 + fullNAIM 500 system + Kronos Pro Turntable +++ - YouTube
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Looks fantastic. I don't know how given it's youtube but it seems possible somehow to tell the sound coming from that is incredible.
- Thread Author
- #391
I finally received the crazy NAIM to RCA cables so I could connect up the subs. To even out the bass in my challenging room, I’m using four B&W subs. They have the auto DSP and blend seamlessly.
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Grasshopper
New member
Love the Aidas
- Thread Author
- #393
A few changes:
- Gone is the NAIM 500 system
- Added Block Audio SE Monos/SE Pre
- Added Esoteric Grandioso K1X/PS1. Since I have hundreds of SACD’s and thousands of CD’s, and I play them and buy more every month, this was the best option for me.
- Added Aurender N30SA (in combo with Aurender ACS10)
- Added Finite Elemente Pagode Mk2 racks (2), one is HD (heavy duty for the heavy Kronos and K1X). The other is standard.
- Added Avid Pulsare II Phonostage, waiting on Esoteric E-02 (October production)
- Added Nordost QNET and QSource with Premium Lemo cable.
- All new cables. Details below.
- Changed all 5 dedicated 20 amp circuits to the Block Audio C-Lock SE2 (these have the Furutech GTX-D NCF(R) built in).
With my wife and kids away for the month of June (visiting family in Canada), I spent no less than 100 hours comparing every single cable against every other cable we had in the store, plus others and going back and forth to find the right synergy.
I found IN MY SYSTEM, the IC between the Esoteric Grandioso K1X and the Block SE Preamp to be THE MOST important. I tried AQ Dragon, Valhalla 2, Odin 2, Sigma v2 and several others. When I put the Odin 2 into the system, I had a goosebump moment - and not for exactly the right reason. It was about midnight one night and using ‘River of Tears’ from the latest Clapton Album as one of the test songs and going back and forth all night with this one cable, I put the Odin 2 XLR in and could hear someone breathing, swallowing and thought someone was in the house! I jumped out of my chair, only to realize that it was that Odin 2 cable between the K1X and the Pre bringing unprecedented transparency and resolution.
- I found the Dragon IC’s to be best between the preamp and amps. I could go into my entire findings, but sometimes I found you could end up with too much of a good thing. Getting the right balance was key.
- The Block Audio Mains Block SE power cables sounded best on the Block Audio SE amps and Block SE preamp (no surprise).
- The speaker cables I went with are the Kharma Exquisite. They narrowly beat out the Odin 2 and Dragon.
- The Shunyata Sigma NRv2 power cables won the day and were best on the phonostage, Esoteric K1X, Aurender, Clock, QSource, QB8, etc.
- I’m using the Block Audio Dog Block SE power conditioner along with a Nordost QB8 for the peripheral stuff like the turntable power supply and stuff like that. I find the locking mechanism on the power conditioner to work very well since crawling behind the rack would always find me knocking out a power cable or two. With the locking mechanism on the Block power conditioner, everything stayed put and sounded great.
- For digital, the Shunyata Omega Clock cables were tops. I’m using 50 ohm for the CyberShaft Clock (with separate PSU) and 75 ohm for the Aurender N30SA.
- For Ethernet, I found the Wireworld Platinum 8 to work best.
- I’m using COAX (SPDIF) as my main connection from the N30SA, and for that, the Nordost Odin 2 sounded best.
- As a backup from the N30SA (or for higher res DSD), I found the Wireworld Platinum 8 USB to be best in my system.
- For phonostage, Shunyata RCA sounded best.
- For Tape, the Wireworld Platinum 8 XLR sounded great from the Doshi Tape Pre.
NEXT UP: more ISOAcoustics OREA for the N30SA, preamp, etc. I do have the Nordost QPoints for all the key devices. I will get those hooked up this week. They will run off the QSource.
Suffice it to say, I didn’t go with the full loom approach. [emoji6]
This again is MY SYSTEM, in MY ROOM and my tastes.
YMMV.
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I guess my previous comment was posted before you detailed all the changes. When you have the time and inspiration it would be terrific if you made a video as you did previously discussing the changes outlined in your post. You have a knack for succinctly getting to the “crux of the biscuit” so to speak.
A few changes:
- Gone is the NAIM 500 system
- Added Block Audio SE Monos/SE Pre
- Added Esoteric Grandioso K1X/PS1. Since I have hundreds of SACD’s and thousands of CD’s, and I play them and buy more every month, this was the best option for me.
- Added Aurender N30SA (in combo with Aurender ACS10)
- Added Finite Elemente Pagode Mk2 racks (2), one is HD (heavy duty for the heavy Kronos and K1X). The other is standard.
- Added Avid Pulsare II Phonostage, waiting on Esoteric E-02 (October production)
- Added Nordost QNET and QSource with Premium Lemo cable.
- All new cables. Details below.
- Changed all 5 dedicated 20 amp circuits to the Block Audio C-Lock SE2 (these have the Furutech GTX-D NCF(R) built in).
With my wife and kids away for the month of June (visiting family in Canada), I spent no less than 100 hours comparing every single cable against every other cable we had in the store, plus others and going back and forth to find the right synergy.
I found IN MY SYSTEM, the IC between the Esoteric Grandioso K1X and the Block SE Preamp to be THE MOST important. I tried AQ Dragon, Valhalla 2, Odin 2, Sigma v2 and several others. When I put the Odin 2 into the system, I had a goosebump moment - and not for exactly the right reason. It was about midnight one night and using ‘River of Tears’ from the latest Clapton Album as one of the test songs and going back and forth all night with this one cable, I put the Odin 2 XLR in and could hear someone breathing, swallowing and thought someone was in the house! I jumped out of my chair, only to realize that it was that Odin 2 cable between the K1X and the Pre bringing unprecedented transparency and resolution.
- I found the Dragon IC’s to be best between the preamp and amps. I could go into my entire findings, but sometimes I found you could end up with too much of a good thing. Getting the right balance was key.
- The Block Audio Mains Block SE power cables sounded best on the Block Audio SE amps and Block SE preamp (no surprise).
- The speaker cables I went with are the Kharma Exquisite. They narrowly beat out the Odin 2 and Dragon.
- The Shunyata Sigma NRv2 power cables won the day and were best on the phonostage, Esoteric K1X, Aurender, Clock, QSource, QB8, etc.
- I’m using the Block Audio Dog Block SE power conditioner along with a Nordost QB8 for the peripheral stuff like the turntable power supply and stuff like that. I find the locking mechanism on the power conditioner to work very well since crawling behind the rack would always finding me knocking out a power cable or two. With the locking mechanism on the Block power conditioner, everything stayed put and sounded great.
- For digital, the Shunyata Omega Clock cables were tops. I’m using 50 ohm for the CyberShaft Clock (with separate PSU) and 75 ohm for the Aurender N30SA.
- For Ethernet, I found the Wireworld Platinum 8 to work best.
- I’m using COAX (SPDIF) as my main connection from the N30SA, and for that, the Nordost Odin 2 sounded best.
- As a backup from the N30SA (or for higher res DSD), I found the Wireworld Platinum 8 USB to be best in my system.
- For phonostage, Shunyata RCA sounded best.
- For Tape, the Wireworld Platinum 8 XLR sounded great from the Doshi Tape Pre.
NEXT UP: more ISOAcoustics GAIA’s for the N30SA, preamp, etc. I do have the Nordost QPoints for all the key devices. I will get those hooked up this week. They will run off the QSource.
Suffice it to say, I didn’t go with the full loom approach. [emoji6]
This again is MY SYSTEM, in MY ROOM and my tastes.
YMMV.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Enjoy!
Looks like a all new system to me. :congrats: It's better now i suppose, but it´s possible to have a totally different new sound when the speakers are the same? We "look" to the speakers with other eyes, as if they are others?
I know what you mean. When i bought my Ortofon interconnect i was so excited that i had to try another one in the system. But didn´t work. The sound became a little dark with a slightly less defined and dragged bass. I still have the Ortofon on the source but combined with a Transparent Music Link Plus between the pre and the power.
By the way, It looks terrific
(The Kharma are sooo beautiful...)
nc42acc
New member
Don’t your moving guys just love carrying super heavy audio gear up and down your stairs every couple months? :congrats::exciting:
Wow what a departure from your full Naim phase. Looks great Mike, sure would love to hear it.
Wow what a departure from your full Naim phase. Looks great Mike, sure would love to hear it.
- Thread Author
- #400
They do! I pay them way more than they normally make.
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