2ch home audio help

arun1963
arun1963 Posts: 1,797
edited August 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
hi,

am from the car audio forum and looking for some help on my 2ch home rig. I run a very basic 2ch rig as follows:

Amp: Naim Nait 5i
CD : Cyrus 6SE
Speakers : Dynaudio dm 2/7

Like I said its a basic set up. I love the amp and the cd player. The dyns have amazing mids but the tweets are a bit laid back for my taste.

One of my friends suggested I swap the copper speaker cables to silver cables. The silver cables are brighter and would help brighten up the tweeter. Thats one suggestion I recvd the other was to swap out the dyns for something like the ATC SM II's. Two totally conflicting views. So before I do any spending thought it best to check with the forum here............all comments welcome.
Post edited by arun1963 on
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Comments

  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited August 2009
    Welcome to the Club!
    Thats a nice system,start will the silver cables and see if that helps.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited August 2009
    It's all a matter of taste, of course. To me Dynaudios have GREAT sounding highs because they're not in your face.

    But some people seem to like 'bright' so 'do' experiment with the cables and see if that helps...

    Of course if you really want bright just get a Yamaha? I'm kidding of course...but lower end equipment often makes speakers sound less laid back.

    Good Luck..

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited August 2009
    I agree with above- start with cables. Buy them used. Actually buy a couple different pairs and then sell the one's you don't like.

    Nice Amp. Naim has a big following, but I've never had a chance to hear one yet.
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  • arun1963
    arun1963 Posts: 1,797
    edited August 2009
    It's all a matter of taste, of course. To me Dynaudios have GREAT sounding highs because they're not in your face.

    But some people seem to like 'bright' so 'do' experiment with the cables and see if that helps...

    Of course if you really want bright just get a Yamaha? I'm kidding of course...but lower end equipment often makes speakers sound less laid back.

    Good Luck..

    cnh

    cnh,

    I dont want to swap my dyns. As possible upgrades I heard some speciality speakers at 4-5 times the price of my dyns. The mids on my petit dyns blew them all away. Dynaudio makes the paciest mids. The details that they bring out is just amazing. By comparison the tweets are a bit laid back. So you get all wound up by the mids and then the tweets just mellow you down. I just want 5% more in the tweets. thats it. If I can give an example, I'd like to marry the dyn mid with a morel tweet.

    No I'm not talking about the Yamaha / Klipsch brightness. lol

    Arun
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited August 2009
    there are many combinations and without direct experience in listening and evaluating it is difficult to predict tonal changes.

    best is to try and also share your findings with us.
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    edited August 2009
    what speaker cables and interconnects are you using now?
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • arun1963
    arun1963 Posts: 1,797
    edited August 2009
    marvda1 wrote: »
    what speaker cables and interconnects are you using now?

    cardas golden reference interconnect and speaker cables.
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  • arun1963
    arun1963 Posts: 1,797
    edited August 2009
    Ern Dog wrote: »
    I agree with above- start with cables. Buy them used. Actually buy a couple different pairs and then sell the one's you don't like.

    Nice Amp. Naim has a big following, but I've never had a chance to hear one yet.

    Tks, will try the cables. Over where I am, there isnt much traffic in used cable. I would have lokk at buying stuff before I could use it.

    The Naim is my softspot. It is a great amp that delivers simplicity. Its a perfect match for the insanely pacy dyn mids. The beauty is that when paired together, neither of them wins. Thats what gives the setup the synergy.
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  • Reggin
    Reggin Posts: 22
    edited August 2009
    Are you planning to upgrade to 5.1 channel soon?
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  • arun1963
    arun1963 Posts: 1,797
    edited August 2009
    Reggin wrote: »
    Are you planning to upgrade to 5.1 channel soon?

    No. Too much of a 2ch person. Would love to move towards tubes and vinyl but $$$ is a constraint right now. :D
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited August 2009
    arun1963 wrote: »
    cardas golden reference interconnect and speaker cables.

    Nice cables-Sweet sound:D
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • arun1963
    arun1963 Posts: 1,797
    edited August 2009
    Tks Danz. Yes the sound is very well balanced.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited August 2009
    Solid copper conductor type IC's, such as Audioquest Copperhead (or Sidewinder), tend to flush out some treble energy as well...just a thought.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,034
    edited August 2009
    Ben's silver IC's will help get you where you want to go.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • lakesailor
    lakesailor Posts: 319
    edited August 2009
    From my experience with Naim I have yet to hear one that I considered “bright” like most “proper” British integrateds the Naim is more neutral overall but very musical and lively in the mid-range; as you have discovered. In spite of sounding somewhat laid back; the speed of attack is also very impressive and it’s fairly hard not to enjoy a Naim unless you have some fairly specific musical tastes.

    Experimenting with silver wire is never a bad idea; however I don’t think it will get you where you are wanting to go. Unfortunately I have not tried your Dynaudio’s so I can’t really comment on that but can say trying something different first would be a suggestion.

    You might also check with a Naim dealer for speaker suggestions more towards your liking. Most Naim dealers I have found are very knowledgeable. Good luck
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  • arun1963
    arun1963 Posts: 1,797
    edited August 2009
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Solid copper conductor type IC's, such as Audioquest Copperhead (or Sidewinder), tend to flush out some treble energy as well...just a thought.

    True. I think that is an issue with copper ic's. Not sure what you mean by 'solid copper'. The Cardas has 6 bundles of 68 strands each, for each polarity.

    What I love about the cardas is the excellent neutrality. The mids and lows are detailed and physical without getting warm and this neutrality extends thru the uppermids into the highs. The sound is truly neutral without getting thin.
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  • arun1963
    arun1963 Posts: 1,797
    edited August 2009
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Ben's silver IC's will help get you where you want to go.

    Yes, Ben's ic's are legendary. Does Ben ship to India? The courier charges and then the duty at this end would kill me :)

    My apprehension in shifting to silver is, that to gain maybe 5% at the top I could loose 10% in the mids and lows. Would be interested to know your opinion.
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  • arun1963
    arun1963 Posts: 1,797
    edited August 2009
    lakesailor wrote: »
    From my experience with Naim I have yet to hear one that I considered “bright” like most “proper” British integrateds the Naim is more neutral overall but very musical and lively in the mid-range; as you have discovered. In spite of sounding somewhat laid back; the speed of attack is also very impressive and it’s fairly hard not to enjoy a Naim unless you have some fairly specific musical tastes.

    Experimenting with silver wire is never a bad idea; however I don’t think it will get you where you are wanting to go. Unfortunately I have not tried your Dynaudio’s so I can’t really comment on that but can say trying something different first would be a suggestion.

    You might also check with a Naim dealer for speaker suggestions more towards your liking. Most Naim dealers I have found are very knowledgeable. Good luck

    You've done some serious listening to Naim's :) You have listed, all the attributes that make this amp and brand so special. I guess its ability to stay neutral while giving high definition at the attacks, gives it a slightly laid back persona. The Naim does great for the music I listen to. Classic rock, jazz, some easy listening stuff and some pop from the 80's :o


    The Dyns are from the dm bookshelve series, with dm 2/7 being the entry level model. Yet they do a commendable job.

    Naim does'nt have a dealership here. I picked mine up on an overseas trip.
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