Flexible low cost speaker cable for Classic Naim Nait 2?

[Craig B]

The thinner cables are adding enough resistance to reduce the speaker output at the lowest impedance frequencies, usually either side of the upper port resonance. This might well be enough to sound thinner, but also faster.

After having a re-read of Roger Russel's 'Speaker Wire - A History' page, I decided to change my Excel workbook to calculate maximum recommended speaker cable length as a function of resistance only, and found that all of Naim's offerings, including their Super Lumina*, 20m lengths work out to resistance being 4.5% to 4.8% of a 4Ohm loudspeaker impedance. This is in line with Mr. Russel's (and other's) suggestion/rule of thumb that total cable resistance should be less than 5% of 'speaker impedance.

Another interesting observation is that, although physically different, Naim Super Lumina has almost the exact same electrical specifications as does Mogami W2972.

* According to Audio T's web shop, Super Lumina is sold in 6 different length factory pre-terminated pairs ranging from 3m to 9m (at a piss-taking £2,037.00 to £6,111.00).

 

[omers]

The thinner cables are adding enough resistance to reduce the speaker output at the lowest impedance frequencies, usually either side of the upper port resonance. This might well be enough to sound thinner, but also faster.

True. Especially evident with low sensitivity loudspeakers like Ls3/5A's (81-83db) which have no port but the high required current emphasizes the effect. This tendency continues up to absurdly thick cables like AWG0, where maybe something else other than impedance comes into play.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Zero need, in a Nait, for that.

Agree 100%, don’t butcher such a nice and lively amp ! Just buy the right dog bone shaped speaker cables and let it amaze you with its dynamic transients and music flow.

 

[Arkless Electronics]

For your Nait. Neat.

It's not a Zobel network though!! Many keep making this mistake. As incompetent and amateurish as early Naim designs are, even they had Zobel networks (not that they are always required). What you are linking to is the same as I offered for sale in a boxed up format with sockets etc and some call it a Thiel network. This is a relatively recent thing though and for most of hi fi history it had no name.
It certainly improves Naim amps by allowing any speaker cable to be used and, sensibly, Avondale incorporate it in their vastly improved Naim like amps

 

[chartz]

I know! This was a

 

[davidsrsb]

True. Especially evident with low sensitivity loudspeakers like Ls3/5A's (81-83db) which have no port but the high required current emphasizes the effect. This tendency continues up to absurdly thick cables like AWG0, where maybe something else other than impedance comes into play.

LS3/5As don't go below 8 ohm at any frequency, so are almost immune to cable resistance and inductance. They are also almost a pure ~10R resistance at the top end. A very easy, but inefficient load.

 

[omers]

LS3/5As don't go below 8 ohm at any frequency, so are almost immune to cable resistance and inductance. They are also almost a pure ~10R resistance at the top end. A very easy, but inefficient load.

Look at this typical LS3/5A impedance. the difference between R8 and R>20 will be evident with thin cables because of the low sensitivity -> higher current, even with the high R. It's not about easy to drive (sharp impedance angles etc.), but about various electrical currents at various frequencies.

 

[ToTo Man]

Look at this typical LS3/5A impedance. the difference between R8 and R>20 will be evident with thin cables because of the low sensitivity -> higher current, even with the high R. It's not about easy to drive (sharp impedance angles etc.), but about various electrical currents at various frequencies.

Ah, but did the BBC voice the LS3/5A using thick gauge speaker wire? Probably not. You could therefore argue that using thick speaker wire with the LS3/5A steers its performance away from what the BBC intended, even if it is indeed superior from a power transfer efficiency POV.

 

[omers]

Ah, but did the BBC voice the LS3/5A using thick gauge speaker wire? Probably not. You could therefore argue that using thick speaker wire with the LS3/5A steers its performance away from what the BBC intended, even if it is indeed superior from a power transfer efficiency POV.

Exactly. The conditions at the "voicing" stage - amps, wires and esp. room are crucial yet transparent to us.

 

[Martyn Miles]

I cannot imagine the BBC ‘voicing’ LS3/5as.
From what I have seen and heard, various types of cables were employed.
In one local radio station they were using standard generic cables with the XLR plugs.
In another two different cables, same as above ( generic ) ones, but different makes.