Long interconnects or
long speaker cables?
August 12, 2003
Hi Wes,
I own the Musical Fidelity A3cr preamp/power amp
combination, which suits me very well. Following our relocation to a new apartment, all
hi-fi gear has been consigned to a (well-ventilated) cabinet sitting along the long wall
of a rectangular space measuring 25' x 16'. This is not ideal, as I would prefer to have
the speakers with their back to (but three feet out from) the short wall of the same
space. It is not possible to move the cabinet to the center of the short wall, nor is it
possible to move the cabinet further along the long wall. I am left with two options:
(1) Run very long speaker cables from the cabinet along the
long wall (9 feet), half the length of the short wall (8 feet), and then to the speakers
(total run 24 feet).
(2) Reposition the A3cr power amp between the two speakers,
and run a very long interconnect from the A3cr preamp to the power amp -- the same route
as the speaker cable proposal above. (Total run 18-20 feet, depending on opinion of The
Ultimate Authority (my lovely wife) as to the positioning of the A3cr power amp).
It is not possible to take home cables and try them -- at
least not at any stores around here -- so I am looking for a "rule of thumb" as
to the better approach -- long speaker cables or long interconnects. Any suggestions you
might have as to a suitable interconnect for the A3cr combo would also be welcome,
although I appreciate that there is no reason for you to have a particular preference.
Richard
Long interconnects sound better than long speaker cables
almost every time. If you have to choose one over the other, stretch the cable between
preamp and amp. The exception to this rule is when using passive preamplifiers or some
low-output-impedance tube preamps -- neither of which apply to you.
Besides, interconnects tend to be less obtrusive than
speaker cables (be sure to lean on this one really heavily when discussing it with The
Ultimate Authority).
Sold on Naim?
August 8, 2003
Hello Wes,
I've been using my original Naim NAIT integrated amplifier
for 20 years now, but I am thinking about changing. I recently bought a pair of PSB
Stratus Silver i speakers, and I also have a NAD 512 CD player. My budget may allow
about $2000 to replace the Naim (I paid $350 in 1983), and the NAD (paid $300-$350 in the
late '90s). I assume improving the CD player within that budget is fairly easy, but I
don't know about the Naim. How would you allocate that budget between amp and CD player,
and if it were you, what components would you seriously consider within that budget? Local
dealers carry Rotel, NAD, Arcam, and Creek. I may also be able to get some used Naim
equipment. Don’t consider me "sold on Naim," however, but I am accustomed
to the sound.
Tom
You may not be sold on Naim, but the NAIT offers you a
pretty nifty upgrade path, if you have a NAIT2, that is. Call Naim Audio North America
(NANA -- no, really!) at (773) 338-6262 and ask Chris West or Steve Kregling how to
proceed. My recollection is that the conversion was quite simple and inexpensive.
Then all you'll need is a power amp, an interconnect, and a
new CD player. Used Naim would probably offer the best value, although any of the brands
you mention would be lines I'd explore. I think a NAIT/Creek preamp/power amp combo could
be extremely musical -- but listen for yourself and then tell me what you think.
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