Linn Forums

Tony Tune-age · 2012-05-03, 14:26

That sounds like a fantastic preamplifier Cool

. Thanks again!

(2012-05-03 14:22)Joesilva Wrote:
(2012-05-03 14:17)Tony Tune-age Wrote: Good information Joe, thanks for answering my question. By the way, I really like your speakers and Vitus power amplifiers. It's your preamplifier that I'm not very familiar with, but no doubt it's great sounding as well!

My front end is Soulution, from Switzerland. I've seen them advertised in HiFi+ in the U.K., but most reviews are from Germany. It's internal phono section is very good, better IMHO than even the Urika. That's why I use the Urika only in my study.

AMA · 2012-05-03, 19:03

Joe, interesting that Kondo cables did not make it. I was expecting Jorma, Kharma and Kondo to be on the same shelf (as they all use similar materials for strands -- silver or silver-gold alloy). Do you have any hint or third-opinion on Kharma Enigma cables?

Also, do you think Naim amps can benefit from Jorma speaker cables?

glevethan · 2012-05-04, 02:58

Just finished a lengthy session with the Klimax DS after having not listened to it for about a week. I guess the Sarum interconnect between the DS and my Naim 552 is finally broken in - it has been running 24 hours a day for the past month.

Result - time to get more Sarum! WOW!!!! As impressed as I was with the Klimax (over my CD555) - I am now even MORE impressed. The most noticeable thing - more BITE. A fellow forum friend joked that the DS may have been voiced by a Naim engineer - now with the Sarum even more so. P-R-A-T ! Everything just flows out (think substituting a garden hose with a firemen's hose of significantly greater diameter) - everything with more clarity, more realism. Quite scary what this cable has done.

Gregg

Joesilva · (This post was last modified: 2012-05-04 04:39 by Joesilva.)

(2012-05-03 19:03)AMA Wrote: Joe, interesting that Kondo cables did not make it. I was expecting Jorma, Kharma and Kondo to be on the same shelf (as they all use similar materials for strands -- silver or silver-gold alloy). Do you have any hint or third-opinion on Kharma Enigma cables?

Also, do you think Naim amps can benefit from Jorma speaker cables?

The Kondo cable uses a Litz configuration, which for those of you who were reading hifi magazines in the 70's and early 80's will know literally caused Naim NAP250's to start smoking. Something to do with the very high capacitance of these cables. I tried the Kondo speaker cables with my NAP500 for a brief period and they worked fine, but frankly, they were designed with low power, single ended amps and high efficiency, high impedance speakers in mind, and will not work their best IMHO with high current amps. As regards the Kondo interconnects, I could only try them between the CD 555 and the 552 pre. They were very smooth sounding, but they resulted in a reduction in PRAT, which is so important to Namies.

I have never tried Jorma speaker cables with Naim equipment so can't really comment. I have, however, tries Nordost Valhalla. The bottom line is that the improvement is only significant if you have a complete run from speaker cable all the way up to CD player. If you mix Valhalla with say Naim cable, you get very little benefit for the investment you've made in your Valalla speaker cables.

In my own personal experience, when it comes to Linn and Naim equipment, it is much more beneficial to stick with U.K. manufactured cables, either from Linn and Naim, or Chord. There are a few other U.K. manufactured cables that are getting rave reviews in the Far East recently. I can't remember their names offhand but will post when I get the details. They should be worth a try.

I have never tried Kharma Enigma cables so can't comment.

Joe

AMA · 2012-05-04, 08:08

Joe, thanks!

What about IC between KDS and 720 -- is it Jorma Prime? RCA?

And what about cables between 720 and 710?

Joesilva · (This post was last modified: 2012-05-04 12:42 by Joesilva.)

(2012-05-04 08:08)AMA Wrote: Joe, thanks!

What about IC between KDS and 720 -- is it Jorma Prime? RCA?

And what about cables between 720 and 710?

Please see a summary of my two system's below. I only run my KDS through my all-Linn system in my study. I use Chord Sarum balanced between the KDS/1 and KK/1. My main system, as reviewed in HiFi news last year, uses Jorma Prime throughout, including the a.c. power cords. All interconnects (except the Linn Silver between LP-12 and 750 phonoamp) are balanced XLR Jorma Prime.

BTW, I changed the RCA plugs on the Linn Silver coming from the LP-12 for WBT silver plugs and got a marked improvement. It is strange that Linn chose a manufacturer other than WBT for the RCA plug on the Linn Silver, yet when it comes to the RCA socket on Linn equipment, they use WBT.

Joe

AMA · (This post was last modified: 2012-05-04 13:11 by AMA.)

Joe, now I see the way you set up both systems. Impressive.
I also develop two systems in two different rooms: one is mostly for rock music and the main one is for classic/jazz (I can't really imagine both shining through the same system).

The message on WBT on Linn Silver is stunning. I run a pair of Linn Silver from Urika to 552 and I can easily buy WBT and refit the cables -- though it will take some efforts.
Will it bring Silver a Sarum's transparency?
I currently run Sarum RCA-DIN between KDS and 552 and this was a clear step up from Linn Silver and I planned to do the same between Urika and 552...

glevethan · 2012-05-04, 15:00

Returning to an earlier post - how much are a pair of Sarum XLR/DIN's used between a Naim amp and preamp?

Gregg

Joesilva · 2012-05-04, 15:08

(2012-05-04 15:00)glevethan Wrote: Returning to an earlier post - how much are a pair of Sarum XLR/DIN's used between a Naim amp and preamp?

Gregg

I used the Chord Indigo between my 552 and 500 when I was running a passive set up and the results were much more to my liking than the lampcord thats supplied with the 500.

Joe

AMA · 2012-05-04, 22:09

(2012-05-04 15:00)glevethan Wrote: Returning to an earlier post - how much are a pair of Sarum XLR/DIN's used between a Naim amp and preamp?

Gregg

Gregg, it's difficult for me to split but after some upgrades and trade-ins the overall cost of Sarum RCA->DIN (for KDS->552) and Sarum XLR-DIN (for 552PS->NAP500) came up to 2,430 GBP (circa 3,900 USD) only.
This is including the shipment from UK to Dubai and local Dubai income tax (4%).

But I'm not sure I would be getting the same price if I buy the same from the scratch.

The step up from Naim/Linn cables is massive and totally worth the investment.