I've just bought myself the new nait a few months back, just love it. I'm still saving for the CD5i and till then using my current Marantz CD6002 and Usher's S-520 (on Soundstyle Z2). I'm using Ecosse Conductor CA-1 Original for the interconnect and NACA 5. Need your advise on how to further improve my setup. By the way, my music room is small (9ft by 6ft). Thank you all.
Zam, that would be hard for me to do as I do not know what you are wanting. For any of us to advise you we need to know what you are after. ie: more transparency or maybe more accurate bottom end, maybe a warmer sound or perhaps a more forward presentation. Do you like live music? Is there something about that presentation you would like in your system? So give us a little more info and hopefully we can help.
Steve, I'm sorry that I've not provided you all with specific questions & details pertaining to improvement required for my setup. I'm rather new at this, so I'm unable to explain in great details (technical jargons) what is lacking. All I know is that, the current vocal presentation is great but sometimes I feel that the music or instrument lacks depth to the extend tonally flat (could it be the speakers?). I know that my setup is a long way from perfect, but its a start. So please if you could advise me on the way forward to improve. By the way I listen to Jazz, Rock, Pop & occasionally live. Tq you all for the effort & sorry if I sound inexperienced
As Stu suggested, I wouldn't do anything until you have all the new stuff and it's run in fully. Who knows, you might find you're delighted with the results and don't need to do anything further. If at that point you're still searching for something else, definately start with the easy stuff, like speaker location, cabling options, room treatments, isolation options, etc.
Absolutely, wait till you have your CD player and your system is all run in. If the depth and tonality are still not there, and speaker placement does not help, then you may want to look at the speakers and possibly IC's. Your Naim gear is very nice electronics by the way. Also, having your speakers a long the short will usually make them perform their best. Good luck and let us know how it works for you.
First, are your speakers against the short or long wall? I assume their backs are to the short wall aiming down the length. It's a small space so this is rather awkward.
As others here have said, you need to get the CD player in, use the standard (very cheap looking but it's the best below silly money) DIN-DIN interconnect that comes with the CD player and run it in. After a week or so of continuous play, you'll be in a position to move the speakers until it sounds right. After that, enjoy and buy CDs.
The only changes you could make are cables or speakers and the only cables I would ever suggest are the naim ones which are big money. Speakers affect the voice (or colour) of the system very heavily and I don't know what the Ushers do (except that they're meant to be good). I say cross that bridge in the future when you get to it and only if you really want to. First see how you get on with the system for a few months...