Yesterday evening I discovered this line on the back panel of my Nait 5i:

WARNING: do not replace supplied loudspeakers plugs with individual 4 mm plugs

My equipment (Nait 5i, CD5i, NACA5, B&W N805)has kindly been installed by my dealer, but with QED plugs. There weren't any other plugs supplied. Is this significant?

Regards,

Martijn

I did also try the QED plugs. Note that the best performance
can be achieved with the original naim plugs.

Emil

Hear Hear.

Stick to the original Naim speaker plugs wherever possible.

Cheers Robert

I think it's more of a

"don't dry your cat in this microwave oven"

type of warning.

Brian OReilly

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian OReilly:
I think it's more of a

"don't dry your cat in this microwave oven"

type of warning.

Brian OReilly

---

Well, that sounds like I need those plugs NOW

Are the Naim plugs included in the Naim amplifier packages (at least, with the 5i)? How do they look like? Should I use them at both sides of the loudspeaker cable?

Martijn

Do you have a Naim dealer? If so he should be able to supply plugs.


Robert

quote:

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Originally posted by Goldstar:
Do you have a Naim dealer? If so he should be able to supply plugs.


Robert

---

Hi Robert,

The system was installed by a Naim dealers, so, yes I have one.

Regards,

Martijn

By the way, what are those pernicious "individual 4 mm plugs" (maybe the QED plugs that fit so well in the back of both my 5i en my B&W's? ) and why doesn't Naim like them?

It's purely a Eurocrat safety issue. The Naim plugs are joined by a plastic casing, this means that they cannot be inserted into a mains socket to the detriment of whatever's plugged into or touching the other end of the cables. The individual ones can be, albeit one at a time.

At least I think this is the reason. Most manufacturers have moved to pure binding posts or 'BFA' plug/sockets.

So I would let it be, unless you think the Naim plugs may sound better.

Paul

Thanx Paul

Martijn (putting the cat back in the microwave oven...)

quote:

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Originally posted by Martijn:
There weren't any other plugs supplied. Is this significant?

---

Martijn,

I believe that Naim always used to include two pairs of plugs with their amps. Since the label mentions the "supplied" plugs, this should still be the case.

I'm guessing these might be QED Airlock plugs, which he might be using because he knows his soldering skills are pathetic or non-existent. It's the only excuse I can think of not to use the supplied plugs, which are miles better.

cheers, Martin

E-mail:- MartinPayne (at) Dial.Pipex.com. Put "Naim" in the title.

quote:

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Originally posted by Martin Payne:
Martijn,

I believe that Naim always used to include two pairs of plugs with their amps. Since the label mentions the "supplied" plugs, this should still be the case.

I'm guessing these might be QED Airlock plugs, which he might be using because he knows his soldering skills are pathetic or non-existent. It's the only excuse I can think of not to use the supplied plugs, which are miles better.

cheers, Martin

---

Hi Martin,

I will check the box again for the Naim plugs.
I have no reason whatsoever to doubt the skills of the man who installed my system. But I think the QED plugs are Airlocks (not 100% sure).
What difference did you notice yourself between the Naim and the QED plugs?

Regards,

Martijn

So NAIM designed their speaker plugs to look like Euro mains plugs then?

I just poked myself in the eye.

Neither my finger or my eyesocket came with any warning labels, and I have not had a risk assessment documented, or a safe system of work put into place.

Who can I sue over the pain, suffering and mental anguish that this has caused?

DS

ITC - Pere Ubu - Datapanik in the Year Zero 1978 - 1979

All the views expressed within this e-mail are the sole responsibility of DS, and as such are manifestly correct.

You had obviously, illegally, removed your Government Issue head to toe cotton wool suit!

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!

quote:

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Originally posted by BigH47:
So NAIM designed their speaker plugs to look like Euro mains plugs then?

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Biggy,

4mm plugs were being used for amp outputs years before Naim came along.

Naim are just about the only company that supply a plastic surround on their speaker plugs so that the spacing of the pins is wrong to go into a mains socket.


Martinj,

I found that the Naim plugs were cleaner, more dynamic & powerful, deeper & tighter bass, much better treble, etc, etc.

Couldn't believe the difference when I heard it.

cheers, Martin

E-mail:- MartinPayne (at) Dial.Pipex.com. Put "Naim" in the title.

quote:

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Originally posted by Martijn:
Yesterday evening I discovered this line on the back panel of my Nait 5i

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Martijn, follow my example and NEVER look at the back of your hifi gear. I am serene.

...I wonder what that burning smell is...

Well, I checked the box again. Nothing in there.

Martijn

Martijn

The Naim plugs do improve the sound. I used ordinary ones for years and when my dealer fitted the Naim plugs the improvement was significant. Another benefit is that you can't wire the speakers out of phase - assuming the Naim plugs are wired correctly of course.

If you take your cables to your dealer, they should fit te Naim plugs for free.

Nigel

Martijn,

All of our amplifiers are supplied with a pair of Naim 4mm speaker plugs, as in fact are our loudspeakers.

Best regards,

Paul.