Can someone please tell me if this is an old design of Naim plug or if not, what is it?

It's a standard 'banana plug' as used on millions of loudspeakers.

Now being replaced by the Bananaline.


Cheers
Steve

Looks like a standard RS type banana plug which would have had a screw on cover.

I know it seemed a silly question, but I'm just amazed. In 2002 I spent a few grand on a new 282 and new speakers and this is what the dealer put on the amp end. It was covered in heat shrink, so I had no idea it wasn't a Naim plug until I snipped it off a couple of weeks ago.

Perhaps this should be put in the "Dealers" thread.

Hello Count d,

I've the same sort of plug on some old NACA4 cable. Maybe it was standard back in the late 80's, early 90's...

[QUOTE]Originally posted by count.d:
**** in fact ended up with a 252/300, which is what you also bought?
I needed longer NACA5, and my dealer also fitted non-Naim plugs (and appears to have deftly pocketed the plugs Naim will have supplied with the 300).
I remain sceptical that substituting one nickle-plated plug for another of almost identical design could make any appreciable difference to the sound.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Adam Meredith,

IIRC it could very well be an older Linn design...

Regards,
Michel

It is the inner part of an RS (Radio Spares) 4mm "banana" plug. These were standard fitment over the early years and a good plug.

The problem arises with thicker speaker cables such as NACA5. The plastic shroud can no longer be fitted and the mechanical strain on the solder point will tend to break it with time.

We developed the Naim speaker plug to be similar but better. The potential for right angle entry and the stronger solder area being the obvious points of improvement.

The RS plug is still a good item for non-Naim speakers but, given the need for heatshrink or other insulation, Naim plugs can usually be substituted - either as designed or removed from the cover and insulated with heatshrink. The cable can be used straight into a Naim plug.

quote:

Originally posted by Adam Meredith:
The cable can be used straight into a Naim plug.

One we prepared earlier (N-Vi).

quote:

Originally posted by count.d:
Perhaps this should be put in the "Dealers" thread.

Maybe you should post in the dealer thread, stating if the replacements are an improvement. If they are an improvement and non naim, maybe you could post if a dealer recommended them. Might add a bit of balance to the thread.

quote:

The potential for right angle entry and the stronger solder area being the obvious points of improvement.

Thanks Adam, it was the tiny, flimsy solder area that I was surprised at, as the rest of the plug has more or less similar dimensions. The Naim plug obviously has a much more substantial solder area and I think it's this, coupled with the special solder and my soldering (buying the correct iron and practicing on off cuts), where I'm achieving the great improvement from.

This was the at the other end of the flimsy plugs. A nice dry joint foc from the dealer, so it wasn't difficult to improve upon.

Count,

As a shop-floor inspector friend of mine once said "shockly bad effort".

Personally I prefer crimped-on connectors, when done using the right tools.

Jono