Shahinian Arc & Naim

[Stick Legs]

Hi,

About 7 years ago a now sady deceased friend worked in a HiFi shop in Taunton.
We used to sit round when they were testing installs that customers had ordered as in some cases they wanted cables hidden etc and the whole rig would be run up in the shop before repacking and sending to the customer.
One such set up was Naim Audio separates driving Shahinian Arc speakers and it just blew me away.
Head and shoulders above anything else I have ever heard before or since.

However, I have lost the bit of paper I wrote down the specs.
So trawling the internet this is what I have come up with as the closest as I remember it.

CD5X CD Player
NAC 202 Pre Amp
NAP 200 Power amp

Sahinian Arc speakers.


Can anyone who knows Naim stuff say if this is a well balanced package or if I have made a mistake and mis matched items.

Also what cable to use, currently on my Rotel B&W set up I use Chord Silver Screen, is this good enough for the above kit?

Thanks.

[DavidY]

Hi Stick Legs

I've used a pair of Arcs with Naim, NACA5 would be my cable of choice, you can get Pamona connectors (from most Shahinian dealers) to connect the cable neatly into the bottom of the speakers.

Arcs are a lot of fun, especially with lower Naim power amps, but don't be tempted to upgrade to Obelisks without changing amplifiers, Obelisks are a difficult load to drive and most Naim amps struggle. When I had some Obelisks I used Big Meridian Power Amps (559s). Arcs come up quite often secondhand, varying in price, depending on age, there were some revisions during their lifetime, but nothing too serious and most can be upgraded, though one or two may need a bit of carpentry. Rear Passive Radiators do tend to sag after a time, but this is mainly cosmetic. Talk to John Burns at Pear Audio if you want to know more, he is the Shahinian Importer.

My most satisfying system I had (gone in a divorce) was a 4.0 system with Obelisks up front and Arcs at the rear!!!

You could buy that system (Naim/Arcs) with confidence and enjoy happily for the rest of your life.

[Stick Legs]

Thanks David.

I think I will start buying bits here & there, get the Naim one at a time as funds allow then once I have all the seprates then bite the bullet & buy the speakers, like you say will last a lifetime!

[TonyRPH]

DavidY said:

<snip>
Rear Passive Radiators do tend to sag after a time, but this is mainly cosmetic.
<snip>

A quick and easy fix for sagging woofers / passive radiators is to remount them 'upside down', mechanical mounting points permitting.

[Stick Legs]

TonyRPH said:

A quick and easy fix for sagging woofers / passive radiators is to remount them 'upside down', mechanical mounting points permitting.

Nice tip. Thanks.

[InductionRoar]

Stick Legs said:

Hi,

CD5X CD Player
NAC 202 Pre Amp
NAP 200 Power amp

Sahinian Arc speakers.


Can anyone who knows Naim stuff say if this is a well balanced package or if I have made a mistake and mis matched items.

Also what cable to use, currently on my Rotel B&W set up I use Chord Silver Screen, is this good enough for the above kit?

Thanks.

I bought my system back in 2006 which consists of CD5X, NAC 112X and NAC 150X (Along with Flatcap x2). As I understand the hierarchy Naim suggest upgrading the whole system a step each time. Therefore, I would say that the amps are better than the CD player which is (usually) the wrong way around. However, their line up may have changed since I was in the market.

Either way I don't think you will be disappointed. Regarding speakers I have no experience of the ones you mention so cannot comment. I have used three different speaker cables namely Van den Hul (cannot remember the model but it was a hybrid wire), Naim and I am now using Chord Epic Twin which I believe is as good as the system deserves.