HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

This is something I have given some thought to since the matter of DAC interconnector compatability came to my attention recently.

When I bought my first system back in 1979 a major consideration was amplifier speaker compatability. Speakers would be wrecked by an amplifier with higher power rating than the wattage specified for the speakers they would be partnered with, or so I was told. I was at uni at the time and in those days hifi was popular with young people and they knew more than me. Little did I know about speaker sensitivity being more important for high volumes, ease or awquadness to drive and a struggling under powered amplifier being a danger to speakers. Also what was quoted in watts did not necessarily equate to amplifier power. Specifications clouded by myths held sway.

Things were somewhat similar with cartridge arm matching. A high mass arm would not be comparable with a high mass cartridge as it would trigger an undesirable resonent frequency, or something like that. When I upgraded from my Dual to a Rega I feared there might be a problem with my Ortofon VMS20E MK2, but there was not.

I did find issues with cassette decks and tapes. A make of chrome tape, using the chrome setting would sound better than other brands on the same deck. If the chrome setting was not used the sound would be seriously affected.

The digital age has brought about a new set of compatability issues as I have found out from personal experience with Chord DACs and NVA interconnectors. I am sure the issue is a lot wider than Chord NVA and like I was most are completely in the dark. When I had the far from inspiring demo of the Mscaler I put the problem firmly down to the WAF speakers, based upon what I had read about them from people whose opinions I respect. Now I am starting to wonder what interconnector was attached to the Qutest.

I have read very conflicting subjective opinions about all the popular DACs and am now thinking that interconnector compatability issues which the listener is completely unaware of are a major cause of this.

It’s a constant learning process & experience

I certainly agree with this, running a variety of DACs here has shown me that there is a definite symbiosis with digital audio output and the right I/c cable.

I have run speakers quoted as 35W from amplifiers delivering, according to the rating at least, considerably more than 35W without difficulty. I have also had a speaker destroyed by being driven too hard with an amplifier within its rating. Speakers are rated, or should be, at a continuous power. Depending on the input the maximum power delivered will be momentary and the speakers won't be harmed. Drive a speaker at a high level continuously and it will get hot at less than the rated power, especially if there is distortion. At normal domestic listening levels you can comfortably use speakers rated at 35W with an amplifier rated at 100W but probably best not to do so if you aren't the only user.

So far, I've found the following hi-fi incompatabilities:
Naim amplifiers and my wallet.
Slimline low efficiency ported speakers and my ears.
Coldplay CD's and hi-fi systems.
EV corner horns and spinal columns.

Lindsayt wrote: ↑Mon Jan 30, 2023 9:35 pm So far, I've found the following hi-fi incompatabilities:
Naim amplifiers and my wallet.
Slimline low efficiency ported speakers and my ears.
Coldplay CD's and hi-fi systems.
EV corner horns and spinal columns.

Cheap vinyl pressings and hi-fi can join the list too.

300b amplifiers and Linn Isobariks. Bass too woolly due to a lack of damping factor from the amplifier.
2 watt SET and a passive pre-amp and 92 db or lower efficiency speakers and a detached house. Not enough gain. So that there were times and recordings (especially the more dynamic ones) where the volume wouldn't go loud enough. Late night listening levels were OK.

Incompatible in hifi terms:

B & W...

The interaction of speaker cables with amplifiers and speakers should be on the list. It goes further than the use of NVA speakers with NVA amplifiers. In can recall Richard posting about a Wam bake off he attended and not liking what he was hearing. When he substituted a NVA cable he had brought, can't remember which one, the sound improved.

This is probably not relevant to the title but I have been unable to use my TIS interconnects for the last few weeks due to a temporary volume setting bodge where the said construction could not take the strain of such a stiff cable. I beefed the thing up a bit so it could boss it and put the TIS back in. I had been using one of those crappy red and white cables you get free with some equipment.

I was hoping that there would be no difference and I could happily settle down and relax into the world of believing all cables sound the same (it certainly is the cheaper viewpoint ). I dreamt of the lovely things I could buy after selling all my fancy cables.

Back down to earth and my hopes were shattered. The improvement in every department after putting in the TIS , sitting down and pressing play was quite mind blowing. Had somebody syringed my ears without telling me. I will be burried with that cable

It's possibly got something to do with the use of a passive pre but I bet it would improve systems with active pre as well. Low capacitance and resistance is most definitely the way for me.