There are a number of strange things in high-end Audio.
When I first purchased my Rossini + Clock, my dealer tried to convince me to purchase Transparent Reference XL clock cables. My reply:
“are you crazy? this wire cost more than the clock”
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Guess you’re 100% right 
The same thing happens everywhere. I always say to the dealers I do not believe in posh cables when I get the new gears.
Saves their time and mine too…
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They must be the lucky ones planning to upgrade to Vivaldi…
Keep it like that, once you try it’s hard going back. Cables are also a strange product with sometimes very crazy prices. Some would say it is the epitome of snake oil. Well I do like what my snakes do to the sound 
I would be glad if you introduce your snakes and their sound signatures …
… to come back to that point with Rossini DAC + Vivaldi Clock- imho for that money I would rather go for a plain Vivaldi DAC and put on some external streamer to it. Sounds more rational then the other way around (BUT of course I could be wrong- I haven’t heard a Vivaldi…)
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Agree 100% and, like you, I am a believer there is a notable difference cables can make. With that said I take a highly cautious approach and try to stick with well known, science based manufacturers. There are too many “one man” shops making cables out of their garage.
Having spent the last 25 years with Naim Audio the topic of interconnects, speaker cables etc. was rather easy. Use what Naim provided in the box and enjoy your system. About 15 years ago Chord Cable (founded by the ex wife of the Naim MD) embarked on a program of developing upscale cables specifically dedicated to Naim owners - their Sarum range. They provided the results, and it remained easy as they were highly tailored for the Naim sound.
Last year I moved away from the brand , built out a new system, and navigated the “snake pit” of cable manufacturers. I have been having success with Siltech, the Dutch cable manufacturer who has been around for 45 years. The very fact they have been around this long, and continue to enjoy an esteemed reputation in this industry, says something. It also does not hurt their principal has a PhD in engineering, and they employ another 5 PhD’s on staff doing research in metallurgy etc. They are science based which I like. Yes they manufacture a crazy priced top end (the Royal and Master Crown series) however their bread and butter sales come from the reasonably priced Classic Legend Series, now in its 4th incarnation since its introduction back in 2008.
Cables = tread lightly and do your research, and listening 
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I am taking what I think is @PAR ’s stance that cables are highly personal as is taste in music and sound. That being said I enjoy a mix of Acoustic Zen and Stealth audio cables personally.
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Oops - yes indeed Rossini screen
Seems we’ve been on parallel journeys! …I was full 500 (including the 2 x 555PS option for the 555 Streamer) and went from Naim cables to ChordMusic. I never did the Burndys (prohibitively expensive!) but I heard good things from all those that upgraded. I say I “heard good things” but actually this was just anecdotally from other friends, because openly talking about using cables other than Naim’s own was strictly verboten on the (heavily moderated) Naim forum.
I grew dissatisfied with the sound, hated the buzzing power supplies, and disillusioned with the brand after buying a Solstice Turntable. It felt to me that they had indeed become a brand rather than the company making products I used to be so passionate about.
I do think I remember you from the Naim forum! I occasionally still visit (I still have a MuSo!) and its not changed. Just fewer people. I fear for Naim.
Anyway - glad to be here - happy with my setup of dCS, Accuphase and B&W (with both Chord and Transparent Cables!) and I’ve finally sold the Solstice and have a lovely LP12.
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There are a few old naim guys here these days.
I also had the 500 gear, but never the ND555 as I just didn’t hear any real advantage over the NDS. This is when I discovered dCS, never looked back, so much better in every way.
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I also recognise the name and that profile pic Dunc!
Yes - I’ve got no regrets over not being a Naimie anymore, was great but I think it’s star has faded pretty significantly, most of which was self inflicted I’m afraid.
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That is an understatement!
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Guilty as charged…..member since 2003.
There are plenty ex green people around these parts.
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cough … 
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It’s a long way from Salisbury to Cambridge! …a cross country hack an a half, although new roads coming soon to help a little.
So many great people have left Naim. I’d say “their loss” and of course that’s true, but Naim is more than that…it’s a tragic state of affairs. They’ve been a slow moving car crash for years - people lazily blame “the french” but it’s more about being VC owned than anything else.
I think we spoke on the phone a number of times 
I suspect that we may have done …
P
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VC owned? I thought they are owned by Vervent Audio Group which would be VAG so I might not understand the correct acronym. Ultimately owned by a private equity company Alpha Private Equity. Is the latter the possible issue?
Incidentally I wonder if I am the earliest (ex) customer of Naim here. Autumn 1974, 120/12S then up to 1996 when I finished with NAC 82/135/Snaps and NAT 01 tuner. I wonder where they ( aside from the tuner which is owned by a friend) are now?
Edit: VC = venture capital, yes?
It is highly (very highly!) unlikely that a venture capital (VC) group would take any interest in a high-end audio company that makes hardware because our market, as beloved as it may be by us, does not exhibit the growth rates, profitability, or 10-100x investment return characteristics that VC firms seek.
There are a few private equity (PE) firms that “dabble” in our sector–for example, the firm who bought MQA–with very mixed results.
Cheers,
R
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