Set-up and installation
Contents
For the review, a Kora TB140 integrated hybrid amplifier was brought as a surprise with the Driade Model 2S and a pair of Flow 808 RCA interlinks. At the reviewer’s request, the Flow 405 speaker cable was also included. We made grateful use of the Kora amplifier, which is a tube amplifier with transistor support. This gives a different presentation than the in-house amplifier, making it easy to compare how the speakers handle it. Two set-ups were listened to:
- A Naim ND5XS streamer coupled to an XS2 amplifier with a standard Naim DIN interlink.
- Flow 405 speaker cable
- The Driade Model2S speakers.
and
- A Naim ND5XS streamer mated to a Kora TB140 amplifier with Flow 808 RCA interlinks.
- Flow 405 speaker cable
- The Driade Model2S speakers.
In both set-ups the power cables supplied by the manufacturers are used and everything is powered via an Audes ST-900 balanced power transformer. The Naim streamer is connected to a Cisco SF110D-05-EU switch powered by an iFi PowerX power adapter with a Belden Catsnake CAT5e Ethernet cable on the network connection. In addition to the Flow 405 speaker cable, a Ricable Dedalus speaker cable was also used to listen in both setups. The music referenced in the review can be found in the pop/rock and classical playlists.
