Audio T Verdict
Naim NACA5 is a two-conductor loudspeaker cable developed to provide the electrical characteristics required by compatible Naim amplifiers. Each channel uses one cable containing two separated 4mm² conductors, with equal-length left and right runs recommended for a stereo system.
This page offers three clearly different choices: unterminated black cable by the metre, unterminated white cable by the metre, or a black banana-to-banana stereo pair comprising two 4m lengths. A 4m pair therefore contains 8m of cable in total.
Cable length and plug type can be important with Naim power amplifiers. The 4m terminated pair meets the 3.5m minimum stated in Naim's Classic amplifier reference manual, but the manual for the exact amplifier must always take priority because requirements vary between models and generations.
Naim NACA5 Speaker Cable by the Metre and 4m Terminated Pair
Also styled NAC A5 on Naim's current website, NACA5 is a multi-strand speaker cable designed for the connection between a power amplifier and passive loudspeakers. Its two conductors are physically separated along the length of the cable, giving it the capacitance, inductance and resistance profile Naim specifies for compatible amplifiers.
Black and white bulk cable allow custom installation lengths, while the black 4m stereo pair provides a ready-terminated option with banana plugs fitted at both ends. NACA5 is not a source interconnect, mains cable, subwoofer lead or network cable.
Designed For
- Compatible Naim integrated and power amplifiers
- Passive loudspeakers with suitable speaker terminals
- Equal-length left and right stereo cable runs
- Custom installations using black or white bulk cable
- Ready-to-use systems requiring a black 4m terminated pair
- Single-wire speaker connections using one NACA5 cable per channel
Important Limitations
- Bulk black and white options are sold as unterminated cable by the metre
- A stereo system requires two equal runs, not one shared cable
- The minimum permitted length depends on the exact amplifier
- The cable is relatively stiff and needs space for broad bends
- Banana plugs require compatible amplifier and speaker terminals
- The cable must be installed with correct direction and polarity
- It is not a four-conductor bi-wire cable
Choose the Correct NACA5 Option
Black Cable by the Metre
This is black, unterminated NACA5 supplied by the linear metre. Select the total quantity of cable required for both channels, then confirm the two equal finished run lengths and required terminations with Audio T.
White Cable by the Metre
This has the same two-conductor NACA5 construction in a white outer finish. It is also sold as unterminated cable by the linear metre and is suitable where a lighter-coloured cable is less conspicuous against the room finish.
Black 4m Pair with Banana Plugs
This is the pre-terminated stereo option. It contains two equal black NACA5 cables, each 4m long, with banana plugs fitted at the amplifier and loudspeaker ends. Total cable length in the package is 8m.
How Much Bulk Cable Do I Need?
Bulk cable is priced by total linear length. For two 4m speaker runs, order 8m in total. For two 3.5m runs, the total is 7m. Before ordering, measure the complete routed path from amplifier to each loudspeaker and allow for broad bends, equipment placement and connection access. Contact Audio T to confirm cutting and termination instructions for the order.
What a 4m Stereo Pair Means
A stereo amplifier has a separate output for the left and right loudspeakers. The 4m pair therefore consists of one 4m cable for the left channel and one 4m cable for the right channel. It does not mean a single 4m cable divided between both loudspeakers.
The two cables are equal in length, which follows Naim's installation guidance and keeps the electrical load presented to the two amplifier channels consistent. The banana-to-banana description means plugs are fitted at both ends of each cable.
Why Speaker-Cable Length Matters
Some Naim power-amplifier designs use the electrical behaviour of the loudspeaker cable as part of the intended output load. Naim's Classic amplifier reference manual specifies equal left and right runs of at least 3.5m, with a normal recommended maximum of 20m. It also notes that some amplifiers require Naim loudspeaker cable while other models can accept suitable alternatives.
This guidance must not be applied indiscriminately to every product carrying a Naim badge. Uniti models, integrated amplifiers, Classic power amplifiers and New Classic products can have different requirements. Check the manual for the exact amplifier, or ask Audio T to verify the model, before selecting or shortening a cable.
The 4m Pair and Classic Naim Guidance
At 4m per channel, the terminated pair exceeds the 3.5m minimum published in Naim's Classic amplifier reference manual. It is therefore a practical standard length for many Classic systems, subject to the exact amplifier manual and the physical routing distance in the room.
Twin 4mm² Conductors
Each NACA5 cable contains two separated multi-strand conductors, each with a cross-sectional area of 4mm². One conductor carries the positive connection and the other the negative connection for a single loudspeaker channel.
The broad, spaced construction is deliberate. Naim states that its capacitance, inductance and resistance are matched for use with Naim amplifiers and passive loudspeakers. The cable should not be split into unrelated signal paths or repurposed for line-level, digital or mains connections.
Direction and Polarity
NACA5 is marked for direction. Install it so the printed arrow points away from the amplifier and towards the loudspeaker. Direction is separate from polarity: the same identified conductor must also remain connected to the corresponding positive terminal at both ends, with the other conductor connected to negative.
Reversing the polarity of one channel can weaken central imaging and bass because the loudspeakers move out of phase. Both channels should follow the same direction and polarity convention.
Banana Plugs and Naim Twin Connectors
Naim recommends its right-angled twin loudspeaker plug for compatible amplifier outputs. It maintains the correct pin spacing and provides a secure connection while allowing the cable to leave the amplifier without an unnecessarily sharp bend.
The terminated 4m option is listed as banana-to-banana. Before purchase, confirm that the fitted plugs suit both the amplifier output and the loudspeaker terminals. Loudspeakers may use standard 4mm binding posts, recessed terminals or other arrangements that affect plug clearance and orientation.
Professional Termination Recommended
NACA5's substantial conductors and stiff insulation make careful preparation important. A poor joint, loose plug or stray conductor strand can increase resistance or create a short circuit at the amplifier output.
Dealer termination is recommended where plugs are not already fitted. Audio T can confirm the correct amplifier-end connector, loudspeaker-end plug and cable orientation, then prepare equal runs for the intended system.
Routing the Cable
NACA5 is intentionally stiffer than many conventional speaker cables. Plan the route before ordering and use broad, natural curves rather than tight corners, kinks or repeated flexing. Leave enough clearance behind the amplifier and loudspeakers so the cable does not pull on the sockets.
If a run is longer than required, arrange the excess in broad loose curves rather than a tight coil. Do not cut the cable below the minimum stated for the connected amplifier, and keep the left and right channels equal in length.
Black or White Finish
The black and white bulk versions are electrically the same product, so the choice is visual rather than performance-related. Black can disappear against dark furniture and skirting, while white can be easier to conceal against pale walls and flooring.
The ready-terminated 4m pair on this page is available in black only. Customers requiring white cable or another finished length should select bulk cable and discuss cutting and termination with Audio T.
Use with Non-Naim Amplifiers
Naim describes NACA5 as optimised for Naim amplifiers and any passive loudspeakers. Its use with a non-Naim amplifier depends on that amplifier manufacturer's permitted cable characteristics, connector format and installation guidance.
Do not assume that a cable selected to meet one amplifier's output-stage requirements is automatically ideal for every amplifier. Check the non-Naim manufacturer's manual or ask Audio T to confirm suitability before installation.
Single-Wire and Bi-Wire Loudspeakers
One NACA5 cable carries one positive and one negative conductor for each channel, so it is naturally suited to a single-wire loudspeaker connection. A stereo system therefore uses two NACA5 cables.
If the loudspeaker has separate high-frequency and low-frequency terminal pairs, use the loudspeaker manufacturer's approved linking arrangement unless a specific bi-wire or bi-amp installation has been designed. Do not remove terminal links or double the cable without confirming the complete system layout.
Safe Connection
Switch off the amplifier and disconnect it from the mains before connecting, removing or inspecting loudspeaker cables. Never allow positive and negative conductors or plug bodies to touch, and check that every termination is secure before restoring power.
Some Naim manuals require the supplied Naim loudspeaker connectors for safety compliance. The instructions for the exact amplifier and loudspeaker always take priority over general cable advice.
Care and Future Changes
Keep plugs clean and dry, avoid chemical contact treatments, and inspect connections if equipment has been moved. Do not repeatedly bend the cable at the same point or place furniture on it.
If the system is changed, recheck cable length, connector type and compatibility before reusing the existing pair. A cable appropriate for one Naim amplifier may not satisfy the installation requirements of a different model.
Key Features
- Purpose-designed Naim loudspeaker cable
- Two separated multi-strand conductors
- 4mm² cross-sectional area per conductor
- Electrical characteristics optimised for compatible Naim amplifiers
- Black unterminated cable sold by the metre
- White unterminated cable sold by the metre
- Black 4m stereo pair terminated banana-to-banana
- Directional marking for amplifier-to-speaker orientation
- Suitable for passive loudspeakers with compatible terminals
- Naim right-angled twin speaker plug recommended where applicable
Technical Specifications
- Product type: Passive loudspeaker cable
- Manufacturer: Naim Audio
- Product name: NACA5, styled NAC A5 on Naim's current website
- Construction: Multi-strand, twin separated conductors
- Number of conductors: Two per cable
- Conductor cross-sectional area: 4mm² per conductor
- Application: Power-amplifier to passive-loudspeaker connection
- Bulk option 1: Black, unterminated, sold by the linear metre
- Bulk option 2: White, unterminated, sold by the linear metre
- Terminated option: Black 4m stereo pair, banana-to-banana
- Cables in terminated pair: Two
- Length per terminated cable: 4m
- Total cable in terminated pair: 8m
- Terminated-pair connectors: Banana plugs at both ends
- Bulk-cable connectors: None supplied as standard
- Direction: Printed arrow points from amplifier towards loudspeaker
- Channel-length guidance: Equal left and right runs
- Classic amplifier reference-manual length: At least 3.5m per channel
- Classic amplifier normal recommended maximum: 20m per channel, with model-dependent exceptions
- Exact length requirement: Refer to the connected amplifier manual
- Recommended amplifier-end connector: Naim right-angled twin loudspeaker plug where specified
- Speaker connection: Single-wire connection as standard
- Electrical design: Capacitance, inductance and resistance optimised for compatible Naim amplifiers
- Available colours: Black and white for bulk cable; black for the 4m terminated pair
- Not intended for: Line-level audio, digital audio, network, mains-power or active-subwoofer signal connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the black and white options sold by the metre?
Yes. Both colour options are unterminated bulk cable sold by the linear metre. The selected quantity represents the total cable length, not a matched stereo pair.
How much bulk cable do I need for two 4m runs?
You need 8m in total: one 4m cable for the left channel and one 4m cable for the right channel. Confirm the two equal cut lengths and any termination requirements with Audio T when ordering.
Does the 4m option include two cables?
Yes. It is a stereo pair containing two equal 4m black NACA5 cables, giving 8m of cable in total.
Are plugs fitted to the 4m pair?
Yes. The option is listed as banana-to-banana, so banana plugs are fitted at both ends of both cables. Confirm compatibility with the amplifier and loudspeaker sockets before ordering.
Are plugs included with cable bought by the metre?
No. The black and white per-metre choices are unterminated bulk cable. Suitable plugs and dealer termination should be specified separately where required.
Is the terminated pair available in white?
Not in the options shown on this page. The ready-terminated 4m pair is black; white NACA5 is offered as unterminated cable by the metre.
Does every Naim amplifier require at least 3.5m per channel?
No universal assumption should be made. Naim's Classic amplifier reference manual states at least 3.5m and equal channel lengths, but other product generations can differ. Use the manual for the exact amplifier.
Which way should the cable arrows point?
The printed arrows should point away from the amplifier and towards the loudspeakers. Keep positive and negative polarity consistent at both ends as well.
Can I shorten an existing pair?
Only after checking the minimum length required by the exact amplifier. Any finished stereo pair should remain equal in length, correctly directed and safely re-terminated.
Can NACA5 be used with non-Naim amplifiers?
Potentially, but compatibility depends on the amplifier manufacturer's permitted cable characteristics and connector requirements. Check its manual or ask Audio T before use.
Is NACA5 easy to route around tight corners?
It is relatively stiff and should be routed with broad curves rather than tight bends. Measure the real cable path and allow clearance behind the equipment before choosing the length.
Why Buy From Audio T?
Loudspeaker cable is part of the amplifier's electrical load, so correct length and termination matter. Audio T can verify the connected amplifier, calculate the total bulk length, prepare equal channel runs and confirm the correct plugs for both ends.
Your local store can also advise on routing NACA5's stiff spaced construction, maintaining direction and polarity, and connecting loudspeakers with single-wire or linked bi-wire terminals safely.
More Details - Register your Naim Product Today