Pete did offer me a 555 coming in shortly. I said no! Timing not right
I just put in my order for a 2nd PS after an extended demo about 12 moths back. It was good enough that I still hanker for it. For me the extra outlay is justified for extracting what I subjectively feel is a good 20%ish more performance (enjoyment). It made for a very significant upgrade in my system, as it should do for the money involved.
As I have said before, don’t try it unless you are ready to shell out.
I connected my second 555PS DR (which I had for my CD player), a warmed-up one, to the ND555 and I listened to it for about a week.
What can I say? So so.
Some extra fine details are revealed, for sure, but I lost some interest in the music; lost some PRaT and the overall presentation was changed not always in a good way. I got deeper into SOME ASPECTS of the recording but other things/instruments(?) were gone, I couldn’t feel the engagement I had before. Revert to one ps and the sound is fine right now.
The PS order in the power strip of which DB @Darkebear mentioned earlier is super important. When I connected the Analogue PS next to the 552PS and the Digital PS away from them it was much better than any other way I tried.
E
The two supplies on ND555 (and CD555) do change its sonic signature as a source - you need to be aware this may work well in your particular system as it is presently installed - or not.
I found two supplies as well as increasing detail retrieval and resolution also pushed-out the frequency extremes as part of this effect - bass goes lower and top-end more extended…and that can unbalance a system - it did for a while mine.
There is a reason I messed around with the plug-in sequence - I didn’t want too but found I had to - but also I had to re-tune my system to take account of increased HF response [position of items on Fraim glass became more important] - and the increased LF power [cable-dressing - speaker cables in my case needing more care].
So as well as personal preferences to presentation, it is worth tuning the system for the increased bandwidth I found.
…just for information - not questioning personal preference either-way - it is just worth ensuring you get the best demo of what is possible before the final call on what you prefer.
But in the end it is down to what makes you enjoy music long-term!
For me - the system is more ‘with-it’ and ‘in the groove’ with two supplies - but it is hard to describe what I mean - it is just more effortlessly ‘there’ in a way that helps me forget the system while the music does its thing!
DB.
Interesting how the benefit is so system dependent. Be happy that you don’t need it - for me once tried there was no turning back
There is a rather curious thing about audio: we rapidly get used to the sound we have, whether it is iPhone earbuds or a Magico/Naim 500 system.
I’m not a “try this, try that” guy (don’t have time for that). But I was curious to hear, once again, the ND555 with one PS only.
Disconnecting the second PS is pretty straightforward.
I won’t say anything about how I feel about one PS only for the ND555…
What I can say is that the experiment didn’t last more than 3 tracks…
In my opinion, the ND555 + 2x555 PS is really something, and worth every penny!
Shhh!
Resistance is futile, Tim. But you knew that already!
Add a 2nd 555PS, then need another Fraim level, and the other side of the 2 x 3 Fraims then get unbalanced… then get a taller Fraim to equalise, hereby creating room for a 500… uhmmm
Just a matter of when, not if.
I am very close to pushing the button…ulp…I have worked out how to accommodate it…hmmm will be talking to a dealer tomorrow…
I am really enjoying mine and so glad @Darkebear posted about finishing the main system before i started tweaking ethernet bits. When i look at the internals of a nd555…you would think one 555psu would have it nailed. Not so, i think you will have a smile on your face, enjoy👍
As I said in my previous post - I personally found it an essential source upgrade if you are wanting to go further than, say 552-500 level - you easy hear it at that level as an upgrade - and Active level it is a silly-better upgrade.
Below 552-500 you will have some liking and some not IMO. It pushes a lot more deep bass and extends the HF response detail and can be very system dependent, as sometimes you need to get other things right first.
Just some reflections on the two supply thing.
DB.
My experience with system bandwidth with Naim particularly in the bass the further you improve the source … the tighter and better defined bass note becomes… This appears to be the case regarding this threads feedback with the second supply…notes go deeper and are more controlled… I am personally hoping not more generally…we will see…hopefully all things will go well…particularly on the dealer front…
Owwe been offered a very very good deal on a new 555psdr… which pushes my budget over…its that or a seven year old one within budget…arghh agony…
If budget allows, I’d go for the new one.
Seven years old means servicing the unit in about 3 years, which will cost time and cash.
Have done the deed!!! … now have a brand new 555psdr … will install next week. This comes with a 5 year warranty and should be good for a long time. Price was very competitive…can’t wait to install…
That’s great news Richieroo!
If you’re patient enough you could try what I did :
When I received my second 555PS, I replaced the old one with the new one.
I left the new one for 10 days burn in.
I then connected both 555PS to the ND555.
I believe this is the best way to enjoy the change from 1 to 2 power supplies.
And the good thing is that your “ear doesn’t get slowly accustomed” to changes while the new 555PS slowly burns in. You get the full monty all at once!
Considering the cost of the new 555PS, experiencing the full monty is something I wanted. That might tempt you as well
Here are my first impressions when going from 1 to 2 555PS :
–> 2x555DR vs. 1x555DR on a ND555
Try the whitchat Morgana … they are fantastic…there is a thread on this…
Thats great Rich, it really is a very nice upgrade…still baffles why something other than a power amp needs two massive power supplies, but hey ho so be it.