I’m curious as well why the transport could be improved with a 555. Also, how much difference is there between ND5XS2 and NDX2 when used as a transport?
3 Likes
Never seen anything like that on the dcs forum, and can’t see why as firmware is just a program, unless it learns as it goes and 100% the naim or dcs doesn’t do that, then once successfully installed nothing changes as if it did things would soon go wrong
1 Like
If i remember right as its well over a year ago now, didn’t you all love the new firmware at first and then some not so.
Wasn’t picked up in bete or testing that would have gone on for weeks if not months
1 Like
I don’t think many of us thought it was better than 3.8. There were elements of 3.11 that were very good but it still didn’t have the overall cohesiveness of 3.8 and required stacks of tuning to get rid of the not so good bits. 3.12 is much more like 3.8 in its cohesive nature. I’ve not had much time with the system this week but I’ve already heard a couple of tracks that have reset the musical bar.
2 Likes
What’s the point of crawling over the bones of what went before?
2 Likes
Just saying rhings change, sometimes for the better sometimes for the worse. But unless you have both to try then its certainly hard to remember things, especially when you need to be 100% and thats not going to happen.
Plus right how its honeymoon period still and just about everyone will hear a difference for the better as it been written it is, so naturally the brain will go along with it.
Its why some demos of hifi, especially cables, the manufacturers tell you what you will hear or should have, its a great way to get most to follow.
But hopefully this has got you all back to almost where you was a year or so ago.
2 Likes
Excellent music choices here. Send me more lol
1 Like
In theory, it shoudn’t be much difference between nd5xs2 and ndx2 (transport-only) as they are using the same streaming board. But i suspect there might be slight differences, as ndx2 is differently built and noise profile should not be the same, so ymmv. Nd5xs2 user here, using nDAC/XPSDR via DC1 coax. Latest firmware improvements very apparent, once again Thanks to Naim team!
1 Like
I don’t think that 3.11 had the same appeal as 3.12. It was better than 3.10 for sure.
But it seems more like 98% are enjoying the new firmware.
It’s different from 3.8. More digitised and hifi than before.
But it combines detail with an organic funky beat. It has Naim PRaT. Living with it for a few days and it’s in my opinion better than ever.
Better than 3.8 in many ways which was more organic.
3.12 is pretty epic and long may the sound last!
Diehards will prefer 3.8. But this is the new thing and it works. It is the more modern sound. I would say it sounds more like the New Classic sound!
11 Likes
Reading most of the descriptions of the new ‘Old Classic’ sound makes me think Naim has at last managed to get it to sound like the ‘New Classic’. (Wink).
G
4 Likes
Hopefully you can enjoy it Dan.
But naim has been slowly moving to a more normal kind of sound if you get what i mean, very different to the midrange in your face sound from years ago, getting more natural and balanced is what i would call it.
2 Likes
There’s been alot of changes in firmware over the last 2 years. 3.12 is faster. It’s different again. I don’t think @drago will like it.
I guess it’s not the sound some of us originally bought into. And there lies the rub.
For me I was good with 3.11 with treatments and now great with 3.12.
I believe Naim have done a fantastic job! Time to enjoy the music guys and girls!
9 Likes
I completed the update just now, then immediately powered off my Star, disconnected it from the mains, and reconnected it. Everything seems to be working fine, with no issue with volume control.
However, I remember reporting a very similar issue to Will a few years ago while testing one of the beta software versions. If I recall correctly, it was addressed in the next release.
Could this possibly be a similar coding error recurring?
1 Like
It has lost its original vigour. So glad i bought a Solstice.
2 Likes
Hi Dan you’re not wrong. It’s much easier to listen too and picking out melodies and guitar lines are that much easier than ever before. More hifi for sure, easier on the ear, bigger sounding without the mess. But…… it’s not Naim as we used to know it. But for me I couldn’t cope with that sound anymore. It’s matured just like me! 
3 Likes
Thats very much like i felt all them years ago, i felt i had out grown the sound, started to find it very fatigued and to much in your face, as in listen to me being shouted at me. Years ago i was fine with that, for some reason, maybe i just changed or maybe i started listening more, i don’t know, but maybe the way naim is going is starting to catch me up and be more like what i like now.
1 Like
This one shows you how the firmware has changed the presentation. It’s not as cutting and sharp as before which I liked but the sustain of the guitar is astounding and the noise levels have dropped substantially which is where some will see as softer and not so much in your face, but with that comes a sense of being there in the studio. I myself worked in studio environment can say this sounds more realistic and easier to follow but I assume some will also see this as less exciting.
1 Like
Aahh okay Alon. That must be the reason. Thanks 
That might be the reason I prefer the presentation from Nait 50 with NSS333 + 555PSDR. I listen much more to music today than ever before (former OC user).
5 Likes