Here are the lab report by Hificritic on the Nds, after review.
Can someone tell how the results compare vs Ndx2 and Nd5xs2 ?
Looks very good. Not as good as the diagram for the ND555 of Hifi News, much better than for the NDX2. They didnāt have a diagram for the ND5XS2, just the single value
Of course this is all about digital jitter at the digital output and says nothing about the analog out
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I suppose the only thing to conclude from this thread then - Donāt bother with the NDX 2, itās the lemon from their trio of streamers. Itās noisy. All one really gains is a noisy screen, a plastic remote control that no one really likes, and an option to upgrade with a XPS DR, which also makes hardly any difference at all. So to conclude here then - sell the NDX 2, donāt bother with a XPS DR (yet another over priced dead duck), just buy a ND5 XS 2, and an obsolete or third party DAC, or get a 555DR PSU for the obsolete DAC. Donāt even think about a ND555 eitherā¦
All sorted!
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Almost right, you only need a non-DR 555PS 
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Not at all. What it does show is that if you are going to use the digital out and not the built-in DAC, the ND5XS2 is all you need (but anyone with their senses intact always new)
Other than that, itās simply intriguing what is going on because it makes no sense
Thatās one view 
orā¦ dismiss the review altogether and carry on enjoying your NDX2 in whatever configuration takes your fancy (bare, avec PS or as a transport).
After all, any ānoiseā is negligible and most middle aged ears wonāt hear it anyway!
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Iāve heard all three streamers through a 500 Series system. The bare NDX 2 is miles better than the ND5 XS 2 - this n-DAC must be Jesus the bloody messiah 
But you probably listened to the analog output. This is not what these jitter measurements are about, they were taken at the digital out.
And Hifi News still considered the jitter measurement of the NDX2 as āexcellentā. Just that the ND555 and surprisingly the ND5XS2 were an order of magnitude better. Itās simply interesting why, I donāt know why you seem to be so against that.
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I think my senses are still intact, but even though I only use digital out, I bought the NDX2. It just gave me other options for the future if I wanted to go a different route.
As you say though, the ND5XS2 is perfect in the digital source role, a slimline, discreet box.
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I donāt care for measurements, unless iām building a house. With HiFi i go with what my ears tell me.
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What you want and what you need are different things 
Iām just thinking about threads like a recent one about buying an ND555 just to use itās digital out.
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Itās still interesting to some people and doesnāt hurt you. Some people are interested in how their car works and some are not. So what
Agree with this when using analogue out. The difference was pretty small when using digital out into an nDac (bare), but I went with the NDX2 for less boxes, less power cables, less other cables and better build quality. XPS has uplifted the sq now too, will scratch the DR itch at some point Iām sure. I donāt even think it comes down to money as second-hand the ND5XS2/nDac is bout Ā£1k less than an NDX2, but if youāre gonna need another Fraim shelf, PowerLine and a digital cable, that difference reduces dramatically. As usual, you pays your money!
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Yes maybe for the tech heads, but itās of no use to the OP, whoās trying to decide what path to take, and one that we would all hope is based on performance, integrity and longevity.
Nothing to do with you downgrading thenā¦
Well if the measurement is correct and representative, and Iām not at all convinced that it is, it does show that if you intend to use only the digital out (and donāt need the screen etc.) you are probably better off with the ND5XS2.
(Itās such a pity that Hifi News didnāt ask Naim when they measured these numbers)
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NDX 2 on itās own isnāt that much more than a ND5 XS 2 IMHO, and iāve had both.
From " isnāt that much more than " to " miles better than Nd5xs2 " .
Has the Ndx2 suddenly run in after several years in the last two days 
?
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No. I was basing my opinion from my system with a HiCap DRāed SN3. With a 500 Series system into top of the line Focals the difference in quality was much more evident, but yes i agree, it does sound rather contradictory from my part. 
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Only joking Stephen. Always respect your opinion on here.
I tried to get a demo of the Chord DAC on my Nd5xs2 but my Naim obsessed dealer put hurdles in my way and stopped me . Oh well all I was daring to do was try another option.
The Ndx2 of course remains very much in my upgrade plans when funds allow, along with the Chord DAC.
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The weak link in my system is by far the SN3. Should i take it even further? Only time will tell i guessā¦At the moment however, itās just fantastic. Iām in no rush.
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