Digital Cable - ND5 XS2 to NDS

Looking for input on best value/sq impact on digital cable for Naim streamer to NDS.

Price level?

DC-1 works for me. (ND5xs2 to nDAC)

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Some members here use Mark Grant HDX1 with success, reasonably priced.

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Iā€™ve used a studio grade cable, Gotham GAC-1 between an Onkyo CD player and Naim DAC with great results.

I use Neotech NEVD-1001 UP-OCC Silver with Furutech BNC plugs (FP-3-117 R). Good value for money and high quality. It was recommended to me by the dealer. There are many posts and discussions about it in the forum, e.g. (Click herehere). With the ā€žsearchā€œ function (ā€žBNCā€œ in this topic) you find many experiences and notes in this thread. My impression from the discussion was that BNC cables donā€™t make as big a difference as, for example, DIN or speaker cables. It is probably not worth investing large sums in BNC cables.

Good question - would spend up to $500 Can ā€¦Ā£250. But not looking to spend for the sake of itā€¦ super luminas on the NDS/282 interface and hi cap DR to 250 DR but if this cable isnā€™t that critical nice to save a few $ somewhere!

I found a NEV 2001 one of for about $160 used. Listening tests awaitšŸ˜Š

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Well done on finding a cable. Itā€™s not exactly the same Neotech that I use. But itā€™s very similar. I wish you positive listening tests. Maybe you can briefly report on your experiences hereā€¦ Iā€™d be interested!

Well the Neotech coaxial cable arrived yesterday ($160 CAN used) and interesting news.

For those who hadnā€™t seen my earlier posts, I had been trying to access Roon on my NDS/CD555PS front end for my 282/HiCap/250Dr/Harbeth SHL5+XD set up. The NDS through the Naim app was just so much richer and musical than any of the Roon options I could get working. Attempts to use a Sonore Ultrarendu with UPnP bridge just didnā€™t work for me in spite of ++ help support from this group/Roon/Sonore. It went back.

Naim ND5 XS2 acquired and although roon was accessible still significant Sq downgrade with my basic coaxial cable. The Neotech NEVD-2001 UP-OCC Silver Coaxial cable (RCA/BNC) I acquired has closed that gap such that I canā€™t appreciate it.

Perhaps the improvement in the ND5 XS2 streamer makes up for the coaxial connection which according to others is superior to the S/PDIF, so next step will to try it with the Zen Stream unit I have to see if that can replicate the Naim streamer/Neotech combo. But so far well worth the 160!

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I initially used a spare Neotech digital cable for my Naim Core to nDAC, whilst awaiting delivery of a Naim DC1.

The DC1 is a more musically enjoyable cable, and is now used from ND5xs2 to nDAC/PS555DR.

The Core is now UPnP connected via ethernet LAN to the ND5xs2

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I currently have a cheap Blue Jeans BNC, Neotech NEVD-1001 with Rhodium connectors, Jorma Digital, Ansuz A2 and A3 in a battle right now. They are very different indeed but A2/A3 obviously are close. I sent back C2 since I couldnā€™t make it sound fully right in my system. Digital cables in my system change the sound as much as analogue cables so never settle with something ā€œgood enoughā€ if you want the best out of your system and have a great front end. The Neotech is indeed a very good cable given its price :ok_hand:

@Dugby Can you elaborate on the difference between Neotech and DC1 when you say DC1 is more musical? What do you mean by this? Better flow, more open and transparent in the mids, warmer mids, more bass etc

The Neotech carried the sounds quite well and without changing from it, one could be quite happy.

However the DC1 brought some more emotion and depth to the soundstage, and removed sterility from the music.

Clearly Naimā€™s effort in the DC1 development was to optimise Naim source digital connectivity into itā€™s DAC.

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I recently started using a Mark Grant BNC to BNC HDX1 Pure Copper Digital Coax cable between my Core and NDX2. It cost the grand total of Ā£32 including postage for 1.5 metres. How much better would a DC1 (or similarly priced cable) have to be to justify the plus 11 times (or more) cost? The service from Mark Grant was superb and the cable feels anything but cheap. I like the sound of my system so Iā€™m happy. Unless someone loans me a DC1 Iā€™ll probably never know if it beats the Mark Grant.

The DC1 is the wrong length for my system, and the stiff cable was in a ridiculous looking loop jammed up hard against the wall behind the rack.
I bought an HDX1 of a suitable length and it didnā€™t change the sound in any way, so I sold the DC1.

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Thatā€™s good to know and as good a recommendation as you could get.

Thanks for the feedback. Iā€™m glad the Neotech BNC works well for you too. Enjoy!

Have always favoured Harmonic Technology (HT) cables.

Whether
Magic Interconnects, both Analogue and Digital (all Furutech connectors)
Magic Reference, Ac-11 Fantasy & AC-10 Mains cables, again with Furutech connectors
Silver Phono (SME DIN to Furutech RCA)
Pro-11 BiWire speaker
Also some HTML & BNC Silver component cables

However, best bought secondhand now, as they not been the same manufactured quality since Jim Wang retired a few years ago.

I have tried True Signal Audio, the Ultimate Silver, DIN to RCA. Not sure, whether they are still trading.

Last cable bought was from Crystal Care Audio for a 6N silver 75-ohm BNC cable, their Magnum Opus 3 range, between OCXO Clock unit and EtherREGEN switch.

This would be a good S/PDIF cable between a streamer and DAC unit, if you can use BNC connectors at both ends.

If not then a HT Magic Digital cable with the later locking Furutech RCA plugs - just look on HiFi Shark