I think @Simon-in-Suffolk also speculated that this would be the case.
I wonder what wisdom @frenchrooster has, with his encyclopaedic knowledge of such things.
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I still have my NDX2 but currently not connected as a streamer into my NDS. It’s a simple straight forward setup. Personally I prefer the nds as is with Audirvāna. Have never heard ND555 though. NDX2 with 555PSDR is awesome but bit different from NDS 555PSDR. I would say NDX2 is leaning more towards the new generation of naim sound and NDS towards the older. Logic of course but also true to my ears. What one prefer ia as always personal.
Also since I’m these days a firm believer in moving power supply as far from electronics as possible I think the NDX2 as a streamer not using an external power supply limits the performance compared to nds as a streamer with zero power supply in it. Audirvāna was such a game changer to me. It sounds scary good with naim. Everyone should try it out.
ND555 is on the list when people start to change for the new gen streamers but not in a hurry. At all. Synergy with what I have today is mind blowing good.
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Mike - With the NDS available at a bargain price, this could be a good approach as the NDX2 makes a fine S/PDIF source and you take advantage of its up to date streaming platform.
Have a read of the Critic review of the NDS, where MC goes through various scenarios, including using the NDS as just a DAC.
For comparison, here’s their thoughts on the ND555
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Great reviews and very much in line with my experience of NDS and NDX2 and when reading about ND555 it seems like NDX2 on NDS gets it closer to ND555. But if that is what you want is another thing 
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I found the thread.
Here the post from @mkng :
« Re your comments using NDX2, many says ND5XS2 can do the same joy well as they share the same streaming card.
My experience with the NDX2+NDS is immediately more detailed and music more transparent (less compressed) when streaming TIDAL/ Spotify.
Local NAS streaming is very similar I can’t tell much difference.
I also wonder how will it compare if using a 2nd 555PS vs NDX2 or ND5XS2. which option gives the better SQ. Anyone? »
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I also agreed that paring NDS with a more recent streamer like ND5XS2 or NDX2 is a worth while investment if you are like me that the ND555 is a bit too out of reach.
I currently have the NDX2/NDS/555PSDR combo and I am very happy with the result, particularly on the TIDAL/Qobuz/Spotify streaming side. Although it still feels overkill using the NDX2 just for the tiny streaming board and disable the rest DAC part where it excel over the last version. This means pairing it with the ND5XS2 making more sense.
my initial plan was to ditch the NDS and use the NDX2/555PSDR. Although the SQ in NDX2 has improved a lot over the old NDX when I first auditioned, but still, they are just still not on the same level as the NDS despite it is an old product.
Also a fun fact to note that I compared the NDS/555PSDR with nDAC/555PSDR using a CD5XS. Although both DAC are pretty much on the same playing field to my ears, the NDS sound more Naim or musical or cohesive than nDAC. My personal assumption is the nDAC was designed to be paired with different sources in mind, including non Naim sources, so it may need to have a more neutral character, and to my ears is a little bit sterile if I have to compare it vs NDS. Bottom line is both DAC are great in SQ, they are just different with their own sound characters. If you don’t have a NDS for a critical A/B test, you will certainly enjoy nDAC if pair with a more recent source like ND5XS2/NDX2 especially mDAC is much cheaper than an NDS.
Also want to share that although I did start with using an XPS with both NDS and nDAC before, the change to 555PSDR, even though is a huge investment even on 2nd hand, it worths every single penny. I believe that is what/ how these DACs were designed and tuned to be pair with in the first place, Naim just offer other alternatives for people like me who need to “work my way up” slowly to finally afford one to see what these DAC can really do if a higher quality power supply is used.
Always happy to see someone still hanging on to their NDS , which in my opinion is a great and reasonably priced flagship streamer back in the days vs the price point of the new current flagship ND555.
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I literally check the advertisement again just after I posted this up and it was sold already 
Snooze, you loose…… still, it’s a worthwhile discussion.
How much was it?
Might do another trial with NDX2 on my NDS now when vacation is here. But last time I felt the NDS lost some if its lush warm organic sound and became more HIFI which is not my preference. NDS is a super duper bargain if you have a 555PSDR. Love it. I see in the reviews they demoed the NDS with a DCS network bridge. Might evaluate different streamers later on if I get bored.
€2K, 2017 model, it was a buy-now price. I’m really happy with the NDX2/555 DR though, it really is extremely good. Logic would be that it would take a ND555 to move it, but that needs to be sensible money for it to be viable. You will see from the 500 DR thread, that there’s an option there as well - an auction though. Actually there seems to be a flood of old gear suddenly.
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That was cheap. Have never seen one below 3500 EUR on my market. I’d go NAP500 in your situation prior to ND555 if NDX2+NDS is close to ND555 as it seems.
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The nDac sounds better with non DR 555 PS.
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We have thought about this.
There are some threads comparing nDAC/555 to NDS and finding not much difference (especially on local content), others say more detail.
At the 2k price range it’s something we still haven’t ruled out, but I think I said on another thread that after long term NDX2/555 to NDX2/nDAC/555 comparison (and all the faff of changing connections) that we’re currently just happy to enjoy the music.
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It was not my post…but yes, most prefer Ndac with non dr 555 ps.
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I’m not sure about “most”. For sure, some on here do, but others prefer the 555PS DR. As ever, YMMV…
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I went from NDX/ndac/555 to NDS / 555dr back in the day and the later was so much more to my liking.
Gary
I’ve just bought a 555PS DR for my nDac. Very happy with the result.
Would like to know how a non DR differs to later model.
The earlier 555PS used Naim-selected monolithic regulators, which were then replaced by Naim’s own discrete regulator modules in the later 555PS DR.
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Thanks… and how did that alter the SQ , what I’m driving at is why would the nDac be better suited to a nonDR, if at all… I know a lot comes down to personal choice…
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I think best to leave it to others to relay their impressions of each unit when used with the DAC. Failing that, there’s plenty written about it on here and in the Forum archive if you conduct a search.
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We ignored all that.
The nDAC was for sale in period between 2012-2018 with DR power supplies the norm.
So whilst some have the personal impression a non DR 555 is better on nDAC, in reality many of us are very happy with the DR. And unless you want to buy a power supply which is at least 11 years old you needn’t worry….
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