1: yes - the nd5 xs2 can handle tidal max natively now
2: seems to be subjective. I sensed a slight (positive) difference when first updated, but for me it isn’t a major difference
Many thanks for your reply. Number 1 in particular is what I wanted to know. I dropped the D33 off with my local Arcam dealer yesterday to send to Arcam so I will wait to find out what went wrong and if it is repairable.
Crikey, i’m quite startled at how much better the performance is across the board with this new update.
I really like the update. The sound is more vibrant now, maybe better energy would be another word to describe it. I can see how guys with brighter sounding systems might find it a little relentless. But fundamentally it’s a positive change IMO.
I too think the new update sounds fantastic on my system. Vocals always seemed a little recessed before, much more forward now.
10 days in with the new firmware.
I know naim have confirmed they did not change DSP but overall there has, to our ears and in our room, been a change to the sound profile for the better.
Ears have taken a little while to adjust whilst we’ve revisited well known albums.
General impression is that the impact has been similar to a U shaped graphic equaliser being applied. Slightly more bass weight, bit more treble. Across the midrange there is more clarity. But no bass flab, no treble splash.
This suits some music more than others. Good masters benefit, poor recordings perhaps don’t fare so well. Modern releases in HiRes generally sound fantastic.
There is more dynamism to the sound, more bite on guitars and vocals. More speed. So the sound has perhaps lost some of the “organic” nature we loved but you’re drawn in by the detail instead. Still induces foot tapping (me) or singing along (SWMBO).
I would say there are aspects of the NC signature we liked at demo which we now hear on our OC system. Win win.
On one of my favourite albums the effects are clear. PJ Harvey’s “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea”.
Kamikaze - a short tune we’ve used to demo throughout our naim journey. Bass weight and speed required plus keeping strands of a complex mix separate. Sounds simply stunning now, vocal clarity like we’ve not heard before.
Same on another track on the album, “This is Love”. Instant slam on intro bass notes, soaring clarity on the vocals, bite on the guitars, clear drums, all kept separate when midrange backing weight comes in. Fantastic.
Have never felt closer to what she was trying to portray in these songs.
One of the reasons we chose our speakers over others such as Spendor at demo was their soundstaging, They play very well with the system now, wider soundstage and a room filling sound like never before.
All together we are very happy bunnies with our system. I can push the volume just that little bit more without inducing any glare.
The one fly in the ointment I suppose is that November’s firmware might change the signature again. Fingers crossed it does not.
Good description of the changes. As for PJ Harvey …. no, not to my taste, sorry
Listening to Stories from the City now - new to me but sounds great on my system
I was a bit later to the gang. As I upgraded before my holiday, but didn’t really have time to listen to it then. Now I have again listening hours behind me and I observe indeed also improvements. More specifically I have the impression that classical piano music has improved. The coloring/tonality is more acurate as before and nicely refined on the high end.
Obviously I am not talking about night and day, but nevertheless pleasant.
It’s probably her most accessible album.
She’s a bit like marmite. SWMBO can’t stand her, but sees the value of the test tracks. She can sound truly awful on a system with poor balance.
Check out her collaborations with John Parish too.
There’s another update coming?
I’ll start stashing some popcorn
Actually no, my bad I misread a post.
naim said support for custom radio URLs was being added to iOS/Android in November.
But they also said the products ALREADY support this.
So fingers crossed no further firmware upgrades!
I guess we will get small patch updates to address bugs, but no major firmware change.
I first came to this thread because I applied the update about 12-14 days ago, just because I happened to notice in the app that the update was available. I said, ok, whatever and hit the button. When the system came back, I immediately noticed it sounding significantly different. I was like “whoa, what is the deal here?” I listened for a couple days and thought I might be crazy. So I came here and searched and found the threads, and that most folks are having similar experiences.
The bass is definitely more prominent for me. It seems be deeper and have much a good deal more slam. This I welcome. I am running a NAP200. I tried a 250DR and did not like the (relatively) slow bass. This firmware update has improved my bass situation. It feels like I went out and spent 4 digits on hardware. I keep expecting the free bubble to burst!
I agree with others, that things sound more “live”, especially vocals. I much enjoy this aspect too as that has always what has sold me on Naim. I’ve played in bands for 30 yrs and Naim feels the most right to my ears.
The above gains are really great. However, I also agree with those that say some of the settled and sorted-ness has been lost. While it is a more lively sound with bigger, punchier bass, I feel some of the delicates in the high end have been pushed back. Stuff like intricate percussion work is less well represented that pre-upgrade. I feel I can’t hear chimes, wood blocks, shakers, triangles, etc… as well as I could pre-upgrade. That part I don’t like. I think things were more balanced before. I will surely try turning down my subs a bit to see if that allows me to bring back the high end details. I’m about 8hrs into listening with the new firmware, so I’m trying to hold off making any adjustments until I feel like I really have a handle on the new sound.
Also interesting, my system sounds better in the lower volume range that it did pre-upgrade. I can get a very satisfying experience with less volume now.
So I’ll take the good with the bad. What choice do I have right? At least it’s a 2 for 1. I got “upgraded” bass and vocals, with a downgrade in high end detail. Probably, reducing the subs may prove me wrong about the high end details.
I liked the sound before and I like the sound after. Can’t honestly say that I can hear a difference, so I’m happy. Perhaps a bit mutton Geoff but happy!
I’d definitely agree and that’s pretty significant playing music late at night.
As for percussion I found it considerably better and easier to follow.
Previously all was too smeared.
I use the paid stream from Jazz Groove pretty frequently. It required me to add a custom station via the rather arcane vTuner website. Is that what’s currently not possible with the new update? I’ve been holding off applying it in fear of losing the stream.
This is answered on the new radio thread by naim, and also I think there’s some temporary access to some FLAC Jazz.
You’ll need to read the whole thread.
I have noticed a huge improvement. This could be because I have been using only Tidal for the past 5 years with my NDX2/XPSDR/SN2 and the difference now with Tidal Max is a good improvement to my ears. There is much more clear detail now and it really seemed to tighten up the base. It seems like I can crank it up a bit louder without it getting as hard on the ears, definitely more NC sounding but still retaining the warmth of the SN2.
I also agree is sounds better at lower volume as well. I think what impresses me the most is just how good the SN2 sounds now, especially after all those years thinking it was the limiting factor.
Yes, I get this.
I’m delighted with this new update and hope it never goes away.
It’s also great to read such a positive thread with so many people getting a really good improvement in sound.