Has anyone ever compared Nova vs ND5 XS2 vs NDX 2 as sources via analogue out?

Hi-Fi Corner
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Got a Nova when original 72/250x2 active SBL system was in storage.

Nova was a planned temporary measure and used unconventionally via analogue out to a NAC 282 active SBL setup a bit later it gave a demoed NDX 2 a very good run for its money. NDX 2 better obviously but felt for significant improvements it would need a PSU as well.

Is the Nova better/worse/than the ND5 XS2 as an analogue out source only and how much better is the bare ND5 XS2 thsn the NDX 2 sonically?

Can someone confirm ND5 XS2 has digital out as specs don’t list it but rear photos seem to have one, and had I realised I might have consideted one as a streamer which could be used as a transport with an external DAC which is something the Nova lacks.

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Nd5 xs2 has bnc out which is how I connect my ndac.

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Thank you. Any idea what the maximum digital out parameters are _ presumably better than optical would have been?

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Just found this, sadly linked technical paper no loger works at that URL.

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https://soundcrafthifi.com/images/homepage/reviews/naim/ND5-XS2/HiFi-World-Naim-ND5XS2.pdf Don’t know if this is helpful but it seems to get quite technical in the box about testing

Edit also found this https://www.stereophile.com/content/naim-nd5-xs-2-media-player-measurements

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Very helpful thanks. Can analogue out volume be set to fixed or variable controlled during playback via the app?

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I don’t know about the fixed option. But with 3.5mm cable between your streamer and pre-amp you can enable system automation and change the volume in the naim app rather than supplied remote.

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I guess the fixed/variable output option would be selectable in the Naim app as it used to be when I tried NDX 2 previously?

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Yes the options are the same in app just couldn’t remember what they were since it’s ages since I changed them

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I can remember on NDX 2 you could do this for analogue but unsure if it was configurable for digital out too.

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Bottom line I guess is if the ND5 XS2 analogue out is as good or hopefully better than the Nova I could try to source one and use the Nova as a capable second system as was always intended.

Would be keen on using one as a transport say with a Chord Dave in the future. Just keeping options open.

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Hopefully in the morning some people with more technical knowledge than me will weigh in. I know several people use chord dacs with Naim streamers if I hadn’t found an ndac the chord qutest was my back up plan

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Yes @Simon-in-Suffolk uses a Dave.

Nova has been great over the years. The cost of an NDX 2 with a PSU to give a big uplift over Nova makes consideration of other options rather important to me. I can’t honestly see the current streaming platforms getting any major uplifts sonically when most people are happy with perfectly functional lower quality yet enjoyable audio streaming services and lifestyle audio devices.

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Hi, the digital audio output from the ND range is fixed volume, the only parameter to modify the audio is whether DSD is encoded as PCM or DoP (DSD chunked up into SPDIF framing).

Indeed I feed my DAVE from my NDX2 which I use as a streamer and a digital hub.

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Thanks for clarifying, is the analogue out still configurable as fixed or variable? (assuming it ever was an it’s not my memory playing tricks)

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I believe it is.. but sorry someone else will need to confirm as I don’t use the analogue out and away from my system currently.

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Yes, the 2nd gen separate streamers all have the options of variable and hybrid volume as well as the default fixed volume.

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