Good to hear that you stopped the update circle.
The firmware is good but there is some distance to as it was before. If you are used to how the nds is sounding, I would be careful. For my ears only the nds is still better as it gives this organic musical feeling. My (remaining) 2 cents.
He stopped ? For now. The Gryphon 333 is haunting his dreams, nightmares, and walks in the woods.
Don’t forget he earned the first prize last year for olympics upgraditis games.
I wish you could hear how my ND was sounding tonight, and that’s without the Shunyata Theta powerlead. I’m sure it would change your mind. The sense ‘of being at the performance’ coupled with the shear scale and realism is remarkable. The only changes I’ve made since 3.8 is the Cisco/Neet1008 combo. At the moment there is nothing I’d want to add to the sound I’m currently getting, not even going back to 3.8!
Ah, yes but only in certain locations. It still isn’t a patch against Sigma on the last leg (I’ve tried it several times) but, for some reason, works really well from Cisco to EE8? It balances out the rather ‘dark’ sound of the Cisco and adds a nice bit of vibrancy and attack to the mix. The annoying thing was that I sold my original Neet 1008 and had to buy it all over again!
It was 2024 when I bought the following:
552DR
500DR
ND555
2x 555PSDR
Linn LP12 Klimax upgrades : Urika, Kandid, Ekos SE, K Radikal 2, Keel
Full Superlumina loom
Gaia Acoustics I
Room treatment.
Phoenixnet
EE8 switch
Farad Super 3
Puritan mains conditioner
Puritan Ultimate power cable
Marantz SA12SE
Lindeman Limetree Bridge
Was a busy year!!!
I am happy with system and have only sold the Lindeman. Spending money on home improvements and watches nowadays!
Do you know what, I did think about contacting you. I was kind of reluctant to buy it again, especially after the saga we all had with it, and wanted to check if it would actually work. As it happened I did that ‘spur of the moment’ thing and my card accidentally purchased one.
I popped into my Shunyata dealer the other day and he now has the full top of the range DCS system with around five very expensive looking boxes. I asked him the price and he said that it was close to a quarter of a million pounds. I have to say it was sounding rather pleasant on the ears!
Indeed, I have Sigma last leg, and Diamond before that as we have discussed before. The rest is BJC. I love my switch and cable configuaration. I did a review on here a while ago.
My set up with subs and room treatment is something to behold! Sounds epic.
Punching out some tunes now ! Always gives a Wow moment.
Dunc’s front end DCS Vivaldi streamer, DAC and Clock is best front end streamer I have heard.
Look, I am very happy and settled with what I have. He has had to get rid of Naim amps to make it work. His system sounds great.
For me, I am not prepared to make the changes and full 500DR with ND555 and 2 x 555PSDR is a great system for the price I paid for it. Paid about £17k for ND555 and 2 x 555PSDR. The another £1k for superlumina interconnect. Then switches and cables, probably another £8k used. So £25k front end streamer.
To go DCS like @Dunc, and he will tell us for sure maybe £60k all in used.
And it won’t work great with Naim 500DR series as he testifies many times.
I am therefore staying put with a wonderful front end. Spent around £19k upgrading my LP12, so not dissimilar amount again. So my front ends into great amps and speakers, subs and cables are not going anywhere.
The Marantz SA12SE as transport into ND555 and used occasionally direct into 552DR for SACDs is a lovely weĺl built machine.
So, DCS not for me right now. Would rather buy a Rolex or put new bathroom in!
We have had this conversation a few times now Dan and not much has changed really.
Well in your system a vivaldi 3 box or 2 box is going to cost a minimum of £30K secondhand for a 2 box or around £45k for the 3 box. Then the 552 needs to go, the 500dr can stay but you will need a pre amp to work with it all or the 500dr goes as well.
Then the rack, cable’s, etc.
Also the secondhand valves of the naim isn’t great, but then the vivaldi has also dropped secondhand but not so many available, so it might cost you more to change now than it would have done a few years ago when i did it.
But as you experienced it is a truly wonderful front end and system i have managed to put together and i am very lucky to be able to enjoy it and i am grateful.
Not sure what you mean?
But yes dcs did do a limited run of the vivaldi dac, upsampler, streamer and sacd transport in one box called the vivaldi one. It first came out no apex years ago and then they did a small run once again but with the apex upgrade a few years ago. A great one box solution that was close in sound to the separates and save you a few quid, but it was still expensive and you hardly see any for sale second-hand.
