Thanks Keith,
I suspect that the posh Melco units will have a much quieter USB output than the Prestige 3. Having seen the youtube video which lifts the lid on the guts of the Zenith III, I suspect that the Prestige 3 and Zenith USB outputs will be broadly equivalent.
However, when it comes to ethernet outputs, all bets are off for us. There are so many ways to go from the ethernet output of the server to the input of a dac. We use a well regulated linear power supply for our server and chose optical ethernet from the switch to the OpticalRendu server/renderer (whatever you call it!). This may well negate some differences between servers that you would otherwise hear when using traditional, electrical ethernet connections.
In essence, we have gone for a well engineered but non-flashy server, a relatively inexpensive and replaceable (but very good) streaming module and a very good dac.
This will allow us to upgrade the streaming module over time, as this part of the chain seems to be the fastest evolving at the moment. Only time will tell if we have made a wise choiceā¦
Does that make the OpticalRendu the streamer or the renderer? I really donāt know but in all honesty, I donāt care either! It just works. Brilliantly.
Iāve been put off Naim streaming by the withdrawal of the NDS. I can only upgrade my NDS by sinking five figures into an ND555, which is what has led to Vortexbox as it gives me ND555 functionality at minimal cost. The Chord DACs intrigue me (I own a Mojo) but an OpticalRendu plus Mscaler plus Dave is also very expensive. However, I like that fact that youāre not spending on one item.
It is a lot Keith but that is what it took to leave the CDS3/555PSDR in its wake. Selling the CDS3, the 555PSDR and the hiline released almost Ā£6,500 towards the cost of the streamer. This was circa half the cost of trading in the CDS3 for an ND555 while retaining our 555PSDR.
To these cloth ears, it also out-performed the ND555/555PSDR when compared back-to-back using our Prestige 3 (server via ethernet to the ND555, server to M Scaler using a Curious Cables USB). YMMV. A less costly alternative would be to try a Chord TT2/M Scaler, a Schiit Yggdrasil or a Holo Audio Spring 2 dac, though I have not yet had the opportunity to hear these digital lovelies myself.
If I trade in my NDS for an ND555 itāll cost me net Ā£10k. If sell it I wonāt get much more, used NDS prices being what they are, but the 555dr and associated Super Lumina would improve matters significantly.
Sadly, my dealer doesnāt do Chord. Iāve been with them and trusted them for many years so it would be a scary (red pill) leap. There was an assumption that (despite my protestations) I would eventually cave, so getting the Microroon was an act of rebellion, I suppose. But once you think the unthinkableā¦you could end up ā doing a Bluesfanā
There is always a halfway house option. Buy a bare NDX2 as an excellent Roon endpoint & streamer, then try a Chord TT2 on the end of it. The NDX2 keeps your trusted Naim dealer happy and you can still enjoy half a pill of whichever colour takes your fancy. Sell the NDS and 555PS if the NDX2 (with or without external dac) works for you to fund most of the change.
You end up with a bang up to date streaming platform and potentially even more enjoyable music than the NDS can provide, for relatively small cost.
I have thought about that. Itās similar to @Simon-in-Suffolkās approach. I wish they would bring out a DAC only version of the TT. In other words, without the preamp and headphone amp, like the Qutest. I donāt like the thought of only using one burndy on the 555 though.
you have a fantastic source with the nds/ 555 dr. Why move?
for an ndx2: nds is still better ( for local streaming)
for chord: chord dacs are not for everyone tastes. Some added hugo, qteest to the ndx2 and preferred bare ndx2. Better compare at home first.
To an nd555: as you said, itās a lot of money. I gave up personally.
To a linn kdsm: itās on the level of the nds/ 555dr. A little more refined but less involving and muscular.
To dcs : more expensive even than going to the nd555.
to Chord Dave/ with a streaming bridge : why not, but not sure it will be more musical. Some didnāt like the Dave, some love it. However the naim forum tend to emphasize a bit too much the chord dacs. Be careful.
I will listen to the Dave in the beginning of Octoberā¦
Yes agreed, all excellent points, which is why I have Roonifed the NDS. This is all just speculation for the future. I havenāt entirely ruled out the ND555.
Keep the NDS, and add a TT2 or Dave, then Mscaler. This is what I am doing, I added a TT2 already, and hoping to have the cash for the Mscaler by the end of the year. I have heard Blu2/Dave fed from a Simaudio streamer many times at my dealers home. Simply the best, most lifelike recorded music system I have ever heard. He also has Nordost Odin cables throughout, but I am sure it still sounds great on cheaper cables. One step at a time for me, as funds allow it, and who knows, Chord could release something new by the time I can afford the Mscaler, at least these are seperate boxes, unlike ND555, all in one.
Not a new one and you donāt see many used. However, there is an outside possibility that one may become available via my dealer and I would face a dilemma at that point, if it ever arrives.
Again, I was happy to stop at my current level on the ladder and the rung Iām on has been taken away by the withdrawal of the NDS. I was then expected to keep the NDS forever or spend five figures or downgrade if I wanted stay in the Naim streamer world. I hadnāt planned to spend on that scale and Roonifying the NDS keeps my options open.
As per my previous post, Roonifying the NDS postpones the point at which I might want to take big decisions. Your option is attractive as it holds out the possibility of improving (or changing) SQ without too much upheaval and at a lower cost than the ND555. But, it makes the Sonore Upnp Bridge a long term requirement and brings the USB input and Mscaler into play. Luckily, I donāt have to make these decisions yet. Maybe the NDX3 will by better than the NDS
When I bought my 52 and 135s back in the day I thought I was set for life. I had traded in my Roksan Xerxes for a cds. I went abroad and returned to find a new world. Thus along came a NDS.
But I was not satisfied ā¦ out went the QNAP and I came the Prestige. For how long will I remain content?
If you want to scratch the itch, you could always audition several of todayās streaming options and compare with your excellent NDS. At least you will know whether there is anything better out there for the same or similar money.
In our case, the decision had already been made to switch to streaming. We just had to work out how, though this did take a bit of doing!
In the meantime, you have a lovely music making system, so why not just enjoy it for a while?