I’ve had a full 300 system for quite a while, complete with PSUs on the 332 and 333, and certainly feel very fortunate to be able to sit back and enjoy the immersive sound coming out of it on a regular basis. After a lot of trial and error I have optimized my setup so that it sounds like real music to me.
After the recent firmware changes that sparked several heated debates on here, I decided to replace my 333/300 with an ND555/555PS DR. I’ve found this to be a worthwhile upgrade so far, and at the same time I can see why some people might prefer the presentation of one streamer vs. the other. I was about to put my 333 and NPX300 up for sale, when this thought popped into my head… I quickly scanned the NAC 332 manual - there’s a whole section about the NPX300 as an optional upgrade but it mentions nothing about the possibility of dual NPX’s. Hmm.
After a few black box location swaps, cable massages and cable reroutings, I powered on 2 NPX300s, one connected to the type 3 and one to the type 4 burndy on the 332. The 332 powered up with no issues. Sound was flowing to the speakers.
The first thing I noticed was the bass. There is loads more of it - it’s thicker, more controlled and more nuanced. A shocking improvement tbh that affects the full spectrum. As the second PSU warmed up in the next few hours, I was treated to a more organic and natural sound, and a deeper soundstage with placement queues that made instruments sound so much better separated but also somehow more coherent as a whole. I think this will need more time to settle as the second NPX300 was cold for about a week before I turned it on.
I wonder if anyone else on here has experience with this type of setup. For me this is already so significant that the second NPX 300 is not going anywhere. Now I just need to somehow make space for an 8 box system once a second PSU for the ND555 arrives…
I did see that but it only talks about losing the lights and standby sync for one of the PSUs which is not a big deal at all. I have not seen any sound impressions by anyone else.
I am discovering layers to the music that I was fully missing before. I wonder how this setup compares to a 552 side by side, given it is not far from 552 spend. I’ve compared a 332/300 to 552 at the dealer’s and I did prefer the NC presentation - knowing I was trading some nuance and body for other NC attributes like soundstage width. I suspect those are now much closer with this setup.
Good to know. For me, the 332 is where I’d like to be in the near future. My wallet says otherwise of course… Champagne taste on a beer diet I suppose.
I have long wondered about two NPX300s on my 332 or 333 and thought about borrowing another 300 to try this but lack of shelf space and potential cost implications put me off trying this.
Reading @gk_audio’s comments about the experiment is interesting. I also wonder what the impact on the 333 would be having two NPX300s, how much closer to a 555 would it be?
Luckily I still have my 333. I can try this and compare to 555, however I’ll need to wait until the new FW fix is released, the 333 is not sounding its best right now.
Congrats on NC3 series kit. Great evolution, if I had to buy again, would be top of short list; just my OC kit sounds just great and I make sure I am up to date with upgraditis avoidance routines!
On the question of NPX300 x 2, I rather imagine you didn’t try a search of the forum.
Typing in “300 series demo”, the very first thread is one for which I was the OP.
I know the demo room well, including having once spent the afternoon, warming up a statement system for a demo day the day after.
I haven’t heard back to back comparison, but NSS333 + 2 NPX300, will give a ND555 + 2 555 PS a good run. Ultimately down to the individual as to whether the additional costs reaps satisfactory reward!
My own choice would be NC or fully OC, rather than mixed, with the former having full standby across all units.
Likely adding a NAC552 with the ND would add still more. However, using new prices, each combo is in a different ball park.
Oh of course, @paulbysea’s comment, potential cost implications - three words when one = ‘expensive’!
The demo day, as I just reread the thread, had in the penultimate configuration, two ps, split across the streamer and pre. Ultimately i guess you could create two ps on each of the streamer and pre, while being all NC. No sums calculated but as before = expensive!
