Hopefully not too difficult to answer. Am considering a NAC332 and have been looking the user guide. This has prompted 3 questions.
Main source is my ND555. Do I simply continue to use this remote or will I also need to pair the 332 remote? The manual gives an example of pairing a 333 and the 332 by pushing buttons on the front panels so wanted to check if this was the same.
If you adjust the input trim, does this have any negative impact on sound quality? I know digital volume can but am not sure with the 332.
You can use system automation with the 555 and 332 but you will need to get hold of a suitable cable (mono, with 3.5mm jack plugs both ends) to link them. Then the Naim app and 555 remote should adjust the 332 volume using + and - buttons.
I have only used input trim on my 332 briefly but can’t say I noticed any sound quality issues.
Are you saying that the 555 remote can ajust volume. This would in many situations solve the need for the double remote since you need the 332 remote to change volume.
I have the cable that worked with the oc 252, but the way I have this connected it does nothing on the 555/332.
My dealer contacted Naim for me today and they confirmed as follows:
The customer will need to make use of both remotes - balance is only accessible from the NAC 332’s remote.
Where the system automation capabilities of New Classic is much advanced versus ‘classic’ streamers, the ND 555and its remote will only be able to control the volume/mute on the NAC 332, as well as automatically switching the preamp’s input to the one connected with the 555, once the streamer starts playback. A 3.5mm mono jack cable will be the one for this, yes.
No impact on SQ with the input trim - all aspects of the volume are handled through the resistor/relay ladder volume control, so it’s analogue all the way through. The only time this disengages and is replaced by a digital volume IC is actually during a change in volume. Once the volume level is set, the analogue ladder system kicks back in, whether that’s adjusting volume on the fly or setting the trim.
Thanks for the question. Here 20 months after the 332 arrived I have finally hooked everything up as described. Set the preamp to statement not classic seems to finally do the trick and the correct cable in the correct sockets. So almost down to one remote, a smartphone and a braille display y for serious listening.
I have managed to get down to one remote and a tablet with posh ND555 remote able to select input sources on 332 and control the volume. Mono link cable from 555 to 332. Using Classic option for system automation, the ND555 DIN connected to input 7 and Oppo connected to AV RCA 4. Needed to turn on preamp input 4within App. Using the input selection button on 555 remote changes to AV and playing music selects Stream.
One srrange observation. My setup works but auto shutdown the normal after 20 minutes has stopped working. Maybe because my nd555 has server mode enabled or the cable keeps the 300s alive. I will have to sort this out somehow.
Server mode will prevent the unit going into standby mode because the point of a server is to be available to other devices should they be used when the ND555 is not awake. Having a USB drive attached will also keep it awake.
I should have been clearer it is not tthe nd555 since this is not supposed to shut down. It is the 332/350 that normally iis set to shut down after 20 minutes. When I plug in the remote cable from the 555 this stops working. So either I am doing something wrong. There has been a firmware update for the 332 or I am using a cable that does something strange here. Of course I can just mannually shut down the 300s, but it is nice when they take care of it without intervention.