I run a NAC282 into a NAP250 with Hicap with Kudos Titan 505s. I mainly listen to vinyl (LP12) and all is good. I currently use a Cambridge Audio MNX 10 as a streamer and am pretty impressed, but since upgrading the speakers it is the weakest link and a little muddy.
My question is should I add a Chord Qutest to the MNX10 or go for a Naim ND5 XS2? The Naim would be the more expensive option as I do worry about upgrades - I had a Superuniti but the updates became an issue and I felt it was becoming obsolete.
In this fast changing world is a separate DAC and streamer a more future proof option? Any personal comparisons between the two approaches sound wise that would help?
All of the options you mention are OK, but compared to your amp and speakers they are relatively low budget choices. If you want a Naim streaming source that does justice to your system it would be something like an NDX2/XPSDR.
If streaming is a low priority for you - background music compared to your turntable, fair enough. Personally I would probably go for the Qutest but it’s largely down to personal preference.
Many thanks for the reply. Yes, streaming is more about “finding” music and hearing it before committing to a vinyl purchase. Well, that and background when I’m working.
I’m leaning towards the Qutest, partly because of the strong following and also the options it brings later in down the line. I’d love to go for a higher level option but have just about bankrupted myself with the speakers.
Absolutely yes - this point has been made quite frequently: DACs don’t change over time, and if you have a good one that you like it can sit there for many years doing stirling service with never any reason to change. A streaming front end used to access online streaming services (as opposed to purely playing music from your own store) has to be kept up-to-date with changing requirements from existing providers, adaptations for new providers, etc, and sooner or later can get to the point where it is no longer possible to update further, eventually becoming obsolete for that purpose. If the DAC is in the same box then at best you have to get another streaming front end and keep the redundant defunct front end in the original box while retaining the DAC, or at worst you have to buy a whole new streamer including another DAC. Inexplicably Naim abandoned having a separate DAC (at one time they offered two) in favour of only full streamers or all-in-ones.
As for the thread question, obviously best if you get responses from several people who have experience of both to learn their various comparative views. I am unable to comment on either of those options directly, though FWIW at one time I had an ND5XS (foreunner to the 2) and upgraded it by adding a Chord Hugo (a forerunner to the Qutest), and found Hugo to noticeablyimprove the naturalness of sound, open (some people said more analog sounding). That upgrade was quite a lotcheaper than adding the cheapest Naim power supply to supposedly upgrade the ND5XS, and which actually gave very marginal benefit despite what the dealer told me. For reference I had only been using the ND5 excess for streaming from my own store, hence upgrading the DAC before changing the streaming front end.
Having owned a Chord Qutest and used it both with a CD transport and a Melco music server I can say that’s it’s a fantastic DAC and incredible value for money. But it’s presentation is very different indeed to Naim. With your system, if it were me, I would go with a Naim streamer every time. This maintains the Naim synergy and just sounds far more musical IMO. As far as future proofing goes I honestly wouldn’t worry too much. Things are advancing so quickly in the digital world that I’m not sure anything is really future proof. Anything you buy now will likely be a museum piece within the next 5 - 10 years. It depends whether that bothers you or not.
@Bluetoo7 There is no such thing as future proofing in high end audio. My mind boggles at the number of brands I have Had to move on from and the reasons why. I am elated if I can get 5 years.
Qutest and ND5XS2 do sound different and choice between them is likely to be very personal. I have a Qutest that I use with my Nait 50. I don’t have a ND5XS2 but do have a CD5XS. The Qutest definitely pulls more detail from the mix, whereas the CD player just sounds like it was intended for the Nait. I’m pleased to have and enjoy both, but if you need to make a choice, I’d audition first if at all possible.
I came to this conclusion. I’m not sure if these are the right or best words, but I’m not overly impressed with how changes to the streaming board in the current streamers can end up influencing DAC performance, so moving the DAC out of the streamer helps IMO. I’d be more than a little miffed if I’d bought an NSS333 or ND555 with dual PSU’s and never knew what each firmware would bring.
I quite like the sound of the NDAC and know I can upgrade further with an external PSU for the analogue stage. Whether that adds as much as an uplift as the NDAC itself did I have no idea, yet. However I’m happy with where it’s taken me. At 2nd hand prices it’s a bit of a bargain.
Thank you - all the detail in the replies is much appreciated. I am going to see if my local audio shop is willing to give me a home demo on both.
Like most things I guess it is all about what you like.
There is part of me trying to avoid buying a new stand which a larger box would need, but I guess with audio pursuits, practicality is overtaken by desire.
For what’s it’s worth I started with the ND5XS2 then added the Ndac and finally added the XPSDR. I’m looking at the 555ps but think I’m being a bit stupid as there is absolutely nothing wrong with the set up as it is, so for now I’m staying put. The things that struck me the most was the vocal textures and separation which is something I’d not really experienced before and each added box has brought more improvements.
Yes, what stood out for me immediately with the NDAC was suddenly there was this 3D soundstage, with just the XS2 the detail was there, but the soundstage was much flatter. Only way I can describe it. No going back once you’ve heard it though!
Hearing the two is the only way to know which you prefer. If you can’t have for that at home then hear at a dealer, take your streamer to use at the dealer, first of all listening to that straight to get used to the dealer’s different room (and system if not the same amp and speakers as yours, though same as yours best), only then comparing it through Qutest the ND5XS2 streamer.
I have certainly mentioned on several occasions that it was the XP5XS - the PS that I understood was designed specifically to upgrade the XS series, and about which in persuading me to take it the dealer promised a substantial uplift. I didn’t name it here as that was an aside to the subject, just putting my change in context, but I think have I named it every time I referred to it in threads about adding a PS to ND5XS.