I have an opportunity to buy a MK 1 NDX for a few hundred quid ( RRP was almost 3K )
Main use would be with a DAP digital transport into the coaxial input and FLAC files on a USB stick.
And a Nait 5Si that is currently my only Naim product.
The idea being that I will at least then have a Naim DAC, Pre and Power Amp chain.
But there are mixed views on sound quality it would seem.
How bad can it be for a £3K 10KG over engineered beast of a unit.
It would be an astonishing achievement if it sounded bad right ?
I know there are other options but its one of the last batches made in its run, mint condition full set.
If the price is right for you and it meets your requirements then it’s a bargain. I loved mine with my 52/135 Olive stack and only replaced it because I got an NDS at a great price. It’s considered old hat in terms of streaming services but local streaming and used as a DAC it’s still got legs in my mind.
Hi, you are buying a lot of redundant technology by choosing an NDX and using it only as a DAC. Consider a standalone DAC and you might get better value for money.
Naim’s NDAC would give you much better sound quality than an NDX if you can find a good used one.
Also remember that limited spares availability mean that the NDX may not always be repairable by Naim, although most of the potential failures would likely be in the streaming and control sections.
I had an NDX for over 12 years - loved it. Sounds great and makes a great DAC for something like a Primare NP5 or similar (I used the NP5 for a couple of years to get up-to-date online streaming).
I would jump at an N DAC but they seem to go for well over double the price the NDX. They have held their value considerably better than the NDX even though it was released earlier and cost the best part a £1K less.
I guess that is a testament to how good the N DAC is and how the streaming capability of the NDX is well out dated now.
I had an NDX mk1 for a number of years (purchased pre-loved) and it was great for streaming from my Unitserv (since deceased) and it also had the extra radio option with internet stations, plus DAB and FM, which was very useful when the Naim internet streams failed a few years ago, although they’ve now got a very reliable internet radio stream. Sound Quality was good and fitted well with my 282/250 system. However as other responses have stated, you are buying old technology which may be a bit problematic with streaming services such as Tidal and Qobuz. (Plus a small screen which has been known to fail) I’ve since updated to an NDX2 (plus 252/300) and in all aspects it’s significantly better; but your initial remarks relating to its price and how you plan to use it make it a good buy in my view.
The NDAC is a great performer, and was a popular upgrade to the NDX in its day. It has the same USB input as the NDX (quite limited in that it’s really intended for a memory stick with a few albums on it rather than a full music library) and a good number of SPDIF inputs. Yes, you would need to be patient and come up with some more cash.
Having said that, the NDX would still be a good source for your Naim amp, as long as you understand its limitations as discussed above. If you go for it I suggest that you ask for the serial number, call Naim and check for any service history. Also check that it’s on up to date firmware (version 4.9).
One thing you need to watch is that early NDX units didn’t have the 192/24 streaming board. This is a major disadvantage, including that Naim can’t fit replacement screens to the earlier units and the 192/24 board is no longer available as an upgrade.
that is one of the main reasons I was attracted to it, it was manufactured in 2018 just before the NDX 2 came out. There is no way I would buy an early one due to aging parts and screen. Its 8 years old so hopefully will have some reliable years left.
The screens tend to fail after about 8 to 10 years regardless of use. My Nds screen failed a couple of years ago despite it never being left on. Its not really an issue in everyday use as most functions are served through the app. I had an Ndx before the Nds and thought it sounded great, and even better with a power supply upgrade to 555Ps.
@Mrhappy Good to know that they are still operational even if the screen does fail. I have a few older hifi separates that have non fatal faults and i keep using them.
I think on the older streamers you can only access some of the setup stuff through the screen menus and not through the app. So they continue to function provided you don’t need to reconfigure the network. I did manage to update the firmware on my ND5 XS with no screen should Naim ever release another older system firmware update.
Some settings are only accessible via the display. If you need to access them you can often navigate if you hold your phone camera against the screen in a dark room.
Well I bought it anyway, Im listening to it now with a 5Si and Im in no doubt that they have synergy. I tried the 5Si with several other brands of DAC / CD players and none of them were this good.