ND5 XS2 as a DAC vs something else

Replies are inevitably going to be very subjective as what one person hears as excessive detail another finds a more realistic aural picture. For myself, I have found SQ along the “pulling apart” spectrum varies within price categories as much as between them. Going up the ladder usually exposes more detail but the better components manage to do this without losing engagement and musicality.

As for a DAC and assuming you’re happy to buy used, I would consider Naim’s own DAC if you can find one. I used to run one fed by a CD5XS and very good it was, too. That was long before I got into streaming so no app needed to control it. You should be able to pick one up for under £1k, too.

Roger

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Let’s say it’s not a high level by any means and it’s not difficult to achieve more. However within its budget it’s a satisfying streamer which reacts well to the network and power supply improvements of the system.

You can expect better overall realism, better tonality of the instruments, more insight into the space of the recording

Ndac seems like a safe choice based on what you described but as you might expect it will pull a trigger on the power supply upgrade ultimately, do you want 3-box source or not?

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Yes, for £2000 you’d just about get both an nDAC and an XPS-2 (give or take a little)

I would say it’s a combo worth trying.
In my experience, it would achieve the results you are looking for.

You will also have the benefit of selling it on at no loss if you weren’t happy or just wanted to move on, in the short term at least.

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I hear the Naim DAC suggestions and it does look like a lovely piece. Not too many on eBay at the moment I see. At this stage I’m a little limited in terms of rack space and had been hoping to find something smaller - maybe more Qutest size.

Naim made a shoebox size DAC V1

I would still go for an nDAC though…

If you really want a small sized DAC though, there are myriad choices.

Perhaps something from Cyrus, if you’re UK based?
I have no personal experience of their products, but they appear to be a well thought of brand.

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I posted a few times about comparing the ND5 XS2 vs my Chord Hugo MK1, here’s one

I think the ND5 XS2’s real value proposition is that it is a streamer. It’s all in one box, it sounds pretty good and you don’t need to make things any more complicated. If you play CDs then a transport into the ND5 XS2 would also be fairly convenient.

If you’re thinking of using it just as a DAC I think there are a lot of other options.

I almost bought one a few times, being almost willing to sacrifice SQ for usability. But the latest decision of my fickle mind is to stay put until I can afford something like a NDX2, or Chord TT2.

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Primare make good quality combination streamer/cd players.

With digital out, so DAC can be upgraded in future.

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I’ve already got the ND5 XS2 and like it as both a streamer and as a DAC for playing CD’s.
However when playing CD’s I still have to get the Naim app out, which I’d like to avoid as I feel like I have screen/device overload.
This is why I got to thinking about external DACs, and then got to wondering about how much an external one would improve the sound of the XS2.

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Is that to switch the ND5 XS2 to the digital input the CD player is connected to? I haven’t never looked into it, but it doesn’t auto switch?

My Hugo doesn’t auto switch either, but it does have a physical button to toggle between its inputs

Exactly that. Airplay or Roon for example, will override whatever the XS2 is currently doing. However, the optical cable does not have the same effct.

I know it’s possible because my Sonos soundbar auto switches from music playback when the TV comes on.

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So DACs that auto switch, or can be manually switched rather than via an app, are what you’re after? Plus maybe SQ benefits :slight_smile:

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Exactly that :wink:

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Of course another option is forget external DACs and get a CD5si but I do have concerns about the long term availablity of parts. With the recent “trade-in your CD player for a streamer” promo, it feels like they’re about to call it a wrap, which is ironic given there seem to be more CD players coming on the market now than in a long while.

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CD5si is a current model, and as far as I recall has a mechanism that’s still being produced and can be replaced if necessary, think it’s a Sanyo (Sustaining Naim CDPs - An Appeal - #81 by gthack).

@Skeptikal runs one I’m fairly sure, as do others on here.

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Take a look at either Weiss DAC205 or DAC204.

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Lend an ear to the Heed Abacus (old model) or the Abacus S (new model).
I have the old model with my SN3 and really enjoy it. Not too detailed, but very musical.
And it is half width.

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Paul Rigby aka theaudiophileman did a review on this a few years back. Just watched it. He rates it very highly too.

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Hi - there is a big thread about the NDac and ND5XS2. Also other Dac options are discussed there (Click here and enjoy)

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If you get a Naim dac, it will keep the Naim sound in your system.

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Slightly different question: is it possible BTW to connect the ND5XS2’s RCA output to a headphone amp and the DIN one to say a NAC202 at the same time, without changing settings?