ND555 at Olive System

The first days the PN has an overwhelming bass . Then it begins to slowly open, loose that unbalanced bass, and progressively becomes more refined, nuanced, fluent, with better articulated bass.
Its burn in is very long. ( around 400 hours).

I guessed there would be some run in issues but this is my dealers PN, so it’s been running the shops big system for a while now. I don’t get too phased by run in but you usually get a hint of the full potential quite quickly.

If it was really running a lot at dealer place, then ok, it’s not for you, your system and ears.
For me I had similar results with the Farad ps. Most here enjoy it. In my system it was too bright and annoying.

Yes, run in and have tried it with and without the EE8 switch and with the LHY and then the SMPS. I’m using BJC and Catsnake ethernet cables. The EE8 switch with SMPS and Catsnake gives an incredibly well balanced and easy sound. You don’t get drawn to any frequencies and the bass, whilst not the lowest, is very detailed, organic and realistic. Musically everything is easy to follow and I’m constantly surprised at just how wide the image is. With the LHY powering the switch bass is lower but high frequencies suffer.

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Do not make me anxious … bass is decreasing during burn in … :frowning:

Speakers … yeah thinking a lot. But I am so SBL loving.

There is bass … but bass is really defined. More muddy with ee8… muddy = more weight. PN is getting lower - maybe my SBL can not ?
Can live with it.
Lhy as well dc3 on ee8 were lacking sparkle with HF. Guitar strings less detailed. With PN this totally different.
Will install farad tomorrow at ee8. Will setup in a row or let hdx (or nd5xs2) stream 24/7 and same with PN.
Enough boxes here :grin:

Ps: will put nd5xs2 and connect it to ee8/farad. So I can let the ee8 plus farad run in24/7 and PN as well … separate without connecting each other :slight_smile:

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Maybe I want too much.
Had a quick listen at my dealers place (and a few weeks ago at another dealer).
On Friday there was a 200 nc system with 20k focal (evo something). There was not so much bass …
Maybe I’m am fine here and chasing ghost’s

Low volume listening is excellent by the way. And with bass… :roll_eyes:

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Why not try a sub ?

I have a linn sizmik… really fast … but not fast enough …
Had tried this long time ago

I changed out my speakers as you know from Focal Aria 936 to Focal Sopra 2s and found a massive difference by around 30% improvement. The soundstage is wider and everything is better. More effortless power, improved freqency range.

The SBLs are great but could be holding system back in some ways.

Is it worth changing speakers if you have a dealer helping you with ND555?

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Thanks Dan - yes have seen the wonderful focals. The grey finish is really fantastic :heart_eyes:

My heart is going towards a 606…

Maybe time to part with… hard, as there es no speaker, that does what SBL does. But other speakers do other things
And you have proven that modern speakers are fine with olive and CB

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From my side totally :+1: for low volume listening…
So much texture and prat in PN.
Maybe I do a trial with 3m vodka for HDX to PN…
I will be lucky at the end … I know that.

Currently playing Roisin Murphy - last album. Nice :+1:

I would experiment with different speakers if you can. Not saying Focals or Titans. With what you have it maybe something else.

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I doubt SBL’s will be holding system back, just check what @Debs is using!
Obviously if set up optimally :+1:

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Hi
yes - SBL is picturing even the slightest changes in the system. Being a bit bass light is more room dependent in my case. Room is to big - me sitting in the middle.

Today:

  • Farad in the House
    → nice package, really premium product
    → Farad is so cute - and so premium build - its a real beauty
    → Level 2 Cable is massive - looks strange at the little PSU
  • Farad is currently on air with playing I-net radio from nd5xs2 … 24/7

Had a quick test how it sounds (compared to SMPS and to PN) → quick and dirty!

  • more groove, than SMPS (Bass seems identical - or even a bit leaner/more defined)
  • more room

But coming from PN … it is a real step down.

  • PN is so much swinging and making music - hard to explain
  • and there is everything detailed - even with the fasted electronic sounds (e.g. Bonobo)
  • more organic and textured and much more 3D layer.

BUT!
There is a big Vodka effect.
Will check ee8 / farad / vodka as well - yes will do. Think will do it at the weekend, when there are some hours run in time on both Farad and PN.
Also had the chance to go for vodka no. 2 - PN to server… a lot (first word stuff) on my plate :o)

Today - I love the bass the PN does - I am a freak :slight_smile:

PN is really addictive - maybe I fully addicted already… But as mentioned - the Vodka effect :slight_smile:

PS: I am addicted. Playing morcheeba … wow … so much better than ee8.

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I understood ‘SBL’ but the rest is like a foreign language to me I’m afraid!
Still interesting reading and trying to decipher it though :rofl:

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Let my guess - you are a vinyl only type … admire it.
Same for me … till I heared the nd555… and together with the phoenix switch there is all the emotion that Vinyl brings. Not sounding same - but same emotion.

I searched the meaning of freak, but still don’t understand in your context.

I looked it up as well…
„A person who is really enthusiastic on something - and in some ways a bit over the top.“
There is a bit of a match :grin:

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By the way…
If I have to choose for the nicest product of the year - Farad will be on my list!
It is a really nice one! Small and so well build and nice looking - a shame to put it on the floor (I have it on the floor - but on absorber feet).
LED is very good - not too bright. I know the different from a well known anniversary product (wich will also be on the list) :slight_smile: