ND555 at Olive System

OK … lest start

N10 is so small - I expected a lot bigger boxes. very tiny and so good manufactured.
Display is fine - all can be done easily.
What I am missing is a web interface - like with n-serve. Maybe I have not found it yet.
Copying is so much work - and editing all files Front quobuz is time consuming. Nights to come.
Melco app still not working - no idea, what it is looking for. All hooked up to the same network. Maybe I have to release this in the settings - dunno?

The sound!
First - there is not such extended wow factor from the first tone. This was very specific with PN!

Sound is different.
With HDX it is not so bad. With HDX it is compared to Melco:

  • I bit more harsh
  • a bit stressed and less roomy.
  • More digital sounding
  • more forward playing (which I like by the way)
  • a bit more weighty in bass (damn - there it is again! :rofl: )

With Melco it is - compared to HDX:

  • much more pleasing in sound
  • almost analogue
  • much more layering in sound (some instruments are less loud - but totally perfect positioned in the room)
  • subtle details - that’s what I think is most better. No details you can pinpoint, but they are there.
  • voices are smooth and also more lively.
  • all harshness is gone
  • compared to HDX all stress is gone - all is coming relaxed.

Question remming?

  • Will the N1ZH be (bass heavier) in my system? Who knows? Darkbear mentioned the N1ZH to have a fuller sound. But I really think that the N10 is as full.
  • Vodka from PN to Melco - will test this today :slight_smile:

To be honest - I am little tired of stressing myself with this endless testing… I think everyone is waiting for this to happen :slight_smile:

Loads of excellent information and tests and comparisons in this thread.

Are you giving enough time between decisions to let the sonic changes settle and sink in?

There is such a thing as premature optimisation… :smile:

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YOU hit the point!
Look what I have edited in my post before. I was way to hasty…
Vodka cable I have on Demo and therefore limited time. But PN is 2 weeks old… what am I doing? :slight_smile:

With “settle in” I think you do not only mean my system… :slight_smile:

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From what you say, “ all harshness is gone, voices more lively, more analog , much more layering…” are quite the most important aspects to me.
The goal is to have a more natural and realistic sound, with true tones colours and livelier.
Enjoy. Is it completely burn in ? Normally more you climb the ladder of Melco, more the sound becomes full, organic and analog. I really strongly doubt you would enjoy more the N1zh2.

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I do not know if it is fully burnt in… Looks like unused and was bought 07-2022… you never know how much it is been used. It definitely had some offline time and I think the PSU needs some re-burning when it was on transport. This is what Sean Jacobs told me - and he must know.

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Love the melco
When switching back everything sounds a bit like Air (French band) I like very much.
Currently also French … daft punk. What an amazing album random…is

I just ordered D100 :slight_smile: good offer - used and half price.

You never stop . You won the lottery recently? Just joking of course.
I feel all that will end with a 552/500 and better speakers.
Be careful
IMG_2375

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I am… I have not unlimited amount of money. But I suffered a lot during isolation last years and this makes me “happy” again.
There is a point to stop - e.g. at the 555PSDR offered second hand :slight_smile:

and come an @frenchrooster … you are the one who triggered a bit of it :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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Yes, I plaid guilty. But don’t want to find you homeless under a Paris bridge. :joy:
I wonder really if a second hand 500 dr would not be a better choice, as you are dreaming specially about a bigger and better defined bass.

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I compared the HD version which I eventually purchased to the SSD version. The latter was more smooth and had some insight I liked, but the HDD Melco was a raw earthy creature with lots of low-bass detail - which on some systems would rule it out but on mine is was sumptuous - so I went for that option.

Pair the Melco Melco N1Zh-2 (6TB) with an AQ Vodka to the ND555 and bass is not really a problem - there is plenty of good well-structured bass rendered.
After that is is more about ‘taming’ that signature so that it does not explode out of control. This is about careful set-up - put the Melco on a fraim shelf top with the front feet overhanging a bit the glass shelf and listen and adjust until it sings and the bass is seamless and you are there.
Push the Melco back too much on the shelf = awful over-powerful bloated-bass - pull forward and then life is good again and it all sings.

So take care with the Melco set-up physically to get the best from it.

The more expensive later version of Melco I have not yet heard but I suspect I would like it - but presently that is ahead of me.

Tuning-up your system once you have selected the items that you have heard can deliver what you are looking for is key to getting a satisfying end-result and not getting that upgrade-itch, which often is when something is not right and you are not satisfied.

I play music and it is an immesive moving exploration of another world for a time so I’m happy I have that. :bear:

There is always better to be had but getting a balanced system that is saisfying and having some comnfidence in your own assessment of that should be your goal IMO.

DB.

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Thank you so much.
My dealer also recommended the hdd version. I have a n10/2 h50.
Raw earthiness is what i like. Think that there is no need to test n1zh. N10/2 is a beast.
Vodka to nd555 is already in place, but coming from PN, who can also do bass.

I think the problem is solved. Melco does so much more layering and in some cases bass is more in the background more in a deeper room. When bass in front … there is a a good amount in place, in some cases more than before.

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Night with copying files again. Dunno - is it so slow because of PN (no gigabit?).
Think from HDX to Melco is a long way and hex is the bottleneck. With old switch it was not really faster :slight_smile:

The D100 is what I use. I think its awesome. I use with a Sean Jacobs P/S btw. Do you still have your DC3? If its not in use then hook it up to the D100.

Drago bill in a few months:

  • Nd555
  • PhoenixNet
  • Audioquest vodka
  • Melco N10 h50
  • Melco D100
  • second 555 dr to come
  • Sean Jacobs DC3 to come

Nice bill. I remember it was quite the same bill for you maybe 3 years ago, when you moved from a CD555.

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I have a Plixir with 2 outputs one does the ER switch, the other the D100…….it does make a difference.

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The Melco’s are slow on disk read/writes, this is done deliberately. My workflow when a new CD arrives is to rip it on my main computer then back it up to my server as well as the Melco. The backup to the server is at least twice as quick as to the Melco.

I have an N10/2 HDD (through NDS) and originally I thought the difference was large between Qobuz and Melco (in Melco’s favour) but then put a pair of 2960 switches in between the router and Melco and it closed the gap right up. However once I switch to direct mode the Melco becomes far more open and engaging (contrary to what @frenchrooster has found in his system). Only downside is navigating via NDS to play music rather than Bubble UPNP or other App.

Hey… this was too much.
Dc3 returned and 555ps is only on mind so far.
ND555 had a very good price but nevertheless this was a lot of money in a short time.
Could have bought a car - a very small one :grinning:

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The users here preferring the run through switch rather than direct from melco all have the phoenix net in their systems
Think this switch is a key factor with its very good design

I live what it has brought so much - have not tested direct player port from melco as I might loose the things PN is doing.
And my head is easygoing playing tricks when I have this in mind … :grinning: