ND555 at Olive System

Had to downsize due to an eventual move to a smaller listening room. No more brains and brawn stacks I’m afraid.

Lambchop - is a woman (cd rip).
I am on my knees :heart_eyes:. Wow - love the vinyl ( have 2 of them).
But with nd555 it is like seeing them live - which I had a lot :o)

3 Likes

Looking forward to your assessment of the nDac/ PS555 vs ND555 :blush:

2 Likes

Stop it! These kind of comparisons are going to cost me £10k for an ND555….

:laughing:

1 Like

What’s your vinyl set up?

Innit :roll_eyes:

As mentioned - I am a bit afraid, that these will be close…and as I am well known for doubting (also by myself) … maybe I skip it.
Will see… also need to arrange it in the rack … XPs is bottom shelf :o/

Phonosophie turntable p3 (Thorens based from 1992) with prefix fitted inside and naim powersupply (p3ps).
Supercap feeding prefix :slight_smile:
All in all a organic and 90s based warm sounding deck - it is wonderful.

Nd555 is not equal - not better or less good - it is different by sideways
A collegue (100% vinyl guy) once told me, that digital is also good, but for the same result you have to spend triple money… he could be right :slight_smile:

When you throw in the cost of the vinyl itself are you really spending three times more?

I always think that when cost of vinyl versus streamer set ups are compared. People often omit to factor in the cost of the vinyl…

5 Likes

I have a Rega P10 A3 Cartridge, Rega Aura, Naim Power Line, Naim Hi-Line, Rega fancy power cable on the P/S and its wonderful, amazing, I love listening to music on it.

Vs the ND555… Listen to the same music and vinyl is clearly inferior in all ways apart from the tactility of the format. New music I buy on CD or download. Older music, specific pressing etc is what I use vinyl for. Both amazing but not close. I serve from a Melco N10/2 SSD and have 2x ER switches with P/S and Audioquest/Catsnake cable mix which may change the balance but the ND is no more digital sounding than my vinyl setup. Both supremely organic and make beautiful music. Poor recordings are better on vinyl as my setup can highlight those less than the ND but thats splitting hairs as the ND retrieves more detail than my vinyl setup.

2 Likes

Having just upgraded an 80’s Rega Planar 3, I tend towards thinking that the vinyl set up is better value for money, especially if you have a decent vinyl collection. But if you need to buy a lot of new vinyl, then the cost equation could well flip.

Certainly, for the cost of going from a used 252 to a used 552, or adding a used 555 DR to the NDX2, I could have had a new Rega P10. Well, maybe the 552 brings out more of the re-born Rega Planar 3, and it’s academic, as I am where I am now, but it’s an interesting comparison all the same.

If I upgraded now, a RP10 is certainly way cheaper than going from a NDX2 to a ND555.

3 Likes

With streaming there is also a monthly cost. In my case Roon and Qobuz, not cheap.

1 Like

Plus as @Stu299 states above vinyl is expensive, new vinyl is often poor (imo) and after returning around 6 records due to pressing faults and getting over 100 (second hand admittedly) CD’s for the refunded money I believe it should absolutely be taken into consideration unless you are someone who uses the same discs over and over to listen to your HiFi. For me I love music so 100 vs 6 always wins out :grin::grin:

2 Likes

I see that Steve just put that into context!

1 Like

Stu, no one collecting vinyl will eve4 think about the cost …
It’s the about collecting… :slight_smile:
My tt is around 10k Euro - for 20 k you can buy a lot of vinyl.
Vinyl is different and both analogue and digital have their pro and cons.
E.g … bought a real expensive disc flattener… that’s another story. :o)

Interesting!
My tt might be a bit more on the warm side…
In my setup there is also a difference in „sound geography“.
Nd555 (even more nDAC) is broader and tt is a bit more narrow, but deeper. Have not done many comparisons dig. Vs vinyl yet. Definitely will do :o)
But what’s absolutely sure - the nd555 gives a major uplift in detail - maybe overtaking vinyl.

Server might be next update - will have a look in the melco. Currently digital is coming from hdx.

1 Like

Oh yeah - can tell books of stories about bad vinyl. Lottery… hate it. With disc flattener it gets easier, but … there is still room for flaws.

1 Like

I hope you have some Michael Hedges, e.g. Breakfast in the Field.

I think you/ND555 would love it!

1 Like

Michael hedges … one of the artists I have known since the 90s. Always been test records. Also have vinyl from e.g. aerial boundaries:)

Started aerial boundaries at quobuz… oh yess! :heart_eyes:

2 Likes

Will not start another topic, but vinyl vs. Nd555 is not that simple.
From pure analytical reasons, the nd555 wins the race. The tt is less detailed, but full of groove …
Bluesclub vs, elbphilharmonie …. Both have their right! :heart_eyes:

Have compared more…
Yess nd555 is ahead - bass precision as phenomenal! Voices are so nailed. All is open… it is high end!
turntable is less detailed but not less nice to listen - full and „earthy“

I was surprised, that nd5xs2-nDAC-olive XPs is from a tonal point of view very similar to my TT, but less detailed and involving.
ND555 is different sounding - assume is has to to with the first DR kit I have ever heared.