ND555 dilemma (or else)

Closer to the musical reproduction of a Sondek LP12 (fully upraded), which is my benchmark.

To me you’re describing the above + with better timing/rhythm.

Natural?

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Possibly - ‘analogue sounding’ to me is always slightly filtered with a very soft noisy type distortion. I guess it comes from my very early career working in studio engineering.
However by contrast the best audio is one that takes you into it and you to listen and appreciate layers - what I call the Mandelbrot effect. Clearly audio is analogue - so ultimately this about the capability of the replay and reconstruction systems. I have heard this in certain high end music recording studios and acoustic concerts if sitting close to the musicians and I believe my system gets close enough for me. I have never heard this on vinyl replay although it can sound wonderful and certainly not live amplified concerts unless you are listening to the audience

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@Analogmusic Would the best way for us with dedicated electrical lines, if we have a doubt, be to switch of all fuses except the dedicated one and then switch on one by one? Or?

I’m no expert here… just unplug the devices known to create issues with hi fi by trial and error

Laptop and phone chargers
Any kinds of mains device for electrical surge protection
Any fridge or air conditioner with inverter compressor will ruin the sound (I know from personal experience)
Could even be the neighbors electrical or electronic devices

… I think Simon in Suffolk has experience with this … ?

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@Analogmusic. What I don’t understand is this same noise is not there when the nds is in place. Surely a top of the range streaming device shouldn’t be more susceptible to rfi etc…

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It has a different streaming board and better DR regulators from the statement.

Who knows… that’s for Naim and Steve Sells to answer.

What we do know now is that Stephan has mains protection devices in his home.

Something Richard Dane commented on recently as he had one inadvertently in his home and it affected his hi fi

I became a believer when an innocent laptop charger made me think my turntable stylus was worn out and my system just wasn’t engaging at all to listen to …

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The answer is very likely simply that Stefan prefers the sound of the NDS. What would be wrong with that? Or maybe he was wearing different coloured socks when listening to the 555.

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When I ordered the ND555 back in July last year there was just universal enthusiastic praise for it. But even then I knew it is risky to order it without demoing it in my system. And I of course take full responsibility for it.

I am not after a refund, not at all. I still believe there is something wrong and I hope it will be found. In case it is me not liking the ND555 that would be bad, but still it is my risk.

Listening to music is a very important part of my life and I bought the ND555 with the anticipation to get even a better sound then with the NDS and this is still my motivation to solve this problem and why I asked this forum.
… and so far I feel helped
Thanks for that
Stefan

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Absolutely - there is no absolute succession or priority in terms of SQ… an individual’s preference is king.

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Wise approach something must be wrong. The ND555 is a wonderful source and should give you more satisfaction. So obviously I would advise you try out a couple of more things to find out why it doesn’t sound as intended in your setup, before you give up. The dealer should be interested to ensure that you are fully satisfied at this pricepoint.

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Hi Adam, thanks for the tip. I still know the post from back then. Since them my burndy plugs have those dots and I use this technique.

Also talked to the dealer today and also to Musicline. We will do the testing with a second ND555. This time somebody, either the dealer or somebody from Musicline will also be here to listen. I appreciate that.

Unfortunately this will take a while to happen because Musicline is already preparing for the HighEnd in Munich which will happen from the 9th till the 12th of May. After that we will know. The good thing, till then I have the good old NDS to listen to music.

Thanks to all
Stefan

PS: I will keep you informed when anything will happen,

Stefan just saw in your Profile that you are as well living in Bavaria. So in case you would like to hear how a well run in ND555 is sounding, you are welcome to drop in…

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Bert, I hope you don’t mind my suggestion to use ‘also’ , instead of ‘as well’, in a phrase like this!

Stefan. Naim will want to get this resolved. If your dealer and the distributor are professional in their conduct, you will get a Naim resolution. Whether it’s a resolution you will fully approve of remains to be seen. But at this stage there is no reason to be pessimistic.

On my last factory visit, I heard about a CDS3 that came back to them twice because it just didn’t sound right, although it tested OK. In the end they replaced it and the customer was happy with the new player. I’ve been through a similar experience with my 552. However, I am an inveterate home auditioner.

No mater how much reviewers, dealers and the end user base love something, I won’t buy it if I can’t audition it at home. Before I fully enforced that rule, I wasted days of my life and not insignificant sums of money, although I did manage to sell on and recover some. I hope you don’t end up there. At this stage there is no need to believe you will.

I understand why you love the NDS so much. Not a bad place to fall back to if you have to. Other issues aside.

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In the end Naim makes all customers happy

That would be great. Were are you located Bert?

… looking forward to this :+1::smiley::grinning:

You really should get out more.

.sjb

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Close to Erlangen

How are you supposed to home demo properly a unit that by the admission of many owners, dealers and even Naim themselves can take a good long while to come on song and whilst it does this can go through periods of sounding very good and also very bad.
This is a unit that without PSU’s costs over £13,000 and is Naim Audio’s reference network player so buyers should recieve a level of support that is in keeping and in my opinion if Stefan is still not happy after recieving a replacement unit then a show of good will with full refund should be the way that Naim Audio proceed.