If you can hear a difference, there is a difference. If you can’t, there isn’t. None of this is transferable to another system, or even your system in another room, sucking different amps, or listened to through somebody else’s ears.
What sounds best is what sounds best to the individual. My system seems to be set up just the way I like it. The abilities of the ND555 remain fascinating and astounding. My ND555 probably doesn’t sound like yours because the Naim logo on the front may be all they have in common. HiFi is funny like that. Same as it’s always been.
This is something that has changed in the past 40 years. It used to be pretty much acknowledged that certain brands were the best–perhaps one or two. After that, everyone was playing for second place. The differences were not small. Certain equipment was acknowledged to sound best for everyone. There was no discussion–nor the technology to do so–nor the inclination. My first days in hi fi, there was no such thing as “High End”.
Now there are so many good brands, that what sounds good to one is acknowledged to not sound best for everyone. Room characteristics is a big part. I think another is that the sound has improved so much in the past 40 years, that every small change and every small detail matters and can be heard.
I ran mine in normal music playing use of a few hours a day average (some days more and some less). Some things you can burn-in quicker but some things seem to require elapsed time too. I leave mine powered-on 24-7 all the time.
About 2 months of raw ‘up-down’ ride in performance where it is delightful then awful (relatively).
Then about another 2 months where things begin to settle into a nicer performance with fewer big downs in performance and a gradual increase in underlying performance.
Then after month 4 a gradual building of performance - mine is 6 months old and still improving. The sound becomes more transparent, extended and solid, with more clearly defined note-structure rendition and more apparent musical timing information I’m finding.
Most everyone that has posted, including myself, has found that right out of the box, the ND555 is an uplift and worth every penny. Then it gets better and better as it burns in.
I first followed the same approach than DB, by only playing a couple of hours per day. Around Christmas I have been running for more or less 24/7. And it’s still improving a little while I would argue that most is done beyond the 600 hours point.
I have been running mine on alternative sources for about 650 hours over a 5 week period. It indeed has really started to settle after 600 hours. It is however still improving.
Just got my ND555 today. Even on warm up - the sound is completely different to the NDS. For me, it sounds like where the CD555 left off (and also an improved experience over the Naim DAC) - sound is much more “analogue”, more forward and tighter and more controlled bass. I am really looking forward to next month when she is fully up to optimum. Also, the new remote feels like a premium product now. The only irritating moment was the “oh dear what did i break” moment upon setup, but then realized you had to use the app to change outputs from DIN to RCA. Heart attack over.
I’m using Primare kit for pre / power with Naim Powerlines.
Switch is Netgear with linear power supply from Audiophonics with Chord Sarum Array ethernet to ND555.
All other ethernet cables (NAS/Router/Modem) is using Chord C-Streams.
I’m planning to take the plunge in Nov/Dev time for the full 500 system (NAC552/NAP500) and go “all in” with Naim.
I don’t understand so much the scare of standby. Do you guys belief or tested if the sounds is better. As it’s still all running in the background with the 555PS… ?
As far as I’m concerned, it’s not about fearing something in particular. It’s part about convenience and part about sound quality. Keeping the system powered keeps its replay capabilities at 100%. I didn’t investigate how the standby works; I understand that there are two standby modes. Generally electronics don’t like to be powered on/off frequently, so I try to avoid it.