Love this album!
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I don’t think that there can be an ultimate FW release that maximises SQ for all users.
There are far too many variables to ever get 100% consensus on SQ.
And because of changes to third party systems the FW will also continue to evolve.
Inniuu
Have you considered an in Innuous server, it gives me quobuz integration, stores all my files and the sense app is very good and I prefer it to Naim app.
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And yet on the 333, relieving it from streaming duties brings back the original character. It’s fairly straightforward to A/B this and it’s not subtle. More body, more organic and engaging sound. Could be some noise introduced downstream by the new streaming platform?
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With what?
G
See my earlier port in this topic. I tested a few inexpensive streamers with good results while I wait to receive a higher end transport solution from Antipodes.
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Hi
I did a change-back today.
Put the the nd555 back in after extensive listening the last 2 days with NDS.
With nd555 back in you can hear the different signature at once!
- gross dynamics really impressive
- Very much air - less together
- You can pinpoint very good every sound or instrument
- Brighter sound? Seems it added something to the HF which - or with other words HF is thin and less resolved.
- voices are different - something is missing.
- Transients are harder - Woodsticks hitting has some metallic character. Sounds impressive but strange.
After testing some songs that I know in and out I switched back to NDS - unfair for nd555 as he has not warmed up.
Impressions
- first tone really strange - some kind of hollow as much more mid focused. Much more naimish
- Less air more together - I like that togetherness
- Instruments can not be pinpointed as sharp as nd555 - but all there. Less analytical as nd555
- more natural - guitars are more bodied and real (but miss a bit grip - here nd555 3.8 was perfect)
- Even if the HF addendum is gone the sound is slightly brighter - upper mids are back.
- Room (that’s strange as I thought room is with air). More room with nds - broader and deeper.
- Dealbreaker - voices! Sooo much better. More prominent and packed with micro detail and emotion.
- Texture - this special textured aura back again!
- immersive soundscape - almost in the whole room. That was fully missing with nd555.
- Earthy and organic …
- Some sounds are still harsh in recordings, sibilance ore shouty voices. All still there - but non of it is disturbing (let’s so almost none)
For me the NDS wins clear as he has this earth a little dry organic naim sound.
Nd555 had all of that - and even more. But this was before October 2024.
So far my review.
NDS is a keeper - hopefully only for interim
Disclaimer: there is a possibility that I even like nds over nd555 with 3.8 fw. I have not changed from nds to nd555.
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NDS is wonderful! I fell in love with mine after 3 seconds and I’m still smiling all day long. Never fighting it. Based on what you have written in the past I could swear you would like it now 
Add a great streamer to it, some
good cables and sell ND555 and go to Maldives instead 
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I remember that - that one of the reasons I bought one. There is something inside that told me that I have to try one someday.
Nevertheless I think that the nd555 can do better - but this I can not compare today.
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Good write up Drago.
I did something today by chance which improved the sound then explored it and confirmed. I will do a write up on the unhappy thread
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You should have told earlier - now I have build all back. 
Love to read about your experience with improving nd555
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Blast! I’ve only just finished a listening session Drago 
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NDS is wonderful - but I wait for a fix of nd555. With him the balance was there.
With NDS I now understand that a new LS cable can be a winner. A bit more resolution will be fine.
But before the FW dilemma is not over or endless stuck, I will not go for further upgrades.
Am I the only person who likes the look of nds (including display) more than nd555?
I am lucky as the NDS is in exzellent in condition
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LS cable?
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Thanks for the suggestion Fc. There’s been a lot of enthusiasm for the Innuous on here and I did do some other research on it 1 or 2 years ago. I’m sure it is as good if not a better streamer than the ND5XS2, but I hesitate to move outside of the Naim family for additional kit.
The main reason being that we aren’t able to try or borrow audio kit from dealers over 'ere, so I always have to buy or not buy, or buy and then sell it on if there is something I don’t like. So I would love to try the Innuous unit and associated software, but I’m not sure I want to take the plunge when the Naim family of kit is an easier route.
Cheers
I had my innuos zen mk3 for 3 months before buying it from my dealer in Vancouver. I did not wish to buy until they launched the 2.0 version of the Sense software. It was worth the wait. If you are a good client, and they have a unit, might be worth the ask.
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Did the sigma vs diamond check with nds.
Same result as with nd555.
Diamond is more upfront and a bit more digital.
Sigma has this special micro detail and is a clear winner with voices and room.
Diamond is more on the prat side. But sigma does not lack any prat. Sigma brings this tiny bit darker earthiness.
Hi all,
I was thinking how can we best communicate the observed/heard differences between Firmware versions on the ND555 and also the comparison @drago has been good enough to undertake. Plus I also wanted to capture, definitively @drago’s experiences.
Particularly when there is hopefully going to be a further Firmware revision beyond the lamented 3.10.1
Plus with the Naim Internet Radio update being ported to the older platforms, there will be a Firmware update there too.
In trying to capture the experience do we need some sort of matrix table?
Like this
(I can’t load the XLS up to this implementation of the Discourse forum)
Or a survey poll where there is a voting mechanism or something similar, to help guide the Naim Engineers once revisions are made available?
We had a collaborative democratic process and input during the development of the 4.4.7x firmware for the NDS, NDX, ND5XS, etc (I still have copies of them, somewhere on a network volume)
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