I want both, meat on the bones and holographic. If I had to sacrifice one, it would be the later.
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Yep same here. 
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Both endgame choices. Take your time.
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Pilium …
Glad you are enjoying your system, seems it has more synergy combined with your room.
Pillium, really, in a little room?
Why not Boulder 3060 monos ?
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Of course, with good hi-fi and room the physical dimensions are not a limiting factor to the soundstage that can be experienced.
For Leonidas, footprint is only marginally greater than Diablo, albeit taller. Boulder - I’d build a bigger room with that budget 
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@Blackbird found that 552/500 was too much for his room, relatively to bass, high frequencies, energy…..
Not sure the Vitus would be a good choice too.
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Never high frequencies or energy. Mostly low end. I believe DR is more tight. At least that is how I remembered my 300DR. I had non DR.
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I play the Pilium when I’m working at very low levels, however it maintains impressive imaging and its liquid quality superbly so still very enjoyable - try and get a listen. It is a very well mannered beast.
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@Blackbird do you have a thread already discussing your setup and room? Especially if you have provided some basic details about room construction and materials, dimensions, a photograph, acoustic model or REW plot so that we can get at least a basic understanding of what you are working with?
You may have already travelled that road, if not it might well be worth a review while considering further changes?
Nooooo!
Don’t do dat, Blackbird.
Maybe get some Naim speakers?
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Oooo very interesting . Thank you
Ever tried a 552dr? I loved (and still do) mine, but 552 was a lot better.
With 52 I can understand that nd555 wins. 552 lets a lot more through.
And this can be very good or even not so as with some remaining flaws of 3.11. is your nd555 on 3.11?
Can you describe what you felt to be better compared to nds? Was the nds on 2x555ps as well?
Sorry - scientific approach from me 
No.
“552 was a lot better.”
Non-DR was better because less revealing, doors not too wide open?
“…is your nd555 on 3.11?”
Yes.
“Can you describe what you felt to be better compared to nds?”
Whole system melted up into a pure music machine. I forget about the equipment completely and just lose myself in the music.
“Was the nds on 2x555ps as well?”
Great Q! No. So not a fair comparison now.
Except — when I switched, I only used one 555DR for the first 3 weeks, and the difference was already huge. 
[I fed NDS Qobuz via ND5XS2/DC1].
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I take it you had them both side by side when you tried them and not just a memory?
I tried several times (direct comparison) and each time nds was better with local streaming - less detailed and less grip but so much more musical. My ears, my system my bad experience with 3.10 upwards
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Just got my NDS and system back up, after moving in mid-August. Its settling back again, but I need to measure the new room, as have much more glass than ever before - like all the way round.
Meanwhile Cloney Audio are hosting the “DCS Varèse - Exclusive Irish Launch” this coming weekend. Their latest, greatest and most expensive streaming system. I wonder how an NDS will measure up? 
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Wow - that doesn’t sound like a great room for a music system.
When I moved house, the first thing I did in every house before and during viewings was to find out whether it had a concrete floor and solid brick walls in the listening room, and the possibility of having a set up where there was no glass behind the listening position (and overall not much glass built into the room).
The listening/sitting room I have has a nice Bay window on the left-hand side that can be closed off by a pair of floor to ceiling curtains.
(I only wanted to have one Hifi system, and to have that connected to my only TV, so the listening room was always going to also be the sitting room.)
Window and room layout is separate to the question of whether the NDS is in the same league as the ND555 (and whether dCS should be on anyone’s shopping list at all).
Hi, It is a different subject to NDS vs ND555 vs dCS
The sound here, after setting back up the HiFi racks (Aavik C5 & T3), speaker stands, all components and letting it settle down & warm up (particularly the external OXCO clock for the EtherREGEN), doesn’t sound bad.
There is a distinct drop off of lower bass but that’s because it’s a bigger room, but still have the middle bass for drum snap & drive. But no odd mid-high frequency peaks or severe troughs.
Although there are many floor to ceiling windows, the glass are in a deep frame, which breaks up the actual size of each panel and should reduce and breakup any reflections, plus each window unit are sealed triple glazed, for insulation (A rated energy rated property) but also provide for noise isolation.
The NDS with twin separate power supplies is sounding very good, with a detailed presentation with good sound stage, transient response. With all the streaming handled through Roon with the UPnP Bridge, no intention of a change.
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