Have an option to buy an used Ndx2 at my Hifi dealer.
My setup’s Nac282+HicapDr+Nap250Dr+Nd5xs2 . Speakers DynaudioContour20i+Sub6.
What do I get from switching out my Nd5xs2 ?
A display and another chip, yes, but does it really give me an upgrade in sound ? In what way ? Something else ?
Or I just spend a lot of money for “nothing”… ?
Yeah I will have a chance to take it home and compare them…
I found the switch to be a definite improvement in SQ and adding the XPS2 DR to the NDX2 was another very noticeable uplift.
ND5 XS2 is a fabulous streamer though and is still in use on my wife’s system.
(See my profile for setup🙂)
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Yes is the answer!
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Another possibility would be to add an nDAC to your ND5XS2, if you can find one. To my ears that takes it past NDX2 and you can go further by adding a power supply to the nDAC. More boxes though!
Roger
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Where can I find the firmware version (nd5xs2)?
If you use the Naim/Focal app it’s under Settings->Information & Help->About-> System Version. I’m proudly using 3.10.1(5617)
There are others ways to view this information but it’s simplest using the app IMHO
In the last 6months I sifted through most of the Naim forum appends on NDX2 vs ND5xs2, and came to the conclusion that there is concensus from those who have compared the two:
- naked NDX2 sounds better than naked ND5xs2
- ND5xs2/nDAC sounds better than NDX2
- NDX2/XPSDR sounds similar to ND5xs2/nDAC
- ND5xs2/nDAC/XPSDR sounds better than NDX2/XPSDR
- ND5xs2/nDAC/PS555DR sounds better than NDX2/XPSDR
- ND5xs2/nDAC/PS555DR sounds better than NDX2/PS555DR
- ND5xs2/nDAC/PS555DR sounds similar to NDX2/nDAC/PS555DR
I play guitar in a jazz band 3-4 times per month.
So I purchased the ND5xs2 to go with my existing Core/nDAC/PS555DR and am very well pleased with the foot tapping musicality of the ND5xs2/nDAC/PS555DR.
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There you have it!
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As @marcusman said. Little cog top right corner on Home Screen takes you to all settings options👍🏼
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but three boxes on the rack, more mains leads and cables. A complicated source for sure…
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Fortunately I was inducted early by Sugano-san, Julian Vereker and Ivor Tiefenbrun on how to soundly integrate complicated sources.
- Koetsu Rosewood from Japan
- Special Cartridge leads from Linn
- Linn Ittok LVII from Scotland
- Linn Sondek LP12 from Scotland
- Naim Armageddon from Salisbury
- Naim 323-S moving coil cards for Naim 32-5
My most complicated systems integration was designing and project managing (from a hospital bed) a mainframe computer system and SNA network and a new data center for 20 enterprise corporate clients “who didn’t know what they didn’t know” for “business continuity services aka disaster recovery”.
So putting a power supply on an nDAC fed by a streamer was not challenging.
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Ndx2 sounds better! ND5xs2 with nDac sounds better!! … The amount of ownership bias with these particular products is just crazy!!
Personally, I’d go for the NDX2 
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not quite what I meant, but yes I take your point.
I already have 5 boxes and my TT. So don’t really want 2 more boxes in the lounge. So swapping in one Linn box to my Naim/Vertere integration next week.
I’d be surprised if you’ll hear a significant difference. But only you can tell with a home demo.
Well for me ND5XS2 with nDAC does sound better than NDX2 when I have compared them. But I’ve never owned a ND5XS2 or NDX2, so whilst I’ll admit to being crazy, I’m not sure where the ownership bias comes in. 
Roger
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I think I must have missed some of the threads you have seen.
From the most obvious ones I see little consensus about NDX2 versus nDAC plus ND5XS2, assuming the same power supply choice. Some owners and non-owners certainly prefer nDAC/ ND5XS2, describing it as slightly darker on multiple threads, while others didn’t.
Otoh, for those who already have an nDAC and don’t want screen or remote control and don’t worry about box count, the ND5XS2/ nDAC options looks the obvious one.
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Not always unjustified bias.
We have an NDX2 and an nDAC and a 555PSDR.
We chose our current digital setup after exhaustive listening tests with our system.
Wouldn’t have kept the nDAC (with associated need for additional Powerline) unless we thought it added something.
But as we’ve said before, others with different amps/speakers and cabling might do the same testing and come to a different conclusion.
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IMHO the NDX 2 is superior: it’s more dynamic, bass is deeper and more controlled, the soundstage has more clarity and precision. And you can add a PS later if you ever wanted to.
The ND5 XS 2 is an excellent product and gives you a lot for the money, however it’s only up to you to decide whether the money is justified or not. If I were you, I’d run a test to compare them. As you already own a ND5 XS 2, the comparison should be quite easy.
IMO the NDX 2 is more suited to your system.
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If you take the NDX2 home I’d be amazed if you take it back. Me & Mrs twofifty both thought the difference was like removing a veil from the speakers. Disappointing given the extra cost but in life you generally get what you pay for. The screen is nice if you sit near the streamer.
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Fella it was tongue in cheek!
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