That was a typo that I corrected today. nd5xs2>nDAC>hiLine>hiCapDR>xs2. Likely I’ll be doing some more changes now that I’m really happy with my Source. Source first for me at least
Yeah. NDX 2 with 555 DR i reckons.
I would if I could. Way too much money for me right now. You will be very very happy with a NDX2. Maybe in a year’s time I may trade my nDAC and ND5XS2 for a NDX2 and XPSDR. SN3 is my immediate next target.
Can you describe what the Ndac improved vs the bare nd5xs2 ? More details, bass, soundstage ? More involving and organic sound ?
I’ll be able to describe the improvement better in a couple of days. The gentleman I purchased it from said he hadn’t used it in awhile so I want it to “warm up” some. In short, you just described what I’m hearing so far. Bigger soundstage, way more details and the bass really stands out in a good way. Yes its a very organic sound and organized if that makes sense. It just sounds right.
I can’t answer the question if this combo is better or equal to a bare NDX2 as I’ve never heard one for an extended period of time(couldn’t afford it and didn’t want to torture myself).
Wonderful stuff marcusman! I’m so happy for you buddy! Enjoy!
Try the Chord Hugo with your ND5XS2 and you probably won’t want to consider anything else, having heard what it can do …
Personally, I think it outperforms the Naim DAC with 555PSU … it’s that good and for far less funds than you are considering to splash out.
Good as the Naim DAC was in its day and even though it can be a bargain purchase these days, it is old technology, which is why it has been discontinued by Naim (it uses a chipset no longer readily available)
It’s your cash and your ears, so don’t listen to all the forum advice. We are all different and some people defend their purchases by convincing others (including themselves) to follow the same path.
It’s your decision to make, not theirs!!! After all, no one likes to admit that they may have been better taking a different path …
Good advice above. Traditional DACs performance is often a result of the non digital aspects of their design. Power supply and the analogue side. Certainly a MF A3-24 DAC I had was fairly basic on the digital side, the power supply took up more of the case and weight.
Traditional DAC technology is quite mature now. Even the main difference between NDX2 and ND5xs2 is pretty much all in the DAC ( and of course, no screen).
If you really have money to burn, listen to a separate DAC for sure, but include one from say Chord. Their technology is different. Their qutest is not much more than an ndac. And a lot smaller too. I have combined my ND5XS2 with a qutest to give me a combination I’m very content with. I just listen to the music now.
I feel that this is an over simplistic way of looking at it. The fact that the PCM1704 DAC chips are no longer made doesn’t mean the Naim DAC can no longer sound good - the ND555 uses the same DAC chips and is a current model streamer and I’m sure nobody here would argue the ND555 is ‘old’ technology.
I also tried the original Chord Hugo when it was released but I don’t understand what all the fuss is about - I didn’t find that I engaged with the music when using this DAC.
The problem I feel with the Naim DAC is that it is dependent on the quality of the input signal to hear it’s full potential. In the last couple of months I tried using the digital output of the ND5XS2 and the Naim DAC sounded good, but nowhere near what I know it is capable of.
This I fully agree with - the only way to know for sure is to try things for yourself.
I don’t feel the need to to defend my purchase and would happily move to a newer platform if I heard one that I preferred but I’ve compared all of the Naim streamers up to NDX2 with 555PS but to my ears the Naim DAC still comes out on top.
it’s interesting how differences are perceived.
the first few seconds I switched on my Hugo, there was no turning back… I found it musical and engaging…
Absolutely - and I guess that’s what is great about all of the different options - there’s a solution out there to suit everyone’s taste.
NDX2/555 makes for a compelling, effortless ,utterly natural presentation provided the rest of the chain is superb.
You may dismiss analog at that point, the pairing is magic I would have never said Naim had gone so far.
Too funny. I bought a nDAC for a very good price and it improves my ND5XS2. In the future I’ll likely try the Chord Qutest or Hugo2. For my modest system so far the nDAC is an improvement. I can also resell it later and not lose too much money. I’m still holding out hope for a NAC272.2
For sure, I was by no means implying that the ND5XS2 is a bad product - it isn’t.
Just that to my ears the Naim DAC is capable of even higher performance by improving the digital transport further if one desires.
No worries mate. Good to know that the Naim Dac is capable of going further.
The Chord DACs just don’t do it for me, sorry. I have heard nearly all of them at various shows over the years and through headphones as well. I really don’t get what all the fuss is about. I’m not looking to buy a Chord DAC. My ND5 XS 2 has always continued to impress me so my next logical step from here on is either a NDAC or a NDX 2 player.
When I heard the Hugo 2, in the first few seconds I asked if it was broken. Terrific hifi, no music. For me. Did not change over the course of a couple weeks.
nDAC (by itself) was in a different and higher league. Again, for me.
Neither for me too. The most curious is that I have never understood how people can compare the sound of a chord dac to a vinyl sound. The sound is indeed very detailed and clear and spacious, but lacks body, textures, and also urgency.
I have heard the Hugo 2 and Dave in different systems.
I was just listening to “Lovesong” by Adele with my ND5XS2/nDAC and those were the exact words that came to mind.