I use an NDX2 and have since December.
It is well run in now and there are certain times where I have felt that my original NDX sounded better then the NDX2 now.
Hard to say what but probably the NDX was slightly warmer in its presentation.
Popeye
I use an NDX2 and have since December.
It is well run in now and there are certain times where I have felt that my original NDX sounded better then the NDX2 now.
Hard to say what but probably the NDX was slightly warmer in its presentation.
Popeye
To my ears, using a HDX with a 555PS attached to feed a digital signal into the Naim DAC gives an amazing uplift to the musicality of the the Naim DAC.
I tried out the ND5XS2 to see if I could replace my HDX and thereby gain access to Tidal streaming. I found that when using the ND5XS2’s digital output into the Naim DAC (whether streaming Tidal HiFi or local WAV files from the HDX) the Naim DAC sounded a bit flatter and didn’t hold my attention when compared to listening to the Naim DAC being fed a digital signal from the HDX/555PS
Did you choose to keep the 555 on the HDX rather than using it to power the DAC?
Yes, to my ears HDX+555PS -> DAC sounds better than HDX -> DAC+555PS
Thanks @ajm. Interesting you hear such a difference compared to the well regarded ND5. Good if you have the boxes already to do this but that’s quite an investment for the “streaming” section of your digital source.
I wonder (idly) how well a dCS Network Bridge would perform as a “streamer” into an nDAC?
Yes, that would be an interesting option to try
Interesting, and obviously the ND5XS2 has no PSU upgrade option to compare. You’d need an NDX2 for that! Still, perhaps we shouldn’t be so surprised that a Naim Classic level source (albeit dated) can beat an XS level source.
That’s very interesting.
Most people seem to agree that the HDX and original NDX are very similar in capability.
Given the improvement in the new player’s architecture it would have been reasonable to expect that the ND5XS2 as a transport would have been on par or slightly better than the HDX/NDX. Maybe this isn’t the case.
I suspect, as is the often the case with Naim, it’s the power supply connected to the HDX that’s making the difference.
I know that some people believe that a digital transport is just shifting ones and zeros around, but I have heard numerous digital transports through the Naim DAC and each sounded different to my ears.
Yes. I’ve now had a chance to try several, and have noted them elsewhere on the forum. The best sounding transport was a CEC TL2, followed by a Levinson 31.5. The worst was a Sony DVD player (hardly surprising).
You are taking about cd transports, not streaming transports.
Yup. Exactly what i was thinking FR. Good spot.
One thing i really like about the NDX 2 is it’s discreet component DAC. I have noticed (from upgrading) that the Tantalum Bead capacitors seem to really matter. The more of them, the better…The NDX 2 is loaded with them…
Exactly correct.
(I’m just waiting for someone to say the NDX2 sounds better than the NDS . . . )
The HiCap DR is an amazing upgrade. Miles better than a bare SN3 even with a ND5 XS 2 as source. Don’t let those derail you. Trust me. Keep those ears open!
Anyway, i have started the ball rolling for a new NDX 2. I hope to have one soon!
I’m sure you will enjoy it.
That’s not to say my ND5 XS 2 isn’t holding it’s own because it is and quite remarkably so. This new kid from the block better be good!
Well you’ll have a screen and a remote to look forward to!
…And a cleaning cloth!