NDX2 as digital switch

Streaming Audio
1

I’ve got the following four digital source boxes which I’ve used in every possible permutation you can think of:

CD5XS / NDX2 / nDAC / XPS DR

To get the best system automation I’ve now settled on:

CD S/PDIF out > NDX2 coax in

NDX2 coax out > nDAC coax in

nDAC > pre-amp input

with the XPS DR powering the nDAC

Has anyone an opinion on a better way to do this? I am primarily interested in CD replay quality over streaming. Is there any potential detriment (or improvement) from routing the CD signal through the NDX2 before the nDAC? The cables are all BNC - a Mark Grant and a DC1.

I specifically don’t want to use two separate inputs on the nDAC as it needs to be separately switched when swapping between CD and streaming which is too confusing for other users.

2

Came to similar conclusions, just the one connection on the nDAC in as there’s no remote. Also think, but have no proof, that just one connection minimises risk of unwanted noise/interference getting into the nDAC over multiple connections…

In terms of CD quality I guess it comes down to whether the clock in the CD player is better than that of the NDX2 which presumably re-clocks the CD S/PDIF signal before output and which is better isolated.

Given that I’ve only just acquired the nDAC I’m still a bit agog at how much of an upgrade it is, and will wait a bit before looking at an XPS of some description!

1 Like
3

You can use a Narcom remote to select inputs on the nDAC.

2 Likes
4

Well technically there is a remote - if you have a narcom4 or 5 then pressing inputs 7 8 9 and 0 in pre-amp mode will change the nDac input from 1 to 4.

But try explaining that to somoene who just wants to get their bluetooth device to spit out of the NDX2!

I think Simon in Suffolk might be along to explain about the re-clocking as I think he does the same.

And yes it is a lovely thing, made better even better with an XPS DR, which will likely lead down the slippery slope to a 555PS.

The Dac has made a lot of the innards of the NDX2 redundant but I love the screen and flipping through favourites/radio stations on the remote. Not a fan of having a distracting phone in hand when listening to music.

5

Did the NDX2 lose system automation?

Something in the dark recesses of my mind suggest this to be so!?

6

Quite the opposite, the more control you route through the NDX2, the better.

I use it for volume and input switching, on both the NDX2 digital and pre-amp inputs.

Just a shame that you need to have 2 remotes on the go to control a CD player.

7

We route our Sky Q (optical) through NDX2 rather than direct to nDAC.

Sounds better that way. Whatever the NDX2 does, it “improves” the signal. Note that this has been subject to the vagaries of different FW versions :confused:

Plus, as you say, the single NDX2 remote can be used to control everything via system automation as nDAC input never changes.

1 Like
8

I thought I remembered, when the NDX2 launched, that it didn’t have the same system automation abilities as the NDS?

This was one of the reasons why I decided to buy an ND5XS2 and use it’s digital out to my NDS instead of purchasing an NDX2…..

Regarding the nDAC remarks, wasn’t that the point of the system automation abilities - that you’d select, for example, “CD” and the system would automatically select input 1 on the nDAC, whereas selecting, again for example, “AUX” (for TV, streamer, whatever) could have the system automatically select input 2 on the nDAC?

(In an example scenario whereby one has a CDX2 feeding one nDAC channel and the TV, or streamer, etc, feeding another nDAC channel)

Is it possible that the NDX2 system automation abilities are not as extensive as the NDS? Or, are we saying both devices have identical system automation ability?

1 Like
9

Yep, the ‘downgrade’ for automation happened when the streamers went over to the zigbee remote protocol.

So now it’s swings, roundabouts and priorities.

If you use the (only) classic preamp comms input to connect the nDAC to facilitate automatic digital input switching you can’t use the NDX2 remote to control preamp volume or analogue inputs.

You can’t daisychain three boxes either, I’ve tried.

So I guess the NDS with a classic preamp could do everything on a narcom using RC5 codes?

I’ll always need two remotes as long as I have a CD player and modern streamer.

10

Correct.

The NDS has two remote outputs (one for pre-amp, one for a CD player say).

The NDX2 only has one.

1 Like
11

Thanks.

I was sure I remembered that the reason I didn’t go with the NDX2 was something to do with system automation.

1 Like