I have searched for other posts on this and have read some interesting comments but I am interested to hear what others do. I am only interested in SQ - not concerned about power consumption.
I leave all of my blank boxes permanently powered-up. My NDX2 is powered by an XPSDR.
In System Settings on the Naim app I have the following set:
Server mode - OFF (no idea what this does)
Auto Standby Time - 20 minutes (no particular reason - I just plumped for this when the unit was new).
So, most of the time when I sit down to listen, I have to revive the NDX2 using the app because it has gone into âStandbyâ after being left for more than 20 minutes.
QUESTIONS:
when in the Auto Standby mode after 20 mins (in my case), are the SQ-critical parts of the NDX2 âhotâ and so ready for playing with optimum SQ?
In standby mode, the NDX2 is effectively turned off. The main power supply is not powered up so any benefits of warmup are lost.
Server mode turns on a built in UPnP server that can be used to stream the contents of an attached USB drive to other UPnP enabled streaming devices. In order to ensure that this server is discoverable by such devices it overrides standby mode and keeps the unit fully powered up. This is used by some as a workaround to keep the streamer warmed up when itâs in standby mode.
As others have said, this â standbyâ mode benefit only works if you use the ndx2s own psu. As soon as you add an external psu, the ndx2 goes to sleep, but is still consuming power from your xpsdr. Best not to leave it in standby mode at all if you are after best sq.
Update after a week: as suggested, keeping the NDX2 permanently hot very obviously results in improved SQ. It really is noticeable. It also means that there is less waiting when starting a listening session for the streamer to start up and connect to the network and app.
Now that mine does not go into standby, this is my experience:
no doubt at all, it sounds better when I start a listing session given that it is âhotâ.
in general, it works immediately (I control it from an iPad and it connects to the Internet wirelessly - possibly not what folk would necessarily recommend but it works for me). I say âin generalâ because occasionally it something doesnât play when I press the play button. It always works eventually but I might have to tap a radio station, for example, before coming to back to the track I want to play. It isnât perfect but it is pretty good and, by and large, leaving it never going into standby, connected via wifi and using an iPad for control works pretty well and I am happy with things as they are now.
When gear is hot, it does sound better and I can feel it. Honestly I though leaving the NDX2 plugged in was enough. Thereâs always something new to learn!