New Firmware update v. 3.6.0

I updated last night using my iPhone and had no issues what so ever, the NDX2 did its thing and after probably 6-7 minutes was back to normal. When it came back online, the app on my iPhone discovered the device without any issues.

I too am noticing better low end. Overall pleased.

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Update

Left my system running all day, music was still playing when I got in from work…phew! Now listening to “Return to Ommadawn”. Where did that bass come from. Naim, I’m not giving it back!

Gold * guys. Great work.

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I reported a few days back that I could hear no discernible changes to the sound on my ND 555.

Well, I’ve been out most of today, but, just for fun, powered it down this morning for 30 mins or so.

Bloody Nora!

What’s going on?

Deeper, yet more controlled bass, drums sound, well, like drums, more 3D detail, more separation between instruments … Naim … don’t know how you’ve done this, but you ain’t getting it back! :+1:

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Agree the bass is in a better control and drums also three dimensions …but lack for me sharpness I had before

This is what I initially thought and, if it were true, it would indeed allow addressing functionality issues and sound quality improvements in different firmware releases.

According to previous discussions in this forum, this is not the case and bug fix releases and releases that aim at improving functionalities almost always have some implications on the sound quality.

Then, of course, even if most users find such implications positive, there is a minority that finds them negative.

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I understand your scepticism Mark84.

This explanation is quite detailed, but even seemingly minor code changes can alter things unintentionally it seems:

There are too many things which just don’t seem logical with hi-fi especially digital audio, but do seem to affect things.

How on earth do different ethernet cables sound different passing the same data for example?

They don’t…

:innocent:

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The cable itself presumably doesn’t but may affect noise getting into a streamer 's sensitive circuitry from the network.

I tried 4 or 5 ethernet cables a few years ago. They did indeed sound different, the most expensive was actually quite a good improvement but I went for one of the cheapest which simply gave ‘bang for buck’ plus has retaining clips I was unlikely to break as I so often did with cheap computer ethernet cables.

I’m probably missing out not tweaking my router/switch/PSUs for various little boxes but I don’t really have the patience to test when there are more logical options to change which ought to have an effect.

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Can we please keep this thread on topic so it’s just for members to report their update experience, particularly if there are issues. If members wish to discuss other aspects then by all means please start a separate thread. Thanks.

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Not sure if that’s a general comment Richard, is it fair to say that it’s accepted that changes to firmware could potentially affect the sound? It seems to have been my experience over the years whatever the reason.

I’m more pragmatic about such things these days, and just tend to roll with the firmware releases.

Zero issues updating here on a Nova or with post-update recognition of the device by the app (latest iOS too).

I’ll leave it to the techs, but suspect this and many other vagaries are down to differences in home networking environments which have always been variable when it comes to using any kind of streaming device, audio or otherwise.

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Yes, AC, see my earlier post as well as some of the others (like Simon’s very detailed technical explanation) above.

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Just about to hit the upgrade button on my ND5XS2, back in five

Well 7min, all done, very smooth.

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Because it is nothing or very little to do with the encoded data, but can include the coupling interaction loading of the cables associated with the high frequency analogue serial line switching voltages being conducted through the twisted pairs… which because the Ethernet cable is not a perfect transmission can cause a reactive load. This in itself can couple into chassis and ground planes. This will typically vary from cable type to cable type.

I have posted a few times an engineering design white paper from Texas Instruments on how to mitigate the effects of such issues when designing sensitive Ethernet devices.

3.6.0 updated perfectly on my NDX2… Ethernet connected.

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Thanks for the repeat explanation which I vaguely recall (especially the TI link) - just saying that so many things ‘on the face of it, surely shouldn’t affect SQ’ but they do!

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So when u do the firmware update (ndx2/555ps) no need to power anything off? Leave all up and running when u update?
David

You click the update button in the app, drink a cup of tea and wait. It will download the update, then the NDX2 will restart, maybe more than once. The screen will change a few times and after a few minutes it will eventually be back at the home screen. Have patience and let it finish what it does. Leave the 555 alone.

At the end may need to restart the app so that it rediscovers the NDX2. See posts above.

(If nothing happens after 15 minutes or longer, eventually you will want to power cycle the 555, but it will most likely not come to that)

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Did update- the ndx2 screen is showing the 8 icons ie settings, now playing, Spotify, favourites, etc
It is stuck on this and nothing else has changed. No music obviously

Working now…