I have a supernait 3/hicap/nd5 xs2 and I just bought a ndac.
I assume the din cable I have hooked up from nd5 to supernait will work from ndac to supernait. What is the best way to hook up nd5 to ndac, coax?
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Donāt think so but fortunately you will have soon the correct answer..
Yes, the naim interconnect is fine to use on the DAC. Between ND5 and DAC use a Naim DC1 digital interconnect
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I have an nd5xs2 into an nDac and use a mark grant bnc. Itās great and cheap. I used the savings to get a hi line to go from the nDac to my 282 (Supernait in your case) and it was better than the standard interconnect.
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I use a MG bnc to bnc too between my nd5xs2 and nDac. But tried to buy another different cable from him. Didnāt answer phone or reply to emails.
Welcome to the nDAC club!
Easily the best VFM component in our setup. We use a DC1 as Richard suggests, but there are plenty threads where users report no audible difference between this and other quality cables such as the Mark Grant.
Enjoy!
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I had a dc1, bnc to bnc and sold it when I tried the MG. Zero difference in my set up of nd5xs2, ndac, nait50 and neat petite classics.
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Congratulations on acquiring your streaming/dac combination.
I have added the PS555DR to my nDAC/ND5xs2, and colloquially naimed [sic] it in the App as NDdac555 , and am thoroughly thrilled with the musical combination.
I use the ānaim DC1ā and naim lavender DIN cables to ensure this is how naim intended it to sound.
This whole combination is just so enjoyable.
I am currently in the wilderness of Hokkaido and look forward to returning home to hear the new firmware in the ND5xs2
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Exactly what I did when I had a nDAC, and for the same reason.
Roger
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**Thanks for the responses. Is there any benefit to using bnc as opposed to an rca 75 ohm digital cable? I already own a nice rca digital cable. Is there any setup options in the app I need to know about other than setting nd5 to digital out?
Iāve since switched to the DC1 between the ND5XS2 and the nDAC. I previously had a Neotech NEVD-1001āa high-quality silver cable with Furutech BNC connectors. It also works flawlessly, but it shifted the sound slightly toward speed and analytical clarity. The DC1 is (relatively) more expensive, but in terms of balance and musicality, itās a perfect match for the Naim components. That said, the differences werenāt all that significant. The improvement was much greater with the analog DIN cable between the nDAC and the Naim50. The Superlumina DIN-DIN is leagues ahead of the standard Lavender cable. For me, it made a massive leap toward greater resolution and transparency, while maintaining the tonal balance. The Superlumina is expensive. I was able to buy one secondhand, and itās worth every penny
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Setting the streamer to digital output in the app is all you need to do.
I sold my Naim coax cable years ago because it was too long, and as stiff as NACA5, and it looked ridiculous pushed up against the wall behind the rack. The Mark Grant cable I bought for Ā£30 sounded identical and I could choose a suitable length. I also have a Gotham cable which works just as well for a reasonable price.
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I believe rca plugs, unlike bnc, do not maintain the ideal 75 ohm impedance which is why Naim use and recommend bnc. Whether thatās audible in any given setup is another matter.
Roger
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I still like the n dac, my mate has one and loves it, and i can hear why.
Its definitely a high point in naims line up and for the money they are these days, they are great value. Just a shame no usb input as that must put some buyers off, but i can see why no usb as most off the time its a crap input as far as sound quality goes.
Anyway enjoy it as i am sure you will.
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Yes 75 ohm coax cable. Naim sell the DC1 as said above, that clearly works and imparts a character onto the NDAC, but there are many others which leave a slightly different audible trait .. the key thing is that it is 75 ohm coax cable with BNC connectors.
Technically SPDIF is a tolerant consumer standard that can accept a fair degree of latitude to allow the consumer to ātuneā to taste with differeing cables
Simon, whatās your take on USB audio, I think itās come a long way. I wouldnāt mind seeing a USB or I2S input on Naimās next standalone DAC.
That will never happen!
I guess, but I would buy one if they did.
It was discussed at length on one of the āwhat would you like to seeā threads.
Standalone DACs are a small market, ruled by ever more capable budget models.
No ROI for a brand like naim at low volumes.
naim have focused on improving the performance of their streaming DACs (333), and who knows what/if anything is in R&D to replace ND555ā¦.
Hi, @naitman .
I made my own 75 ohm BNC to BNC for little cost and compared to the Naim DC-1 I also have. I cannot hear a difference using either between my NDX and Naim DAC.
To my ear, analog cables do make a difference, though I find the provided Naim standard DIN cables are excellent.
Nick
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