Yep!!!
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nDAC with a PSU is at that level.
Works fab with a 252.
This is so true. Weâve heard a number of high end DACs but havenât moved on yet, although have been tempted.
The nDAC/555PSDR just gives a very enjoyable fluidity to music. Every manufacturerâs DAC sounds different.
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Itâs the reason that non Naim streaming bridge wonât give a Naim sound, even if the dac is Naim.
You may like the result or not, but itâs another matter.
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What is the Naim sound?
CB/Olive
Old Classic
New Classic
All different.
What is the sound signature of
CD3
CDi
CDS2
All different.
What streaming bridges have you listened to in your Naim system?
All I can tell you is IMO, the Naim nDAC/Primare NP5 Mk2 has a sound signature very much like the CDS2.
So, the Naim sound is retained, even though a non Naim bridge is being used.
Other Naim users have also found the Naim sound is retained when using NP5. Other bridges might retain the Naim sound but sound different. Other bridges might kill the Naim sound.
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However you can buy very good DACs without spreaming board, and Streaming sources of various sorts without DACs. I think that is what mist people recommending keeping separate are thinking of, apart from a full streamer with a good streaming section and âthrowawayâ DAC.
As for this
If one had that rather good preamp why use another? (Yes, I get the integrated point.)
I mostly stream from my Melco. As Dan said and tried, the Nd5xs2 didnât improved the sound of the Nds, just allowed Qobuz and hires Tidal. So a Primare at 500 eurosâŚ.
I donât doubt that you enjoy it with your Ndac. But the Nds has already a streamer. My goal is to improve the local streaming principally.
The Limitree and Primare cost 1/6 of the Stream 3. The reason I am wondering. But it may not sound really better vs what you have. But may also sound on another level.
The Red Rose is also an option.
Indeed, however the quality of the DAC decoupling and reclocking can to some extent lesser the importance of the streamer renderer(front end) but not completely.
Unfortunately I found my NDAC overly sensitive in this regard.
Simon
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Hi Karlivar,
Lots and lots of excellent food for thought re equipment already on this thread. My reason for posting is to suggest that you might also consider allocating budget to undertaking some limited room treatment - that is if you have not already done so.
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Thatâs my point. Iâve always used my Vega with active speakers without an intervening preamp. But the OP has a 252 which Iâm guessing he doesnât want to sell.
Roger
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Of course. I was careful to say separation ârather easilyâ not âinevitablyâ leads to duplication. For example, if one has an nDAC and wants to stay all Naim, currently it would mean at least ND5XS2, duplicating the DAC. I had an early nDAC and at the time it was promoted mostly as an upgrade to CD5XS (how I used it) and CDX2.2, in both cases duplicating the playersâ own rather good internal DACs.
When looking recently, Iâve found pure streaming bridges are not that thick on the ground, particularly at the lower cost end of the market. When I tried to construct a new streaming source for my Nait 50 within a certain budget constraint, I ended up with a Chord Qutest fronted by a WiiM, and therefore two DACs. It does sound good, though.
Roger
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Iâm pretty sure somebody a week or so ago replied to a questioning you asked and told you the NP5 improves the NDS when streaming from a Nas.
There are differences between NP5 and Stream 3.
With the NP5 youâre not paying for:-
10mm thick aluminium box.
Internal power supply (designed by a doctor)
Facility to add a DAC
Facility to add a hard drive
Facility to rip
Facility to add USB output
Reference quality flagship. 
I think Primare are different to most streamer/bridge manufacturers. They are primarily a high quality hifi manufacturer.
The NP5 Prisma is basically the Prisma module that is used in the hifi equipment, in a small box. So, it was an existing developed product. If you want assess the quality of the prisma module, you can search out reviews of the I35 prisma or the 35 pre amp.
The reason Primare produced it was to enable customers who own legacy Primare streamers to access the latest online streaming services content. At a reasonable price.
Itâs the equivalent of Naim sticking the NP800 streaming board in a box. Of coarse Naim havenât done that, they prefer their customers to buy new streamers. 
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Good for them, looking after their old customerâs, rather than just buy the new box, and give us your money.
Just the bridge from dCS, breathing new life into an older device.
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Wow, now I surely have lots of food for thoughts. Iâve been in here reading comments now and then, but havenât been really sure what to answer. Iâll try to sum up:
It seems as if the majority of you would recommend me to find a good streaming bridge, and not replace my Naim DAC with an ndx2. (this translation will cost me roughly âŹ2k). Right now, my dealer in Berlin is offering the Auralic Aries g2.1 at a very low price, I guess because of the recent development at this company. I absolutely love this streamer, but Iâm afraid that the software wouldnât get any future update updates and at some point might not be working well. Youâve also mentioned other good streaming options and Iâll consider those too.
I also checked out the NP5 Prisma and it could be a very good cost effective alternative, although I know myself and my ears enough to say that I would rather look for something more in the league of the Aries g2.x
Adding a power supply to my DAC is also an option, although I already tested it with an MPX and it didnât convince me. That would fit within the comment of someone here to meant that I rather should invest in the streaming transport in stead in order to fe the most out of my DAC.
The 555PS would also be great to test at some point and then to compare the increase in sound quality with other options.
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I have the Innnuos PhoenixNet. Will you say that I donât need it, that a cheap plastic box as switch, with no high level linear ps inside and no fancy precision clock is enough?
What a stupid chicken I am . I will sell my PhoenixNet then and buy a Netgear on Amazon. 
I would leave your NDS and 2 x 555PS as is.
If you want to stream via Qobuz or Tidal then just get something simple like a Limetree Bridge II. If you want a box to match then get Innuous Pulse.
You use your server mainly, so maybe you donât need to do anything.
The NDXS2 is very good, but you are paying for itâs internal DAC. It looks right, which is why I bought it as I did not know when I bought it where I woukd end up. I didnât know I would get an ND555 at that time. It looks really good. And when my NDS went away it sounded alright with 52 Supercap 2 and 500DR. No where near NDS though.
Limetree Brisge II is good bit of kit like I say. I picked one up used for ÂŁ450 and sold it for same amount. It was a temporary measure as I thought it would solve issues with ND555 firmware, but it didnât as the firmware affected the DAC in the ND555 as well as streaming boards.
Leave the Phoenixnet alone. Itâs great piece of kit as is my EE8 and Farad going into it. These three pieces of kit are staying in my system, as is the Diamond and Sigma cables. These are the glue that sticks my streaming set up together!
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Sometimes a cheap plastic box can contain surprises.
A cheap plastic box (ÂŁ500) and an expensive metal box (ÂŁ16,000)
Both contain the same SPDIF coaxial sockets. (The orange things)
The DA101MC pulse transformers in the ÂŁ16k box are available from Digikey at $1.57 each.
The 65612NL pulse transformer in ÂŁ500 box is available from Digikey at $4.61 each.
(The black squarish shaped things, next to the orange things) 
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Yep those small signal isolation transformers are the galvanic isolators required for the SPDIF signal
I think only the 65612NL transformer is made by Pulse Electronics,
the DA101MC is, I believe, made by muRata Power Solutions, here in the UK available at about 86 pence each. The 65612NL is available at around ÂŁ3.16 each
From a cursory glance they both look pretty similar in specs and both meet ASE/EBU requirements.
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If streaming from a PC with AudirvÄna Studio you could technically use older gen kit with UPnP capability - just to add another dimension to this streaming with âclassic naim soundâ question.
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Volumio Rivo or the Rivo+ are getting good reviews. Both upgradable with the LineO 5 LPS.
I had the Limetree Bridge 2 but now have the Rivo+ and LineO 5 LPS going into Chord Hugo2. Very happy with this combo.
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Iâve just been down this road, in my case separating the DAC from the NDX 2 has resulted in a level of performance that is so far removed from the original that you might question how it was possible.
With nDAC as your starting point youâve already got a great platform, you should probably give serious consideration to a 555 PSU.
The other option to consider is a NDS, it has most of the qualities of the ND555 (mechanical isolation & and very similar DAC/analogue stage). Iâd seriously considered an NDS to improve the NDX 2 before going in a different direction, so Iâd be really surprised if you would prefer the NDX 2 (other than for its transport).
Be worth looking at a transport first, I expect you can substantially improve on the PC and get more out of the nDAC.
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