SN2 vs SN3

I wouldn’t jump on the wattage equals bass bandwagon. I have an NDX2 and XPSDR, or I I use vinyl - clearaudio concept. Maybe could be your source? Who knows. The end of the day if you love your speakers and don’t like the sound it’s producing in the setup you already have maybe change it, or go have an audition/demo and mix and match stuff. More of a pain, but much better in reality than relying on reviews

Also maybe play around with the positioning of your speakers?

Source is ND5XS. Mostly tidal.

FWIW… you may want to see if you can demo a NDX 2 with a XPS DR in place of that ND5XS. I believe you will experience the “sonic authority and emotion”* you are looking for.

With my SN 2 I have had a ND5XS, NDX, NDX 2 and now NDX 2 with XPS DR running with my Ovator S-400 speakers The overall sound including bass improved with each upgrade. The source and not just the amp will ‘improve’ your experience. If you can get a demo I believe you hear the improvement.

*taken from the NAIM web page features section

Just my 2 cents worth and your milage may vary…

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Try a free trial of roon and a free trial of qobuz. 24bit instead of 16bit. Makes a difference. But echo what seakayaker said too. A lot is about what goes well together.

Indeed, there is plenty of bass but cleaner and more controlled than the SN2. This can make it appear lighter and less warm because it is not masking midrange detail.

Agree fully in this :+1:

This is certainly true.

Can you explain “improved bass” a bit more? I’ve been very happy with what ND5XS added to my system and mainly in terms of deeper and more defined bass and have overlooked the XS2 as an upgrade going forward. NDX2 is outside my budget.

@Blackbird, would you consider changing your speakers at all? While your Naim gear should be capable, perhaps a different speaker for your large listening space may be worth considering.
Just a thought.
Sorry, I thought you were using an NDX2 but see it is actually ND5 XS

Sorry no. Harbeth stays because they are mind blowing to my ears and I also love how they look, their history etc so they are more than great sound to me. More like a music instrument. Heard them with other more powerful amps that really woke them up but the tone with Naim is to me exceptional so I’d like it to work meaning get the last say 20% to work to make it perfect.

…my ability to describe musical sounds is one of my weak points and that is why I used the term “sonic authority and emotion” taken from the Naim web site. My experience is as I improved the streamers the overall sound improved, including the bass. When I added the XPS DR it was a vast improvement.

With the ND5XS you do not have the capability to add a power supply. If you picked up a used NDX I believe you would experience an improvement. If you could add a Power Supply then you would experience another improvement. That is why I recommended that you see if you can get a demo at your home or at a dealer to hear the difference between your ND5XS an a updated streamer and possibly a Power Supply. The NDX 2 may be out of your price range at the moment but other changes beside the amp may help find the sound you are looking for.

The point being is that the amp is not the only item in the chain that impacts the overall sound. Synergy across the components of the system results in the sound we are in search for.

Good luck with your journey…

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I think ND5XS can use external power but not XS2?

@Blackbird

Forgive me if already mentioned, but how many hours play does your SN3 have behind it?

Mine, which is about 3/4 weeks in (and probably only +/- 15 hours per week) is bassy as heck into ProAc Response 1 SC’s with the right music (Erikah Badu springs to mind, and currently Art Ensemble of Chicago).

Bass has certainly developed since I bought the 3. VERY full sound - but I have not heard a 2.

Out of curiosity. When people in here play loud by their own definition. Where are you on the volume control then?

Not sure since I bought it second-handed. But made in August. What amp did you have before?

Nait XS2.

Nowadays, I listen between 8-10 on the dial. 11 to twelve if I really want to blast it out.

When the 3 first arrived I had it at 12 minimum.
The thing’s either got louder, or my ears have got younger! Or is that older? :slight_smile:

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…you are correct the ND5XS can use a PS. from the website, " only current “Classic” style XPS power supplies can be used with the ND5 XS."

I was thinking about the ND5 XS2.

So you may want to see if you can borrow a demo unit from your dealer for the ND5XS and see if you experience any improvement.

SN3 at 12 minimum? That’s high! So we are at least three SN3 users in here that want to push it hard to deliver. :thinking:

I normally play between 9 and 10 O’Clock. I have occasionally played louder and only once since I owned the SN2 have I cranked the volume for a long enough period of time that I tripped the cut off. At the time the box was very warm to the touch and when cooled down it was just fine.

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Don’t apologise, it is great to be in a position where you know the key element around which you can build on. In my opinion the speakers are the voice of the system.

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