Brand loyalty is good for the brand, and nice given that you like the uniform looks (depending on the models!). But even Naim would admit they don’t have a monopoly on good audio!
My question was aimed at @Frenchrooster who posted the comment about the Mofi vinyl. However, only owning Naim doesn’t stop you hearing the 20th anniversary SACD release, though without an SACD or DVD player you would need to have a streamer (Naim would do) and either buy it as a file or know someone that can rip it to a file if you bought the disc.
Very strange No Quarter. I even not understood how you could sell your Rp10, specially if you listen to that kind of music.
I heard Dire Straits recently on a 60 k Soulution dac, on a very expensive system. It was nowhere near as lively and so right as through my vinyl set up.
I wonder if there was a problem with your phono, or a mismatch between your cart and phono.
Or we have very different ears.
What is your phono Gigantor? I don’t see it on your profile.
If your phono is on the level of Lp12 Akurate and Lyra Delos, when you will hear the MOFI 45 pm Dire Straits albums, I think you will not search other versions then.
IB, we had already that discussion before. I have maybe 20 DSD albums and found them boring, at least through my Nds streamer.
The only one I like, but no more than the 24/96 version, is Blow by Blow by Jeff Beck.
I find DSD sounding a bit dull generally, on Nds. Be it Patricia Barber or true DSD as Carmen Gomes.
I have some DSD considered elsewhere as very good sounding. But not all people like DSD. Some prefer PCM.
I have maybe 40 albums from the 70’s on hires version ( mostly tracks from albums). No one comes near the lp, for me. Not even close.
Or maybe the DSD album I have is that good? I did enjoy my time with my RP10, but I am getting lazy in my old age I think, so streaming is so much easier for me.
I got to the point where I felt guilty not using the Rega enough, for the money I had tied up in it.
To my ears it is the more relaxed mastering that give the SACD-version an SQ-advantage on certain albums. If I do the normal check by converting the SACD file to 44/16 it still sound as good.
G’day FR, I will have to add it once I figure out how. The phono pre-amplifier is an OAD Ultrafidelity. The power supply is a Lingo 4. Interlinks something expensive by wire wound I think.
If I am to purchase a streamer or SACD player. May I ask what members would suggest on XS system. I do subscribe to PS Audio and the Australian Agent has this device for sale
At $10k AUD more money that I do not have. Or would I be better off with ND5 XS 2 which I think we have covered or stretch the funds to an NDX2 with more funds that I do not have and then I loose synergy.
I do not know how to rip SACD files unless it can be done with a Unity Core.
I started my streaming experience with the original ND5XS, which I found easy to use, and as good sounding as the CD player it replaced (Shearne Phase 7). A good, straightforward, plug-and-play introduction to streaming, and I was quite happy with it. I only played my own stored music (ripped CDs and ripped LPs, and downloaded music). For what it is I can recommend it, though of course there are other things out there, and the ND5XS2 has replaced it.
When I later was persuaded by the dealer to upgrade the ND5 with an XP5XS power supply I was very disappointed at the marginal improvement for a lot of money: That led to other discoveries and I ended up replacing first the XP5 then the ND5, and changing my NAS, using a Mac Mini as a store, running Audirvana rendering software, feeding a Hugo DAC, (via a Gustard U12 isolator/converter to block RF noise because Hugo was adversely affected by RF). That gave an improvement in sound quality ( a more natural sound) at less net cost. I upgraded the DAC To my present one a couple of years later after coming into some money, but my store/renderer has remained - however there are a variety of alternatives, some more hands-on to set up than others, of course the self-contained ones like Melco and Innuos being the more expensive of the options.
I don’t know how the ND5XS2 compares to the original - it may be such an improvement that the Hugo effect would be negated or less noticeable. And I know you have a strong desire to keep to Naim. I suggest that in making a decision you hear the ND5XS2 before commitment - ideally against your CDP. If that has to be at the dealer, you could take your CDP with you. Home trial is of course ideal if possible (when you can also compare with your TT). For test material, among other things you could just rip a few CDs. (Easily done on a computer with CD drive. Various software exists, very popular is dBPoweramp. Rip to flac, using the default compression level if using dBP, and use it set to do an ‘AccurateRip’ online check which confirms tha is has ripped correctly.)
As for SACDs, I am unaware as to whether there are any Naim devices that will play them. If you know someone with a Sony Playstation, that is a common tool for ripping! I guess there may be computer software that will do it given a DVD drive. I was given my Dire Straits for a birthday present, my son saying he had downloaded them so they must be available ready ripped somewhere.
Mitch,
May I gently suggest a cheaper way to experiment with streaming, using your iMac…
By all means look at Qobuz on the Mac, but I now find Apple Music equal if not better (ensure that you go into preferences on your iMac and set quality to lossless…)
To try streaming ‘Ultra cheap’ use a simple cable from Mac to NAIM, but better pick up a DAC…
The AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt. (AU$ 500) is superb: basically a sophisticated USB stick DAC that takes out the jitter from the stream and serves as a headphone amp - it works superbly with iPhone / iPad add iMac, gives a big improvement in sound quality and will allow 96/24 from your iMac with Music or Qobuz.
I’m using one with my SN3 and very happy until my ND5 XS2 arrives. If that works out for you, go get your own ND5 XS2 and keep the Cobalt for travel with the iPhone and headphones.
PS Be very wary of Qobuz. Their customer service is slow to respond and like Parisian waiters, can be very brusque. They grab your money, hold onto card details and no refunds even when they are at fault.
I can’t not post this @Gigantor - I received a Chord Hugo today, mk 1. I have a streamer in the form of a unitiqute mk1, but that’s not in my main system and I’ve been toying with how to add streaming to my main system for a while now.
For UKP 500 second hand this thing is very impressive. Playing from my phone either through Bluetooth or USB, through my XS3 into Neat Motive SX3s it is blowing the socks off my CD5.
I’m sure streaming is going to be a solid part of my listening, and that this might be the first of a few different setups, but it’s a ridiculously good first step.
Very few devices can rip SACDs - some older Playstaions could (mine I suspect until I inadvertently upgraded firmware) and a few older discontinued Oppos.
Unless you have a large number of SACDs already I think this is a dead path to follow no matter how good they might sound. Although I have several players capable of SACD playback, I only half a dozen SACDs. These are mostly older DVD or more recent BluRay players.
Unless you have loads of SACDs and look seconhand for a player that can ‘potentially rip’ look for services that might sell DSD files or simply at hi-res audio providers.
I really don’t think you need to splash out maybe more than $500-$1000, probably less to dip into the streaming experience - it will let you know if you want to own media/downloads vs streaming, and then when you decide you can divert funds either towards a higher end streaming source/downloads or to physical media.
An off the wall comment perhaps, but if you could I’d be well tempted to demo a Uniti Nova with your existing speakers - great streaming platfom, potential for multiroom audio, loads of inputs and although analogue is digitised (to allow multiroom with other Naim devices) my Nova rekindled my vinyl interest with a vengeance - it’s only the cost of ‘new’ vinyl putting me off currently.
I do not own any SACDs and have advoided them as I saw no benefit. I do have some K2 discs and others. I think streaming was just an itch that needed scratching and I think we have done that.
Thank you AC, I think I will just spend my dollars on CDs and vinyl.
Ripping SACD can be a frustrating procedure until you get it to work. Once you get the steps and which files you need it is a no-brainer.
There are a number of player models that use a specific chip-set that you can pick up s/h at low cost. Google: sacd ripping guide github. Look at the description if this is something for you.
Also note that currently the only ones releasing ‘hybrid’ (CD + SACD) discs are mostly small specialist record companies and it is almost exclusively classical music. These companies cannot survive within the streaming-service business model - so these libraries will not be available online until this is fixed. Probably something like Bandcamp would work.
A hybrid (CD+SACD) disc can be ripped with a normal CD-ripper and then you get the CD-layer (Redbook) files.
I don’t know about the Oz second hand market for Naim, but if you could source a nDAC, that would give a SQ fillip to both ND5 XS 2 and your CD player. I’ve not heard the DAC with the ND5 but I used to have CD5XS/nDAC and it’s a very fine source. The nDAC matches XS components, too.
