I’m going to add a streaming transport to my NDS so I can get Spotify lossless. Any advice from existing past users appreciated. I’m looking at the following:
ND5XS2 (As a transport) - £1400 used
Lime tree bridge ii - £800 (£1050 mcru’d)
Primare NP5 - £500 (£750 mcru’d)
Node 2i - £200 used (£450 mcru’d)
Also, would consider adding MCRU PSU for around £250 for applicable components above. Ideally I’d like to keep the spend below £1k and footprint small as I have no spare shelves so the ND5XS2 is unlikely.
I have an NDS/PS555, 52/SC, 135s and just added a ND5 XS2. I was wonderfully surprised at the sound improvement. If you can stretch to it I would really recommend it
If one has NDS, 555PSDR and ND5XS2 you will have passed the cost of a used NSS 333. How they compare performance wise I don’t know yet but sometimes you get caught in just adding and adding to solve a problem when the solution might be selling and get onto the latest platform.
Thanks guys, I think the first thing I need to be mindful of is support for Spotify lossless.
I do like the idea of something with a linear PSU built in like the Holo Audio but not sure these are readily available in the UK and they are a bit err………Red
I had the opportunity to listen to the NSS 333 when demoing some speakers and the sound was not for me at all. The sound is very different to the olives
Non DR here but a used 333 would be affordable @ £5.5k if I sold NDS/555PS assuming I get a reasonable price for the NDS.
But it’s questionable whether is would be a good move as I’ve not heard anyone compare to the NDS and selling a perfectly good 555PS as well which may be considered a great upgrade would seem counter productive.
You’re right, It’s hard to get that thought out of you’re head once it’s in there
I think my preference is to keep digital tech spending as low as possible for my level of system and think of it as disposable. Just like the manufacturers do
What was the rest of the system? You AB tested against NDS in same setup?
I have NDS and have NSS333 on the way here. Bought used and unheard as I normally do. It’s based on my great experience with Nait 50. I seem to prefer the new Naim sound. NSS 333 is said to perform a great chunk of ND555 without a power supply. And I’ve read on here that a member thought 333 was a great replacement to NDS if one like NDS.
I did think about that but I’d have to hear it first and I’m sure I’d regret it. When I moved from the NDX mk1 it was a big improvement. External PSU on the NDX wasn’t that beneficial from what I remember.
I did an A/B comparison at the dealer before I bought the ex demo NDS which was without a PS55. Even the dealer was surprised as the NDS was better to both our sets of ears.
No I didn’t as it was to listen to SF Electa Amator 3 speakers at a dealers.. I have SF olympica 1 and he setup olympica nova 1s as that was the closet to mine. The sound was really not to my taste, however I was clearly able to hear the strengths of the EA3s in the comparison.
I can’t remember but it must have been the OC range. He selected the models that were closest to my 52 SC, 135s. It is difficult to remember exactly as it is years ago but my lasting memory was the NDS was clearer with a bigger scale
I’m pretty sure there are people using the limetree and primare bridges with the NDS and liking what they bring. Most people find that the primare is an improvement over legacy streamers internal streaming board.
According to the AI on my phone the limetree and primare have different sound signatures.
(I know this will probably be discredited by people who know that all streaming bridges sound the same).
