Your only limits are time and money ultimately, and maybe space to an extent.
I kicked off this and a few similar threads in an effort to paint in some detail around my optimised NAIT line of thinking.
The inputs typically fall in to two pots, either I have a simple low box count system and enjoy it for what it is including its limitations/constraints, or comments along the lines of you can only reach audio nirvana with a move in to pre/power territory with a multiplication of black boxes and system budget.
There are a few that buck the trend and run an ND555 on a Supernait or add a Supercap to a Supernait as obvious examples, whilst on paper and certainly financially these combinations may not make complete sense they are valid configurations and within the capabilities of the equipment and do have the potential to offer a really nicely optimised system without having 2 Fraim racks worth of kit.
I’m now at a pause and enjoy stage with the SN3 + NDX2 + full Fraim setup.
I’m prioritising source and looking to add a 555PS to the NDX2. If I felt I’d get a meaningful improvement to the SN3 I’d be willing to add a Supercap to it, primarily to see what the best PSU’s Naim offer can do to maximise the performance of the SN3. It may not be the best/obvious/optimal end result, but really that’s not the point or purpose here.
The fact that @steviebee has at least tried this part out to an extent is meaningful feedback and helps to better understand what bringing these boxes together delivers.
I would say that the SN3 is a very capable and enjoyable NAIT all by itself and continues to provide enjoyment and engagement when fed by the NDX2. The intention remains to stick with the SN3 and push it to its limits.
Just for what it’s worth, I spoke to Naim technical the other day and asked opinion on XPS DR vs 555ps non DR. And they went away to seek more advice and the advice was it’s a close call but the XPS Dr edges it and said that the DR is extremely worth it’s value.
Just thought I’d say, in case you were thinking non DR 555.
Good to know, it would be a 555PS DR, ideally one less than 5 years old and built as a DR unit from new at the factory.
I’m sorry for changing the topic but I’m interested if this comparison would be true for connecting XPS DR to nDAC. I have read a lot of opinions that suggest the nDAC is an exception from the general upgrade path and it likes best 555ps without DR technology. So it would be intriguing whether XPS DR would edge 555PS in terms of nDAC upgrade.
I think the nDAC is a curious product in many respects and certainly something I pondered over myself as I made changes over time. It’s mostly well thought of even though it’s now discontinued it remains attractive at it’s used value as an enhancement to other products, the ND5 XS2 springs to mind here.
I have no personal experience relative to your question but my belief is that it works best under certain conditions and standalone and added to something like an ND5 XS2 may not perhaps be considered as good value for money in the longer term.
It was often seen as an enhancement to the NDS and when driven by a 555PS gave a meaningful improvement to the level of system performance overall, that said, it’s sensitive to what is input to it and will perform at its best with a 555PS although of course many people own and use it within a different system configuration as you yourself are today.
Looking at your system profile, I think I’d be more inclined to replace your nDAC with an NDX2 and then if funds allow add an XPS DR to that. I’d expect your inputs to your nDAC would become the limitation overall if you were to add a PSU to the nDAC hence my suggestion to combine both digital transport and DAC together whilst still maintaining the option to add an XPS DR later to the NDX2.
I completely agree with your thoughts and suggestions. At the beginning I wasn’t so familiar with Naim’s range of products and was looking just for a decent DAC and I chose the nDAC, which I really like. The more I read the forum the more I got familiar with other members’ systems and their feedback from different upgrades (so I am very grateful to Naim’s forum 
).
After reading the same advice as yours, that the nDAC is sensitive to the input I got the idea to upgrade my entry level Innuos Zen Mini streamer, so that I get more of the DAC. My first suggestion was also to get ND5 XS2 but I started hesitating after a while. While it is probably a great product and have the latest streaming technologies from Naim, I was curios to try the NDX range. So… I found a good deal for a pre-loved NDX which I will receive and test after a couple of days.
The NDX2 is out of my budget so I decided to make a step by step approach. Since my furniture free place is almost full I will be strongly limited for the number of black boxes I can use in my system. Having in mind this and the great feedback for the NDX2, one day I might replace the nDAC and NDX indeed for the NDX2. Unless the NDX/nDAC combo satisfies me enough, so that I stop thinking of upgrading my source (who knows…).
Thinking in this direction I think that if I found a good deal for XPS DR, even though it might not be the best PSU for the nDAC I still can buy it and use it either for nDAC or the NDX and one day if I upgrade to NDX2 I would have been already set with a great PSU. The bad think about the old PSU versions (without DR) is that they are usually around 10 years old and will need servicing soon after buying. And the service fee for this level of equipment is not so cheap I think, so this should not be underestimated.
It sounds like you’ve done your homework and for sure the approach you suggest makes sense and will give you a lot of enjoyment. I’d be inclined to focus on an XPS DR if you’re serious about adding a PSU for any of the hardware you have or plan to have in the future, you can service and DR an older unit but as you correctly point out that will add cost but with some careful searching could work out to be cost effective wven factoring for a service and DR upgrade. I can’t recall the cost but it’s probably around £1000 to service and DR an XPS PSU.
A benefit of an NDX2 is a more capable streaming subsystem in the NP800 and having 1 box not two of course.
Staying away from this place might be even more effective… 
Mr.M - I see above that you said you have had all versions of the supernait. I am planning to get one for my second system - an NDX and nSat speakers (on wall brackets). The sn and ndx will replace a unitiqute. SN1 goes for around £1,200, SN2 around £1,800 and SN3 around £3,000. Not quite sure which I should go for (NB I have a bigger system downstairs but this Smaller system will be in the study/loft). I am a bit stuck how to decide which to go for (1, 2 or 3) as I can’t audition the used bits and was wondering if you could advise on the differing characters of the three- sorry for crashing the thread. By the way I have a hicap (non dr) to attach (or not) to whichever one I get
I just got my SN3 today. After having a loan of the XS3 I have to say this is easily the best integrated amplifier I’ve had the pleasure to own.
Hi Tim, they certainly all have their own characteristics, given the mix you outline I’d be inclined to lean towards a SN2.
I’m actually on the look out for one to drive the front channels in a 5.1 setup with AV Bypass.
The SN3 is best described as bringing much of the presentation of the SN2 but with it’s redesign it addresses some of the inherent constraints of the SN2 which is best described as bottom end cohesion and grip and upper mids congestion alleviation.
These effects can be reduced to an extent with the addition of a HiCap, I used a HiCap DR on my SN1 and SN2 but run my SN3 without currently as the constraints are less apparent.
The SN3 adds a MM Phono stage which I had a plan to use at some stage but don’t today.
I moved to the SN1 from a NAIT XS (v1) + ND5 XS as I never quite gelled with the ND5 although it was capable to an extent, I then fed the SN1 with digital transports including a Sonos Connect and later a USB iFi DAC with a coax digital output.
I wasn’t a fan of the SN1 personally and found it’s presentation a little too forceful and a bit lean/sterile for my liking and replaced it for a period of time with a NAIT XS2 that was followed by the SN2 and then this year replaced by a SN3 which then had an NDX2 added to it which is the current 2 box setup.
I’d say now is a good time to grab a fairly recent SN2, their value is actually creeping up again as supply drops off after the initial wave of SN2 upgraders and similar system swaps settles down, you should be able to find a good one around £2k possibly a little less dependant on age, anything up to about 5 years of age is about right.
Thank you very much for your comprehensive answer - very helpful indeed!
A good choice and sure to impress. I’ve had mine now a good few months and run it most days and find it a very capable and enjoyable amp, as a 2 to 4 box system it gives a lot of value.
Enjoy the settling in!
Wonderful, lots of joy to be had!
Don’t forget that if you were to get the SN2 it already includes a DR power supply for the preamp, so the non DR Hicap would be redundant. So one box fewer and something to sell.
Good point HH, perhaps didn’t make that clear in my summary. A HiCap DR is a worthy addition to the SN2 and I found it helped to control the bottom end and reduce congestion in the mids/upper mids.
I’ve never used a HiCap on my SN3, I’m sure it would bring some changes/improvements but my expectation having lived with the SN2 for some time and comparing it to the performance of the SN3, I’d expect the changes a HiCap DR would bring to a SN3 to be more subtle hence my current focus on adding a PSU to the NDX2, If I still had one I’m sure I’d be using it however I’m not missing it on the SN3 so something to bare in mind if you stretch towards a SN3 Tim in your budget!
So a hicap would not do anything at all to benefit the SN2 (in practical terms)? That certainly would help to bridge the price jump from SN1 to SN2, and maybe open a bit more of a gap from the SN2 to SN3
I’ve not tried it myself but that seems to be the general conclusion.
Likewise, only ever utilised a HiCap DR on my Supernait 1 and 2 so if you have a Non-DR HiCap and it’s not needed elsewhere for anything you could let it go and add to the pot for a SN2. If cash allows the SN3 is the better amp overall and works well without a HiCap being as much of a necessity but then it depends on if you’re prepared to make that stretch, they do come up ex-demo but they’re few and far between and normally come up around the £3k mark or there about so that’s an extra £1k if you’re thinking is towards the SN3 vs SN2.
Given this is a second and potentially lower use system and the fact you’re matching it to a Gen 1 NDX and N-Sats I’d still be inclined towards the SN2, if you felt the need to you could add either a HiCap DR or even an XPS DR or even Non-DR XPS to the NDX down the line, then further out swap in a SN3 or even an NDX2 as budget and appetite allowed.
If you’ve yet to find and purchase an NDX you could also consider a Uniti Nova and gain a better streaming platform, less boxes and a reduced set of upgrade options. There’s a fair few Nova’s in the used market right now including a quantity of B Grade factory refurb units in the dealer network in the UK that could be had for around £3k, that might give some potential savings or options for speaker swap for example.
Thanks - I already have the NDX purchased at a bargain price a few months ago - am using proceeds of unitiqute, SBLs, possibly hicap, and turntable bits (lingo1, prefix and an elderly cirkus) to fund this purchase so a SN3 means chipping in about £1000, or nil for SN2 (not that I can find sensibly prices ones at the moment). Am a bit worried the SN2 prices are going up a bit much. Decisions, decisions!
And I don’t want to consider speaker swaps as I have the brackets for the nSats already on the wall which is important in a small room