Beautiful. A classic, do you have it in the Nas or ripped from a CD?
1 Like
Hi, Iād be surprised if there was a significant difference, but you never know. Put it this wayā¦if youāre thinking of buying a Nordost Valhalla USB cable for Ā£3,000, make sure you get a long home demo first 
1 Like
Silly question: but can the ND5 xs2 be powered by another naim box at the right price?
Can the same power box also power a future XS3 Amplifier?
No. You can only use itās built-in power supply. And it cannot power anything else.
Best
David
I can imagine this would be part of the appeal if I were in the market for this kind of streamer box. One box. Bam!!
Chris
1 Like
I think the ND5 XS 2 is good enough as is, in no way do I ever feel that itās lacking any upgrade potential. However, iām warming to the idea of adding a HiCap DR to my XS2 amplifierā¦
5 Likes
HC-DR makes sense to me because you keep your set in the XS family, just max it out.
C.
1 Like
Yup Chris, I agree. I have already maxed out my ND5 XS 2 with a Hi-Line cable and this leaves adding a HiCap DR to my amplifier as the next best move. All that will be left to do from then on is a Fraim Lite or two (all in black) and PowerLines. A wholly digital integrated XS2 series system pimped up to the hilt!
1 Like
Donāt forget the Allaes for that Naim āslamā , but basically, I agree, you are there!
2 Likes
Stephen, even to me once I added the XS3 I would like to add a separate and dedicated feed of more quality but I like the FLATCAP XS more dedicated to the XS series (excellent line and design) and also costing around 600 ā¬ in less than your mentioned above!
1 Like
Hi Andrea,
I reckon I could get a keen price on a ex-demo HiCap DR, itās the DR bit that is appealing to me and Iāve read from many XS 2 owners (elsewhere) that it makes for a very positive upgrade indeed. Remember the pre-amp in the XS 2 amplifier is basically the same as that of the SN2 where the HiCap DR makes for a solid upgrade in that amplifier too. The Hicap to me makes more sense.
Ok, I didnāt know, but I want to save a little money ā¦ Otherwise, I get hunted from home ā¦
1 Like
One thing at a time. Get your XS3 first, thereās no rush for anything here. Iām thinking my PSU upgrade will come well into next year. As is usual, my children will clean me out this Christmas, so no chance for me doing anything just yet. I just have plan and now know where I want to be, it will take time to achieve my goal as iām not exactly rich myself. 
1 Like
Stephen, i think, because i had it in the past, that the hicap will give you a more refined sound, nicer, more open too. But no more drive.
You speak often of the lack of drive you had in the past but not now.
So i feel the SN2 is more to go than a hicap on xs2 for you.
Just my feeling.
1 Like
Thanks FR for your post.
Obviously I will be discussing things further with my very trust worthy dealer before I hand over any cash. Iām very happy with my XS 2 amplifier now not least because everything has now started to fully settle in. As you know, I have upgraded my main Ethernet cable from Cinnamon to the vodka one, this made for a big improvement, a bigger sound to be had all round. Also I bought some brand new 8 meter lengths of NAC A5 all with expertly soldered & correct plugs. As any Naim speaker cable veteran will tell you, this stuff takes ages to run in, iām talking months here, but once run in, boy are you in for a rush! Which brings me to where I am now! I canāt afford a SN3, itās way out of my league. As for a SN2? maybe but right now iām becoming more and more happy with what I already have. I may just max this out instead and itās easier on my pocket too.
i said that because itās the same money, from xs2 to sn2 or adding hicap.
1 Like
I hear ya. Many thanks.
1 Like
This is right, more refinement. But if your speakers need more drive, you need to up the current with a higher level amp.
2 Likes
perhaps his speakers, Neat motive, are not the most punchy also. I donāt know. But they will disappear more and express more with a SN2 probably. Probablyā¦but better verify.
1 Like
Yes that maybe true. My Neat Motive SX2 are for small rooms. It will be hard letting go of the Neatās musicality though, they put a smile on oneās face, theyāre very cheeky indeed. They just need lots of current to get them to really sing. However, when streaming anything by Yello then I get the sound iām after.
2 Likes