Yep!
Well, surely part of the work that’s being done. With these notes we can show what we are doing with wishes and issues. But I have to admit that we also choose to share with the end customer what is relevant. Come to think of it, we could also probably do better to them…
I wouldn’t disagree with what you say. Several releases might be internal only for several reasons. But many here would consider the SQ issue as a critical one. In that case then perhaps the focus for Naim’s next release ought to be on just that and leave additional features to a later release. That would likely have placated the majority. My limited understanding is that the decision on what features/fixes released would be a matter for the Product Manager and the Scrum Master (who manages the backlog). Customer release candidates would be subject to security and beta testing.
Really? It would have been very easy to add something like “The new firmware is currently undergoing Beta testing and we are hoping to release it before the end of May, or sooner if possible, but we will update the forum if that slips, with a reason and a revised estimate.”
I am off to enjoy the weekend, the family post good news on the health front, and see what emerges next week. There is, in my humble view, nothing left to do but wait.
From Estragon to Vladimir in 5000 posts.
.sjb
I get the impression that the majority of focus in this thread is still 555 or NC front end.
As an NDS user I was a bit concerned whether I am imagining differences introduced by 4.9 over 4.8 as there is little if any comment on this.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been listening intently to just a few tracks with 4.8 (I personally believe you can roll the NDS back successfully) to really bed them in.
Last night I updated to 4.9 and listened to just one of these test tracks, Don’t fear the reaper.
It was very interesting. For the last few weeks no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t resolve one particular word of a phrase in the song. Multiple listens but on 4.8 still couldn’t tell what the word was.
After updating to 4.9 the word came at me immediately on first listen. Not a massive difference but enough to definitely resolve this word.
At the same time the guitars towards the end sounded more strident, forceful, harder and cymbals a bit more splashy.
For me this shows there is a definite difference in sound signature between 4.8 and 4.9 on the NDS and it definitely sounds harsher but with a bit more clarity . I need to listen for at least a week to see if I can grow to like it, it’s not worse necessarily but is different.
I just wanted to post as the focus seems to be on the newer streamer but the older ones are equally affected but no suggestion from Naim they might look at those too.
On the upside I am confident the NDS can be fully rolled back to 4.8 (I have done it successfully to my ears) but of course without radio.
… and still waiting for …
Roger
I have never updated to 4.9 (and will not do).
But I have have compared nd555 (usb tricked) with nds 4.8.
With nd555 there is more air and detail - you can better understand and locate. But it’s missing coherence and emotional and textured characteristics, which makes your head swing.
Hope this clinical signature will be history soon with 3.11.
I’m not so sure if the sound quality is bad. It is the best firmware I have heard so far for myself. My system is sounding incredible! Remember more people are happy vs unhappy so it can’t be that bad, at least not for all of us. My NDX2 and XPSDR sounds great with my NAC 332 and NC 250. It is all about synergy I think and my system is not fatiguing at all. I am looking forward to the new firmware though as I’m sure it will sound even better.
I agree completely it’s not bad rather different, in my case.
The issue is that if you’ve spent a lot of time and money optimising the sound of your system for your taste with the main streamer forming the backbone of this signature, if it changes that can change the sound of the whole system.
It may be better for some but for those who’ve chosen components cables etc that match and create the sound they want, then it changes away from what they had without warning or ability to go back, that can be a big issue.
You may want or wish that, and who knows it may happen, but has never been the way Naim does or did software releases.
You call it synergy, we call it masking.
From an unhappy NDX2 + 3.10.1 owner with a transparent system that shows the source for what it is.
That’s true for me as well, but my Naim streaming devices are only an Atom and a couple of QBs. If I had invested in a ND555 I’d probably be a full throated member of the unhappy group. There seems to be much more division amongst those with streamers at the intermediate level, NDX2 a case in point. It makes me wonder if the new firmware can please both sides, or will we just have a different unhappy group?
Roger
Same here. Never short of fantastic. One might want to take note here that quite a lot of Naim systems have been Frankensteined with lots of other makes of power, signal cables, third party PSUs etc.. and therefore might upset the Naim system synergy. Maybe even damage it. Naim systems are especially prone to this. Everything is part of the system whole, cables, speakers, supports. It likes to to be kept in the family as it were. Like for like.
That goes for just about every hifi manufacturer that makes more than just one item.
As long as you like how it’s been voiced or does to the sound fine.
Changing cables, power supplies to alter the sound, really means that one doesn’t like how it’s been voiced and is looking to make it hopefully better.
Not really. Almost everyone with an issue hasn’t changed their setup before, or after the firmware change. The only variable is the firmware. My Nova is fine, my ND555 sounds good - but it’s not great as it was before firmware gate. It’s lost its very organic analogue groove and has an unpleasant digital edge - it’s all very well documented by many users on this thread.
Obviously not everyone prefers one type of sound Mike. Organic and natural for me all day! The 3.8’s did that better and even the guys at Naim who heard the comparisons with me agreed.
I have on occasions experienced an edge to the sound myself but having changed my network around recently it has totally cured it. Therefore it’s hard for me to blame the FW alone.
Maybe the FW update exposed my Ethernet network setup instead? Anyway, going wireless has cured it. Never sounded better.
P.S My local dealer was telling me his NSS333 player was sounding awful since the update and could not get over the fact that mine was ok. He was trying to convince me that my system wasn’t revealing enough and that once i’d heard it i wouldn’t be able to un-hear it. Un- hear what i thought? I’ve never heard so much twaddle in all my life.
I would look for something else that being the case. I wouldn’t want to buy a Roll Royce and then only to start experimenting with Ford or VW pepper pot wheels trying to get the thing to corner better. A Naim system is a Naim system built to work as a harmonic whole. It’s not a system to to be messing around with, it’s always been this way. Look at the Chrome Bumper and Olive gear.
@Diver99 This is very informative, thank you. Are you sure about the roll back? I just use the NDS for the DAC and am very happy with it so and very very wary of upgrading any Fw. Sad state of affairs.
I want to add that I have another issue with RAAT multi-room being out of sync. I have received great communications from Steve at Naim, so the issue of communication does not exist with every problem. Hopefully this will be sorted soon.