Dear All,
Recently i purchased a ND5XS2 and a NaitXS3 , both second hand.
I’m very pleased with them but what could eventually be a further upgrade:
I have two actual possibilities: a Flatcap XS (for the XS3) and a Ndac (rare these days) What would be the most impactful upgrade for the sound quality?
Thank you for your opinions!
HermanB
Ndac is amazing I know they can take a while to find but I saw one recently you can do a regular eBay search and speak to any dealers that do a lot of 2nd stuff and ask them to put you on a list. When I eventually got mine off eBay my local dealer got one right around the same time (I’d been on the list to be contacted for over 2 years at that point) so basically it can be a while and then suddenly several will appear at once 
What speakers do you have?
I’ve got an xs3 and an nd5 xs2 with B&W 705 S3 and it sounds fantastic. I did add a flatcap xs and there was a difference but no where near as big as going from a Nait 5i to an xs3 in the first place.
I would skip the flatcap as it’s a marginal improvement. Go directly for a Hicap DR. You won’t regret it.
Yep second the hicap
I’m hearing different about the nDAC and that without the power supply it’s more of a sideways move.
I don’t have a power supply for my ndac I haven’t heard anyone say it was necessary I’m sure it improves things but plenty of people don’t need them. The ndac was what finally made me stop feeling the need to upgrade. I’m sure it depends on speakers/room/system and of course some people end up preferring a different style of dac such as chord but I’d happily recommend the bare ndac for anyone to at least consider.
Thank you all for your opinions
The nDAC was a great upgrade when I had my ND5XS2. It also allows for further upgrades with the XPS and 555.
I’ve always been a source-first advocate. I am most pleased with the musicality of ND5xs2/nDAC/PS555DR, it’s just an amazing combination together with a naim Core.
I did try the ND5xs2 without the nDAC and I only lasted a few minutes.
I am eternally grateful for naim’s development of the nDAC, it is truly one awesome musical source.
Adding the 555 is what made it sound so good and that is the general con census. If it was possible to add the PS to the ND5XS2 it would also sound awesome I imagine. How much was the 555 if you don’t mind me asking?
Best upgrade (in my humble opinion) would be a Supernait 2 or 3.
I’d love to listen to one in my system and see what the difference is, but it would be hard to do unless I bought one and sold it on if I didn’t like it. Not many around to listen to in dealers now they’re discontinued.
Same is true for an nDac.
Another option is to get an NDS and 555PSDR and use the ND5X2 as transport.
I had that combination for a while.
An nDAC with power supply such as 555PSDR would be excellent. It’s whether you can find an nDAC.
Other options are to get a non Naim DAC and use ND5XS2 as transport.so that’s the source side.
Nait XS3 is a very nice amp. A HiCap DR would be interesting.
And what about your speakers. They can be biggest upgrade of all!
Actually i’m on my way to get a used nDAC 
, the XS3 is paired with Fyne Audio F500SP speakers, very good combination.
Thank you for your opinion!
That’s brilliant and a should be an improvement. Later down the line get a 555PSDR, but even an XPS2 or XPSDR will be very good.
Be interested to hear how you get on!
I’d be really interested to see what you think.
Or even the original Olive XPS. Which would be the biggest bang for the buck.
I can’t comment on the source (except that a better source is always a good thing) as I don’t have an ND5 XS2.
However, I do have an XS3 with Flatcap XS in the lounge system. I found that the FC has provided a good upgrade in terms of transparency, treble refinement and sound-staging over the bare XS3 without having any negatives. My speakers are the UK-made Tannoy Revolution Signature DC4t (towers) that are dual concentrics and use a titanium tweeter - in many ways a direct ascendent of your Fyne Audio 500SPs.
My primary source for this system is an Arcam D33 DAC (Arcam’s equivalent of the nDAC at the same time -both circa £2k RRP IIRC) and adding the FC to the XS3 has demonstrated more of what the D33 can do as well as further revealing the differences between the D33, my CD5si and my Lenco GL75 TT that all act as sources in this system.
I think the n-DAC should bring benefits and well done with your purchase. However, if you can, IMO it’s certainly worth trying an FC XS if you can.
Yesterday, I’ve bought one from an audio dealer in Brussels!
I’ve now asked Naim Support for the year of manufacture; the firmware is 4.10.6 (as seen on my iPad)
To update this, I need a USB stick formatted to FAT32, and unfortunately it’s hard to find sticks with less than 32GB of memory on the market these days; formatting larger sticks to FAT32 doesn’t work, unfortunately (damn Microsoft!). I’m expecting an 8GB stick tomorrow and will install firmware 4.11.8 (the last 2015) according to the instructions. To be honest, I already think the nDAC sounds really good 
via a Volumio streamer
A quick question: the ND5XS2 has a BNC digital output; do you use a BNC-to-RCA adapter or a BNC-to-BNC cable?
Many thanks for your advices!