Having owned NDX2/282/250DR in the past, I would say that your overriding priority should be a source upgrade. That could be a power supply or DAC upgrade for your NDX2, or a change to a different streamer, but to my ears the bare NDX2 is not up to the standard of your amplifier.
Hi, good luck with your upgrade but if I may given the kit you already have, what are the reasons you are on the upgrade path
Not wishing to appear cynical as somebody whose system is, without the exception of a 250DR due in April,hasn’t changed much over the years. I am always interested in what drives what can be an expensive exercise and what it is you are looking for or hope to gain or in fact what it is with the calibre of kit you have you are looking to correct or improve.
Hope you get to where you want to be and grateful for any feedback on your thoughts.
Another one here who is slightly puzzled. I agree with Chris above that your source is already potentially - if not actually - the weakest link in the chain. Certainly your stated long term goal of 332/350s would exacerbate this…..
Without knowing your thoughts on the source it’s hard to give honest, well-meant advice…..
That’s an exceptionally good question. To answer you my current obsession is driven by a long standing desire to own a pair of monoblocks.
While my current system sounds better than anything I’ve owned previously and I know I should be content, I have a weakness for upgrading kit in pretty much every hobby I’ve enjoyed.
Regards my existing setup, I agree a bare NDX2 is less than ideal. However, what I have gathered on the forum so far is that an XPSDR is not as significant enough upgrade when compared to a 555ps.
Agree re comments re source as my priority but if not your preferred route a 552DR would form the heart of a very fine system, and I think most would pick one over a 332. The NC sound signature is apparently quite different to the original Classic components you have, and a 552 would complement them. You’d still need to upgrade the source though! I haven’t heard any NC kit myself.
Thanks for your great reply this is what the forum is about I hope. Yes source is fundamental I added an XPS to my CDX (still going strong like me) and the difference was simple listening sessions got longer.
Like you I have kit aspirations and I always wanted another 250 having been blown away in the eighties by a C/B 250 replacing a 110.
I have been told that the match with my dear old 102 supported by NAPSC and C/B Hi Cap is not good. But what the hell, my Intro’s could do with a treat!
A hankering is good when you have the confidence in a product you know will make a difference, it would not be in the hierarchy if it doesn’t.
Really pleased with your reply, source first always that’s why I added the XPS, Hi Line and Power Line Lites.
If you are aiming for an NC setup I’d trade your NDX2 for the NSS 333. That way you upgrade your source and when later adding the NAC 332 and NAP 350s it should all come together.
The XPS DR is a very good upgrade for the NDX2, though the 555 PS is better again. But, given your goal of a 332/300 I’d say your best option is to go for a NSS 333 to replace the NDX2 now. That would give you the better source now with the rest of your system, then you can swap in the 332 followed by the 300’s later.
A left field option is to go with the old classic NAP300, which is effectively mono blocks anyway and add a XPS or 555 to your NDX2 and keep the 282, all of which would be considerably cheaper (leaves budget to go 252 or 552 later on….).
Thanks everyone for the advice given so far. Your feedback has helped steer my long term upgrade path into a new direction than originally planned.
Given my authorised budget of around 2k, does anyone have any further thoughts or feedback on my original proposal or should I just hold onto the cash and wait?
Hi Mike nothing more than making it a priority to upgrade the NDX2 first, rather than my original plan which was to upgrade with a 555ps when the opportunity of a good deal arose.
If you are reasonably confident of your longer term system then using your budget to get there is going to be more efficiently accomplished by waiting until your cash pile is sufficient to make significant forward steps.
Have you listened to the NC range? The sound signature is different to OC. Whether you prefer it or not is a personal thing. If you do then it is a good destination to strive for
The NDX2 - with 555PS - is good enough to suit both your current amps/speakers, and then the 332/350s. Otherwise, waiting until the trade-in on the NDX2 - plus your available cash - gets you a 333 might work better for you. Would pre-loved be an option??
Having said this, most people who have heard both would say a NDX2 + 555PS beats a bare 333….
Pre-loved is certainly an option. Not had the opportunity to home demo the new classic range, however I have listened to them all be it at Hifi shows which I appreciate is less than ideal.
I have almost exactly the same Naim kit as you, having upgraded this year from a simple 2-box NDX2/SN3. I upgraded because I wasn’t satisfied with the SQ. I now am satisfied - very much so.
I have a FraimLite but the identical full Fraim is on offer at Holburn Audio in Scotland and I keep thinking about trying to px my otherwise identical Fraimlite, but it’s probably an unnecessary extravagance.
I have just the one HiCap DR with my 282 so, inevitably, I wonder what adding a second would bring. They are hard to track down now and prices are holding up. There is also the possibility of a Supercap DR, but they are definitely hard to find and very expensive. I think I will stick with the one HiCap DR on the basis that I am now happy with my system.
In my opinion the obvious and sensible upgrade for you is an XPS DR for the NDX2. You would then have one of Naim’s ‘balanced’ systems. For me the XPS DR did not bring as much of an improvement as going from SN3 to 282/250DR but it was an improvement. I suspect that the NDX2 is intended to be used with an external PS so the built-in one is just a starting point.
If you want to end up with New Classic (as you stated), then stop buying Old Classic boxes. It’s as simple as that. Every NC box is an upgrade on what you currently have, so start transitioning.
You could always start selling off what you have as it’s all still just continually depreciating and buy a second hand pair of 350’s driven by an Atom HE. Then slowly add pieces as money allows. You’d be surprised.
I know it doesn’t directly answer your question, but I found adding an XPS DR to my NDX2 and a second HiCap DR to my Nac 282 both made a substantial improvement. In my case the xps came first, followed much later by the second hicap.
But I’ve no intention of doing more than servicing kit as needed now as I’m extremely happy with my current system.
If you were staying with the OC then I would argue strongly for a Supercap DR as it makes a terrific upgrade to the 282 certainly more effective than ancillaries such as stand or cables. A 555ps on the NDX2 is also a good shout but if you want to move to NC then as others have said you need to be certain whether to aim for 200 or 300 series and then start trading in.
