I was using a Nova, but got tempted into upgrading and for the last 18 months have had an NDX2 going into NAC282 and NAP 250DR. I still felt that with streaming I wasn’t hearing what I could from my Xerxes 20+ turntable. An XPSDR on the NDX2 didn’t seem to do much to my ears, so I thought I would try an external DAC. I bought a Chord Hugo TT2 and am very impressed. The dynamics seems greater, the detail and the sound stage are much better. I set up the NDX2 with outputs via DIN and Hiline to the 282, and via a £30 BNC cable to the TT2 and Chord Epic RCA cables to the 282 so I could swap quite quickly (using the output settings of the NDX2 and different channels on the 282) and compare the 2 setups. My other half has even commented umprompted that it sounds like sound is coming from beyond the speakers at present!
I had previously tried an XPS DR on the NDX2 and not noted a great change, so the TT2 seems good VFM for me.
I wonder what other people think of the NDX2 DAC. Is it just a question of personal preference? Could I have achieved a similar improvement with a 555PS (though that would have been extra cost)? Would different cabling have altered the comparison?
The NDX2/TT2 combo is sounding so good I am wondering how much the 282/250 combo is contributing to the sound, and whether I would notice a ‘downgrade’ to SN2 or 3. Simplifying box count and cabling would help with limited space.
I too like what the Chord DACs do for the NDX2. I used a Mk1 Hugo for a while, then Dave, into 282/250DR. I found the Hugo to be quite a modest step up from the from the bare NDX2, but still worthwhile at £400 used. Dave, on the other hand, was a huge leap up, and far outweighed the benefits of an XPSDR.
There are a few setup tips that are worth experimenting with:
Keep the DIN cable between NDX2 and 282. It no longer carries a signal of course, but it maintains the correct grounding of the amp through the source (unless you have another grounded source such as a Naim CD player) although you don’t need an expensive Hiline for this.
Try reducing the output level of the DAC a bit. This sounded better to me, and also made the 282 volume pot easier to use.
Don’t put the DAC or its switching power supply too close to the Naim boxes, especially the R side of the Naim boxes where the transformer usually is.
If you want to free up some cash, consider an ND5XS2. It sounded the same as the NDX2 to me when using the SPDIF out.
I tried a Supernait for a while. No way would I take the step down from the 282/250, it was way behind. Yes, I hated the clutter of a 3 box preamp, but that was not an acceptable solution for me.
I didn’t rate the DAC in the NDX2 highly either. I felt a TT2 was way ahead of it. I eventually gave up on the NDX2 as a result.
Get a 555ps dr mate… total game changer in my opinion.
I thought the XPS was a very minimal upgrade… The 555 PS will make it sound how you imagined the NDX2 to be.
Found exactly the same - getting a 555PSDR was a big improvement though. Can’t say whether a Dave would be better, but have heard that if you go down the Dave route, you could swap the NDX2 to an ND5XS2 for the same functionality, and save yourself some money for other things such as cables, switches etc.
Dave, personally I think the NDX2/555 pairing sublime, and never felt the need to try alternative DACS, but don’t bother with comparing any digital source with your Xerxes because the TT will present the music in an entirely different way, not necessarily better, or worse, just different.
Might change the interconnect between the pre-amp and NDX 2, made a huge difference for me when I replaced the NAIM cable with a Chord Sarum T.
I agree having done the same
Probably not a path many would take (it’s an out of sync “when the price is right” upgrade route beyond the ndx2)…but, 555DR followed by an upgrade to Chord Music DIN interconnect has incrementally astonished me.
I have just bought an XPS2 (for £1k) to power my NDX2 and I have heard a nice improvement to the sound. Well worth the outlay!
I can also share that 555DR PS makes a massive difference. Obvs keen to hear what an ND555 can offer above the NDX2 but I’m not financially set up to try it
Another plug for the 555 rather than an external Dac. Mine shares duties with a good LP12 and does pretty well.
Anyone here used a Teddy XPS is a discrete power supply with an NDX2? Are these products any good? Would it be anything like as good as a Naim XPS2, for example?
Thanks,
Dan
If they have they won’t be able to tell you as discussion of using non-Naim power supplies on Naim devices breaches forum rules.
Fair play - thought as much. I’m not familiar with that brand - but someone had an NDX2 listed with that particular power supply - so it piqued my interest…
No offence intended…
I had one with my NDX2…
Sold it after a few weeks lol
enough said
The upgrade to an ND555 wasn’t that much of an improvement in my opinion…
It’s definitely better. But, the ndx2 with a 555 ps is a great sounding piece of kit.
As I’ve said before the best upgrade I’ve heard on my path is when I plugged in the 555ps…Amazing.
Interesting comments so far. It’s good to hear other people’s experiences.
I would take it as:
- 555PS DR positive comments from people who have tried it. But still quite expensive at nearly £4000 used.
- Variable opinions of XPS DR.
- Quite a few people tried and happy with Chord Hugo TT2 or Dave. My first impressions were positive and the TT2 will stay for a while, but it is quite difficult setting up A comparisons where even simple things like volume are levelled.
- Only a couple of comments about different interconnects and some of these are quite expensive.
From my experience an external DAC is the way to go first.
A good DAC is on another level, plus you gain the advantage of physically separating the DAC and it’s PSU from the streamer.
You are still tied to the SHARC DSP with Naim 16x oversampling and clock, however the effect of the digital components is minimised.
You will also need a good quality BNC cable for the S/PDIF output.
The 555PS is a very good improvement on the NDX 2.
FWIW for a modest but worthwhile upgrade of NDX2, the 555PSDR move things forward… however you are ultimately limited by the analogue stages and DAC of the NDX2.. very good.. but can be bettered in terms of refinement and sheer emotion / musical communication (in my opinion)
As @ChrisSU says above, the complete game changer is feeding a high end DAC like DAVE with the NDX2.. game changer.. but more expensive…
If however you want to keep the distinctively smoothed and slightly veiled NDX2 analogue style but have it dig a little deeper then the 555PS might be the better approach.
I have ended up using my NDX2 with DAVE. I have sold my 555PS. I use my NDX2 analogue out as a backup should I need it.
The NDX2 is a cracking digital streamer …