Thanks for the thoughtful and detailed replies, very much appreciated.
I have a 555 PS on the nDac and it all sounds very nice, just chasing non existent rainbows I suppose and wondering if there is any improvements that could be made or whether I’m already at the summit.
I could add a Master Clock to the Mutec MC3+ USB, but I had a demo the other week of a high end CD player, pre, amp combo playing with and without a Master Clock and I couldn’t really hear that much difference, especially for the price.
Okay
Sorry, missed that you already had 555 PSU. Didn’t see that in your profile.
Sure. Seems you’re already max’ed out within the Naim ecosystem.
Innous Statement → (usb to SPDIF ) → nDAC + 555PS seems like a summit.
Another idea is trying the Innous Phoenix USB. For reclocking. But guessing the Mutec performs the same or similar function?
The only other implementation of DAC chip sets, that beats nDAC - within Naim ecosystem - is with the ND555. Which can also be improved upwards with 555PS x2
Otherwise, other option is to step outside of Naim ecosystem and try other propositions. Like Chord M-Scaler + Dave.
Lovely to chat, these past 24hours. All food for thought.
It’s past bedtime and we’re on the forum late again
The email I received from Darren stated “ sorry the ndac will have to go back to Naim there are a few upgrades they do as part of a service” no idea what those upgrades would be but that was his response to my enquiry.
Um. Upgrades aren’t strictly servicing. More of a modification to the design. Perhaps just software. And i would be intrested to know what changes these upgrades bring? @NeilS any ideas?
You don’t have to send back to change the software - you can upgrade that yourself via the USB port. Most likely there are some hardware upgrades, even if routing of wiring, when servicing - which is not that uncommon with Naim
Now that you mention it, even without an extra PSU on the nDAC, that just flowing of the music is a characteristic that has caught my ear several times already (on ND5 XS2 / DC1 / nDAC combo).
So nothing complex? And yes even i managed to put the final furmware release on my ndac. More curios as to why any modifications could not be handled by Darran. He has had all my service work except my 250 Olive- whichni wish id sent to him. And as an authorised service center such as Class A, they would have full access to the IP.
I have a rev 5 ndac. There is no way a Rev 2 dac could be modified to a Rev 5.
If I had a piece of hifi equipment I was happy with, there is no way I’d be letting a manufacturer modify it without explaining if and how the sound would change.
If the upgrade involved replacing components that have been found not to be reliable, that’s a different matter.
Surely the customer should have the option to choose a service without the upgrade.
Agree. A service just replaces degraded componants. Any modifications id hope are to enhance its electrical? safety. Naim of course will tell you it also enhances the sound. But it may not be your sound.
Btw, how do you tell the version of an ndac?
Yes and no, services may include implementing advisories of improvements to the layout and build as well as replacing components with a specific and limited performance life span and resetting biases which have drifted through aging components generally. This is not uncommon with high end products, such as hifi, cars, electronic instruments, cameras for example. But yes I am sure if you don’t wish these you can stipulate this when being serviced, as long as it’s not safety related.
As far so called ‘SQ’… I think one has to careful and understand to expect that a hifi product prior to service will have been changing its ‘SQ’ performance over many years … when it is serviced it will almost certainly sound different to you, you should expect some time to get comfortable with it again… though I suspect for the most part you will appreciate the improved clarity and performance from the get go.
If you send hifi equipment for a service, you’d do so because there was a drop off in performance. You’d expect it to sound, as it sounded when it was purchased new.
Naim’s mantra regarding servicing has always been. It will sound the same just as it did when it left the factory, new. Upgrading components where a no no.
The obvious difference in Rev 5 compaired to Rev 2, is the SPDIF input PCB is part of the main board. Rev 2 has a ribbon cable connecting the PCB’s.
The circuitary around the SPDIF inputs on Rev 5 has more components.
Exactly, but as performance slowly erodes from new upto a point where it starts to deteriorate more rapidly/obviously , you might well have forgotten what it sounded like when new as almost certainly it will be subtly different, and indeed might need to go through a degree of burn in / settling in again.
I doubt there would be upgrading components as you would be changing the design, unless of course the original that could have failed or be starting to fail, is not available, and an equivalent is used. The big headline example here used to be specific CD transports.
