XPS DR upgrade underwhelming

Hi @akinoshima

Here is some good advice on relaxing Burndies:

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Burndies touching other burndies is ok? I have a highway of them between racks and they are horrible on dressing.

Ideally burndies shouldnā€™t touch anything, including each other. Easier said than done of course. Iā€™ve managed it in the past, but it was a real challenge. All you can do is your best.

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Itā€™s a compromise for me. I can have them relaxed hanging free but then they touch each other. I could add some foam between each but then I add mechanical stress. At least they fly free from the floor but only if I have the boxes with one empty level at the bottomā€¦

Why not try some foam? If it makes no difference you can get rid of it and be content with what you have, knowing that at least you tried it. Short lengths of pipe insulation work very well.

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Hi Kacper, can you explain this a bit further? Is Your preference for an xps only related to a set up with ndx2 or is this meant in a more general way. Based on opinions in this community, I am looking for a 555dr to connect to my nDac, but will probably not be able to listen at home first. Your views would be appreciated.

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Thanks @anon77199223 and @marcusman I have had the XPs for just over 2weeks and I have relaxed my Burndy. I have listened to a whole range of music on it. I plan to give it the weekend and then decide. I have 30 days within which to return it.

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We wish you all the best. Your ears/room/speakers(wallet) etc is all that matters.

Having the Burndy cable seated comfortably at both ends can be surprisingly rewarding. Enjoy.

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I always find Naim PS upgrades fall into two ā€˜chinā€™ camps:

  1. Chin Stroking. The XPS falls into this category. Sit back, listen hard, stroke your chin, nod and marvel at the subtle, nuanced uplifts.

  2. Chin hits the floor. The 555PS falls into this category. Enough said.

G

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We added a 555PSDR to our nDAC.

Wow. Certainly no buyers remorse.

Take everything @SimonDC said above about impact of XPSDR and add oodles of enjoyment.

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Hi @Robert3 ,
Yes, they are related to a set of XPS DR vs 555 PS DR and NDX2. After certain years with the NDX2 and XPSDR, I decided to buy an ND555. Therefore, the first thing I had upgraded was the 555PS DR.
After swapping PSU my thoughts were that something Iā€™m missing (maybe lack of low section,), which I really appreciate it when XPs Dr was there (harmony?).
Of course, it doesnā€™t sound bad or worse, it sounds different and I believe thatā€™s a matter of taste.

Cheers,
Kacper

The thing about the XPSdr on the NDX is that it changes the character in a way that is highly subjective to personal taste and the result also depends on the amp.

The NDX doesnā€™t get the love it deserves as a great Naim source. And if you enjoy the sound of crisp digital sources it can delight though not as forward as a CDX2. Now, adding the XPSdr makes the presentation more laid back and analogue sounding (I donā€™t mean vinyl. Maybe tape smoothness?). If thatā€™s your thing youā€™re likely to get a lot out of the upgrade. If not, youā€™re likely to prefer it without.

I mentioned amplification too. The slight mellowing brought by the power supply might also balance well with an aggressive preamp like a 282. But could (I imagine) bore the pants off you with a 52/252.

I love the slight old school analogue sound of the combination. And yes, mine was with a 282. To me, it suits the NDX greatly as itā€™s not the last word in digital detail and nuance but is a very musical source.

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This may just show many variables (including us and our rooms) are involved here.

As mentioned, I found adding XPSDR to NDX2 added little when using an 82 (precursor to 282 and equally forward and vigorous). Others clearly have different experiences of that combo.

Swapping from that 82 to my 52 didnā€™t make things ā€˜laid backā€™, but did add detail, delicacy and air. It also meant that the XPSDR could be heard by several listeners (including my old ears) to bring worthwhile benefits and only benefits to my NDX2.

The result is that my strongest recommendation is not for XPSDR, for NDX2 or for 52/ 252. Instead it is simply to try listening without prejudice on your own room and system and to make up your own mind. My answers may well not be your answers, and that doesnā€™t make any of us daft, deaf, deceived or delusional.

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I hope I didnā€™t give that impression.

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    1. Very well put.

Thatā€™s an excellent analogy @feeling_zen it sums up what I am hearing very well. The xps in my system and to my ears makes the music easier to listen to, so I think it might be staying.

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Thanks Kacper, it shows again that listening at home before buying is the only way to decide if something is an improvement or not. The challenge is how to do that with used items.

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Good decision. I have an XPSDR on my CDX2. I was without the XPSDR for a week a few years back as it blew its fuse and I was waiting for the new ones to arrive. I had only ever heard the bare CDX2 in the original shop demo (in 2008) as I purchased an XPS2 at the same time. So I powered the CDX2 and let it run in for a couple of days then listened. I was immediately struck by how much drier, narrower and less powerful it sounded. It still sounded good and all the detail was there but it was not as rewarding to listen to. I got used to the new presentation - as you do - and then the fuses arrived. Connecting up the XPSDR restored everything that was missing. You can try the same experiment (without the blown fuse of course!)

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Dealers who accept trade ins will usually keep lists of what customers are looking for. For example Iā€™m on the list if my dealer ever get an ndac in.

If it was something they still sold Iā€™m sure they would let me borrow a demo unit to see if I liked it then I could wait for them to get a trade in or want to sell one ex demo and pick one up.

It may be slightly more expensive than private sellers but the opportunity to trial at home and knowing they are there if something goes wrong is worth it to me.

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