XPSDR Vs 555 non-DR

[JonnySidemouth]

I have an xps-dr powering my nds and it is sublime!! To avoid the associated expense I will NOT be listening to an nds with 555, dr or not

[trickydickie]

That’s probably wise. The difference between the XPS DR and 555 DR is substantial!

[JonnySidemouth]

… as is the cost…

[Mike_S]

I’ve a used 555 PS on my NDX2, so I’m sure you can take one for the team and find one for your NDS

[JonnySidemouth]

I think there may be some confusion as to who is coaching the team I am locked in to, in any case the transfer (of cash) window is now closed

[Vauxhall]

I don’t have experience on the NDX2, but when the XPSDR was released I tried one on my CDS3 and it did give a noticable lift over the non-DR version I had at the time. However, the 555 non-DR was transformational, in a way that I liked and could not ignore, so I waited until I could afford one.
Obviously now the question is, would you like what the 555 does for your NDX2? And that could only be answered by hearing it,
Paul.

[JonnySidemouth]

I just can’t grasp a sense of ‘bargain’ or even value for money when an old transformer costs £2500-£3k and a beer one £4500! Having said that I can’t find any non dr ones for sale below high £3000’s - I struggle with the difference in sq offered costing several grand - am I on my own?

[BBWan]

This is really useful thank you. I’ve read how amazing the 555 is on many occasions from people, hence why I was wondering if in non-DR guise it would still outperform an XPSDR. The added benefit of the 555, as pointed out by @ElMarko, is that when I eventually go to ND555 (I’ve stopped using words like maybe…who am I kidding right!), I don’t have to upgrade the PS at the same time. Obviously an ND555 deserves a 555DR (or two) but from a financial standpoint it eases the transition a little.
I’ve found a mint 555 (non-DR) for under £3k from a source I trust, which is what got me thinking in the first place.
Really appreciate everyone’s views, but has anyone else out there ever compared 555 nonDR with XPSDR on an NDX2?

[MDS]

A few years ago I did that comparison on my nDAC in home demo over a week. In my view the 555PS was miles better than the XPSDR. Indeed, the improvement of the XPSDR over my then XP5XS PSU wasn’t that great but the 555PS took the performance into a different league. Of course, a later DR conversion on the 555PS moved the performance up another level but that’s another story.

[BBWan]

That’s great feedback thanks @MDS . I find it hard not to believe that a non-DR 555 doesn’t outperform or at the very least isn’t the equal of a XPSDR from a sonic point of view. Plus like I (and others) say, it opens the upgrade door…

[trickydickie]

Just remember that some people are relaying their success using older generation kit which was launched pre DR. There are quite a few accounts of non DR 555’s being preferred on the NDAC over the DR version for example.

It would be interesting to learn of people’s experiences with the 2nd generation kit which was designed with DR in mind from the beginning.

[Dunc]

As the ndx doesn’t use all the power lines a 555ps has to offer, so in effect you are wasting part off it, plus a dr power supply has much better regulation boards over a non dr power supply, i would certainly go for the xps dr power supply.
As apart from a bigger transformer in the 555, that you’re not using all off it anyway, what else is different apart from the separate burndy cables, which again you will only use one?

People are very quick to spend your money and always go big, but even naim say xps, so once again that’s what i would do

[ChrisSU]

@Dunc

As the ndx doesn’t use all the power lines a 555ps has to offer, so in effect you are wasting part off it…

That’s true, but you are already wasting all of the internal power supply in the NDX. This is just one of many redundant parts of a Naim system which are an inevitable part of the upgrade path for many.
Some people seem to lose sleep over this. Best to just judge with your ears in my opinion.

[Dunc]

I agree, but can’t really see what gains will be had over a xps dr, as the gains to be had with a 555 is the separate burndy cables, more power lines and with this a larger transformer, 2/3’s of this you won’t use ever on a ndx.
Plus throw in a non dr into the mix and can’t see why you would want to go that way at all ?

[MDS]

@trickydickie

Just remember that some people are relaying their success using older generation kit which was launched pre DR. There are quite a few accounts of non DR 555’s being preferred on the NDAC over the DR version for example.

It would be interesting to learn of people’s experiences with the 2nd generation kit which was designed with DR in mind from the beginning.

I think I posted about this a few years back but to summarise, when I tried a 555PSDR against 555PS on my nDAC, I preferred the non-DR version. The DR version seemed a bit ‘too much’ . But, at that time I was running a 282/SCDR into 250 (non DR). A few years later after the 282/SC had been replaced by 552DR and the 250 replaced by a 300DR, I tried the DR version of the 555 again and my preference was reversed. I concluded that there was some synergy in a number of components in the system being ‘DR’, plus the 552DR and 300DR was much more capable of handling the extra information that the 555PSDR was allowing the nDAC to produce.

As always, trust your ears rather than what seems logical.

[ChrisSU]

Hypothesizing and trying to quantify this stuff never works for me. Not that it’s wrong to try to figure out how things work (you could even say the same thing about networking ) but I suspect the only meaningful answer will come from listening tests.

[Suedkiez]

@JonnySidemouth

If a manufacturer suggests preventative servicing every, say, ten years or so this will ensure that equipment is serviced BEFOE it is more likely to break down with no reason it won’t go on for years after

While I agree in general, for regulated amps it’s different.

Help me understand Naim amp heirarchy

Regulated amps definitely need servicing within the recommended service period (8-10 years for the NAP250). Because a regulated amp is effectively two amps - where one regulates the other - at any point where components start to fall off spec over time, the resulting drop in performance is far more marked than with an unregulated design. At best, performance just goes south, but at worst it can sometimes get to the point where it could take out a driver if left too long.

[Vauxhall]

I have no idea, and don’t care, if my CDS3 uses all of the power lines available in the 555ps,because the improvement it brought to my system, over and above the XPSDR level, was worth waiting for.
BBWan has indicated that they can source either PS for the same cost, so I’m not sure where the “People are quick to spend your money” accusation fits into this particular discussion,
Paul.

[Vauxhall]

I recall auditioning, and rejecting my dealer’s recommendation of a HiCap upgrade when I had a 202/200 combination as it was just “too much”, but when I changed the 202 for a 282 the HiCap actually refined the sound in a very melodic way and was a very obvious upgrade.
It is all too easy to upset the balance of a system with just one component change, even the obvious or logical ones, so if you can’t pre-audition, be prepared for disapointment
Paul.

[Mike_S]

@Dunc

I agree, but can’t really see what gains will be had over a xps dr, as the gains to be had with a 555 is the separate burndy cables, more power lines and with this a larger transformer, 2/3’s of this you won’t use ever on a ndx.

I think it’s the same single Burndy in both options. Certainly with the DR versions, the 555 is quite a bit better with my NDX2 than the XPS was - more refinement and resolution being the game changers. But I’d only go second hand for value for money at a system level with the NDX2.