ND5XS or NAIM DAC+squeezebox or olive 03HD

Buy the Naim DAC unless you have nothing remotely decent to feed it.

Just to confuse things: you'll have to get a different powersupply for the sbtouch for it to be worthwhile.

The standard wallwart just introduces too much noise into the system, and manifests itself as too much treble energy, which is just essentially noise, and 0 bass.

Go with the ndxs.

I'd go with the DAC - well I would say that 'cos I did. Wonderful piece of kit. 

Guy: what's your transport?

I'd go for the ND5XS, great product that offers all you want in a single box. An ideal partner for your XS pre/power based system too. I am sure the SQ will be very good, certainly around CD5XS level, possibly better, anyways, good enough to enjoy it a lot. Nice and simple. Simple, if you have a network and UPNP server set up and this is what you want.

nDAC is good too, potential for better SQ, depending an what you feed it with. You could partner it with a ZP90 or SB Touch, both have better software, judging by people's comments about n-Stream, but Naim will improve things over time, so it's more of a temporary issue IMV. The nDAC won't offer all you want though, plus you may not even feel the need for it once you've added the ND5 to your set up. There is always the next level up, where do you stop? Something to think about... and your budget.

Good luck

tp

A good source will benefit to any decent amplification system, I'm using a Naim DAC on a Nait XS and can't be happier of the investment I've done.

IMO, you should seize your chance for the DAC, it works already great with a Squeezebox Touch as a digital source for it. You could upgrade the Touch for a ND5XS later if you really want to, that's what one of my friend did this past week-end. He already own the nDAC for a little less than a year now, and will pick up his brand new ND5XS for it this upcoming wednesday.

So whatever option you'll choose, there's great chances those two will end together anyway. So choose the one you're really craving for. Have a good night sleep on it.

Bye.

Stoik,

I doubt your friend can have one on Wednesday.

The SBtouch into nDAC is a great source for sure. For what I recall from previous posts, when used to generate digital signal only (you have to disactivate analog out and other functions) , the SBtouch does not benefit from an external PS.

Is it possible to use a mac mini as a streamer for the nDAC? How is it done? Can it be used headless without a screen?

What about an Olive 3HDO as a streamer for the nDAC?

What power supply did you suggest for the SB touch?

The budget I need for the demo-nDAC + SB Touch is still less than the budget I need for the ND5XS (+FM/DA module). I could almost buy a Olive 03HD + the demo-nDAC for this budget

Yes, that's possible. I am using a 2010 Mac Mini server and an nDac that way. You need a USB/SPDIF converter (I am using Hiface Evo). In addition you need software to play the music. I am using Pure Music (which works together with iTunes). The signal flow is as follows:

Mac Mini (with Pure Music / iTunes) --USB--> Hiface Evo --SPDIF--> nDac --> Nait XS

You can control the Mac Mini headless. Therefore I am using an iPod touch and Apples Remote app. Works perfectly.

And does it sound as good or better than from your CD player (and what CD player do you use?)?

I own a CD5XS which is also connected to the nDAC. IMO the mac mini / pure music sounds a little bit more detailed and transparent. But the difference is not big. I expect a better sound from a dedicated streaming client like the ND5XS (which would mean that the ND5XS is clearly better than the CD5XS). But I didn't listen to the ND5XS so far. Besides the sound I enjoy the convenience of beiing able to control my entire music collection with my iPod.

Yes you could. There are many options out there that will sound pretty much the same through the nDAC, give or take a bit here and there. I wouldn't get hung up about squeezing the last bit of SQ from whichever option, for me it would be more about what type of solution or brand you want to end up with. My answer to that question would be Naim, everything else is a compromise and there is a good chance you will want to exchange your SB/Sonos/Olive/MacMini at some stage with a Naim streamer. If you are happy to buy both the nDAC and ND5 in the long term, go for the nDAC now. If you want to keep your box count to a minimum and don't want to spend that amount of money, I'd wait and get the ND5XS instead. Whether the nDAC improves the  ND5 or not isn't the question, it will, but do you actually need/want it? It'd say only, if you listened to it first or spent enough time here reading about it. The ND5XS will be plenty fine with the rest of your system, on its own and for a long, long time, if you chose so. Anyways, never a good idea to make a decision under time pressure, if you're not sure about what you want or the other options available to you. 

Having said that, are you even sure you want to go down the streaming road? It can be a bumpy one and not everything that shines at first sight turns out to be gold. I hardly use my Sonos, much prefer putting on a CD, maybe that will change one day, but not so far. From that perspective, getting the nDAC now and playing around with a cheaper streaming option could be a smart move, rather than investing all your money into an ND5XS. If in the end you don't want to stream your music, you could aways sell your CD5i and get a s/h CD5XS instead to partner your nDAC.

For streaming: Sonos ZP90 modified with a Rick Cullen board by Wired 4 Sound

For CDs: Meridian G08.2 on loan, but a delight to use. 

The SB Touch is pretty good: probably better than a vanilla ZP90, but not heard SB Touch in my system. 

I can also use a Mac through MF V-Link which sounds pretty good too. 

(Sounds OK, but not great without the V-Link) 

Of the ways I can do it, I think the Meridian is best SQ and Sonos best to use. 

Looked at the Olive, but was not impressed by its build or user interface. 

Didn't hear it with an external DAC, but it sounded like a midi-system component using it own DAC. 

All the best, Guy

I went reading again our chat, and you're right. It's going to be thursday.

Bye.

That is exactly why you should get the nDAC.  You can always find other ways to feed the nDAC until you find the perfect digital source whether that is an NDX, Serve, Qute, CDP, PC or other.

-Patrick

Hello again, in the meantime I have decided to buy the Naim DAC together with the CD5 XS (which benefits from the DAC upgrade). Remember I have the 152/155 XS combo and Jean Marie Reynaud Bliss speakers.

Since I was anyway planning to invest in a mac mini (which will be in another room however) and a MB air, the shop advised me to use the mac mini for streaming. I would than buy a Apple TV2 to put in my network and connect the TV2 with the nDAC with an Audioquest Optilink 3 cable.

Do you think this will be better than the squeezebox touch (with for example the Best of two worlds power upgrade)?

That's the other side of the coin. you can always find a nDAC for 2/3

well, the edge of the coin predicts ANY product that has been around for a bit will start showing up on the used market.  This applies to the precious ND5x which basically NO ONE has heard yet except for yourself of course.

The DAC is an upgrade to everything Naim makes with a digital output.  I cant see why this isn't the first box to get rolling.

I suppose a solo ND5x vs a PC fronted DAC is in order.

-Patrick

Will there be a big difference between an Apple TV and SB for feeding the nDAC?  I suspect not. 

If there is one I would guess the SB prevails.

Although if you like iTunes and Remote app and you dont use FLACs, maybe the Apple route is best.

-Patrick

Hi

I saw in another thread that you did a lot of comparing. The apple TV2 into the DAC sounded flat. This sounds horrible to me (having spend a lot of money today...). Do you see any particular reason for it (cable,...). Sinec I now have decide for the nDAC and CD5 XS, I wonder what you see as a great alternative for the ND5XS.

- The Apple TV2 with other cables?

- A second mac mini with another kind of connection into the DAC (running headless than)

- A squeezebox with seperate power supply (did you test that into the DAC also maybe in the past?)

- an olive 03HD

- a NAD C446

....

I did not buy the DAC only because it is cheap, but mainly because I prefer spending this kind of money on a great DAC than on a streamer. I also thought that would make the biggest difference in sound quality.

A Vortexbox - give it a google

Alternatively: Mac/Wirewold USB Cable/MF V-Link/Glass Optical/Naim DAC 

(Avoid the Mac optical out - cheap chip and lots of jitter) 

I prefer Optical cables where a computer is involved, but would always go for Glass ones rather than Plastic Fibre. 

All the best, Guy