NNP02 Box & NS01 Audio Output

Posted by: What's My Name on 01 December 2011

Why the strange "non-Naim" box for this unit ? I'm sure it could have gone into the normal shoe box case to match other Naim components. Appreciate it can be hidden, etc. but then again you don't have to. What a shame and a big miss IMO.

 

Moan over, been toying about different directions on CD source. Would like to keep the entry price to around 2K (GBP) with possibilities for updagres later to achieve the best quality sound:

a) CD5XS, probably about the same as my CDII sound quality wise. Possible to upgrade with PS & nDAC & PS for nDAC but that starts to get expensive....

b) UnitiServe, bonus of network server plus CD player into local stereo. Can purchase a cheap DAC (200 GBP budget) to start with then get the nDAC later. Can upgrade the DAC with a PS as well

c) NS01, bonus of network server plus CD player. Can connect directly to my amp with the analogue out then get the nDAC later. I'm sure this is a better bit of kit than the US i.e. better transport at least

 

One question I had is how will the NS01 sound using the analogue out directly to my pre-amp (152XS) compared to my current CDII ? I could take a small drop in quality for a while knowing the nDAC was comming at some point, I know the NS01/nDAC would be far better than my CDII

Posted on: 01 December 2011 by Manu

NNP02 are shipped in normal Naim box.

 

As you said, you will experience a drop to CD5i type quality using NS01 analog output, but when you will add the DAC, ...

 

In the meantime, you will better use the NS01's digital output to NNP02 (SPDIF or StreamNet); it is better than its analog.

 

 

 

Posted on: 01 December 2011 by What's My Name

As in the case - sorry for the conusion. It a half size but looks nothing like the other Naim cases.

 

Looks like I might be finding out how much of a drop as think I'll pull the tigger on the NS01. The price means it is too good to not. Maybe I can still get a cheap DAC to keep me going if the analogue out is that bad. That said I thought that these analogue out's were used to put music into other rooms in a multi-room system. I'd be disapointed if I paid all that money for a multi-room system and it didn't sound good. Maybe I'm just trying to convience myself the analogue quality will be good on the NS01.

 

The NS01 would be plugged into my main stereo (no DAC at the moment). The NNP02 would be in a different room, although due to the non-matching case I'd be looking at another unit which matches the other Naim equipment for looks.

Posted on: 01 December 2011 by Manu

So in the NNP02 room you will have great music. For the room where the NS01 should sit, you have of course the option to use a DAC, but the analog output is not ''so bad'' as you say...

 

In my view, the way to go is to use all Naim servers (except the HDX) as network servers and not as local players. Playback should be done with a network player (ND5XS, NDX...). NS01 or UnitiServe work great with a DAC, but it is even better when they stream to a quality player. HDX is the Naim server unit designed as a local player (as well as a network unit).