CDS3 vs Userve SSD/Netgear NAS/DAC/555ps/NDX/XPS2

Strange world!. I have the userve/nDac/555PS/netgear equipment, and after one listening session, I retired and sold the CDS3. To this day, some 10 months on I can still hear the superiority over the CD player on virtually every album I play. I  do use Chord Sarum, but doubt that this would account for the differences we hear.

Gerry

It depends on what your put a focus on.

nDAC-based system is definitely more resolving than CDS3.

This hi-fi measure may make up your mind in a second.

But CDS3 is more analogue and more forgiving for old records more balanced tonally to my liking.

I guess vinyl lovers will prefer CDS3 presentation to nDAC. But nDAC is very smooth on hi-res btw.

AMA, i have seen you say this before. For me the NDAC with the 555PS with careful cable dressing and on Fraim (yes it all seems to add to the effect) provides a very organic and analogue like sound, and if I am honest more so than my late CDS3. The sound is closer to my vinyl and that FM analogue feel which is why i love my nDAC/555PS. I find no trace of glare or brightness which so often plagues digital audio. (But then I go to some length to remove/mitigate RFI)

Simon

That is very true,but additionally the background is one of total silence, and the bass is much better defined and extended.

As you note, a good Hi-res recording is something else.

Gerry

Hi Steve,

They are 2 metres apart and 10cm from the back wall. Sound wise they are better some 20 cm from the rear wall, but aesthetically better closer to. 

Gerry

I have not yet permanently retired my cds3 but it is currently gathering dust as its 555ps is being used on the NDAC. I too am enjoying the Unitiserve SSD with the NDX/XPS2, Also using the DC1,

I haven't tried any direct comparisons as I would need to get another 555ps to do this effectively but needless to say the streaming part sounds great and is far more convenient than cd replay. Shame the NSTREAM app is not as good as the NSERVE app but hopefully it will be updated soon,

Simon

Steve, I put the chokes around the DC1 between NDX and  nDAC. The difference was subtle but I add chokes until I hear no difference, and  seem to increase the HF resolution and sounds more organic. It's hard to describe, it just improved the sound.
The chokes are ferrites and clamp around the coaxial SPDIF lead (DC1)
When I connected the ndac to ndx, I found the choke on the Ethernet cable had no real effect, unlike when I was using the NDX internal DAC.
Simon

You still haven't actually said how many and where you got them. I'd be interested in trying this so what make do you recommend please.

Cheers

Graham

Could be your piece of nDAC was better than mine or ... your piece of CDS3 was not good enough  

With all due respect to hi-fi measures and prat, nDAC/555PS is not the most analogue-sounding digital source I had auditioned -- at leads on Red Books. I like the way nDAC rocks btw. It deserves to front the best electronics and speakers. But if you are looking for more vinyl-type performance there is a number of options (more expensive than nDAC/555PS).

We'll come back to this story later on when NDS comes out or when you do A/B test against KDS1  

I prefer Mac Mini + Naim DAC/555PS to CDS3.

However, the Naim DAC/555PS is very much better than the NDX in my humble opinion.

Mac Mini + Naim DAC/555PS sounds quite similar to what I get from my LP12, more so than a traditional CD player. I think the Mac Mini + Naim DAC/555PS gets you closer to what was recorded in the studio than the CDS3 - especially with 24 bit reproduction, but the CDS3 remains a superb player and very nice to listen to. 

The Linn DS players I've heard did not get close to a Naim CDP or the LP12 and sounded very digital to me (whatever that means). 

May I ask you if you have auditioned Linn KDS1?

To my ears the nDAC/555Ps combination while slightly more detailed and dynamic than the CDS3, lacks the latters euphonic qualities which makes the CD player very easy on the ear. Vocals are particularly beguiling on the CDS3, which the NDX/nDAC/555PS doesn't quite capture. So on balance I'd rather wait for something significantly better (in the form of a NDS I guess), preferably with an inbuilt DAC to reduce the box count to two.

The Linn KDS has a different presentation to Naim. Plenty of detail but not quite as engaging as Naim's current top CD players and streaming solutions IMO.

I've yet to hear any digital product, even with hires, that is an equal to or betters than the current LP12 SE.

You may and I haven't.

The Akurate is the most expensive Linn DS unit I have heard. 

Does the KDS1 sound very different from the Akurate DS? 

All the best, Guy

Graham

Sorry - I must have missed your question. I currently use two x HF chokes on my DC1 - maximum attenation in the 2MHz to 30MHz range. I am a licenced radio operator so I had several in my toolbox , and I got originally from a radio component supply store such as Nevada. However do a search on Google for 'Ferrite Clamp' and you will see many suppliers - both specialist as well as usually eBay. Chose the diameter that matches your cable. If not exact get slighlty bigger and put a blob of BluTak in clamp.

Simon

PS AMA - I look forward to hearing the new nDAC2 or NDS when they do finally appear. I am quite intriqued to see how Naim will position them - and see if they have a lesser reliance on the external PSUs. Sonically I am intriqued at what they will bring as the NDX/nDAC/555PS can be one of the most impressive replay systems I have heard - given due care and attnetion of all the bear traps I mention earlier - and really does remind me of the audio expierience I had during a stint of studio Engineering at the BBC. I am sure my amplification, speakers, and room helps here as well....

AMA,

From what I have understood about your sonic preferences from your posts, I guess you will like Ayon network player very much, possibly more than KDS. I see that they don't have a distributor in UAE; the nearest one is in Istanbul. In fact, the Istanbul dealer has both devices side by side.

I look forward to hearing the new nDAC2 or NDS when they do finally appear. I am quite intriqued to see how Naim will position them - and see if they have a lesser reliance on the external PSUs.

 

 

Winky aside.  Since when do Naim's upper end products not come with/require a MANDATORY PSU e.g. 252, 300, 552, 500, 555, CDS3 etc....

I would expect the NDS to come bundled with an NDSps.

lets say a 552 is $15K and the PSU is $5K.  Are you saying you want them to combine both in a single box for $20K?

What is the difference between the two other than an extra box???

Now when Naim users state that the two box 552 is MUCH better, would that make you feel better?

Also, just because other mfrs dont find a benefit in external power supplies, does it follow that Naim shouldn't as well?

What is wrong with options?

Why cant Linn fit everything required into the LP12?  Im sure they could but they found it better to divorce the motor and preamp from the deck.

-Patrick

Simon,

i hear you....

I just personally love external PSUs otherwise I wouldn't have been able to buy the nDAC.

-p

Simon

Sorry - I must have missed your question

Sorry I nearly missed your reply!

Thanks for the info.

Graham