Source of the Music Files Afftects the Sound Quality - ND5 XS

Posted by: bb7668 on 01 March 2012

I compared the sound produced by the Naim ND5 with different sources/input  of music file.  Specifically, I notice that, for the same song:-

 

1.  When the file is from a USB thumb plugged into the front panel of ND5, the background is generally quieter (or "darker") and the sound is a bit softer by comparison.

 

2.  If the music file is streamed from the NAS, it sounds a hint more aggressive and the sound stage is narrower.

 

Further, I also find that the lan cable connecting between the NAS and ND5 affects the sound generated.  I am now using a cat. 7 cable and some mention that cat. 6 is actually more balance.

 

Just wonder if someone share the same experience.

Posted on: 01 March 2012 by cat345
Originally Posted by bb7668:

I compared the sound produced by the Naim ND5 with different sources/input  of music file.  Specifically, I notice that, for the same song:-

 

1.  When the file is from a USB thumb plugged into the front panel of ND5, the background is generally quieter (or "darker") and the sound is a bit softer by comparison.

 

2.  If the music file is streamed from the NAS, it sounds a hint more aggressive and the sound stage is narrower.

 

Further, I also find that the lan cable connecting between the NAS and ND5 affects the sound generated.  I am now using a cat. 7 cable and some mention that cat. 6 is actually more balance.

 

Just wonder if someone share the same experience.

I have replaced cat5 with cat6 from the cable box to router and into computer and squeezebox. I believe this is a low cost upgrade and it narrows the gap in sound quality between local FM stations heard through the fm tuner and the squeezebox.

Posted on: 01 March 2012 by Harry

With the HDX into nDAC/555PS I have not noticed a difference. It could be that the streamers are somehow better able to highlight such differences (for me digital interconnects all sound different so far) or it could be that our hearing is different. Either way, if you can hear a difference and have settled on your preferred arrangement, it's all good.

 

I sat and listened to a different release (to the one I usually listen to) of a favourite album last night. It was by all my subjective measures an inferior recording. But I still enjoyed the music and let it play out. On another day I would become irritated and hit stop. On balance I prefer it when I'm less critical but the mood takes me differently on different days.

Posted on: 01 March 2012 by Guido Fawkes

I cannot hear any difference between Ethernet cables using a UnitiQuite, nor can I hear a difference replacing my Vortexbox with an alternative NAS. I can hear a difference if I use the S/PDIF or a USB stick though. But I can't tell FLAC from ALAC from WAV from AIFF without looking at the file extension, but I can tell stork from butter (butter doesn't stand on one leg). 

 

If I burn a CD and play in the CDX2 then I can't even tell a Sony CD-R from a TDK CD-R. 

 

But I could hear a difference between NDX/XPS and NDS/555PS .... 

 

Life can be strange, but audio is stranger ...