Naim Dac - Bright?

I didn't find the nDAC bright at all with and without XPS2. On adding a 555PS I thought the voicing sounded brighter with a tendency to harsh on some recordings. Having lived with it for a few days I was ambivalent on unhooking and returning it. It was only when I went back to my old set up that the flat and less detailed presentation made the PS shine in its absence. I have since concluded that it's about recording quality first and foremost, if everything is hooked and set up optimally. You may be in a similar ball park. It's hard to say. I didn't find running in an issue with the nDAC.

For what that's worth.

Make's sense! it's digital music after all so I would assume if it's recorded or ripped substandard then the DAC isn't going to be merciful!

I find the Naim DAC to be brighter than my CD555. Given they are supposed to have the same DAC chips I would hope they would sound similar. To help tame the brightness I am using an Atlas Mavros cable rather than a Hiline.

I have a spare 555PS which I can add for serious listening.

I am using PA speakers in my pro system with the Naim DAC and XPS2 with almost 1000 watts of power. The speakers can be merciless with bright sources and recordings, but with the Naim DAC it is much less a problem than it was with the Weiss DAC2 or the Lavry DA10.

I would not consider the Naim DAC as bright at all.

My bare DAC is nowhere near as bright as a CDS2/XPS I listened to last weekend, for what this is worth.

quote:

I am using PA speakers in my pro system with the Naim DAC and XPS2 with almost 1000 watts of power. The speakers can be merciless with bright sources and recordings, but with the Naim DAC it is much less a problem than it was with the Weiss DAC2 or the Lavry DA10.

Was that a Weiss Dac2 via Firewire? Dac2 brighter than a Ndac is entirely contrary to my findings.

Weiss DAC2 using Firewire (Belkin Pure AV Firewire 4-6 cableand Granite Digital 4-6 FW converter plug, to get rid if the 5V power from the computer) connected with balanced XLR pro microphone cable (very high quality mic cable which is not harsh or bright at all) to my preamp and using SPDIF to the Naim DAC. Naim DAC/XPS2 connected to the same Macbook through HiFace / USB2 and a Vaunix laboratory USB hub and then to an RCA input of the same preamp using Hi-Line DIN-RCA cable. SPDIF cables: NAIM DC1 BNC-BNC (with RCA-BCN converter in case of the Weiss DAC2, I tried it as a Firewire-SPDIF converter too to be connected to the NAIM DAC.

Preamp: Parasound JC2, monoblock amps: Parasound JC1 (800W @ 4 ohm), speakers are 100 dB sensitive (/28,3V/10m/free air). Cables all mid priced pro XLR cables, Switchcraft XLR plugs and speaker cables with Kimber bananas, all cables from the same manufacturers, name is not really interesting.
Power cables: manufacturer supplied cheap grey mains cables for all the Parasounds, Power-Line for the Naim DAC and XPS2 and for the Weiss as well. Everything connected to the same Audience aR6 mains conditioner, except the two monoblocks, which are connected directly to the wall.

If a source or a recording bright this system will show it, however it shows it on a very friendly way, will not make the sound unlistenable. As a cross check, I tried to connect the Naim DAC with the same microphone cable based DIN - RCA DIY cable instead of the HiLine to the preamp, but it did not change the balance considerably, so I think my result does not show the difference between cables or other environmental variables, but show the difference between the DACs. Which is not a lot. I can happily live with any of the two DACs, the difference was not too big, but I felt the Weiss-path generally a bit brighter, not on an uncovenient way, just a bit differently balanced in my system. I was using the system with all sorts of volumes, late night quiet and very loud too, did not cause a change in the balance.

Sorry for the long post.

What kind of speakers are those?

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
What kind of speakers are those?

Danley SH50s.

Sorry.... i was joking about the 72 point font logo.

Originally they are a bit different... but one of my colleague changed the front...not for the better

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Would any nDAC owners view the DAC as being a bit bright?

No my Naim DAC came in black, the Chord DAC comes in lots of bright colours including red, yellow and green.

funny, but not as funny as this fella

I did several A/B between USB/nDAC/XPS and KDS on 16/44.

nDAC running through Linn Silver RCA and KDS through Cardas Reference XLR.

And KDS was always a bit smoother while nDAC was always a bit more forward. The difference is not annoying and not worth to make a noise as my LP12 is smoother than both of them
Given nDAC is better in transients and bass presentation my choice would be nDAC.

Recently I have found nDAC to be very smooth and closer to KDS on hi-res
Now I plan to arrange another nDAC vs KDS combat on hi-res.

Lose the silver. May ave had a hand in the findings.

A bright red DAC