HDX/DAC/555PS - I'm exhausted!
Posted by: gone on 09 February 2010
A furtive meeting at Rothersthorpe Services bagged me a DAC on Friday night - couldn't wait to get it home. A bit of cable reorganisation and it's ready to go - couldn't resist a quick listen before bed. Blimey, a very different presentation - even Signora Nero commented on the striking difference. Went to bed with the same excitement as a child on Christmas Eve.
Had some time on Saturday for a good session and also rearranged and optimised the cables - note to Naim - there's only a very small clearance between the Burndy and the Fraim with the DAC. Getting the HiLine and Burndy to relax and forget their last comfortable shapes is a pain but worth it.
Spent the next few hours deciding if this was a step forward. Not at all sure. Loads of detail, more bass than I'm used to, but an amazing imaging - not used to that either. More hi-fi?
But slowly I realised what was happening - the old cliche of 'hearing things I've not heard before' came to mind but there was more to it than that. It was the interest factor - my attention was drawn to things happening way down in the mix, and presenting things with a different balance.
But above all, it was the speed things were happening. Graceland was coming at me like Paul Simon had been drinking Red Bull, Modern Times made me want to dance and sing along with Bob - never done that before.
Came back to it on Sunday night - different again. Is this what people mean by 'burn-in'? Not been convinced about that before, but here was proof? Much more laid-back presentation today, but still the way my attention was grabbed is remarkable. For example, on Wish You Were Here, at the end of track 1 when the manic saxophone fades away in the background, I found myself hooked and following the sax playing, rather than noticing the crescendo of the machine throbbing.
Last night, much more settled - I'm really loving this, and tonight, it's truly excellent. <hyperbole alert> Streets ahead of HDX/555PS - this is way out there as a digital source. I've no idea if it's better than a CD555, as mine left home some time ago, but I've got a good feeling. Goosebumps on music where it's never happened before, and the timing is brilliant - I can hear backing musicians having fun.
Exhausted? I'll say. I've just been dragged around the floor by Steve Hackett.
Tried some hi-def tonight - stop press, Robert Plant can actually sing.
I have a feeling more is to come, but so far the results are, shall we say, positive.
Summary - great imaging (ooer), very detailed, very linear (digs out stuff in the background), very tight and well-timed (I guess that's the 555PS). But I reckon it keeps you fitter than a Wii
Cheers
John (typing on a laptop with tapping knees is tough)
Had some time on Saturday for a good session and also rearranged and optimised the cables - note to Naim - there's only a very small clearance between the Burndy and the Fraim with the DAC. Getting the HiLine and Burndy to relax and forget their last comfortable shapes is a pain but worth it.
Spent the next few hours deciding if this was a step forward. Not at all sure. Loads of detail, more bass than I'm used to, but an amazing imaging - not used to that either. More hi-fi?
But slowly I realised what was happening - the old cliche of 'hearing things I've not heard before' came to mind but there was more to it than that. It was the interest factor - my attention was drawn to things happening way down in the mix, and presenting things with a different balance.
But above all, it was the speed things were happening. Graceland was coming at me like Paul Simon had been drinking Red Bull, Modern Times made me want to dance and sing along with Bob - never done that before.
Came back to it on Sunday night - different again. Is this what people mean by 'burn-in'? Not been convinced about that before, but here was proof? Much more laid-back presentation today, but still the way my attention was grabbed is remarkable. For example, on Wish You Were Here, at the end of track 1 when the manic saxophone fades away in the background, I found myself hooked and following the sax playing, rather than noticing the crescendo of the machine throbbing.
Last night, much more settled - I'm really loving this, and tonight, it's truly excellent. <hyperbole alert> Streets ahead of HDX/555PS - this is way out there as a digital source. I've no idea if it's better than a CD555, as mine left home some time ago, but I've got a good feeling. Goosebumps on music where it's never happened before, and the timing is brilliant - I can hear backing musicians having fun.
Exhausted? I'll say. I've just been dragged around the floor by Steve Hackett.
Tried some hi-def tonight - stop press, Robert Plant can actually sing.
I have a feeling more is to come, but so far the results are, shall we say, positive.
Summary - great imaging (ooer), very detailed, very linear (digs out stuff in the background), very tight and well-timed (I guess that's the 555PS). But I reckon it keeps you fitter than a Wii
Cheers
John (typing on a laptop with tapping knees is tough)
Doesn't matter what it is. Software sounds different, PSs sound different, interfaces sound different. Build, positioning of components, wire routing, background processes can effect things. Building with this in mind and resources to do it with an open mind makes a difference. Who cares what you call it as long as it works.
James N, Tidy.
Joe Bibb, I never said that the HDX rips are better. I'll pull an HDX file onto the same drive as a DB rip at some point for that comparison to find out. What I said is that it sounds best from it's internal drive which I've also found isn't always the case with PCs. That isn't the same as saying it makes better copies than properly setup DB or EAC. How different the attached storage sounds may be PS, grounding, cable dependent. The best ones so far have been 2.5" drives that can be powered via the USB which is hinting that a better PS may help a standard HD. I still haven't found a stick I like as much either.
Can't wait until Munich and they show the streamer. I'll have played enough with network storage by then to have a clue what works for audio. That really has to fly in this market.
James N, Tidy.
Joe Bibb, I never said that the HDX rips are better. I'll pull an HDX file onto the same drive as a DB rip at some point for that comparison to find out. What I said is that it sounds best from it's internal drive which I've also found isn't always the case with PCs. That isn't the same as saying it makes better copies than properly setup DB or EAC. How different the attached storage sounds may be PS, grounding, cable dependent. The best ones so far have been 2.5" drives that can be powered via the USB which is hinting that a better PS may help a standard HD. I still haven't found a stick I like as much either.
Can't wait until Munich and they show the streamer. I'll have played enough with network storage by then to have a clue what works for audio. That really has to fly in this market.
which ripper is that.i use the ripnas it fits on a seperate shelf away from all my sources.it produces no noise at all. i use optical to connect to the naim dacquote:Originally posted by james n:quote:Also, try placing a computer on your hifi rack.
Seems to fit ok.
I AGEE THAT WHY THE DAC IS ON THE MARKET.quote:Originally posted by AllenB:quote:Originally posted by goldfinch:
But my point is,
Why put the player-audio device inside a noisy (EMI-RFI) computer when it is possible a two physical boxes approach: streamer/player (providing the cleanest digital out for the DAC) + NAS/Computer (for ripping and storing)?
Jose, point well made
I am sure Naim have done all they can to combine the 'computer' side of things in the HDX in the best possible way with the purpose built components and applying their engineering know-how to the build. The HDX dig out could well be a perfect partner for the Naim DAC .... at this time, I disagree, I reckon there are more 'perfect partners' out there, although I acknowledge there is a bit of leg work to find one's preferred feed.
I am sure the streamer / player, when released by Naim will also be a perfect match for the DAC in the Naim house sound, and to me it will be a much more attractive proposition (hopefully) than the HDX. Others will obviously disagree, but that's fine, that's OK.
Kind regards
Allen
But what if they show the rumored dedicated streamer at Munich?quote:Originally posted by AllenB:quote:Originally posted by goldfinch:
But my point is,
Why put the player-audio device inside a noisy (EMI-RFI) computer when it is possible a two physical boxes approach: streamer/player (providing the cleanest digital out for the DAC) + NAS/Computer (for ripping and storing)?
Jose, point well made
I am sure Naim have done all they can to combine the 'computer' side of things in the HDX in the best possible way with the purpose built components and applying their engineering know-how to the build. The HDX dig out could well be a perfect partner for the Naim DAC .... at this time, I disagree, I reckon there are more 'perfect partners' out there, although I acknowledge there is a bit of leg work to find one's preferred feed.
I am sure the streamer / player, when released by Naim will also be a perfect match for the DAC in the Naim house sound, and to me it will be a much more attractive proposition (hopefully) than the HDX. Others will obviously disagree, but that's fine, that's OK.
It will be interesting to find how the Qute performs as a streamer using the BNC dig out, bit of a waste with the other components in that particular unit, but it could also be a very good feed for the DAC.
Kind regards
Allen
If you read my posts here, I have not disagreed with them using computer bits. A good piece of kit is beyond the sum of it's parts. Amps all use transistors, speakers use drivers etc. It's not like there aren't also dedicated bits in there etc. I don't expect Naim to reinvent the Ethernet or rework how instructions work in a control environment. Make it work and sound good with a high level of build and user friendliness. They've done that and more options will follow. None of this comparison of bits speaks to it's performance in this context which to my ear is significantly better than anything built as a computer. This smacks again of the bit perfect or perfect sound forever arguments. There's apparently more to this than hard bits or soft bits
. Even the web sites that have promoted these views and were cited early on as evidence have mostly come around.Beats me other than sometime this spring. Just something I heard hinted at. Not sure it should be posted yet but hey, it hasn't been removed.quote:Originally posted by AllenB:quote:Originally posted by js:
But what if they show the rumored dedicated streamer at Munich?
All the better js, but when is the Munich show and which year?
