NDac & NDX

Posted by: Alanwong on 20 October 2012

Hi,

Currently I have nDac+XPS with my CDx2, I interested to play streaming audio.

i am wondering if I sale out the nDac and get the NDX? Or need to kept my nDac with NDX to get a better sound?

Please advice.

Alan

Posted on: 20 October 2012 by Hook

Hi Alan -

I demoed an NDX with an eye towards replacing my DAC, and wound up keeping both.

I prefered the sound of the DAC's analog output, but fell in love with the NDX's ease-of-use and reliability. Also, the NDX's digital output sounded better than that of my PC's RME 9632 card in blind tests.

My current source is: NDX->DAC/555PS, and I am convinced it would take an NDS/555PS to better it.

Hopefully you can home demo before making any decision, as we all hear things differently. Good luck!

Hook

Posted on: 20 October 2012 by MangoMonkey

what does the rest of your system look like? (Amp, speakers?)

Posted on: 20 October 2012 by Alanwong

Thanks Hook!

Hi Shivoham, amp is 282/250 & speaker is Audio Physic Step 25.

Posted on: 20 October 2012 by MangoMonkey

at that level, do a home demo and go from there.

Posted on: 20 October 2012 by Simon-in-Suffolk

+1 DAC/555PS, to be honest so far in SQ it's pretty similar to NDS/555PS (pro and cons) with the NDS pulling away with the 555PS DR.

The DAC/555PS on the NDX is a superb combination that will keep you foot tapping for years to come.

Simon

Posted on: 20 October 2012 by Zinger

I preferred the NDX+DAC/XPS much more than bare NDX/XPS combo. Have an audition at your local dealer to see how you feel about things On a side note, the DAC isn't really worth that much money in second hand nowadays. So the monetary benefit of getting rid of the nDAC is relatively on a grand scheme of things ...

Posted on: 20 October 2012 by Alanwong

Is 555PS can power up both nDac & CDX2 at the same time?

Posted on: 21 October 2012 by Simon-in-Suffolk

No I don't believe so

Posted on: 21 October 2012 by Zinger

Alan. The 555PS can only power one source at a time

Posted on: 22 October 2012 by Alanwong

Thanks for the replies. For my case, if I keep my nDac, it is better to get the UnitiServer than NDX? Thanks,

Posted on: 22 October 2012 by Foxman50

Hi All

Do you use your power supplies on the NDX or NDAC or both for that matter?

Posted on: 22 October 2012 by Bart

Originally Posted by Alanwong:

Thanks for the replies. For my case, if I keep my nDac, it is better to get the UnitiServer than NDX? Thanks,

A bit of apples vs. oranges Alan. Their functionality does not overlap. uServe is a server and a ripper and a storage device if you buy the HDD version, but can also function as a player for the DAC. The NDX is only a player; the rest of those functions I listed must be provided by other devices on your home network such as a computer to rip, and a NAS to serve.

Posted on: 22 October 2012 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

Originally Posted by Bart:

Originally Posted by Alanwong:

Thanks for the replies. For my case, if I keep my nDac, it is better to get the UnitiServer than NDX? Thanks,

Using the US price list - before taxes - as a basis for comparison :

1/ UnitiServe 2TB HDD & nDAC : $3695 + $3695 + $395 for the DC1 cable = $ 7785

2/ NDX & nDAC = $5195 + $3695 + $395 for the DC1 cable = $ 9285

With the latter combination, you will also need a NAS to serve files to the NDX, and your NDX will only be used as a streaming client ; the DAC section will be redundant.

I'm sure, as Hook and others have found, that the NDX network player into the nDAC is a wonderful combination, but you are paying an extra $1500 for a redundant DAC.

I've not compared the NDX+nDAC vs the UnitiServe+nDAC to be able to advise whether the musical reproduction abilities of the NDX+nDAC is worth the extra $1500. I can say however that the UnitiServe + nDAC is a truly wonderful and deeply musically satisfying combination.

Jan

Posted on: 23 October 2012 by Stefan Vogt

Interesting! If you use the nDAC, then I guess NDX or ND5XS would only make a minor difference (since their internal DACs are idle anyway)? On the naim website, the nDAC is actually only mentioned as an upgrade to the ND5XS (though some obviously use it to upgrade the NDX, too). So perhaps ND5XS+DAC is a reasonable solution here?

Best,

Stefan

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Alanwong

Thanks all the replies! After reading the replies I think the cheaper way is uServer+nDac.

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Goonerdude

I have UnitiServe & nDac with a Hi-Line & think it's a great sounding combo, The UnitiServe is expensive for what it does but it just works very well & truly plug & play, It seems that the UnitiServe does get a very bad press on these forums but I've never had a problem with mine & find it a joy to use with an iPad & Naim n-Serve app, It has made me buy more music & the internet radio on UnitiServe is good to.