NDS - issues?

I love mine

 Brilliant device. I have no regrets about buying the NDS. When fitting my Urika a few weeks back my Linn enabler brought a KDS with him. That is also a brilliant machine. However, I preferred the NDS to the KDS. Photo of the event:

System is a bit wonky here. We were burning in a new pair of 250.2s, but one kept acting up, hence the Olive 250 in play while the other 250.2 was whipped into shape.

System is NAC52/SC, NAP250, NAP250.2, SNAX0242/SC2 driving SL2s and an nSub. NDS and LP12 connected using HiLines, KDS using a Chord Co Din->RCA.

HTM, would you mind taking the time to describe the differences between the NDS and the KDS ? I think it will be of interest to many here (me included).

Thanks

Maurice

My first NDS broke after a week! Replacement is fine, transport issue I think.

OK, but please bear in mind that the comparison was done hurriedly as the purpose of my Linn dealer's visit was to return my LP12 following the installation of an Urika. Interested though I was in the KDS, I was itching to play the LP12. The program of music chosen was very much at random, and would not have been my first choice for a proper demo. We really just played around for 30 minutes or so trying both streamers out.

First of all, we tried a couple of Depeche Mode tracks on both the KDS and my NDS/XPS2. I thought the KDS was marginally better here. Both streamers produced a nice deep soundstage, driving bass and a clarity of image that was a pleasure to listen to. The NDS had a slightly "hard" presentation relative to the KDS that made its presentation of the music slightly less attractive (really struggling to describe this). That should not be interpreted as saying that the KDS is soft, woolly or warm though. 

Turning to some female vocals via the Cocteau Twins BlueBell Knoll aIbum felt that the Naim streamer shaded things, but again it was by the width of a rizla paper. Much to my surprise the Linn sounded a bit thin in comparison to the NDS with the Cocteaus. Both machines did a brilliant job with Liz Fraser's voicem but the heavily treated nature of the music did not seem to suit the KDS. This is a surprise as the production on this particular Cocteau's album is particularly good. We then experimented with a variety of electronic (Human League, New Order and Durutti Column) and accoustic (Soulsavers, Neal Halsted, Mark Lanegan Band) music. Personally, I marginally preferred the NDS, but the honest truth is that the KDS is brilliant. My impression is that a Linn person will prefer the Linn and the Naim-head will go for the NDS. Bear in mind that I had already paid for the NDS, which may color my views marginally.

One thing was clear to me though. The LP12 (Aro,Keel/A,Radikal,Urika,DVXX2II) is miles better than both streamers. I don't want to get into a vinyl vs digital (or for that matter Linn vs Naim) discussion. The quality of playback from a nicely setup LP12 is hard to beat. Where music is not available on vinyl, meaning that CD or download are your choices, I would be happy with either streamer. It is also worth pointing out that I am using an XPS2 to drive the NDS at present. I would expect the ranking to be the same but the seperation of the streamers to be wider if (when??) I put a 555 DR into the system.

Hope this helps. Clearly I'm not destined for a career in Hi-Fi journalism...... 

Today heard NDS at the future of hi fi demo - very interesting;

System was ND5XS then NDX then NDS and then NDS with DR power supply. The system was 282/250 and Ovator 400s with Hilines, all served from a Unitiserve. The music was Arcangelli Corelli - Concerto Grosso, followed by a female vocalist i didn't know and then a little from the remastered 24/192 Antionio Forcione- Meet me in London. The files were FLACs AIFF and WAV.

The system was said to be not fully warmed up, but the progression between the sources was clear; the biggest difference being between the ND5XS and NDX; NDX to NDS seemed a small improvement in presence and 'naturalness' but the addition of the DR 555 PS made a massive difference to my ear, much reduced noise floor and more even presentation. The system didn't seem very balanced as the speakers were very bass heavy despite being pulled right forward from the wall by more than 5 feet. The NDS was quite impressive but a good the power supply seems vital to really make a significant difference from the NDX.

I tried to remember how my Klimax Renew DS had sounded when i heard it in the Demo room on a previous occasion when i have listened to my system in the Dealer's Demo room. It is difficult if not doing a true A/B comparison but when i got home and put my system on i am fairly clear that the difference lies in the Soundstage which is much more clear and better laid out before you with the Renew DS, it is much less bold less forward and more analogue in presentation, more detailed compared to the NDS. My system is not a Klimax DS/1 but i have been very happy with it. 

I was impressed by the Antonio Forcione and will be downloading the file but i won't be changing my streamer; i will be trying out the DR Hicap to see if i can replicate the improvement i heard when the DR supply was used with the NDS.

Ive had my NDS for almost 2 weeks, but it's only really been "fully operational" for 24 hours, as yesterday I finally got my uServe back from being upgraded and restored all my music to it.

In terms of operation -- totally flawless.  The NDS booted up immediately, found my nas upnp server very quickly, and found the uServe once it was booted up.  nStream saw all my music, and album art.  The combo of uServe / NDS via nStream gives me all of my music in what's to me a very logical layout, and indeed is a bit more intuitive than using the Synology nas's built-in server.  I can tell that the uServe and NDS were made to work together.  But the front panel controls and display of the NDS are surprisingly (to me) quite effective.  With just a few button pushes it's quite easy to find a disc on my server that I want to listen to without resort to my iPhone or iPad.

Sound . . . the differences from my former setup (uServe to Naim DAC/XPS-2 via DC-1) to this (ethernet input to NDS/555PS) are immediately apparent.  The same adjectives others use apply -- more analog, total loss of 'digital glare' (not that there was much), and an even more-put-together total presentation of the music.  I today listened to the demo cd my salesman uses -- stuff I heard many times while auditioning speakers over a year ago.  Honestly, I heard 'stuff' in the vocals I'd never heard before.  That was truly an 'ah ha' moment for me today.  And my wife, who is not a hi fi person but has a great ear and loves music, commented that things really did sound better. (She starts out skeptical about my upgrade plans.)

I can highly recommend the NDS.  In retrospect, I spent a fair bit of cash for this upgrade, but doubt I'll ever question it.  I'd NOT undo it and get a refund if offered.

Bart, 

Good to hear you've made a positive upgrade and that you don't regret it.  Always nice to get a positive affirmation from the skeptical spouse .  Enjoy!

I have expierienced or heard of no problems with the NDS. It is based on the architecture of the NDX which has its wrinkles ironed out now. Further most issues can be fixed by firmware changes - and as you haveBon doubt seen there is a steady trickle of firmware updates for the network players.

Finally I understand Naim do occasionally refine within a production life cycle, and so over the life cycle of the NDS later ones may well be slightly different than earlier ones underneath the bonnet.

Simon

No issues. The only thing which needs addressing on mine is a sloped display. Unit will go back with the 552PS and 555PS when my DR slot comes up.

Nice read, thank you HTM. Reservations understood.

Got one of the first NDS delivered to Germany. The NDS is powered by a 555PS and although it's running day and night since the middle of July I experienced no issues so far. Highly recommended!

ATB

    Karlheinz