Cdless system possibility for Nac282-hc/SN + Harbi C7se3

Posted by: AbsoluteMusic on 02 December 2012

Dear All 

 

Looking to improve my Cdless System (from my current SB3 pairing my Nac282-HC/SN as Power/C7se3) would like to fine the best approach before asking for demo test.

 

My initial setup (before adding NAC282) was SN-hc/Sb3 and was a good one...nevertheless would like to have a bit better, at least to reach Cd5x+flac2 level

 

Option identified are :

1) nDac to SB3

2) NS01nDac (assuming the NS01 has not internal dec)

3) Nd5x

4) Ndx

 

Don't want to have the biggest system but more keeping it as balanced as possible (VFM/emotion is the key for me)

 

Info : Ovator 400 will perhaps join the band later (not plan today....second hand pehaps...when available)

 

Tks for sharing your experiences.

 

Ph

Posted on: 02 December 2012 by Bart

Hi Ph,

 

I think that first you have to decide if you're going to rely on the dac inside of your SuperNait, or if you think it's not good enough and you want to spend money on the Naim DAC.  Whether the dac built into the ND5XS or NDX is better than the dac in your SN, I have no idea.  But I'd focus on the dac choice, and to do that you're going to have to listen.

 

I'm surprised that the SB into the SuperNait's dac, then into the 282, does not rise to CD5XS quality, unless you're connecting the SB directly to the 282.

Posted on: 02 December 2012 by AbsoluteMusic
Hello Bart

That s the point. When used as power amp the SNdac is not available anymore so yes, the SB is directly connected to the Nac282.

Ai have to listen an ndac/SB to Nac 282 vs Nd5x or NDx

Cheers
Posted on: 02 December 2012 by Bart
Originally Posted by AbsoluteMusic:
Hello Bart

That s the point. When used as power amp the SNdac is not available anymore so yes, the SB is directly connected to the Nac282.

Ai have to listen an ndac/SB to Nac 282 vs Nd5x or NDx

Cheers

That sounds like a good plan for listening.  ANY will be better than relying on the dac within the SB I'm quite sure

Posted on: 08 December 2012 by AbsoluteMusic

 

Originally Posted by AbsoluteMusic:
 
For Bart 

Dear All

 

I spend several hours yesterday evening to test a huge number of option to compare the SQ of each steaming/dac solution.

 

History :

I moved month ago from a SN/Hicap/PL + SB3 + Harbeth C7se3 to a NAc282/HiCap/PL SN(Power only) + SB3 + Harbeth C7se3. So i lost the SNdac that had a significant impact on the Sb3 . So was looking to see how to improve the Streaming side to take all the benefit of the very nice Nac282.

 

 

So the option tested was :

 

1) SN/SB3 (Without SNDac)

2) SN/SNDac/SB3

3) SN/nDac/Sb3

4) SN/Nd5x

5) SN/Ndx 

 

The idea was to stay as simple as possible with also looking for a pragmatic approach and cost. It's why the NDX or Nd5x + nDac was out of scope.

 

So the result (mine) was the following :

 

1) I know this sound : Narrow soundstage, flat (2d, like a picture) ,boomy bass without detail, high sometime aggressive.

Overall : A purly numeric sound (Naim is not needed here, a entry level Amp would be more than enough )

 

2) I know this sound as well : Better Image, bass with more punch,  High a bit smoother too.

Overall : Good sound when talking with friends but frustration during intensive listening session (Cd5X+Flatcap) is a lot better. (Ndac is really nice for the SB3 if we accept  the SB3 limitation in term of SQ )

 

3) Ok, NDac is doing his best, soundstage larger that before with more definition, picture still a bit 2D  so for me it's clearly the SB3 that is the bottleneck and the "bad guy", so not really impressed by by this configuration (at least not enought to buy a nDac for my SB3 )

 

4) Yes..looks lot better, i like this sound, deeper, the image is now 3D (impressed be the difference with 3...2 sec was enought) with a lot of rythm. The PrAT is here, the soundstage is larger than 2 but not as large as 3. Could leave with such config. 

 

5) Gosh...yes the price is higher but.....but the sound is just amazing, Deep, 3D, large soundstage. Wonderfull PrAT and was just immerse in the music, connected to the sound, the emotion . I

 was totally convince about this wonderful piece of HW.

 

Result: NDX ordered  

 

Was a very nice evening, with very good music, wine and lot of emotion..tks to "O" my friend 

 

Hope helps, but as usual listening is key...

 

Phil

 
Posted on: 08 December 2012 by AbsoluteMusic

Just got the NDX  Now time to play a bit 

Posted on: 08 December 2012 by naimUnT
Have you tried Mac Pro (Pure Music) into nDac into SN? This is one option that should give very good results.
Posted on: 08 December 2012 by Bart
Originally Posted by AbsoluteMusic:

Just got the NDX  Now time to play a bit 

Enjoy!