555ps on NDX...a good bad idea ?

Absolutely first class choice, thoroughly recommended.

And if you decide that an intermediate step is a DAC, then power the DAC with the 555PS - unbeatable (well, almost - the NDS beats it).

Enjoy your journey, it's the one I took so I speak to you from experience.

I'm upgrading my NDX with the 555ps aswell very soon, I've demoed this combination, and it definitely sounds better over the XPS-DR. Lower noise floor, with more detail and subtleties to be heard.

Tks to all...sounds very good then  next steps.....the demo

AbsoluteMusic, sorry to be an au contraire, but I do not like the 555PS on the NDX. I was just talking to my dealer about exactly this yesterday... There appears a certain artificial character to the sound, like its a bit etched and exaggerated..I find the NDX standalone has a worthy sound.

But do demo, and see how it works for you.

Simon

Tks Simon

My dealer is sharing the same point of view as yours  He is also not convince by the Xps on the NDX. For him the best "value" is the np5xs that brigs a lot to the NDX for a reasonable price. Of course this piece will have to be replaced as soon as moving to NDS...but perhaps the better solution to improve my NDX during the interim ..could be years  . Will check it soon face to face 

Phil

I'd be interested to hear the results of the demo

I wouldn't plan so much for the future. If you get the 555, you'll be itching to get the most out of it and won't be happy until you get the NDS.

I recommend getting the XPS-2 DR for a balanced system with the NDX.

Even Steven from Naim recommend doing ND5XS/XP5XS, NDX/XPS-2DR or NDS/555PS. You'll just upset some balance otherwise.

Either do the full upgrade to NDS/555PS or just get the XPS-2 and be happy with it.

It takes a full week or so of being turned on for the XPS-2 to be convincingly good with the NDX. Now, it might make it a little too smooth for you - depends on your amplification or speakers at that point.

Shiv's got a point, the XPS2 or DR are probably the more natural partners for the NDX. But this doesn't mean the 555PS can't be to your liking. At least two here run that combo and seem to like it a lot. Best you audition. Most importantly though, I'd buy 2nd hand, very good deals to be had at the moment and, if you go for an XPS2, you could always sell it on without losing a lot of money, should you need / want to.

I too would say just get a XPS or XP5XS if upgrading to NDS is not going to happen within a year or two. With NDX you will be using only half of the 555PS, but you still have to pay for the part that you don't know when you will be able to use. Hardly VFM.

My system was like yours and I went for the Supercap, then the 252, but I have more sources. I nowhave Harry's old non-DR 555 on demo on my DAC, powering the NDX.

All these upgrades have made wonderfull improvements. "Balence" is only an issue if you can spend the money more effectively elsewhere in the system. I wouldn't fret about natural partnerships. Just borrow from your dealer see if you like what it does. The Supercap is great too but then you will want a 252 to use it fully. Same poblem with the 555, but you can always get more from a box by improving the others around it.

Keith

You mistake the presence of two Burndy sockets on the 555PS as indicating 2 x XPS-2 supplies.

555PS - Power Outputs ± 22V, ± 10V, 12V, 2 x 15V

XPS-2 - Power Outputs ± 22V, ± 10V, 2 x 15V

The 2 Burndy outlets allow for the separation of analogue and digital supplies for units capable of receiving them separated.

The additional 12volt is an isolated clock supply. The difference lies in the quality of the supplies - not so much in the number.

Indeed, which helps explain the rationale and sonic improvements in using 2x 555PS for those devices that have two Burndy sockets..

Simon

I am also consider 555PS or XPS for my NDX. 

Base on the model level, need balance (XPS) or over performance (555PS), still thinking 

dealer and naim agree that the dig out of the 5 and the ndx are the same so if you want a digital hub ndac the ndx is a waste of money . the isolated box of ndac plus a psu is class

To my ears the 5 and the NDX sound differently if both connected to the NDac....but i's perhaps just me ;-)

Also clearly prefer the NDX of the SB3 + Ndac

Cheers

AbsoluteMusic, no I am with you. The SB3 into the nDAC was quite horrid with all but mp3. The NDX is light years ahead. My SB3 was later heavily modded with only small gains even though RFI and jitter was improved. 

The nDAC like all quality DACs I know despite the blurb are sensitive to the quality of the digital inputs from a transport clock and signal quality point of view. The quality of digital signals in the presence of sensitive clocks and delicate analogue circuits is so important. The harmonic energy level of a poor ringing signal can cause downstream issues.

If anyone tells you it's just "ones and noughts", politely smile at them and then walk away..... Fast.

Simon