NDX or ND5 XS + nDAC

what's the amplification? With the NaitXS, the ND5XS is just perfect!

The NDX is better. The ND5XS is just much more fun.

The nDac is better than the NDX. The difference is made even bigger when you start throwing PSUs at it.

If I were you, I'd get the ND5XS and just stop there for a while if you have a NaitXS.

With the 282/250, I'd want to do a NDX/XPS-DR.

From you other thread I see you've got boxes coming in.

I would really listen to a whole system before making any decisions. A better box won't necessarily be better in the context of the rest of the system. Come up with a budget and decide how you want to allocate it amongst components for the best synergy.

Specially with the amount of money involved.

If you're brand new to NAIM, I'd just go with the ND5XS, NaitXS or Nait 5i-2 and call it a day. That system is really really good to. Live with it for a while before going up.

Don't be disappointed that you've not spent a fortune.

I'm running the ND5XS/NaitXS/Kudos X2 in a smallish room and it's just awesome.

Makes sense. I had the nDac - but sold it on because I felt stupid staring at a rack with three boxes for source.

While you spend more for the nD5 XS + nDAC vs. NDX. ( ~800€ )

This can be solved with an active system then 3 boxes does not count. But I am still hoping for the reference dac with preamp in the future.

Claus

Mykel18, the NDX is good and produces an enjoyable sound. However the NDAC produces a more detailed, clearer, more articulate and dynamic sound. With NDAC PSUs the textures and timbres are truly impressive. It can sound very analogue and organic. The 282 really shows these qualities well. You do need accurate, resolving speakers to convey this.

So in summary the NDX is superb, the NDAC is in another league in replay. With PSU on the NDAC yet another league and  if 555PS, then world champion,

Simon

Guys,

Let the Op be. He's happy enough with one box. Why insist he needs 3 boxes? (NDX/nDac/555PS).

He's still just ordering boxes.

I missed the nDac for about a week. Then? screw it. There's more to life. 

Specially when

a) some folks insist the NDX as streamer into nDac sounds way ahead of the ND5XS

b) other folks insist that a Sonos is good enough into the nDac

-> Personally I liked the UnitiQute the best as a streamer.

Maybe the op should look at some of the system pics of some  forum members here - a dozen boxes or more. Seriously?  At that point, just go get a ND5XS/NaitXS and be happy. There's more to life.

And where does it end?

I recently saw someone selling a whole active system on Audiogon. Had several Nap 250s and god know what else - so I guess someone climbed the whole ladder to realize that they were headed in the wrong direction.

Like I said in my first response - its more about system matching than anything else.

Mo

While the Sonos is not able to handle 24/192

We demoed the NDX against the ND5SX and preferred the NDX. But, we chose to buy the ND5SX because we already had an nDAC and XPS2. Using the ND5SX through the nDAC/XPS2 was a little less hard/bright than the NDX. We also suspected that there was a higher level streamer on the way so the ND5SX served a vehicle to allow us to learn the ins an outs of streaming. When the NDS arrived on the market we partly funded the purchase by selling the ND5SX and DAC. My strong preference is NDS/555PS over NDX/nDAC/555PS, but that is a whole other story

? But I can see why non Naim camp shake their heads looking at our mountain of electronics. They may ponder do we need so many racks of boxes to play good music. 

I would second the nDAC with 555PS..... Feed it with a 2012 Mac Mini via Toslink and its wonderful. Only a 2 box source, and much more organic, rhythmic and detailed than the NDX/XPS+nDAC/555PS I also demoed.

I have 6 boxes. Source, Pre, power, all with PSUs on a separate rack. Excessive?? 

This is One of the Main Points People Clweithin Naim

Your finding is interesting and certainly raise a few eyebrows. Taking nDAC/555ps out of the equation, you are saying Mac Mini via Toslink is better sounding than NDX/XPS. I am also using Mac Mini/Supernova 6 optical as my digital front player with excellent result although I have not compared to Naim's streamer. Even against CD5XS transport, there is little to discriminate between them when playing same CD format.

Mikapoh we have tried  various Mac and PC and other sources into NDAC/555PS in S-in-S towers via toslink / spdif over the months.. Certainly some exceedingly good, but so far not exceeded the impressive organic realism and natural ebb and flow and presence we have with the NDX providing the SPDIF into NDAC/555PS. But then i do have ruthlessly revealing speakers with the ATCs. So couple with the automation usability of the NDX withndac and 282 and the cool preamp/NDAC input display messages on the NDX screen it remains a no-brainer.  Hence we have it left in circuit and not sold it.. NDXs go for good money second hand..... Understandably.

Now I don't use an XPS with the NDX and use extensive RFI filtering on the Ethernet and SPDIF lead, am careful with mains and earthing and place the NDX on a Fraim  and that might be something to do with it.

But as always, horses for courses.

Simon