Unitiserve + nDAC....where to go next?

I'm in a similar situation to yours... Wait, save money and go for the NDS. In the meantime add a linear PSU to the U/S.

Heihei, I moved from the uServe/Naim Dac + XPS2 combo, to the NDS/555DR combo.  And wow what a transformation.

I still use the uServe as a UPnP server, to both that NDS and to a Qute in another room.  Traded the Dac and XPS2 towards the NDS and 555PS.

I am really really pleased.  In this case, yes more money, but much value FOR the money in my opinion.

Yes, there is that small problem. Can you give us a budget to work with?

Meanwhile, to follow on from my U/S upgrade suggestion, what do you have on your 282 to power it? The thought here being that an upgrade to the preamp will usually provide the biggest lift in performance per £ invested (bang for the buck, for our friends in the US).

No specific budget, but has to offer good value for money.

The 282 currently has a HiCap, so will also be trying a SuperCap DR on that too.

DAC/555PS is a very musically convincing combination. It's a subjective and personal thing and auditioning will always be the best way. For myself, I was never convinced of the need to play musical boxes around the NDX. The HDX/DAC/555PS was more than good enough and although there was some merit to the NDX it seemed more like going in circles than moving forwards. The NDS changed all that. But at a price. At their respective price levels I don't think you can go wrong whatever you do. So I'm sure your audition will be a happy one. And because my ears are not your ears, who knows where you'll end up.?

I found Uniti serv / Dac/ 555 (non DR) a bit on the digital side, very clean and analytical but missing that natural analogue sound.

I had assumed the NDS was the answer, however dropping in the NDX was a revelation. I never did the A B against NDS as I am satisfied with NDX DAC 555' yes it's three boxes but all items were ex demo / used so hopefully not too much depreciation over time......

i have have no doubt the NDS is a great machine (heard it at various demos but never at home) but it is worth exploring a power supply and NDX in addition to your DAC

regards

Gary

It was in the early days of my DAC/555PS, but I was never really bowled over with the Unitiserve feeding the DAC, but the NDX seemed to make a substantial difference.. Don't ask me why..

Also I thought the NDAC with XPS2 was somewhat inferior to the CDS3 with XPS2.. It just didnt gel with me. But putting the 555PS on the DAC and feeding with certain sources it is  transformational, and I think leads the Naim pack... With kudos Titans and 500 Series amplification I am mesmerised in a way the NDS and CD555 doesn't quite do (for me)  though the last one gets pretty close. 

A decent power supply for the UnitiServe works wonders.

Hi heihei,

As Jan and Mr Halibut says, adding a psu to your u-Serve will add a slight improvement to the SQ, according to reports from those that have experimented with it, so always worth trying out. I am interested in this myself but I have not yet tried it and don't intend to until I have a wired ethernet connection from the u-Serve to my ND5.

It is worth mentioning that the combination of the u-Serve/Streamer (ND5, NDX, NDS) via ethernet interconnect is the 'OPTIMISED' method for music replay via streaming in the Naim portfolio. Another point to consider, and as Richard pointed out on another thread, is that the HiLine was developed and honed with the streaming products as the primary focus. So you can also add a HiLine to the streamer and pre to boost the performance knowing that Naim have provided you with a further streamer optimised upgrade. Additionally, and as Wat pointed out, as your music library is wav based on the u-Serve, you are really on the way to the most optimised music replay solution Naim provide without adding psu's etc.

My experience with the nDac and the ND5, is that the SQ was audibly clearer with mids- highs, to my ears (and my dealers) using an ethernet from the u-Serve into the ND5 as opposed to the spdif into the nDac, although I preferred the bass through the n-Dac. However, some people prefer the sound character of the N-Dac over what the streamers provide...'better' or not. it is well known that the n-Dac is a great product in its own right, but your system is greater than any single part and I believe that Naim's commitment to the streaming method is evident in their optimised streaming products products. 

So good luck with your search and keep us posted on your progress.

Jason.

If the 282 and 250.2 are both new, do nothing for at least 2 months whilst they burn in and you get used to their sound.

Then think about front end changes.

Uh ??? Provided my memory isn't facetious, the Hi-Line was unveiled alongside the CD555 (2006), and they were touted as having been developed together (along with the 555PS as well). There was no streamer from Naim at the time, and that would remain so for a few years more.

From Naim News Summer 2006 (Naim newsletter):

Development began during the design of the CD 555 CD Player. Was the existing interconnect holding the performance back?

Now, of course the streamers may have later been designed and developed with the use of a Hi-Line in mind...

I think this is the case. With the best will in the world, time can be a twister of history. And that's with the best will!

Chaps,

I tried to find Richards post before I posted to check the info, but alas I could not find it...perhaps I misread it....but it's hear somewhere. I will seek to time.

Jason.

The Hi-line development pre-dated the streamers.  It was developed on the CD players - mostly CDS3 and prototype CD555 - but that should make it no less suitable for the streamers and hard disc players.

Thanks Mr Dane.

Jason.

As an update.....

A spent a very enjoyable 2 hours at Tom Tom yesterday and Henry had set up a system pretty close to mine. Sadly their DAC was back at Naim so I wasn't able to compare the NDX to DAC but they've offered a home loan at some stage which is by far the better way to judge.

Instead, we focused on the improvements offered by adding power supplies to the NDX, so we went from bare, to XPS DR to 555 PS.

On it's own, the bare NDX sounded good, but got bogged down in complex pieces, particularly multi-lined jazz tracks and big choral works. Adding the XPS sorted this out very well, but the 555 PS brought a sense of realism, particularly to the choral / orchestral pieces that was very special. On rock tracks and more simplistic music, the difference was much less noticeable.

The other reason for visiting Tom Tom was on the pre-amp PS side, and demo'd my 282 with a HiCap vs Supercap DR. No contest really, so left with the Supercap DR!

Regarding the Hiline, I think it provides an incredible benefit to the NDAC/555PS by  really allowing it to breathe and strutt it's stuff. You get a lot more closer to the audio.. Layers and layers of info become apparent. With the Lavander  lead it all sounds nice and rather cuddly, but somewhat blurred together.