Cd player sold. And now?

3

If it was me I would also do 3. This is based on personal experience. Your ears may tell you different. If you can't audition and need to go by gut feeling and advice, it's DAC all the way from me.

As you said, Harry, I need to go by "gut feeling and advice".

M.

I'm sure you'll get plenty.

All the best with it.

Thanks

Regarding nDac, I've read different opinions on it without PSU ...

M.

Very good for the money so presumably even better second hand. Yes, adding an XPS2 paints a richer picture and 555PS allows more flow and insight. They are both very good upgrades - for a cost. But at it's bare price level the DAC is a top level performer.

It's not that I don't rate the ND5 with XP5. Very capable, very musical. But when you hear it next to DAC or NDX it falls behind. Or at least it does to me. I'll leave it at that. Time for other views and experiences.

Thanks Harry

Some prefers ND5XS/XP5XS over bare nDac and also bare NDX ...

Difficult decision.

M.

Hi Matteo,

I actually preferred the bare ND5 over the bare NDac fed from a U-Serve in my dealers demo room...but they have different sound characteristics. Putting it in very simple terms, the NDac gave a warmer bass, where as the ND5 gave more clarity at top end. I suspect this was due also to the data delivery method, I.e. SPDIF with the NDac against ethernet with the ND5. I will leave it to others more technically interested to discuss the differences.

So very much about preference, the 'consensus' on the Forum would be go for the NDac...so it really is down to you.

Jason.

Thanks Jason; I've read a your similar post in another topic ...

Down to me I'd bet on option 1) ...

M.

Option 1?

There are no "night and day differences" between the ND5XS and NDX - several prominent reviewers have commented to this effect. I personally could not tell the difference between the two units certainly not for the difference in cost. Had I done so, then the NDX would have won hands down ... unfortunately there wasn't any great difference I could hear.

When upgrading, I like BIG obvious improvements in sound quality ... tiny and almost impossible to detect subtleties don't appeal at all. But I appreciate that to some of those where money is perhaps no object, then every last minuscule improvement is probably worth it ... no matter what the cost

By the time you have sold the ND5 and purchased the NDX, you will have lost money for virtually no improvement in sound quality - until (apparently) you start adding externals PSU's

At the end of the day, you have to live with the kit ... so if it sounds better to you and you are happy with your investment ... then good for you.

Just don't be swayed by the "emperors clothes"

thank you frog, very clear

but, what's your suggestion?

M.

I would go for 3. I used to run the ND5SX with a nDAC and XPS2. I already owned the nDAC and XPS2 before the streamer arrived. I could not really distinguish between ND5SX/nDAC/XPS2 and NDX/nDAC/XPS2. For what it is worth I also preferred the ND5SX/nDAC to the NDX although YMMV. We traded the ND5SX/nDAC in against an NDS, but this was a close run thing. The ND5SX/nDAC/555PS was clearly inferior to the NDS/555PS so we upgraded and have since traded the XPS2 in against a 555PS DR.

It's seems an unanimous plebiscite for nDac ...

... btw, I'm considering it bare in my options, not with XPS ...

M.

Matteo,

I run my HDX into the nDAC....and it is a good upgrade too.  Recently borrowed a friends 555PS and put that on the DAC.....nothing short of dramatic, I know it should be for the money, but it was again a great upgrade.

Have to say though, you don't need a power supply on the DAC.  Yes, of course it gets better, but it's already a class act without.  Am I interested in a power supply for my DAC?...yes of course, but I have run it bare into 282/200 for some time and it is a great combo.  Even had the opportunity to borrow a 552 into my 200 with bare DAC and it certainly held its own and I didn't feel the DAC was lacking; even in that company!

Just make sure you pay a little attention to set up to get the best from it.  

All all the best,

Jason 

Matteo, by all means listen to the views and opinions of others ... BUT the most important is what sounds best to you and you alone.

Doesn't matter if someone else prefers one piece of kit over another, ultimately it's what sounds best to you.

Others can assist in perhaps reducing the size of your 'items to listen to list', but don't buy it because someone else own it and thinks it's the best thing in the world.

Have a demo and then decide if the additional cost is worth it to you.

For what it's worth, you probably need to go straight to NDS (from ND5XS) because there is little improvement with the NDX (if at all) ....

If thats your ultimate goal, then I reckon you are looking at an external PSU

That said, I haven't heard the NDS .... so you should compare it at a demo first! 

unfortunately, here in Milan (the main Italian city ...) demo is very difficult (if not impossible) ...

Considering this big jump ND5XS ----> NDS, maybe, in the meanwhile, option 2) is better (XP5XS)  ...