Bought a nd5xs 4 months ago and wished I bought the ndx....what do I do?

Posted by: Macbags on 09 July 2014

Not a mistake but a wrong choice.  Love my  nd5 into sn2 and pmc 20.23's but already know I'm missing something. Am I suffering from the early onset of upgradeitis. Should I resist or should I look to feed the demons and play Noel Edmunds Swapshop ?

Posted on: 11 July 2014 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Hi - if you were using the HiCap - what preamp were you using that with?

 

Anyway cables -

1) Naim DC1, BNC to Phono with a large ferrite choke

2) Naim Hiline,  Phono to DIN.

 

Simon

Posted on: 11 July 2014 by PhilP

Mac bags,

 

To expand on Simon's question, the Hicap is most commonly used as a pre-amp power supply. Do you mean that you added it to a pre-amp? If so it would be interesting to know which one.  

 

Or do you mean that you added a power supply to the ND5 and NDX in which case it was probably a ND5XS or XPS?

 

I've noticed a big difference when adding an XPS to an NDX even when it's only acting as a renderer i.e it's DAC is by-passed.  

 

I'm a bit surprised that you didn't score the NDX + Hugo more highly but maybe you have very high standards. There are also reports on other fora of the Hugo being out-pointed by a few other DACs in blind tests so maybe we've not reached Nirvana yet?

 

Thanks, Philip

 

Posted on: 11 July 2014 by sjbabbey

Hi Simon/Philip,

 

I believe MB was auditioning with an SN2 which he has in his current system. No doubt he'll correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Steve

 

 

 

Posted on: 11 July 2014 by Macbags

Hi all

 

i believe it was a hicap dr into the sn2. I wasn't concentrating too much on that part of the upgrade potential , I think Paul at HFL was just trying to prove that my base system and speaker setup has a lot more to give.

 

The PMC 20.23's I bought off him a while back were an unexpected and un budgeted  addition to the family.  I must admit I didn't audition too many other speakers at the time and went with his strong recommendation.  Paul of course was right and now having heard a lot more different systems and having my ears more attuned to what current naim kit offers I have to admit they're a great match

 

I love my pmc's, oh and my sn2 and my nd5 and perhaps a hugo if I can sort out my tax bill !!!!   What's life all about if you cant buy the occasional toy?

Posted on: 11 July 2014 by PhilP
Originally Posted by Macbags:

Hi all

 

i believe it was a hicap dr into the sn2. I wasn't concentrating too much on that part of the upgrade potential , I think Paul at HFL was just trying to prove that my base system and speaker setup has a lot more to give.

 

The PMC 20.23's I bought off him a while back were an unexpected and un budgeted  addition to the family.  I must admit I didn't audition too many other speakers at the time and went with his strong recommendation.  Paul of course was right and now having heard a lot more different systems and having my ears more attuned to what current naim kit offers I have to admit they're a great match

 

I love my pmc's, oh and my sn2 and my nd5 and perhaps a hugo if I can sort out my tax bill !!!!   What's life all about if you cant buy the occasional toy?

 

Ok, thanks for the clarification. I think you're absolutely right to have a home demo. Even though Paul has great demo facilities everything sounds different when you get it home. 

Posted on: 11 July 2014 by pete T15
Originally Posted by Macbags:

Hi all

 

i believe it was a hicap dr into the sn2. I wasn't concentrating too much on that part of the upgrade potential , I think Paul at HFL was just trying to prove that my base system and speaker setup has a lot more to give.

 

The PMC 20.23's I bought off him a while back were an unexpected and un budgeted  addition to the family.  I must admit I didn't audition too many other speakers at the time and went with his strong recommendation.  Paul of course was right and now having heard a lot more different systems and having my ears more attuned to what current naim kit offers I have to admit they're a great match

 

I love my pmc's, oh and my sn2 and my nd5 and perhaps a hugo if I can sort out my tax bill !!!!   What's life all about if you cant buy the occasional toy?

Hi there, I had the same system as you and was also thinking of an NDX after buying the SN2 . I treated myself to the Hugo after so much appraisal and I never dreamt my system could improve so much . I still have all the great features of the ND5XS and even greater sound. I have never felt so content with my system. In terms of cables I use TQ black interconnect with a DIN adaptor and TQ blue digital cable with BNC adaptor. 

 

Treat yourself .

Posted on: 11 July 2014 by DrPo
Originally Posted by Macbags:

DrPro & Foxman

 

not unsurprisingly the jump with the nd5 with hugo was the biggest but you would expect this because it jumps up from a lower base.

 

adding the hugo to the ndx was also a big leap, it was undoubtedly the best system as it maintained the maturity of the ndx and expanded the horizons with the hugo. 

 

I'm a real sceptic and am pretty objective when it comes to real and pseudo improvements.  I'll try to set out my opinion by way of a scale of 1-10 assuming the bare nd5 at 0 and nirvana at 10.

 

by adding a hugo to the nd5 you go from say 0 to 5

bare ndx I would give a 4 or 4.5

ndx and hugo I would give 6 or 6.5 if pushed.

 

putting it further into context when we were playing around after the main event we added a hi cap and I would say

 

bare nd5 and hi cap say 1 or 1.5 max

nd5 hugo and hi cap 5.5

bare ndx and hi cap 5  ( but a very different 5 to the hugo and nd5!)

ndx hugo and hi cap solid 6.5

 

no real surprises, it's the law of diminishing returns, that why the 6th pint never tastes as good as the first

 

hope it helps. 

 

My next step is a home demo of the hugo.  Anyone any recommendations for cables?

Hi Macbags,

thanks a lot for your detailed response. Much appeciated.

Posted on: 01 August 2014 by Macbags

Home demo of the Chord Hugo completed and contrary to all the hype the Hugo's not for me.  Yes it is a huge jump up from the nd5xs but for some reason after extended listening over 3 days it just doesn't do it for me.

 

Hugo is great but I suspect it's gloss will wear off over time. I suspect my money will be better spent jumping from nd5xs to ndx.  Off on holiday for a couple of weeks and home demo of ndx probably then on the cards.

Posted on: 01 August 2014 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Macbags - yep Hugo is not for everyone - its an unusually natural and insightful player with the right source  - if you are looking for gloss as you mention and sparkle to match the rest of your system perhaps and personal preference there are different products out there for that. The NDAC/555PS is probably worthy of consideration on your audition path.

Again you have demonstrated the value of home demoing. Good luck

Simon