556 PS for NDS?

Posted by: Stefan Vogt on 11 August 2014

The 555PS supplies the first Burndy socket of the NDS with power for the 'digital' circuitry (four independent voltages), and it supplies the second Burndy socket of the NDS with power for the 'analog' circuitry. For the latter, analog side, sadly only two powerrails are used (this is clearly visible from pictures of the internals of the 555 DR), namely +/- 22V. From the 555PS they are carried in 2x 3 parallel strands to the NDS. Given naim's preference for multiple powerrails (e.g., in the Superline),  having only two rails for the NDS' analog section is surprising (and presumably this lags behind the sophistication of supply for the DAC's analog section).

 

May we thus hope for a 556 PS with all six separate powerrails that the analog section of the NDS can accept?

S.

Posted on: 11 August 2014 by james n

Stefan - I see where you are coming from, but IIRC the design of the NDS analogue board uses quite a lot of local regulation for the various stages so only needs low impedance (hence the paralleled rails) + / - 22v supplies from the 555PS 'Analogue' Burndy connector. These feed multiple regs on the analogue board. 

Posted on: 12 August 2014 by Stefan Vogt

Thanks for your competent answer, James!

Stefan

Posted on: 23 August 2014 by 40 below

Currently the ultimate step for an NDS is two 555DR, separating the digital and analogue sections.  A further extension along this line would be (something like) a 552PS for the analogue, which supplies multiple +/- rails.

 

Maybe something up their sleeves for a future 'reference' streamer?

Posted on: 24 August 2014 by Chag...

In the meantime, would you really need a DR on the digital side? In other terms would NDS/555PS/555DR still currently be that ultimate step? 

 

Chag -

Posted on: 24 August 2014 by Bert Schurink

I understand the desire and sometimes get amazed how on the surface little things have a huge effect on the sound. But I am not yet mentally ready for the concept of two 555's on a NDS. Can somebody who has it explain me the sonically difference with one ?

Posted on: 24 August 2014 by Dan43

Although a used 555PS (non-DR) could be slightly more cost effective way to arrive at the second 555 for NDS.

Would be interested in peoples experiences of 2 x 555 on an NDS also.

Posted on: 24 August 2014 by Harry
Originally Posted by Bert Schurink:

Can somebody who has it explain me the sonically difference with one ?

It’s a multi-facetted effect. On the ephemeral side, the music sounds (to me) more open, tonally natural, better separated without being all over the place and the already tight and tuneful bass gains more detail still. There is also a HiFi effect which is unambiguous and reversible. Multi tracked parts resolve into more tracks. Vocal harmonies resolve into more discrete point sources, more wisps of detail emerge, things you hadn’t heard before. Some of my albums have been with me for 45 years. Yet I hadn’t truly heard them until recently. And I probably still haven’t. One has to wonder just how much more is locked up and what it will take to get it all out.

 

When I did the home audition it was an obvious change in presentation and performance. No straining of the ears or screwing up of the eyes was required. It just came down to if the hike was worth the money.

Posted on: 24 August 2014 by Bert Schurink
Originally Posted by Harry:
Originally Posted by Bert Schurink:

Can somebody who has it explain me the sonically difference with one ?

It’s a multi-facetted effect. On the ephemeral side, the music sounds (to me) more open, tonally natural, better separated without being all over the place and the already tight and tuneful bass gains more detail still. There is also a HiFi effect which is unambiguous and reversible. Multi tracked parts resolve into more tracks. Vocal harmonies resolve into more discrete point sources, more wisps of detail emerge, things you hadn’t heard before. Some of my albums have been with me for 45 years. Yet I hadn’t truly heard them until recently. And I probably still haven’t. One has to wonder just how much more is locked up and what it will take to get it all out.

 

When I did the home audition it was an obvious change in presentation and performance. No straining of the ears or screwing up of the eyes was required. It just came down to if the hike was worth the money.

Thanks for this reply, it gives me a good perspective on what can expect. I will first improve my cables before I can ever consider something like this.

Posted on: 25 August 2014 by Harry

You are welcome Bert. Should the time come to seriously listen, I think it likely that you will hear a difference - but past that it's all down to personal considerations and taste.