As source only: ND5XS vs. NDX

Others may disagree, but personally when I had them both on home demo I couldn't really tell the difference.

I spoke to Naim customer services and they were extremely helpful in explaining the differences. As I recall, a better PSU in the NDX and less surface mount components compared to the ND5XS. Other than that, really not enough to justify almost £1000 difference in cost - unless you really want the Classic series larger case, which means more cost for the additional metal work etc.

Some eminent reviewers (if you believe the reviewers) have stated that there isn't a "night and day" difference in sound quality. Also bear in mind that the technology invested in the NDX has been incorporated into the ND5XS and with advances in technology and manufacturing techniques, this may explain why the ND5XS is perhaps more cost effective.

Obviously you need to compare the two side by side in a home demo to see if you can justify the additional outlay for the NDX. If I could hear a massive difference, I would have had no hesitation in paying more for the NDX. However, in retrospect I am really pleased with my decision because the money saved has paid for my Chord Hugo .... need I say more 

Seriously though, with Hifi the more you spend higher up the ladder the less marked sound quality improvements are to be had - the law of diminishing returns.

Some people talk about system balance and I can't really comment. However, I use mine with active ATC equipment. These are used in recording studios and are completely neutral. They will definitely show poor recordings for what they are and so I believe that if there is a major difference in sound quality between NDX and ND5XS, then the ATC's would have easily shown it.

Back to Hugo, this does make an enormous "night and day" difference - far superior to either later adding an external PSU to your streamer or even Naim's own DAC. Sorry Naim but it's a fact and I'm sure that Naim are busily planning a product to out perform the Hugo, which is great. But in the here and now ..... DAC technology has overtaken what was once a superb Naim DAC, albeit it does have some benefits in an all Naim system.

Ultimately, the choice is yours and you definitely need to listen to both units, since it's your money and you have to live with and be happy with it in your home. For my money, ND5XS if far better value.

Would be interested in responses to this. I've got a uq2 streaming into a Chord Hugo and I have wondered if there would be any gain, in the future, of going to an ndx or if the dac is the critical component.  I have to say the two together do sound very good

I note with the Hugo, along with every other DAC I have heard, they respond to the clock stability and signal quality of the digital source.. To this end I find the NDX is a great source for the Hugo.. And better than some others I have. I think the transport clock accuracy is important... having a good quality PSU and carefully regulated and decoupled clock in the source will help here.

i do find when power cycling the NDX (unfortuately required occasionally as its network stack crashes) I notice it takes a little time to sound its best into the Hugo again.. I assume this is because the NDX transport clock is settling down again..

So to your question on ND5XS and NDX.. You will have to hear for yourself, but I can see in my experience that the NDX will be ultimately a better digital source.

Simon

Hi dayjay

You've obviously seen my comments above. You've already got the Hugo, so know how fantastic it is. I'm not sure if the NDX will improve on what you already have .... I would need to listen and compare 

However, if you use NDX with Hugo, you won't be using the Naim's internal DAC at all, since you have Hugo. It seems a shame to pay for components and features that you won't use, which is why I believe some people are in favour of a Naim 'streamer only' type unit.

Whilst I support upgrade paths, it seems rather 'wasteful' when people buy a unit (e.g. NDX) and add both an external PSU and DAC - leaving the original internal PSU and DAC totally redundant and utilising only the streaming section of the unit.

I seem to recall that the DAC used in both ND5XS and NDX are exactly the same ... so why pay more for an NDX, considering that you won't be using the DAC section?

What I can definitely say is that my ND5XS was transformed beyond all recognition with the addition of Chord Hugo.

Hope this helps.

Furthermore, lots of people on this forum swear by the NDX, which I fully understand, because they probably were the first ones to invest in the unit. Had the ND5XS been around at the same time, then perhaps these individuals may have taken a different route - who knows. 

Why not call Naim customer services and clarify the differences between both NDX and ND5XS. I think you'll be rather surprised that they are effectively the same in different sized boxes (Classic v's XS series). Seriously though, there are some very minor differences such as a couple of surface mounted resistors as opposed to ones which are supposedly less effected by microphonic interference by being more isolated or decoupled etc. Does this really make much difference or is it the 'Emperors Clothes'? If it does, I must have cloth ears because there is no way there is a £1000 difference in sound quality to my lug holes.

However, I fully respect that other may disagree 

My ears can't be that bad, because I can definitely hear the difference that the Hugo makes and that's without even trying.

Above all else, just enjoy the music!

I concur with all Simon says.

Having experienced both ND5XS and NDX into the naim DAC and found the NDX better - I use the latter now with a Hugo.

G

I concur with everything Mr. Frog says except the ND into Hugo which I have no idea about since I haven't heard this combination. 

I am very happy with my NDX and I had the ND5XS on home demo before and the only difference I've noticed were that the NDX were a little darker and more silent in between notes. Other than that, the ND5XS is a real "killer".. And I'm also a real sucker for the bigger casework in the Classic series, hence my search for a new amp..(SN2..or maybe SN1..). SQ as well of course 

I'm also interested in the answer to this question. I'm contemplating an nd5xs as a transport to replace my macbook pro. I wonder if there will be any improvement in SQ.

One way to find out?

Good discription Magnus. I auditioned both with 282/250 into Dynaudio (?) stand mounts. I found the difference quite easy to hear, NDX had a darker/silent and more detailed presentation.

That said the 5XS was no slouch & I suspect with a DAC will give a great performance. But that can only be decided buy the purchaser with his/her own Mk-II ears and preferably on the home system.