ND5 vs NDX listening session -came home with a new black box

Posted by: Thomas Breding on 30 November 2014

After spending years thinking about how to move forward (CD vs Hard drive) and after buying a UQ2 as a test last spring for my home office I finally decided on getting a proper network player for my main system (based on a 282)

Went to a dealer today and listened to ND5 and NDX, now back home with a new black box and a big smile on my face.

When comparing the two (both naked as I don´t plan on getting any DAC or PS soon), I found the NDX to be superior especially on vocals and acoustic guitar, delivering a more "real" and live sounding presentation and maybe also a bit warmer (vinyl like?).

I wonder what it will sound like in a couple of weeks, straight out of the box it is amazing! Only thing that bugs me is that the volume control on the 282 (connected RC5 to remote 1 with a cable) does not work with the app, I guess my 282 is too old.




Posted on: 30 November 2014 by Simon-in-Suffolk

I am fond of the naked NDX sound, yes it is quite warm, and perhaps ultimately a little in distinct and ever so slightly smeared, but very enjoyable all the same. I never really enjoyed what the external power supplies did to the NDX, it's a great player on its own, and if you are later so inclined, a great digital source, as you can switch it between analogue and digital out mode. 

Simon

Posted on: 01 December 2014 by Harry

In terms of sound for pound my ears have found the NDX to be the star of the streamer range. Congratulations and welcome to your new music collection.

Posted on: 01 December 2014 by Thomas Breding

Yes, I will now focus on ripping CD:s for a while...

Posted on: 01 December 2014 by Mike-B

Congratulations on choosing NDX.  Harry has it summed up, sound for pound/euro it’s the star of the range. 

I too compared ND5 & NDX,  I agree with your description:, delivering a more "real" and live sounding presentation; not sure I agree with vinyl tho’.  But that said the ND5 is a fine sounding player & I would be very happy with it if I had no other choice.   

 

When I was comparing I was checking what was involved in the jump to streaming & that meant replacing my much loved CDX2, & that was really what the main focus of my auditions were about.  My notes at the time were that the hard digital edge has gone & it was more natural with subtle nuances adding more emotion.

 

I have it installed with the CDX2’s XPS, & in this I disagree with Simon, it does bring more to the presentation as listed above.  It’s not as pronounced as the changes the XPS brings to CDX2, but it still adds something to all the nice NDX points & takes away nothing.  

Posted on: 01 December 2014 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by AllenB:
............    the right cable and connection, you have to switch 'System Automation' on (NDX Settings) for the volume / inputs you want to control via the NDX.

.............  and don't forget to open the volume control in the app

Tool (gear wheel) > Audio Settings > Show volume control

Posted on: 01 December 2014 by PhilP
Originally Posted by Mike-B

 

When I was comparing I was checking what was involved in the jump to streaming & that meant replacing my much loved CDX2, & that was really what the main focus of my auditions were about.  My notes at the time were that the hard digital edge has gone & it was more natural with subtle nuances adding more emotion.

 

I have it installed with the CDX2’s XPS, & in this I disagree with Simon, it does bring more to the presentation as listed above.  It’s not as pronounced as the changes the XPS brings to CDX2, but it still adds something to all the nice NDX points & takes away nothing.  

Yes, I agree. After I changed my CDX2 for an NDX I found that I was able to enjoy a far wider range of music. The CDX2 was good on rock and electronica but little else.

 

I also much preferred the NDX/XPS to a bare NDX and found the bare ND5 quite harsh and unpleasant

 

 BTW, the 282 that I owned previously was 2007 vintage and system automation worked perfectly.

Posted on: 01 December 2014 by MarkMcK79
Originally Posted by Mike-B:

Congratulations on choosing NDX.  Harry has it summed up, sound for pound/euro it’s the star of the range. 

I too compared ND5 & NDX,  I agree with your description:, delivering a more "real" and live sounding presentation; not sure I agree with vinyl tho’.  But that said the ND5 is a fine sounding player & I would be very happy with it if I had no other choice.   

 

When I was comparing I was checking what was involved in the jump to streaming & that meant replacing my much loved CDX2, & that was really what the main focus of my auditions were about.  My notes at the time were that the hard digital edge has gone & it was more natural with subtle nuances adding more emotion.

 

I have it installed with the CDX2’s XPS, & in this I disagree with Simon, it does bring more to the presentation as listed above.  It’s not as pronounced as the changes the XPS brings to CDX2, but it still adds something to all the nice NDX points & takes away nothing.  

+1

 

I couldn't justify the expense of the NDS/555 DR in my system, but the NDX/XPS DR was just right. Very good VFM and I, too, must disagree with those that prefer the bare NDX - the XPS DR is a considerable upgrade and takes the source to another level (and I, too, found no downside).  I highly recommend an audition of the XPS DR after you settled in with the NDX for awhile. 

Posted on: 02 December 2014 by Thomas Breding

...my 282 is older so that is probably why the volume cool does´t work. I have the volume buttons in the app but nothing happens on the 282. Have tested different cables and bott Left and Right channel cables.

My dealer will check with Naim if I need the 282 to be upgraded, serial number is 206xxx.

Posted on: 02 December 2014 by My naim is immaterial
Originally Posted by Thomas Breding:

After spending years thinking about how to move forward (CD vs Hard drive) and after buying a UQ2 as a test last spring for my home office I finally decided on getting a proper network player for my main system (based on a 282)

Went to a dealer today and listened to ND5 and NDX, now back home with a new black box and a big smile on my face.

When comparing the two (both naked as I don´t plan on getting any DAC or PS soon), I found the NDX to be superior especially on vocals and acoustic guitar, delivering a more "real" and live sounding presentation and maybe also a bit warmer (vinyl like?).

I wonder what it will sound like in a couple of weeks, straight out of the box it is amazing! Only thing that bugs me is that the volume control on the 282 (connected RC5 to remote 1 with a cable) does not work with the app, I guess my 282 is too old.




Must be the DAC on the ND5, sold mine within days of purchase. May try the NDX if I stop reading about the app!

Posted on: 02 December 2014 by Stefan Vogt
I think the volume control via the naim remote control works in 2 parallel ways: directly via infrared, and indirectly via system automation. I recently struggled with integrating the naim remote of an NDS to work in my system (282): it turned out that the remote code was different, and once I had reset, all worked fine - perhaps a similar issue here?
Cheers,
Strefan
 
 
Originally Posted by Thomas Breding:

...my 282 is older so that is probably why the volume cool does´t work. I have the volume buttons in the app but nothing happens on the 282. Have tested different cables and bott Left and Right channel cables.

My dealer will check with Naim if I need the 282 to be upgraded, serial number is 206xxx.

 

Posted on: 03 December 2014 by Thomas Breding

Hi Stefan,

 

My included NDX remote works fine for the volume control of my 282, but the app (with system automation up and running and the volume buttons visible in the app) can not control the 282 volume or input selection. As said, my (app year 2004) 282 is probably too old.