SQ of Tidal/Deezer Elite with Sonos through NDX digital in ?

That was easy.

Don't go there!  

G

Graeme, you tease.. Go on then, did it sound rubbish?

Totally awful. Harsh flat upper mids, squashed lumpy bass and an induced earth loop producing an audible buzz through the loudspeakers.

To me, completely unlistenable.

Quickest reconnect in history!

All sounding fine again streaming Qobuz as I type. I'm now wondering whether to replace the cheapo Cambridge Audio 75ohm RCA-RCA.

...But now time to explore some new music!

G

PS - I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that streamed Qobuz 'Black & Blue' sounds better than my locally stored version.  Mick is just right there on 'Melody'...!

Ahh, I would have done it Toslink. I keep well way from RCA SPDIF if there is questionable parentage.

Here it sounds the lack of galvanic isolation got in the way.. We know the Hugo doesn't use it.. and it would appear perhaps the Sonos doesn't either. Another plus for the Naim re clocker.

Simon

PS I know what you mean about differences between Qobuz and Local. But it's not always so.. And if you look carefully I think you are possibly hearing the differences between different master versions.

As I listen I'm not so sure if I need a change it is sounding so good!  The rationalist in me can't see the logic of a DC1 between NDX & Hugo (£285) and a Cambridge Audio 300 (£20!) between Sonos and NDX...but it is working well.

The NDX stay's then as an essential hub but the Sonos lossless add on is brilliant.

G

Graeme, Interesting...Connect to Hugo. Have no intention in replacing the NDAC and when Naim implement Deezer to streamers will plunk down $ for NDX or ND5 Probably ND5 since NDAC is in the mix. Need to throw a PS on the NDAC. I think Simon has an XPS on his.

Mack, I used to have a 555PS on my NDAC. Have to say both gone now and simply have a Hugo.

My son has been introducing me to Soundscape via the Sonos/Naim . Its a free service supported by aspiring musicians.. Perhaps of the more experimental / electronic in nature. They have FLACs as well as MP3s on there. Refreshing to listen on descent audio equipment that wealth of self published music. There are some gems as well as dross, it makes it all the more interesting.

Simon

Any thoughts on this Simon?...I thought the CA 300 would have been a weaker link.

I know when I replaced a temporary £20 QED digital cable with the DC1 the difference was palpable.

Cheers

G

Well I guess the link between NDX and Hugo is the critical one, as the SPDIF signal has been cleaned up by the NDX by this time.

Simon

Simon,

Simon,

As I understand you stream radio and stored files from PC/Mac or NAS via NDX of 44.1/16; 24/96; 24/192 files. For SONOS lossless streaming... optical out to optical in on NDX (could use coax out on SONOS?)...then digital output to HUGO...HUGO analog out to the 282 and so on... So there was no need to retain the 555 upgrade for the NDX? 

This set up was preferable to NDX/NDAC/555? Pretty amazing and something I could consider as I wait for Naim lossless streamer integration. Considering at that point to possibly ditching the UnitiServe and just manage with Mac ripping to the NAS. 

Like Simon, I also concluded a Hugo could replace an ndac/555PS on the NDX, but as ever let your own ears decide.

Your description of the Sonos integration is correct BTW.

G

Hi Mackb3, yes the NAS and media server if seperate stream the media files using UPnP/DLNA to the Naim ND player. The Naim ND player directly accesses web radio from the Internet connection.

indeed the Sonos can connect via coax or Toslink to the NDX. The NDX has a sinlgle BNC coax output that I connect to the Hugo. I remember that the sound did  subtly change when I used an off board PSU with the NDX when used as a reclocker and/or UPnP/DLNA streamer  but I'd be hard pushed to say it was better or worse, just slightly different.. So I leave the NDX native. If I was to use the NDX in DAC out mode as opposed to digital out mode then the off board PSU would have a more prominent effect. 

Simon

Thanks Simon. So the PS on the streamers is much like Naim CD players affecting the analog side of the spectrum but when connected to an outboard DAC little to no impact.

Mack

Yes I think that it is a fair summary in my experience .. But of course the NDS must have an external PSU. You can add an extra PSU and split them up between analogue and the digital... and many like the improvement. I can't say I have played with two 555PS when I was evaluating an NDS.

But if you use a NDAC and attach an offboard PSU a similar config occurs. The internal NDAC PSU powers the digital circuity and the external PSU powers the DAC and analogue circuitry... An off board PSU on the NDAC has a very positive improvement and the 555PS on it is very good indeed.

Simon

My NDAC is plain and it's very good as you know. In the USA only one source for Hugo but 30 day audition/demo offered. My Naim dealer has a demo NDX and HCAPDR so I could fairly easily duplicate Graeme's core set up with my SN2. Very cool that Hugo comes in black now.

How does one find Soundscape on SONOS?

On the Sonos app, press the orange square Add Services icon with the plus on it on the home screen, you then get a page of all supported services .. You will see Soundscape. You might need to enable beta services on the setup options if you don't see it. I have done that and I can see Soundscape.

Simon 

Must be a Europe/UK service as I don't see it under "all services" in the app.

Simon and Graeme (others also)...

In regards to this string...would one expect the ND5 provide the same level of performance into Hugo or NDAC as NDX regarding all streaming including lossless SONOS, i.e. Deezer/Tidal? 

That's a goood question, I'm using a uq2 into my Hugo and I'd be interested in how big a gain I would get if I upgraded to an NDX into it

My experience is that the ND5 into NDAC/555PS was that is was not quite right - A bit of a turbocharged Mini. An ultra souped up front end that wasn't up to the task. NDX much better and more balanced in this regard.

I can't comment on ND5 into Hugo or its capacity to reclock the Sonos I'm afraid.

G

Sorry, my bad, it's called SoundCloud...

i have had no expierience with the ND5 XS at home, but have preferred the NDX over it on other's systems, but have not heard with the Hugo.

No worries, I'll give SoundCloud a go. My local dealer (15 minutes from my place) has the NDX for demo. North Carolina now has three Naim dealers for more options if necessary. I did audition NDX months ago considering a two box solution (NDX/SN2) but the extra clarity and punch from the NDX/NDAC was better although the NDX was really fun...Cheers.

Simon,

One last question because its getting late in your part of the world so I'll leave you be. Are you using plastic or glass optical from SONOS to NDX?

Mack