Digital output difference NDS vs. ND5 XS

Posted by: Gandalf_fi on 02 February 2015

Any ideas are there difference in sound quality? Digital out (analog disabled) & 555PS used in both. Wondering due I want to use Naim streamer but not dac.

 

Looks like technically there are some differences like ND5 XS is based on nDAC & uses 32bit SHARC & NDS uses 40bit + some other differences.

 

"The ND5 XS uses the same RAM buffer and master-clock jitter removal technique of the Naim DAC and all the oversampling, filtering and signal management techniques that have brought Naim to the forefront of digital music in the home."

Posted on: 02 February 2015 by james n

Why do you need to use a Naim streamer. The NDS used as an Ethernet to S/PDIF converter is a very expensive way to do this. Lots of options out there to do the job. 

Posted on: 02 February 2015 by Gandalf_fi

Yes, no need to use Naim, just currently having NDS & like the option to use it streamer but also streamer & dac. Also it is not cheap to get a good streamer with filtering, isolation, upsampling, low noise floor, etc & wondering how good ND5 XS is & maybe get rid of NDS? Remember that good cd transport is not cheap either & may streamers specs looks good but SW sucks.

Posted on: 02 February 2015 by GraemeH

I found ND5XS less good than NDX streaming into NDAC/555PS if that helps.

 

G

Posted on: 02 February 2015 by Gandalf_fi

Thanks, it helps, I have been running recently both analog & digital from NDS/555 into Avantgarde Zero 1 with very interesting results. Zero 1 uses similar dac technology than Chord Hugo (FPGA). I also tried MSB Analog dac behind NDS, Zero 1 & NAP-300/Marten Getz2. So, let the different setups testing continue & not to downgrade NDS at this point.

Posted on: 02 February 2015 by Aleg
Originally Posted by Gandalf_fi:

Thanks, it helps, I have been running recently both analog & digital from NDS/555 into Avantgarde Zero 1 with very interesting results. Zero 1 uses similar dac technology than Chord Hugo (FPGA). I also tried MSB Analog dac behind NDS, Zero 1 & NAP-300/Marten Getz2. So, let the different setups testing continue & not to downgrade NDS at this point.

The FPGA is not a DAC-technology of the Hugo in itself.

 

It is the algorithm that is programmed in the FPGA which make the Hugo an outstanding DAC.

It is possible to create most lousy DAC using FPGA as well as the best.

 

Don't let marketeers put you off track by them 'claiming' they use an FPGA and 'therefore have a great DAC'.

 

Cheers

 

Aleg

Posted on: 02 February 2015 by gmischol

Be aware dig out on NDS is limited to 24/96!

Posted on: 02 February 2015 by Gandalf_fi

^^ Correct, I said it a bit wrongly & there is much more than just this algorithm or what dac chip included or how sw is optimised. Analog side makes the sound after all but with some programming help the dac war goes to interesting direction. I listen & not marketing messages. I really like NDS & it was really odd how similar dacs included to Zero 1 are sounding when feeded by NDS. Anyway, I have been listening side by side over 4 months now & wondering if downgrading NDS could be an option. Maybe not just yet.

Posted on: 02 February 2015 by Gandalf_fi
Originally Posted by gmischol:

Be aware dig out on NDS is limited to 24/96!

Yes, UI option are a bit misleading due there is "native" or 24/96