Great review of NDX from CA

Good review and very interesting "throw away" comment:

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Note: I've been told Naim is working on TIDAL integration that will enable users to stream lossless music directly to the NDX and other Naim products. 

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Also interesting comment near the end i.e. his wish for an NDX with a volume control e.g. the new 272?

Well, let's break it down.

272 costs £3.3K.

NDX costs £3.4K.

So, no. Not the new 272.

Harry

You will see that I phrased my final sentence as a question and prefaced it as perhaps an example of the functionality which the reviewer was looking for. I haven't heard the new 272 (nor the NDX for that matter) so am not in a position to make a comparison as to their relative SQ although being a combined streamer/preamp the 272 will presumably make some compromises. Nevertheless, the price tag is not everything.

Nice review! 

Would have been interesting to hear the thoughts on a bare NDX v NDX/XPS as a bare NDX owner myself, but always nice to hear good words about something you own.

Throwaway comment wasinteresting as you say sjbabbey, something that is bound to be going on in the background even without any official statement.

Along with others I'm sure.

It does take a while to come to fruition though, which of course does frustrate some.

Yes, I've got a backlog of dsf files I'm looking forward to hearing in their native DSD through my NDS. Very frustrating as you say.

Two contributors divided by a common language!

It’s an interesting area and one which is bound to keep developing, although something like a 272 doesn’t at face value look like development in the right direction, being a bit of everything.  But you have to start somewhere. The mooted Statement source, assuming it won’t take too many years to develop could be very interesting. I’d love something above NDS with a volume pot, some digital ins and outs which could be hitched up to a NAP, ideally also incorporating a low consumption soft standby facility. It may well be the case that should such a thing come to exist, my needs will already have moved on and morphed. So maybe a preamp which cover all the bases isn’t so off beam after all? I reckon that for NDX level performance you wouldn’t be getting change out of five grand. Maybe more. Naim are traditionally well focused and commercially wise on matters of cannibalisation.

I have both in-house currently.  While not exactly the same "flavor", they are definitely peers and I would leave it to taste as to whether someone would prefer the 272 or the NDX.  Me?  I'm going 272, but in order to move into a 250 DR from my SN2 at a reasonable price.  I don't feel the 272 necessarily gives up anything to the NDX - and I still feel like the NDX is the most under-appreciated, and best VFM, member of the Naim streaming line.