Firmware update 4.11.8 for Naim DAC - so what about sound quality?

Just done it, seemed pretty straightforward and it's nice I could use the front USB socket. Happened really quickly, rebooted and am now playing Tidal. Not sure about any improvements in sound quality just yet but I'll give it a few hours of listening.

Tim

Quick update, yes I do believe it is sounding better :-)

To my ears, the FW upgrade doesn't alter the tonal balance of the DAC, but it does seem to make it more expressive, when required, and also more relaxed when the music calls for it. There is less of a "processed" quality to the presentation. I hadn't noticed that before, but when reverting to the previous FW, well, it's kind of obvious... There's no going back now.

With the new FW, I find it easier to get lost in the music (in a good way...). Significantly, I don't find myself thinking about adding an external PSU to the DAC.

The jury is still out on DSD vs PCM, although I am coming to terms with what DSD brings to the high frequencies.

It would be great if Wat could chime in, because he has both the nDAC and the Hugo. CharlieP also had some interesting comments on sound quality with the new FW.

Jan

Now this is the reason I've logged in here daily for the past two months, finall they released it. 

Just updated my nDAC. Very easy procedure and straight forward. First impressions, I think it sounds slightly more three dimensional and deep after the update. I'll keep listening. 

Yup!

Just like the bass would hit slightly deeper with more body and power. Also more air and space in the sound, wow. Am I just imagining this? If not, then great work by Naim. Now I feel even less need for the external PSU. 

EDIT:

Ok this is ridiculous, I didn't read your earlier post before the "Yup!" before I wrote this one. Our expressions seem to be identical!

There is also expectation bias and the power of suggestion to be dealt with. So, to be certain, during beta testing I reverted to the previous firmware. Then quickly reinstalled the new FW...

I do have problem checking the firmware with the instructions Naim has given. 

After the update, when I boot while pressing the dock button, I get following light sequence:

I'm away from home ATM so cannot check on my DAC. Note that if you cannot update again, it means that you are on the latest FW.

Got reply from Naim Support, talk about quick customer service.

"That’s the binary for 4.11.8 which is correct – it looks like the guys still haven’t fixed the table in the update instructions."

To me the sound is so much clearer, more deptht in soundstage, fantastic separation and voices to die for. Example "The wall" with Bruce Springsteen, his voice is so present that I raise my eyebrows and wonder if it's for real.

Well done Naim

Which sorts of interconnects are people using between Naim DAC and their amplification?

After experimenting with alternatives to the Lavender DIN-DIN, such as Chord Company RCA-RCA it can transform the sound and its whole tone significantly.  We may all be hearing different things to begin with, before or after firmware updating.

Either way I'm hoping that the firmware update will put Naim DAC back in the game ahead of the Chord 2Qute.

The differences I've described are with the HiLine between the DAC and the SN2, or the BIS Audio Vivat RCA to RCA.

Substituting the Super Lumina (DIN-DIN) lifts the music to yet another (gorgeous) level.

Just done it, seemed pretty straightforward and it's nice I could use the front USB socket. Happened really quickly, rebooted and am now playing Tidal.

How are you getting Tidal into the DAC ?

Well, I am still listening to the beta v4.11.7.  As I posted on the beta forum, I find the nDAC to deliver more believable music, where the equipment disappears and one is distracted by the performers.  I am using nDAC powered by 555PS DR, Hipline to 282, (2) Hicap, 250.2.  Will update to v4.11.8 when I get time - curious to hear if it is any better yet - but busy now...

Based on the beta, I highly recommend the update to all nDAC owners.  

Cheers

Charlie

If it competes with a Hugo now I'd happily reinvest...anyone?

G

I just made the update and forgive me for being a little idealistic but I feel the sound improvement to be more about hifi-parameters, I hear better separation, bigger soundstage, some increased calm and nuance, but it doesn't really contribute to the pace, rhythm and timing, rather the contrary. Not a huge deal I guess but I definitely consider going back for another listening test. Is it possible to go back?

To check the firmwareversion with the supplied pdf file is impossible. It must be wrong. When I use the old pdf file from the older one it is correct. Hope you understand��

My Digital front end isn't really optimized at the moment so hopefully that's why I feel this way. Or maybe the upgrade need some burn-in  It would be nice to test again tho. I bought my dac two months ago, what was the previous latest FW called and how can I get it back?

In my experience the new firmware is very very good, a game-changer for the DAC. 

At the time of installation I found it lifted 16/44 replay to approximately the level of hi-res versions of the same music, and further improved the hi-res replay.  In particular, on 16/44 it overcame the slightly darker or mellow shading and extended treble resolution significantly.  This brought a new delicacy, extension and reality to percussion and voices, along with clarity in complex bass rhythms.  With further systems improvements the overall musicality and transparency has lifted to the levels I'd originally been hoping for, but thought practically beyond it.

My DAC is on an XPSDR with a HiLine.  Its fed by an optimised 'Serve configuration, which trounces an ND5XS in side-by-side comparison.

Since firmware installation I've achieved similarly significant gains in reducing my 'Serves power supply noise, and in converting the DAC to 'floating' operation with a separate signal ground at source (via the parallel RCA output). Floating operation has been well reported as offering an improvement in reviews. My decoupling of the digital - analog sides internally has overcome the Achilles heel of the DAC - it's susceptibility to electrical noise coupled in on the digital input.

The cumulative effect is a real sense of musical transparency and flow.  Voices are palpable, and complex harmonies and rhythms distinctly resolved.  Acoustic works just sound right, alongside DJ mixes.  I'm now enjoying re-discovering the music that was hidden in my CD rips and works I haven't listened to for quite a time.  The best hi-res recordings really throw the musical window wide open.

To me the new firmware really transformed the baseline performance of the DAC, bringing it forward to current levels (after all, it was first released in 2010).  I'm sure it's more than 'code optimisations'; to my ears the digital oversampling / reconstruction filter coefficients must have been thoroughly reworked, to resolve significant musical information that was previously missing.

Given my experience of the DAC's performance variability, I expect others will experience differing levels of benefit......

OK, I installed 4.11.8, as released today.  I am enjoying some of my favorite wav files from a USB stick in the rear port.  Wow!  I do think the official release improves even further on the beta v4.11.7 in sound quality.  This latest release has even more of what I liked about improvements delivered in the beta release.  Do any beta testers or anyone from Naim care to comment?  

So far have been listening to 15/44.1 up to 24/192 wav files.  Have yet to collect DSD files for music about which I care.  No doubt, that might deliver further revelations...

Three "Hip, Hip, Hooray!"s for the Naim team.

Charlie

The table in the instructions has erroneous listings in the "Eights" column.  The correct firmware will be indicated as:

00100  (decimal 4)

01011  (decimal 11)

01000  (decimal 8)

Charlie

CharlieP posted:

I am enjoying some of my favorite wav files from a USB stick in the rear port.  

Charlie,

You forgot the exploding suasage after that statement 

Now nDac clearly perform better than Hugo. Period.