'New' Naim DAC Strikes a Chord

Naim did acknowledge SQ improvement and announced it via  Connection:

"...Firmware update 4.11.8 (Naim DAC) and 1.16 (DAC-V1) will enable single and double rate DSD playback to existing and new DAC and DAC-V1 owners. This update has required significant optimisation of the core DSP code which has also improved sound quality..."

https://www.naimaudio.com/news...-available-naim-dacs

Of course Naim are interested selling gear. What is wrong with that! If Naim didn't make a reasonable profit on selling black boxes there would be no product improvement and none of us would be able to benefit from today's wonderful product range.

I don't understand why Naim's single-mindedness when developing products (in ways they believe are best for SQ) and giving away firmware updates are seen as synical commercial ploys.

Anyway Naim will not sell their gear unless it sounds great. Commercial interest can never be enough for a company to succeed. It can only succeed if it produces products that people want to buy. People will only buy if there is a competitive edge to their products, they are marketed at a reasonable price and there is trust in the supplier.

Is that win-win or what!

+1 Win-win his good!

Brilliant posted:

Naim did acknowledge SQ improvement and announced it via  Connection:

"...Firmware update 4.11.8 (Naim DAC) and 1.16 (DAC-V1) will enable single and double rate DSD playback to existing and new DAC and DAC-V1 owners. This update has required significant optimisation of the core DSP code which has also improved sound quality..."

https://www.naimaudio.com/news...-available-naim-dacs

I stand corrected.

Now that the DC1 BNC-BNC & TQB Din-Din is bedded in it is sounding superb across the frequency spectrum. These, and the little PMC Twenty.23 & SN2 combination showing the NDAC/XPS true capabilities. From lovely clear high frequencies to gutsy plummy bass handled with consumate ease. 

Some holiday time ahead so I'm looking forward to lots of extended listening on the 'new' system.

Very happy with these recent upgrades.

G

Welcome back to the nDAC fold, Graeme.  

Mike

MDS posted:

Welcome back to the nDAC fold, Graeme.  

Mike

Cheers Mike. 

G

I had a vision after reading the various firmware threads, and it featured a bunch of Naim engineers looking over a Hugo strapped to a table and saying 'You will tell us why you sound so good, or we will pull out your batteries'.  In the end Hugo caved, but the Naim engineers decided to do their own thing regardless.   

I'm absolutely gob smacked by this free NDAC improvement. It's a great jump in SQ. Well done Naim, another reason why you are the "horse to back"

Cheers

Flettster

Still very pleased with mine. It's like listening to a new setup after the update. I recently had some serious thoughts about auditioning 272/250.2 DR combo at home but suddenly I don't feel the need anymore. Feels good when you can just enjoy the music without the feeling that you should tune or upgrade some part of the setup. 

Patu posted:

Still very pleased with mine. It's like listening to a new setup after the update. I recently had some serious thoughts about auditioning 272/250.2 DR combo at home but suddenly I don't feel the need anymore. Feels good when you can just enjoy the music without the feeling that you should tune or upgrade some part of the setup. 

Patu, correct me if I'm wrong but was it not more power you wanted when you were considering a potential switch to 272/250DR?

Mayor West posted:

Patu posted:

Still very pleased with mine. It's like listening to a new setup after the update. I recently had some serious thoughts about auditioning 272/250.2 DR combo at home but suddenly I don't feel the need anymore. Feels good when you can just enjoy the music without the feeling that you should tune or upgrade some part of the setup. 

Patu, correct me if I'm wrong but was it not more power you wanted when you were considering a potential switch to 272/250DR?

That's true but after the update there's so much more added clarity, separation and air in the sound that i'm not sure if the added power is needed. The balance is very good now. Also my biggest concern (from the beginning) has been the 272's performance as a source compared to nDAC. Now after the update I'm almost certain it falls behind as a source. 

My dealer already suggested that forget 272 and move from SN2 to 282+250.2. That's certainly one interesting idea but it would mean more boxes.

Interesting how an upgrade to a part of the system you didn't think needed it has settled things. Glad that itch has gone for now and all is sounding well! :-)

Repeat to self...'Source first'...'Source first'...'Source first' ...etc.

G

Just updated my Ndac and now all the front lights are on permanently and it doesn't respond to input. Re-start holding 'dock' gives the version now as 3.2.8.

Mayor West posted:

Interesting how an upgrade to a part of the system you didn't think needed it has settled things. Glad that itch has gone for now and all is sounding well! :-)

Yes it was a big surprise how clear the improvement was. I didn't really expect any improvement to the sound quality. 

Now when you think of it, added clarity, air around instruments and separation easily translates to a feeling of system being able to have better grip and speed. SN2 is definitely no slouch! 

soileduk posted:

Just updated my Ndac and now all the front lights are on permanently and it doesn't respond to input. Re-start holding 'dock' gives the version now as 3.2.8.

Check https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...30#50844720706068430

Just tried that but no luck.