XP5XS

I use one with my ND5 XS and it made a substantial improvement - better resolution and bass. Can't comment specifically on the effect on the NDAC other than to state the obvious - that where NAIM envisage power supply upgrades there are usually sonic benefits.

cheers

Jatr

I've owned one some time ago, and I already had had the XPS. I thought that the XP 5XS was rather similar in effectiveness, but giving a more 'analogue' voice to a CDX2. I'd use it on an N-Dac, if anything because they match in size and looks and because I can't resist an empty PSU socket.

I'd get a s/h XPS2 & Burndy for the same money. Better all round ime.

G

Ciao Mike, sto bene, grazie.

Yes, regulators (and transformers!) have very audible effect. A HCDR on my Supernait has made a lot of difference, more than my previous HCs.

I tried one with my nDAC. I actually preferred bare nDAC to XP5XS and one aftermarket PSU I also tried. In my setup the balance is better with bare nDAC. The most obvious difference the XP5XS brought was tons of more bass and weight in the bottom end. In my setup it went too far and the balance suffered. Bass was overwhelming. The aftermarket PSU was slightly better balanced but still, too much bass. I do have big speakers in my 20m2 listening room but the balance is good with bare nDAC. Especially now when Naim released the firmware update for the DACs. 

I used to own much smaller speakers, PMC Twenty.23 which always fell short in the low end performance. I know GraemeH has these speakers and I can imagine that in that setup, PSU upgrade is an obvious upgrade. I haven't heard XPS2 or higher end PSUs. But as always, you should try one yourself to make the decision. 

I've never found the Pmc Twenty.23 falling short in low end performance Patu. The   XPS2 certainly does turbo-charge the 'new' NDAC in that department mind...but in a good, well controlled way.

We have similar systems bar the NDX I note.

G

GraemeH posted:

I've never found the Pmc Twenty.23 falling short in low end performance Patu. The   XPS2 certainly does turbo-charge the 'new' NDAC in that department mind...but in a good, well controlled way.

We have similar systems bar the NDX I note.

G

 

Me neither, before I heard a speaker in my own setup which was so much better in low end performance. Twenty.23 is very small floorstander so it has its limitations when it comes to bass performance. It became very obvious when auditioning a bigger speaker. And after you hear the true low end performance, it's difficult to go back. That's what happened with me also and I had to go for the ATC. 

Sorry for offtopic. 

I had S600 before the 23...& No bass - size isn't everything.

G

I had an XP5XS on my nDAC for quite some time and was very pleased with what it did. When tempted to upgrade I has an XPSDR on loan at home. While it was a bit better than the XP5 I didn't think the performance improvement justified the price difference.  I later tried a 555PS and that stayed but it confirmed for me that the XP5 offers excellent performance for it's relatively modest price. I still have one powering my CDX2.2 which I used as a digital transport.

Mike 

GraemeH posted:

I had S600 before the 23...& No bass - size isn't everything.

G

It definitely isn't. I wouldn't have changed the speakers if ATC's wouldn't have outperformed .23 in pretty much everything else also. 

I had the xp5zs when I had the nDac and liked it better than without. I found it added detail to the music. I didn't find it didn't add any highs or lows just a bit more detail. That said my friend who also had the nDac preferred no xp5xs in a shootout.  I had Dyn C1 sig's then later Raidho D1's and D2's. My friend had Dyn C4 sig's and later Raidho D2's.

I found it didn't add or subtract from the highs or lows. Just a little more detail from top to bottom.

Graeme,

I wish the second hand market in the USA offered more but XPS's are rarely seen and the one or two I've seen required re-cap. I tried an XP5XS on my NDX with some noticeable improvement but not the NDAC as It was in the closet prior to the recent FW upgrade. Now it's center stage.

mackb3 posted:

Graeme,

I wish the second hand market in the USA offered more but XPS's are rarely seen and the one or two I've seen required re-cap. I tried an XP5XS on my NDX with some noticeable improvement but not the NDAC as It was in the closet prior to the recent FW upgrade. Now it's center stage.

Sorry - Didn't pick up your location.

G

GraemeH posted:

mackb3 posted:

Graeme,

I wish the second hand market in the USA offered more but XPS's are rarely seen and the one or two I've seen required re-cap. I tried an XP5XS on my NDX with some noticeable improvement but not the NDAC as It was in the closet prior to the recent FW upgrade. Now it's center stage.

Sorry - Didn't pick up your location.

G

USA.

mackb3 posted:

GraemeH posted:

mackb3 posted:

Graeme,

I wish the second hand market in the USA offered more but XPS's are rarely seen and the one or two I've seen required re-cap. I tried an XP5XS on my NDX with some noticeable improvement but not the NDAC as It was in the closet prior to the recent FW upgrade. Now it's center stage.

Sorry - Didn't pick up your location.

G

USA.

Yes I got that! Sorry I didn't pick it up when I initially replied is what I meant...

G

GraemeH posted:

mackb3 posted:

GraemeH posted:

mackb3 posted:

Graeme,

I wish the second hand market in the USA offered more but XPS's are rarely seen and the one or two I've seen required re-cap. I tried an XP5XS on my NDX with some noticeable improvement but not the NDAC as It was in the closet prior to the recent FW upgrade. Now it's center stage.

Sorry - Didn't pick up your location.

G

USA.

Yes I got that! Sorry I didn't pick it up when I initially replied is what I meant...

G

No worries. I was in the UK April 2012. Visited Naim hosted by Steve Hopkins. I've got a bead on a recent XP5XS. May give it a go...more boxes, yikes! 

I have been using the XP5XS on my CDX2.2 for the past year now.  The XPSDR was out of reach when I purchased the CDX2.2.  I've been very pleased with the combination.  I may try the XPSDR down the road, but I am in no rush.  I may follow the path MDS chose and go to the 555. 

patk posted:

I have been using the XP5XS on my CDX2.2 for the past year now.  The XPSDR was out of reach when I purchased the CDX2.2.  I've been very pleased with the combination.  I may try the XPSDR down the road, but I am in no rush.  I may follow the path MDS chose and go to the 555. 

 

 

PATK,

Did you audition the XPSDR with your CDX2? If so...impressions between it and XP5XS?

i tested XP5XS on nDAC with NaitXS, on ND5XS with NaitXS, and on 272 with 250DR...various speakers and cabling...

the final conclusion would be: " what's the use of this thing?"

i get a better improvement with optimizing cables... why spending more than 2k on a PSU that doesn't seem to do a big deal... as i recall the slight improvement was spotable with the ND5XS, but not as to justify the purchase, not even if it would be for a second hand one...

catalinmetal posted:

 

i get a better improvement with optimizing cables... why spending more than 2k on a PSU that doesn't seem to do a big deal... as i recall the slight improvement was spotable with the ND5XS, but not as to justify the purchase, not even if it would be for a second hand one...

Pretty much how I felt also. Not sure about the higher end PSU's but even the nDAC firmware update brought more improvement  than XP5XS to nDAC. 

It's all so strange. People go from 'it makes a huge difference' to 'what's the point of this useless PSU'. 

Patu posted:

catalinmetal posted:

 

i get a better improvement with optimizing cables... why spending more than 2k on a PSU that doesn't seem to do a big deal... as i recall the slight improvement was spotable with the ND5XS, but not as to justify the purchase, not even if it would be for a second hand one...

Pretty much how I felt also. Not sure about the higher end PSU's but even the nDAC firmware update brought more improvement  than XP5XS to nDAC. 

I agree. The least convincing vfm PSU 'upgrade' I have experienced with Naim.

G