HDX upgrade path help needed

Imho get a DAC and use HDX as a frontend , later on a powersupply fo DAC if needed.

Ralf

So I'm a happy Unitiseve owner rather than an HDX owner, so maybe disqualified, but anyway....The HDX is really excellent on its own but you can stream to some real quality electronics, so your upgrade path involves changing everything else. Very expensive! The combination of a NAC-N272 and NAP 250 DR is especially favoured, although there is a bit more debate about loudspeakers.....

Of course you can also go the non-streaming route with a DAC and there are cheaper options than Naim.  I am not the person to ask but I read a lot here about Hugo.

Enjoy anyway. I hope your pockets are deep enough for where you are at risk of heading!

best

David

Personally (as an HDX/Supernait user) I'd Powerline the HDX, then the Supernait and finish it off with a HiLine. 

Thats what I did.  From a sound quality aspect I'm very happy. 

It is capable of a considerable performance increase paired with the DAC, which can itself be subsequently upgraded through a number of levels. I would personally be saving and waiting for a used DAC to pop up.

Thanks for the advice, my plan might be to look at first for a Powerline for the HDX, then possibly a used XPS power supply. Open to suggestions, particularly the biggest bang for my bucks !

And here's what I would do... in fact here's what I did...

1. Add an XPS to the HDX.

2. Upgrade the interconnect to Hi-line

3. Add a DAC and transfer the XPS and Hi-line from the HDX to the DAC.  Use a DC1 between the HDX & DAC.

This combination is one that will undoubtedly be pleasing to your ears for quite a long time.

When the upgrade bug hits again, do this...

4. Exchange the XPS for a 555PS

5. Sell the DAC & DC1 and buy an NDS, powered by the 555PS that you now have.

That'll keep you smiling for a long long time... but what you can then do is...

6. Add a second 555PS to the NDS

7. Change the Hi-line to a Super Lumia

8. Install S/L speaker cables (or something equally good to your own taste)

9. Mount the whole set-up on a Fraim

10. Swap the standard power cord for a Powerline to the 555PS (although some folks will tell you to do this sooner - I happen to disagree, but then I ran a separate mains spur to my audio kit) 

And if you live or work anywhere near Chester, I can show you almost exactly what these changes can do (since I actually didn't sell my DAC or Hi-line or DC1, but I don't have an XPS any more)

Hope this helps more than it confuses    In reality, of course, there is no right or wrong way to go and as you've seen above, different folks have widely different ideas about what to do and how to do it.  You might want to 'get into bed' with a good dealer (there's one in Chester), and take his advice, then if it all goes boobs-up you can blame him and demand restitution (well alright, ask nicely to change it).

Roger

That's a heck of an upgrade path ! Thanks for posting your advice,I have some ( limited ) funds for another upgrade of my hi Fi system and having started with the source first (the HDX ) I am working my way to the front end (  the speakers ). I have already started looking for a secondhand XPS to partner the HDX. 

+1 for XPS first.

I found the NDAC addition to the HDX gave much greater bang for buck than the 555 which arrived more or less the same time. I picked mine up for around 1400 from a well known auction site. The 555 cost a lot more.  The NDAC just seemed a bargain.  At the time there were a lot being sold preloved. it was a huge improvement on an already great sound to my ears. DC1 will also be needed as Roger states though i did end up with a chord indigo between mine.  powerlines crept in later though were already in place on the pre and pwr amps where i felt they gave the most impact.  The 555 came with its own. The highline i already had and has since been  replace by SL.

I used Indigo too most of the time. Seemed like the best balance.

I second adding NDAC + DC1 first.  For me this combo removes a hard digital edge, something I find most displeasing.  For me this will give you the best improvement for the least cost.  

I would slightly disagree after my most recent experience and it all might be dependent on the Amp you are using:

The HDX with DC-1 into nDac powered by my XPS and from there with HiLine into Supernait 2 is too much HIFI to my ears, it is all too bright and too loud after a direct comparison with the alternative:

After reading about this in a post I tested the XPS directly on the HDX and then with Hiline into Supernait 2 and to my ears this sounds much better than the latter. In fact, I got my nDac before the XPS and had never tested the XPS with the HDX before. 

But that is down to personal taste and as one of the suggested upgrade path starts with the XPS you will be fine when testing the nDac later. It sounds different for sure as most people will agree.

However, maybe my DC-1 is faulty....;-)) and it is all wrong.

Best

Chris

The one combination i've not seen above is:

HDX+XPS+HiLine+DAC+XPS

In my setup it would then be going into 52->active 180's.

Thoughts?

Yeah, i know 180's, but they've just been service and sounds sweet.

I'm not surprised you've not seen that combination: firstly the XPS on the HDX does nothing useful when you are using a DAC and secondly, if you are feeding the HDX digital output into a DAC, you need a digital lead to connect them, such as the DC1, though you could still use a hiline to connect the DAC to the preamp. 

rjstaines posted:

And here's what I would do... in fact here's what I did...

 

 

Roger, seriously spooked reading through your upgrade path, as it mirrors my own exactly, other than the fact that I already had a 555PS to bring to the party.

Then the penny dropped.....................we share the same excellent dealer in Chester! 

I had an HDX and I upgraded it with an nDAC.  I preferred this to the effect of a power supply.  For some time I ran an HDX>>DC1>>nDAC combination and really enjoyed it.  When I had a little 'spare' cash again, I thought I'd try a power supply on the nDAC.  It certainly supercharged the presentation, but I felt it made it a little too "hifi".  Trying a 555ps on the HDX and the nDAC, I decided I liked just the HDX and nDAC combination best, without a power supply.  It took a lot more money (and a leap of faith to leave my trusty HDX!) to improve on this combo, so I personally would advocate nDAC, or another DAC of your choice first.  But then that's the beauty of Naim isn't it... You have options!

Also, if you do decide to go with a Naim DAC, do try it with a Naim DC1.  I felt it was tuned perfectly for this pairing, having previously used a non Naim digital cable... And yes I know, it shouldn't make any difference... But that's a subject for another day!

Whatever you do, enjoy your HDX, I have fond memories of mine.

Thanks all for the comments and advice.

DC1 is on its way thanks to that pre-loved auction site, and i'll be picking up the DAC next week.  All going in the right direction.

That will be that for this year. Should be just long enough to keep the itching at bay.

Wow...I can understand "upgraditis" (I too played the game), but quite honestly, the HDX is a wonderful machine on its own...

I have a HDX (2TB) and I use a HiLine to my SN2...and the sound is just wonderful...

In a very expensive world, I find it very hard to even think of an upgrade to an already 8000+ € sound monster like the HDX...of course it is possible...but why not be happy with what you have?

I learnt to be satisfied and my upgraditis came to a halt. I am glad about that.

Please forgive me, but I am a normal person with an income of a school teacher...

Steve Hall posted:

Thanks all for the comments and advice.

DC1 is on its way thanks to that pre-loved auction site, and i'll be picking up the DAC next week.  All going in the right direction.

That will be that for this year. Should be just long enough to keep the itching at bay.

Hi Steve,

An excellent choice, I'm confident you will love what this combination will bring.  You will have a fantastic system there.  Spend a little time on setting this up as best you can, I.e cable dressing and positioning, it really will make a quantifiable difference in your system.  I found the nDAC liked a little space, away from power supplies if possible.  I would probably be tempted to site your 52 on a top shelf with the DAC  on a shelf under it, so there is no power transformer over it.  Just a thought.

Your nDAC will take a few days to warm through if it hasn't been used for a few days, so give it a chance to settle, then enjoy.

Please let us know how you get on, I'm sure Nic will be interested to hear your findings too.

Thorsten_L posted:

Wow...I can understand "upgraditis" (I too played the game), but quite honestly, the HDX is a wonderful machine on its own...

I have a HDX (2TB) and I use a HiLine to my SN2...and the sound is just wonderful...

In a very expensive world, I find it very hard to even think of an upgrade to an already 8000+ € sound monster like the HDX...of course it is possible...but why not be happy with what you have?

I learnt to be satisfied and my upgraditis came to a halt. I am glad about that.

Please forgive me, but I am a normal person with an income of a school teacher...

 

 

Totally agree!  I purchased the vast majority of my system about 15 years ago. I'm slowly working through (backwards - Poweramps -> source) to have it serviced. 

This year, is the first year for a long time, where I've pulled the trigger on an upgrade and ironically my last purchase was when i swapped out my CDS2 for a HDX. Not convinced in the long run that this was an 'upgrade' in sonic terms, but it was in convenience. 

Yesterday the system was swapped around a little bit to make room for the DAC, and it was finally up and running at around 4pm. First impressions is the sound is a lot more like my old CDS2, more natural, rounded, warmer but with the ability to slap you in the face when you go past 9pm on the dial (and the neighbours are out).

Jason posted:

Steve Hall posted:

Thanks all for the comments and advice.

DC1 is on its way thanks to that pre-loved auction site, and i'll be picking up the DAC next week.  All going in the right direction.

That will be that for this year. Should be just long enough to keep the itching at bay.

Hi Steve,

An excellent choice, I'm confident you will love what this combination will bring.  You will have a fantastic system there.  Spend a little time on setting this up as best you can, I.e cable dressing and positioning, it really will make a quantifiable difference in your system.  I found the nDAC liked a little space, away from power supplies if possible.  I would probably be tempted to site your 52 on a top shelf with the DAC  on a shelf under it, so there is no power transformer over it.  Just a thought.

Your nDAC will take a few days to warm through if it hasn't been used for a few days, so give it a chance to settle, then enjoy.

Please let us know how you get on, I'm sure Nic will be interested to hear your findings too.

Cable Dressing is going to be a bit of an issue, already had a slow and methodical review of where the cables are running.

Currently i have two Quadraspire racks with the following on 

HDX                          XPS

DAC                         Supercap

52                            HiCap

NAXO                      180

                                 180

It's all neat and tidy at the top, and goes a bit mental now that the NAXO is one shelf lower to the ground. Will try and address that today with some careful re-routing and re-prioritisation of the cabling. It has highlighted a SNAIC which is evidently a bit stressed as it is a little bit microphonic when touched. Will need to fix that another day.

Thorsten_L posted:

Wow...I can understand "upgraditis" (I too played the game), but quite honestly, the HDX is a wonderful machine on its own...

I have a HDX (2TB) and I use a HiLine to my SN2...and the sound is just wonderful...

In a very expensive world, I find it very hard to even think of an upgrade to an already 8000+ € sound monster like the HDX...of course it is possible...but why not be happy with what you have?

I learnt to be satisfied and my upgraditis came to a halt. I am glad about that.

Please forgive me, but I am a normal person with an income of a school teacher...

 

 

Some folks would envy your ability to be 'normal' Thorsten...

Many on here say they are happy with what they have, but I wonder if their happiness is just brought about because they have not experienced a sound that is better.

To me, it's a bit like colour television... remember its introduction?  or more to the point, remember black and white tele?   My parents (who were also teachers, like yourself)  were very reluctant to splash out loads of money on the new colour..."Why do we need it?" they argued.  And yet, today, who would want to stay with monochrome?

Colour / monochrome reminds me of my reaction to the 252 to 552 upgrade I did three years ago...  sure, I was happy with the 252, but only up to the point when I heard the 552 and realised what I had been missing.

I'm pleased for you that your upgraditis is under control... for me it brings both pleasure and pain... the pleasure of discovering something new and the pain of reading my credit card statement each month.

Roger

rjstaines posted:

Colour / monochrome reminds me of my reaction to the 252 to 552 upgrade I did three years ago...  sure, I was happy with the 252, but only up to the point when I heard the 552 and realised what I had been missing.

That takes me back. Good analogy.