Happy new year, or maybe not...

Posted by: BPhotographer on 01 February 2016

Hi Folks,

How does a great story starts?

A new NDS, new 555PS DR and new full-loom SL cables arrived.

The speaker cables came first, it was a big difference in SQ, it seemed that every bit of the music is extracted and it was good,
I loved the SQ and decided it worth the money.
Then the XLR cables came and at the beginning it was a disappointment; the lively sound has stumbled. However it kept improving over time and after 2 weeks the bass became much deeper and the overall sound became more prestigious and dark as suit for naim.
I loved the system that way. The CDS-2 really shined, superb sound quality with the disadvantages of the CDS-2 (a little bit stressed sound, edgy HF and a relatively unnatural sound in compare to my LP12/NAT01/Chord Hugo).

I said myself, "naim did a great job with the cables, the forum praises the NDS so much, especially with 2x555PS, I listened to the NDS in friends' systems and it overtook the Hugo, and lets hope it's the end of the road for Hi-Fi".
So I made the order believing that when it will come it would be the best system for me (after the break-in period of course).

At the beginning, it was not bad... it was rather refined and after some time it was very natural (I listen mostly to classical music). Sometimes I felt an elfin capacity to render changes of timbre that can be properly breathtaking. It was very musical. It was with the new 555PS alone.

When I added my 555PS so now the NDS was connected to 2x555PS DR, it was a game changer in terms of technical aspects. It sounded very Hi-Fi, but like other non-naim competitors components.

Then, it became worse.

It's now 2 months later and the sound is harsh, unpleasant and not engaging at all.

I read that the 555PS and the NDS need some time for the burn-in process, but it should be good, at least!
It's a ridiculously expensive source, more than 20k pounds (if you count the Super lumina IC).

At the same time I also bought a new Supercap-DR for the Superline, and it sounds good, better than before (with my Supercap non-DR),
so two months are good for the Supercap but not for the 555PS?!

------

What next guys?
Should I wait some more time?
Should I listen to people like 'GARY YEOWELL' and 'JAMES L' and think that with the new SL cables the soul is missing and the music is not as enjoyable? (here)

I tried to replace the Din-Din SL with my Hi-Line and it sounded wrong (almost broken); especially too bright.

In regards to NDS/555 vs NDS/2x555:

1. With one PS, the sound is richer, more engaging, more 3D imaging and has a sense of a reproduction of a live performance,
and it is dull !

2. With two PS, the sound is more Hi-Fi, more in-the-room (a live performance), everything is bigger, much much lower noise floor and clean and detailed. But it separates the instruments, not in a good way. The orchestra is not there, but a plate of tones of violins, trumpets, drums, etc. coming from the wall.
Yes it has a deeper bass and a better clarity of HF, but it is dull !

To do/Not to do:

a. Wait. Be patient. The NDS and the 555PS sounds wrong now, but it will sound far far far better in X weeks.
b. Get back to the old cables (including the NACA-5, old XLR Hi-line/not HL...)
c. The speakers, SL2, are not designed for the new DR, SuperLumina things, do something at that area.
d. 500 DR?
e. ?

[My system: 500, 552 DR, NDS, 2x555PS DR, LP12, Armageddon, Aro, Superline, Supercap DR, SL2, Fraims, SL cables].

Thanks,
BP.

Posted on: 01 February 2016 by ChrisSU

Having spent that much money, get your dealer round and make him earn his money by listening to your system and helping you to get to the bottom of the problem.

Posted on: 01 February 2016 by Briz Vegas

Go on holidays for 3 weeks come back and be amazed.

It may also be your systems interaction with the room. There seemsto be a particular presentation that you are seeking. As you strip back the gunk off the recording the room is not forgiving the system output. I have a fair bit of room treatment and it makes detail a good thing. Theverybestsystems I have heard are verydetailed and have been in good sized treated rooms

Posted on: 02 February 2016 by jon h

As I said on another thread, I find the SL speaker cable to be incredible in every single way, except for musical timing where I think the NACA5 still beats it hands down.

And I think the same about double PSU on NDS and 555 -- more hifi, less music.

But thats my point of view.

Posted on: 02 February 2016 by hungryhalibut

Chris hit the nail on the head with his first post - get your dealer back and make them earn their money.

These systems are incredibly sensitive to setup, with brawn and brain separated, space around the 552, the SL interconnects hanging free and touching nothing, the SXPS burndies not touching anything, speaker cables not coiled.......

If not set up properly, they won't sound open and engaging, and sound like a layer of mush is blocking the speakers.

I have SL2s, with much lesser electronics, but over the past couple of months have added SL speaker cables and more recently the din to XLR. I have found nothing but improvement, with an incredibly open and engaging sound, very far from dull.

I certainly don't think changing speakers or just waiting will address the dullness, but that getting the setup spot on is the way to go. Did your dealer build the system for you, or are you able to do it properly yourself?

Posted on: 02 February 2016 by FangfossFlyer

Are more and more people having issues with recent DRs and using SLs?

Richard

Posted on: 02 February 2016 by Graham Clarke

BP,

I trialled a second 555PS DR (already run) on my existing NDS/555PS DR over Christmas and didn't like the sound it made. If you are of the same opinion I don't think waiting longer will make a difference. 2 months use should have it run in sufficiently that any further changes will be pretty small.

Posted on: 02 February 2016 by ken c

i believe this is a case of too many changes in a short space of time and with, i assume, new equipment.

your may want to retrace your steps and go back to the last configuration that was OK and then work from there.

if you can, get your retailer around. Here, the advice you get will be polluted by a lot of personal views rather than concrete information to get your system to play music. I dont believe the 2 vs 1x555PS is relevant here at all.

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 02 February 2016 by DrMark

Another vote for engaging your dealer - you have just spent some pretty serious change with him; it's the least he can do.

Posted on: 02 February 2016 by TOBYJUG

Maybe upgrade your mains radial and sockets ?

Posted on: 02 February 2016 by Sloop John B

Everything points to this being a set-up issue.

That's what dealers are for. Ask him (for it usually is) to come around and reset up the full system.

SJB

Posted on: 02 February 2016 by BPhotographer

Thank you all.

I called my dealer this morning and he told me that he is not feeling well, and will come ASAP for re-setup.
He added: "don't touch anything".

Well, I didn't touch naim things but I wondered why most people don't like Tidal, and for me it's OK, sometimes even better than my UPNP server.
My UPNP server is a Mac mini (2015) running Asset, which should be good, very good, on paper.
I took my old PC (running windows 7) and installed Asset on it.

The PC is better than the Mac, almost in every way, not to mention that the music is interesting now...
I wasn't prepared for two surprises; one is that the PC is better than the Mac, two is that it make such a difference.
But I still have complaints...

I'll wait for my dealer.

BP.

Posted on: 02 February 2016 by connon price

Address LAN hardware and cables?

Posted on: 03 February 2016 by BPhotographer

connon price posted:
Address LAN hardware and cables?

No switch.
Some Cat-7 that my dealer brought between the NDS and the modem/router and some common RJ45 between Mac/PC and the modem/router.

BP.

Posted on: 06 February 2016 by BPhotographer

An important update:
I've had the SL DIN-XLR cables in my system for three months (so I heard them with my CDS2 which I know really well).
I remember I loved the new SL speaker cables because of the extra details and the clarity of vocals, high notes of the violins, etc.

Jumping forward a few days, my dealer installed the DIN-XLR SL cables, which I found unattractive at all.
Yes, more bass, less noise floor, but a lake of speed and PRaT and lively sound.

Then the NDS came (with the last SL cable - DIN-DIN), which I found boring most of the time, and for that reason I opened this topic.

As I said before, my dealer told me "don't touch anything", but I couldn't resist, and I just felt I had to prove (at least to myself) that the old DIN-XLR cables are better, and with a bit of determination I connected them yesterday.

Well, they're better. Much better. I didn't know a cable is capable of doing that sort of corruption.
There are absolutely no drawbacks, but just more 'musicality' and more lively sound, with a great pace and lots of PRaT; the end result is now very impressive.

The NDS is more natural than the CDS2. In fact, remarkably close to natural sound. I can hear more of the body of the piano (instead of
just hearing the keys).
Every instrument sounds exclusive! This is a big thing for me; a prestigious sound.

When the music begins through the NDS there seems to be more of everything - focus, depth, detail.
The sound is a bit like a good tube system in terms of creamy timbre and fluidity, with the advantages of naim - immediacy, rhythm.

I really don't want to touch anything now because I just sit and enjoy some good music.

I assume the new SL DIN-XLR cables might fit well to the new DR amps.

BP.

Posted on: 06 February 2016 by BPhotographer

This is a continuation to what my father (Miki185) posted: here
I'm sorry for the flash that caused each box looks different.

BP.