NDS Purchase

Sounds pretty much like my experience going from ndx/555 to nds/555. The nds just sounded so right immediately. Listening to Roger Waters on ndx was really good, and my thoughts were how will the nds better this? Well, as soon as I heard the first couple of seconds I was sold on the nds. It was as if he was actually in the room, the sound seemed so effortless and natural. This just got better and better as the weeks passed.

As for the 555 hum, if it is too bad then your dealer may offer to exchange it for a new one. The first one I had was humming loudly all the time, even when my other naim supplies were quiet. The dealer swapped it out for a new one and that has been virtually silent. Contact your dealer to discuss it.

Have never done the comparison to the NDX. But compared to my old CDX2 I know it was night and day, while I liked the presentation of the CDX. Now with the added Fraim I really hear what it is capable off.

it's now just about listening music.

With all the talk a while ago of people selling their NDS for a little DAC with a funny name, it's good to see the NDS getting the recognition it deserves. The S players have always been a significant step above their little X brothers, particularly in terms of sheer musicality. 

As to the power supply, ask for an exchange - you don't want transformer hum spoiling the inky blackness. 

Yes if using the streamer Inbuilt DACs, the NDS is a significant performance lift over the NDX.. The NDX is fun, but the NDS is more consistent and involving  across different genres.

Adding to Bert's observation I think the CDX2 DAC is more enjoyable with many genres than the NDX DAC  .. albeit perhaps a little coloured.. The NDX is more straight laced. I own and use both of these sources on Fraim and Hiline in my system. The NDS is very different however... it's more similar in performance to that little DAC with a funny name than the NDX or CDx2.

Simon

KindofBlue posted:

 'where the heck did the music go'.  I literally could not believe how much of the music I was missing with the NDX (which BTW I really liked).

Same here. Odd but true. The NDS sounds so effortlessly life like to me. If the chance presents try auditioning a second 555PS. I'll say no more for now.

Hungryhalibut posted:

With all the talk a while ago of people selling their NDS for a little DAC with a funny name, it's good to see the NDS getting the recognition it deserves. 

Hugo? Disn't like it at all. I'm so glad Naim didn't buckle under the pressure!

The NDS is fantastic but even better with the Super Lumina interconnect which is jaw dropping. Pound for pound the best upgrade I have ever made by a country mile.

NDS and the little DAC with silly name.... Chalk and cheese.

Hungryhalibut posted:

With all the talk a while ago of people selling their NDS for a little DAC with a funny name, it's good to see the NDS getting the recognition it deserves. The S players have always been a significant step above their little X brothers, particularly in terms of sheer musicality. 

As to the power supply, ask for an exchange - you don't want transformer hum spoiling the inky blackness. 

I am totally lost what little box are you talking about, .......:-)..... I will stay true, as I believe Naim will keep on surprising us with further sound upgrades in software and by upgrading or introducing new black boxes...

Bert Schurink posted:

I will stay true, as I believe Naim will keep on surprising us with further sound upgrades in software and by upgrading or introducing new black boxes...

Yes, Naim is really on a roll right now.  They are introducing a wide range of new products that stay true to their name.  Very exciting times to be a Naim customer.

Back to the NDS - another benefit worth mentioning is the streaming is so improved that I removed my beloved NAT 05 tuner.  I am also experimenting with lower volume listening.  No conclusions yet, but the NDS may allow a satisfactory listening experience at lower volumes.

Gary Yeowell posted:

"NDS and the little DAC with silly name.... Chalk and cheese".

I completely agree. However, the 'Dragonfly' at around £130 is pretty good value, although obviously not a patch on the NDS.

However, there are alternatives, including one by another British Company at around £1,500 that would definitely be worth comparing, and would also not require any debate about 1 or 2 additional power supplies.

The NDS is pretty good, though. Just very expensive!

Congratulations on your upgrade Kindofblue, sounds like you experience a real step change improvement from your previous set up.

Im with NDX, soon to add XPS2, cant see I will ever be able to get to the next level, but its nice to know what could await me should I be fortunate enough to get to be in that position.

Enjoy !

KindofBlue posted:

After a few years with my NDX I have upgraded to the NDS/555-DR.  I previously listened to the NDX/DAC combo but was never able to warm up to the sound.  The big 'aha' moment came when I did and A-B comparison between the NDX & NDS at my local dealer.  Having not listened to an NDS previously I did not know what to expect.  We listened to the NDX, then NDS, then NDX - at which time my reaction was 'where the heck did the music go'.  I literally could not believe how much of the music I was missing with the NDX (which BTW I really liked).  Having had the NDS running at home for a bit, I'd like to offer the following observations:

• Soundstage - the soundstage is very different from the NDX.  With the NDX, I was always aware of the L/R channels.  With the NDS this has completely gone away.  Each music component has it's location with a stunning presentation.    
• Everything is there - I feel for the first time that I am hearing all of the music.  The NDS accomplishes this in a very natural way and without causing listener fatigue.  
• Detail - with a vastly improved soundstage and a large increase in the music presented it could naturally lead to a loss of detail.  Not with the NDS.  Somehow the NDS also substantially increased detail.  Very nice!
• Bass - I was considering adding a sub to my set-up.  That is no longer necessary with the NDS - it really brings out the low end - while keeping an excellent overall tonal balance.
• Harshness - the NDS eliminated any harshness that was present with the NDX
• Black space - the NDS is very deep/quiet where it should be

 

My only down side so far is the 555-DR has a noticeable hum.  

My feeling exactly with the NDS/555 (non DR).    Had HDX with nDAC which was great.  Tried NDX then NDX with nDAC but not enough to want to change.  Found NDX with nDAC/555ps very tempting, but strangely didn't find adding the 555 to my HDX & nDAC to my liking!

The NDS however was just a eureka moment though, it was such a quantum leap for me.  Have tried the little DAC with silly name too, but it's just not for me.  The NDS just hits the spot like nothing else for me.  I never thought I would pay out so much money when there are such great products available at fractions of the price of the NDS, but in my experience it's worth every penny and its here to stay....  I now look forward to every spare minute!

ChrisH posted:

Congratulations on your upgrade Kindofblue, sounds like you experience a real step change improvement from your previous set up.

Im with NDX, soon to add XPS2, cant see I will ever be able to get to the next level, but its nice to know what could await me should I be fortunate enough to get to be in that position.

Enjoy !

I want from naked NDX to NDS (part exchanging my NDX for a pre loved NDS) for about the cost of the XPS2. I did have to think out of the box re how to power the NDS though. 

nigelb posted:

I want from naked NDX to NDS (part exchanging my NDX for a pre loved NDS) for about the cost of the XPS2. I did have to think out of the box re how to power the NDS though. 

How did you find the change nigelb? Similar to how Kindofblue describes?

I haven't ever heard an NDS back to back with an NDX, curious, that's all!

The NDS is a real step up from the NDX.  You don't realise what you are missing with the NDX because, frankly, it sounds great. However the NDS adds more realism, subtleties are more apparent and music has a better balance. I don't mean balance across the frequency range, I mean the balance between instruments and vocalists in the mix. Sometimes with the NDX, backing vocals and 'support' instrumentation can get lost. Not with the NDS. There is more tone and texture to instruments and vocals and lyrics are more intelligible Everything is there and musical pieces make more sense with the NDS.

Don't get me wrong, the NDX is a fine streamer and it gave me several years of pleasure but the NDS is a different beast.

gary yeowell posted:

NDS and the little DAC with silly name.... Chalk and cheese.

Not sure I agree, although different and to me the Hugo takes the lead in its naturalness, the Hugo is closer to the NDS than say the NDX or CDX2. I  own all these devices except NDS which I had on extended loan. So perhaps more like a fine Caerphilly cheese compared to a Cheshire cheese. But to the point, the NDS (with at least one 555PS) is a major step up on the NDX and is top of the stack of current Naim digital players..but the NDX is a great player in its own right...

Simon

Harry posted:

Same here. Odd but true. The NDS sounds so effortlessly life like to me. If the chance presents try auditioning a second 555PS. I'll say no more for now.

If you do the audition that Harry suggests, please make sure you've got about £6k available...  unless you're one of those rare guys who can walk away from something amazing without looking back 

Curios as to whether there are any NDS/XPSDR users out there or is everyone doing it with 555PS?

Agree with earlier post on super lumina interconnect. An amazing improvement between the NDS and 555dr. Also a melco to really get the front end singing

LFCJohn posted:

Agree with earlier post on super lumina interconnect. An amazing improvement between the NDS and 555dr. Also a melco to really get the front end singing

Presumably you mean between the NDS and the preamp (not detailed in your profile). My NDS and PS555DR are connected via Burndy cables.

ChrisH posted:

Congratulations on your upgrade Kindofblue, sounds like you experience a real step change improvement from your previous set up.

Im with NDX, soon to add XPS2, cant see I will ever be able to get to the next level, but its nice to know what could await me should I be fortunate enough to get to be in that position.

Enjoy !

looking at XPS or SH 555PS for my NDX - but in time would ideally move to NDS if budget allows

feeling_zen posted:

Curios as to whether there are any NDS/XPSDR users out there or is everyone doing it with 555PS?

Not at all... I am a very happy owner of a NDS/XPSDR and it sounds wonderful into my 252/SCAPDR/250. :-)

I guess one can power NDS via a 555ps(DR) and an XPS(DR)...i.e. two power supplies connected

anyone got experience of this....which one should go on input 1 and input 2 ?

I ask because I have one of each of the said PS's (DR), and have just let go of my NDX...

Have a good evening