Sacrilege..........I don't like what the PS 555 does to my nDAC......for all those olive lovers out there

When I added a pre-loved 555ps to my nDac it sounded somehow wrong to me in the beginning. I found that I preferred the PowerLine on the nDac rather than on the 555 and that it took some time for my ears to get adjusted to the new sound (assuming pre-loved power supplies do not require burnin anymore), the sound then just got better and better, no urge to remove the 555 anymore

I know these things are very subjective and can very much be system dependent, but I have to say that I also preferred my nDAC (fed by HDX) without a power supply.  However, NDX>>nDAC with a 555ps was another story... I found that very compelling.   Crazy thing this audio game!

My advice...stick with it.

I was originally very happy with my bare Ndac with a 72 and 135's. When I added the 555ps I too thought it lost a little something. Then I got hold of a serviced/updated 52, plus some powerlines and a Hiline. Suddenly the 555ps started working it's subtle magic - either that  or the resolution of the new kit was now showing me just what the 555ps could do. Musical detail took on so many new levels that going back to a bare Ndac was just crude by comparison.

Do make sure that the Ndac is well away from 'brawn' components as it is very sensative to where it's sited.

Well, David, a few years ago I couldn't get on with what the 555PSDR did with my nDAC and later found contentment with an nonDR 555PS, which was somewhat heretical at the time. Thinking about this subsequently, and searching for an explanation, one possible theory is that at that time I had no other DR components in my system and so the nonDR 555PS might have had more synergy with the other Naim components than the newer DR version of the 555PS.  Perhaps your Olive kit is the same. 

Anyway, I think you're right to allow your ears to be the final arbiter on such matters, rather than what should be technically better. 

Mmm not sure about this, I would seriously check the  burndy cable and its positioning and the position of the ps itself.

Brand new burndy.....PS on a Fraim.

Interesting replies. Thnaks. The only one I don't agree with is suggesting that I should let me my ears accustom themselves to the sound.  That is surely akin to allowing something I don't like to become the norm..

I agree with MDS, and I wrote about it on the forum at the time, the nonDR 555PS was hugely preferable to me over the 555PSDR .. the former has a rich organic feel to it with a tiny bit of grain which goes well with the NDAC. The DR version made the NDAC very clean and sharp but it seemed to loose what I loved about the NDAC albeit made it sound a little closer to the NDS.  However the plain NDAC although good to me just had a performance some way behind both of these.. and was less rich and enjoyable.

As stated above by PS, I would check the burndy, that it is loosely hanging, not under undue tension at each connector and that you have loosened it up, and you connected it properly by holding the connectors and not the wires.. again loads written about this over the years.

and when you listen you need to listen over severeal days before judging, as your brain will adjust.. otherwise you will be expecting what went before..and this is not even considering any subconscious bias..  Interesting research article in the AES about this... this is necessary as most audio systems and probably nearly all hifi systems are quite removed from true audio virtual reality and realism... and your brain needs to 'tune in'

Simon

Fascinating - this kit is out of my price range, so I won't comment on the specifics, but I'm very interested in how we judge differences in sound.

Years ago I upgraded the needle on my turntable and hated it . . . I persisted to get it run in, but couldn't adapt. Over a period I grew accustomed to the new sound, but still yearned for the old needle. Eventually, I bought another of the old one and was so disappointed - I had come to prefer the new one after all.

Hearing is so subjective and so hard to remember with any clarity. Differences in volume or tone can throw us off completely. I learned you really have to live with it for a good while, in your own home, to be sure. 

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

... and when you listen you need to listen over several days before judging, as your brain will adjust.. otherwise you will be expecting what went before..and this is not even considering any subconscious bias..  Interesting research article in the AES about this... this is necessary as most audio systems and probably nearly all hifi systems are quite removed from true audio virtual reality and realism... and your brain needs to 'tune in'...

There is a lot happening in that *brain tuning*. Interestingly, the muscles in the inner ear can also be exercised :

...I am doing an A/B comparison. I am simply choosing which I prefer and it is quite clear to me. I have not been listening to anything for 4 weeks because everything was being serviced.

The PS changes the nature of my enjoyment from engaged to disinterested.....

I found the DR supplies take a few weeks to run-in and sound right to my ears. My 552DR sounded horrible and 'plasticy' (not a word, but trying to describe what I didn't like). The Bass was clean and there was lots of detail, but it didn't connect and left me cold - then after a few weeks it all started sounding rather lovely and all the edge vanished.

Then I got my 555 supplies DR - and they sounded horrible and even worse than the 552DR did at first - brash and lacking that 'draw you in' quality I love. I considered getting them un-DRed, but waited to see if they would run-in and sound better - after a few weeks they did.

Not saying it will be that way in this case - but it was what I found, so I understand the initial reaction of disappointment.

Stick with it and if after a few weeks it still does not make you smile it will be considered no good I would reckon, but not from new.

DB.

Serviced kit will take many weeks to truly come back on song, and if it were me I would wait until then to make my final judgement. I used the 555/ndac for a couple of years, then the 555 was dr'd and everything just got even better. My friend had 135's serviced a few years ago and they took almost six months to re burn in. 

Maybe its just my musical preferences, but I could not imagine taking the 555PS DR away from my nDAC.  I did find that I had to very carefully "massage" (see the FAQ) and install the Burndy cable, keep it from touching things, and attend to the support shelf to get the "magic".  Perhaps you should get your dealer over to check it out.  That is way too much money to invest - you should love it or sell it on.

Best of luck.

Charlie

Jason,

Was interested in your post about the NDAC to NDX + NDAC and 555PS. Was in DR or non-DR. Any more detail on the differences/improvements you found?

Neil

AHA.....EUREKA!.......I borrowed an XP5 XS plugged it in and it was better than the PS 555........so clearly something was wrong.........the answer.....the burndy. The PS 555 was previously owned and came with an old burndy; the XP5 with a new burndy, so I swapped them and ....wow.....nirvanna.

I am ecstatic. 

Amazing I thought burndies were binary, they worked or did not; clearly I was wrong. 

I am in complete audio heaven.

Great news, David. Enjoy.

So presumably the 555 with the XP5XS's Burndy should be even better. I'm glad you've worked out what was wrong. 

Great news!  "Now, that's more like it."  When gear gets this good, the little details can make a real difference in performance.  The Burndy cable is one of those things that can really reward one for proper attention to setup.

Cheers,

Charlie

Exactly Mr Halibut; that is precisely what I have done.

Even the Director of Domestic Affairs is impressed

Davidr posted:

Exactly Mr Halibut; that is precisely what I have done.

Even the Director of Domestic Affairs is impressed

Love that expression 

Davidr posted:

AHA.....EUREKA!...........wow.....nirvanna.
I am ecstatic. ....I am in complete audio heaven.

Nice to hear!

DB.