555PS on NDX

Given your concerns, perhaps get an XPSDR, unless you plan to swap the NDX for an NDS. 

Thanks HH. I don't plan on NDS having only just got the NDX and about to be out of cash for the foreseeable. I'm getting an ex-dem' 252 to try against my 282 on Thurs and will have it if it passes the home comparison. (After that all I want to do is compare/upgrade to 300dr in place of my 250dr and that will be it. Let's not go there, though.) So right now I just want to get the best out of the NDX. The used 555 is great value and cheaper than the XPS DR but needs a super-rapid decision; so this choice is not based on cost, but opportunity and benefit.   

Well, I'd be doing things differently: I'm not sure either the Simplex or the NDX is up to a 252/300. You'd be better with an NDS and your existing amplifier, plus a better turntable too, if that's a main source. 

Then the cat's eaten the pigeons. Well, the Simplex/Dynavector XX2 does sound wonderful, currently. Will find out what it's like with 252/250 in a few days. The 300 would be a year away. Vinyl is 15% of my listening so priority is streaming. P'raps NDS would be a better way than 300 - source n' all.

The 555 situation is pressured because of the nature of the offer. You know what it's like - a great deal comes up.. Then again, I'd need it if going NDS. It just grates because I only got the NDX, albeit at a v good price, 6 weeks ago! 

Bear in mind that the DR power supplies are a lot better than the non DR versions. Upgrading the 555PS, with a service, is around £1,500 I believe. 

I don't know how cheap this 555 is, but there are two currently being advertised on Pink Fish at around £2,300. Unless it's well under the £2k mark, there seems little reason to be overly hasty. 

This is a 'mates' deal - £2100 with a burndy..? Is that worth snapping at?

I would say yes. See how it is with the NDX, get it upgraded to DR, and serviced, and then compare the NDS with the 252/300 option. That's what I would do anyway.

I think that's a sound approach, too, HH. Thanks. 

I say given the age and the fact it needs servicing  the price is ok - not the best - but ok. I agree with what much has been said above. The 555PS is certainly not bad on the NDX - but to my ears it shows up traits in the NDX which are not it strong points - unless being used as a transport only - in which case I have heard it sound amazing into a NDAC/555PS - but we are in the lands of diminishing returns here.

I do think the NDX standalone is jolly descent though and I would be inclined to assign any available funds initially on pre amplification first.

Simon

I've sweated over your NDAC reports the past few days, Simon. But it's just one box too many for me. When you refer to 'not its strong points' would that include sibilance/harshness at the top of vocals? Because I want to avoid that like the plague.. I don't get it as things stand.

..the 252 will come regardless, assuming it sounds better to my ears than the 282..

eagle3333 posted:

.. would that include sibilance/harshness at the top of vocals? 

yes.. although harshness is perhaps not quite what I would use - but subjectively an increased sibilance and a more clinical, exaggerated sound..

The NDX and NDAC/555PS is quite a lot of hardware - and I had mine on its own little Fraim stack and it did sound rather good - and for a while there was not much I heard that improved on it... but I have moved on now and you might be aware I use a Hugo with my NDX  - the NDAC and 555PS have a new home. The NDX/Hugo is delightfully light weight in appearance..and now only takes two levels of my Fraim with the Hugo on top on its own largely empty shelf.. and yes it does sound best there - I suspect down to vibrations etc on the interconnects.

Simon

Right. Clinical is definitely not good. I was getting that from the t/t until I changed the string for Mogami which has solved the issue beautifully. I haven't researched the Hugo at all. But, the footprint and price of the solution fits. Can you describe the sound difference between NDX/555 and NDX/Hugo? I'm not really happy about a future NDS upgrade because I really wanted to draw the investment line here - possible 300/HH remarks notwithstanding.  (Actually, it's more because I can't stand to think that if I end up with NDS I'll have, dimly, gone through ND5 and NDX to get there.) Or should I go check out a past post?

Eagle3333 I have written quite a bit on this on the forum - if ok could I perhaps suggest you use the forum search and you will find some of my descriptions. There is one thread with a lot of detail in - and it got a bit heated at the time and Richard Dane had to remove it - but the thread with the trolling removed has been reinstated - you might find it useful.

Simon

Yep sure; thanks Simon. Ian

eagle3333 posted:

Right. Clinical is definitely not good. I was getting that from the t/t until I changed the string for Mogami which has solved the issue beautifully. I haven't researched the Hugo at all. But, the footprint and price of the solution fits. Can you describe the sound difference between NDX/555 and NDX/Hugo? I'm not really happy about a future NDS upgrade because I really wanted to draw the investment line here - possible 300/HH remarks notwithstanding.  (Actually, it's more because I can't stand to think that if I end up with NDS I'll have, dimly, gone through ND5 and NDX to get there.) Or should I go check out a past post?

 

I have gone down most of the path you are contemplating and I will give you my twopenneth for what it is worth.

My most recent transitions are from NDX/282/SupercapDR/250.2 upgrading to NDS/TP XPS, then upgrading to 250DR and SL speaker cables and then most recently upgrading to 252. My next planned upgrade is to 555DR for the NDS.

I am not saying this is the perfect way to upgrade but it was as a result of extensive home demos at each stage and each upgrade produced a significant uplift in SQ so I take from that the order of upgrade was a logical one.

You say you want to avoid clinical (previously referred to as silibence/hardness). In that case I would recommend a move from 282 to 252. I have described the 282 signature as exuberant and the 252 is more refined with a suble and alluring signature which will help with reducing/avoiding hardness at the top.

So if it were me where you are now, I would go for a NDS next (and get over the fact you will have gone through all the streamer models) and, if you agree, then it is worth going for the 555 deal (in the knowledge it will be greatly improved with the DR mod at some point) now to go with the NDS which will benefit form the best PS (555). Next I would go for the 252 as you already have a SC DR. I find the NDS/252/250DR are beautifully balanced and simply sing together and I have no immediate urge to upgrade to a 300DR. But that is just me and I have always been a source first kind of guy with a keen appreciation of how key the pre amp is.

I hope I don't have to emphasise how important home demos are at each stage. This is my story, yours may turn out to be different. And of course we use different speakers, yet another important variable.

Good luck.

Nigel, great to hear of your journey. I agree with your end game but am kind of committed to a slightly different route as the 252 arrives for home demo' Thursday and I don't want to mess my dealer about. (But it's good to hear your thoughts on it, particularly as elsewhere I've read it's not as 'warm' as the 282. In fact, inevitably and like everything else down to personal taste, I've read it's boring, exciting and everything in between. It will be good to find out what it's like to my ears in my room.) But, I am concluding that instead of going to 300DR in several months time it will make more sense to go NDS. That plan, as you and others suggest, makes the 555 worth buying now with the ability to service and upgrade later. And I'll get to hear what it does on the NDX meantime. I'll report back if I conclude anything different though, at 10yrs old, I'm not necessarily expecting fireworks pre-servicing.

My word young man - you certainly have a mature conversational manner - and a seemingly massive amount of pocket money - for someone so young.

I have to admit that my order of upgrades was partially driven by the order in which pre-loved/exdem models presented themselves. If you are clear about your end game, there are of course several routes you could take and it is worth grabbing a good deal (after a home demonstration) as they appear.

Having said this, a logical progression to that end game should be your guide. I would agree that it makes sense to get the 555 now (the very best PS for the NDS) and the 252 if you like the home demo as you already have both a SC DR (a requirement for the 252) and a 250DR which goes very, very nicely with the 252.

My view is that it is best to get the NDS before the 300DR. You already have a wonderful power amp in the 250DR and either the 282 or 252 to go with it. This pre/power combo will show you in spades how better the NDS performs over the NDX. The NDX is great and I owned one for years but the NDS is a different beast altogether.

Have fun and let us know how you get on.

Hahaha Will - great spot! Will do, Nigel and thanks again for the shared knowledge.

I'd suggest getting a demo on a Hugo or Hugo TT... try pairing that with your NDX... would provide another option to consider as opposed to NDS + associated power supplies and keeps the box count lower

If you went that route the savings would probably fund the move from 282 > 252 and leave some cash in reserve to consider a 300 or SL cables etc.

Well, Simon and Z, the Hugo threads are a bit eye-opening.  Out of interest, is it still possible to navigate ones music using the Naim app with a Hugo plugged into NDX? 

eagle3333 posted:

Well, Simon and Z, the Hugo threads are a bit eye-opening.  Out of interest, is it still possible to navigate ones music using the Naim app with a Hugo plugged into NDX? 

The NDX works as normal, the only difference is that it uses the external dac instead of the internal dac

Hungryhalibut posted:

Bear in mind that the DR power supplies are a lot better than the non DR versions. Upgrading the 555PS, with a service, is around £1,500 I believe. 

 

Bit more than that, HH.  Service and DR upgrade for 555PS is £2248.  Mine's being done at the moment.

Yikes! I'm glad I bought an XPSDR rather than an original 555PS that someone tried to sell me.