Naim Dac

when I say fit in where does it go in the chain and how ?

The CDX2 feeds a digital signal to the DAC.

The XPS2 acts as power supply to the DAC.

nDAC is meant as an upgrade to CDX2. In that case, 3 power supply cables are needed: one on CDX2, one on nDAC and one on XPS2. Power supply (XPS) is to be used on the nDAC.

DAC V1 does not have an option of a PSU upgrade.

By the way - possibly wrong section of the forum. Hi-Fi corner would give more responses.

Topic moved to the Hifi Corner

And you need the later x2 model that has a digital out, I think this is called 2.2 but I am not sure, and I cannot remember when it was released. The older models can be changed to a transport only version, but that means the x2 then will only work with an external psu.

Claus

A CDX2 converted to supply digital out does not need an external power supply to operate. It operates just fine as a stand alone transport. But it does need to be plugged into a DAC because it no longer has an analogue out facility. The CDX2.2 provides both.

The DAC is remarkably susceptible to power supply upgrades. Without one it's one of the best DACs you can buy at its price point. But adding the XPS2 gives you a hike in performance that justifies the price and adding a 555PS is simply amazing. A true DAC500 level performer.

Try before you buy unles you can get the DAC at a price you can resell it. I thought the CDX2 had a bit more swing and a bit less resolution with its internal DAC than through the NDAC, the same ps was moved from CDX2 to DAC for this comparison. I forget if it was a non-DR 555ps or an XPS-DR.

The Naim nDAC is showing its age a bit from the point of view of not having USB Input. I owned and enjoyed an nDAC with an XPS2, but I would only recommend buying second hand at the moment, even with the new firmware it's a bit of veteran in the DAC arena. 

SJB

It actually has two USB inputs....front and back. Easy to miss when viewing from a side....

Sloop, it may actually be not such a bad thing that the Naim DAC doesn't have a proper USB input for connection to a computer.  I doubt that any DAC's integrated USB input is as good as the best separate USB interfaces, and even these have got better and better in recent years.  The DAC does have a superb set of s/pdif inputs so the best of the USB s/pdif interfaces (It would seem that the Yellowtec PUC2 or the Berkeley Audio Design take the honours here) combined with the Naim DAC should give you the best of all worlds...

Adam Zielinski posted:

It actually has two USB inputs....front and back. Easy to miss when viewing from a side....

Adam - I think they only accept a USB stick containing suitable music files. What they won't do is accept a USB cable e.g. for connecting to a PC.

Mike 

MDS posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

It actually has two USB inputs....front and back. Easy to miss when viewing from a side....

Adam - I think they only accept a USB stick containing suitable music files. What they won't do is accept a USB cable e.g. for connecting to a PC.

Mike 

Mike - that is correct.

For connecting to a PC one would need a DAC V1.

Adam

Richard Dane posted:

Sloop, it may actually be not such a bad thing that the Naim DAC doesn't have a proper USB input for connection to a computer.  I doubt that any DAC's integrated USB input is as good as the best separate USB interfaces, and even these have got better and better in recent years.  The DAC does have a superb set of s/pdif inputs so the best of the USB s/pdif interfaces (It would seem that the Yellowtec PUC2 or the Berkeley Audio Design take the honours here) combined with the Naim DAC should give you the best of all worlds...

You may be right, I may be crazy, but I feel one connection is always preferable to 2 and the solutions you mention more a reaction to the need for asynchronous USB on DACs rather than an optimisation. 

I needed to get a way to get Roon and HQPLAYER to my DAC and the nDAC couldn't facilitate this without the type of "solutions " you mention. 

I realise there is a lot of chatter on the interweb about what connection is optimal and it's quite likely it's none of the currently popular ones, but I'm just voicing my opinion that I think an nDAC new is a poor proposition at the moment. DACs are different to amps there really is a lot of improvements technologically at the moment. 

I I fully expect my current 552/300 to still cut the mustard in 10 years time, I don't expect my 2015 DAC to. 

SJB

I think this a trap.Do you expect the sound of your nDAC to degrde over time? And your amps to be constant?

Of course there will always be somthing new and fancy. That is the nature of progres.

if you are unhappy with your nDAC just sell it and stop seeking justification to your statement that it represents a poor value.

Richard Dane posted:

Sloop, it may actually be not such a bad thing that the Naim DAC doesn't have a proper USB input for connection to a computer.  I doubt that any DAC's integrated USB input is as good as the best separate USB interfaces, and even these have got better and better in recent years.  The DAC does have a superb set of s/pdif inputs so the best of the USB s/pdif interfaces (It would seem that the Yellowtec PUC2 or the Berkeley Audio Design take the honours here) combined with the Naim DAC should give you the best of all worlds...

You can also add the audiophilleo which is the design that Naim liked best and uses in the DAC V1.

Audiphilleo has a newer version out also.

I do agree that one can always use an outboard USB to SPDIF convertor, and from that point of view, the NDAC is and will always remain a superb DAC. Add an XPSDR and it is easily all the DAC one could ever need.

I did a test of Linn KDS/1 vs NDAC/PS555  yesterday and both a really superb machines, yet the NDAC really gets the temporal qualities of music really perfect (with the Linn doing the same with a slight more analog like presentation) , but I could easily live with either one.

I think this quality of Naim sources gets easily forgotten - like the Naim amps, the Naim sources get the pace rhythm, and timing (aka : "Boogie factor") just perfectly right to enjoy the music.

yeti42 posted:

Try before you buy unles you can get the DAC at a price you can resell it. I thought the CDX2 had a bit more swing and a bit less resolution with its internal DAC than through the NDAC,...

Absolutely agree with this.. and over the years I have learnt to really appreciate the CDX2 mk1 internal DAC, it's an absolute beauty that really boogies and provides a very entertaining performance.. yes might not be the most resolving, but there is more to performance sometimes than resolution..

I hear the later CDX2 mk2 might not quite sound the same.. But can't comment accurately as I only own the mk1. The Naim DAC is a fine DAC, especially when partnered with the 555PS. I ran this for a few years... but it's sound is different from the CDX2, and there are other options out there now that take the DAC reconstruction process to a different level that can provide a subtly more insightful analogue facsimile if that is important for you... 

Simon

As you would expect if Naim were to bring out a new uber dac that took every thing to the next level and beyond - droves of users will say that the old one sounded better and more " Naimlike". 

Adam Zielinski posted:

I think this a trap.Do you expect the sound of your nDAC to degrde over time? And your amps to be constant?

Of course there will always be somthing new and fancy. That is the nature of progres.

if you are unhappy with your nDAC just sell it and stop seeking justification to your statement that it represents a poor value.

Dear Adam,

DACs are evolving technology, amplifiers are more mature and by and large evolve more slowly and by smaller increments. I have sold my nDAC and got back what I paid for it because I bought it on the second hand market - this is the advice I'm trying to pass on to the OP. 

My new DAC sounds better (subjectively obviously) ,  has more inputs and doubles as a headphone amp. 

Im sorry if this somehow upsets you.

SJB

James L posted:

The CDX2 feeds a digital signal to the DAC.

The XPS2 acts as power supply to the DAC.

This confuses me, I thought the purpose of the PS was to power the intended device.

Hence, no PL or power cord needed, which improves the performance of the intended device.

Plausible Upgrade sequence:

Cdx2.2 = 1 box = 1 power cord (PC)

Cdx2.2/XPS2 DR or 555 PS = 2 box = 1 PC

Cdx2.2/Ndac/555 PS = 3 box = 2 PC's 

Cdx2.2/FC/Ndac/555PS = 4 box = 2 PC's

Always wondered about this, right now I have the older version, Cdx2, 2008 model.

Researched the Forum, and the feedback suggested the SQ was similar between an 2008 Cdx2/mk1 version, and a 2009 Cdx2.2/mk2 version.

Trying to decide between Xps2 DR & 555PS .

Thanks in Advance!

Allante93!

Sloop John B posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

I think this a trap.Do you expect the sound of your nDAC to degrde over time? And your amps to be constant?

Of course there will always be somthing new and fancy. That is the nature of progres.

if you are unhappy with your nDAC just sell it and stop seeking justification to your statement that it represents a poor value.

Dear Adam,

DACs are evolving technology, amplifiers are more mature and by and large evolve more slowly and by smaller increments. I have sold my nDAC and got back what I paid for it because I bought it on the second hand market - this is the advice I'm trying to pass on to the OP. 

My new DAC sounds better (subjectively obviously) ,  has more inputs and doubles as a headphone amp. 

Im sorry if this somehow upsets you.

 

SJB

 

So what DAC are you using now? 

I doubt there's better alternative out there in the DAC market if Naim sound signature is what you're after. Maybe NDS? Also, the firmware update really brought Naim DAC to another level. 

EDIT:

Nevermind, the information was in your profile.