I appreciate there are a number of topics on this subject however I would be interested in opinions that I don't think have been covered by the various posts I have read. Of course, ultimately I appreciate only mine own ears will tell, however I would appreciate some guidance.
I am totally new to the world of streaming, the last time I went to a hifi shop and bought something was when I got a pair of SL2s to hang on to the end of my system (CDS2, XPS2, 52/Supercap, NAP135s, SL2s)
So this week I ventured into my local hifi shop having been enlightened to the world of high end streaming to audition an ND5 and an NDX. Having read many reviews saying they were both excellent and very close in performance, that was not my experience at all. I had also read one review that said that the ND5 with a power supply was even better than the NDX.
My experience is that they were both very detailed, however the ND5 was so 'in your face'. The detail was there but as the music ramped up in complexity it seemed hard and congested.
The NDX was a world apart to my ears. There was so much more perspective between all the instruments, so much more colour and texture.
The ND5 with the matching power supply was better but still very forward and in your face.
I am now considering an NDAC, partly due to cost as a fully updated NDAC can be had second hand for half the cost of the ND5, and even including the cost of a Mac Mini as a streaming source would still give me a lot of change over a new ND5.
My question is this, is the character of the NDAC more akin to the ND5 or the NDX?
To my ears the NDX has the wonderful space and sweetness that you get with the CDS2 (surely Naim's sweetest every sounding CD player).
I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.
Posted on: 23 June 2016 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Simon, I do not have a Hugo, but according to its spec, it supports both DSD64 and DSD128 via Coax, is that right?
I can only drive standard DSD by coax so can't test, but as I say to send double DSD via SPDIF would require a SPDIF framing rate greater than 192/24 which I don't believe is supported. Async audio via USB won't have this limitation.
So I can't definitely answer your question.
Posted on: 23 June 2016 by Innocent Bystander
Hugo claims up to 384/24 on the electrical SPDIF (optical is limited to 192). On that basis, coupled with what Simon has posted, it sounds as if the answer may be yes from the Hugo end, Subject to any limitations of the medium (75Ω coax does not inherently limit, but I don't know about RCA connectors -I suspect some are better than others (?)
You can always have a try!
Posted on: 23 June 2016 by SpecCled Trout
The Hugo is here! The vendor sent it without the power supply but luckily it was fully charged.
It is almost a direct swap for the nDAC except for one interconnect. The nDAC is connected to the 52 with a Chord Silver cable (antique I know!). The only phono to DIN cable I have a Chord Chrysalis (another antique) which looks suspiciously like a Naim cable.
After everything I have read on here I rather expected a day and night difference. It is certainly different!
I have only had a couple of hours listening and my initial impressions are this.
First of all I was surprised by the depth, power and tunefulness of the bass. At least initially this is an area where it excels over the nDAC.
More detail - there is no doubt more detail.
But initial impressions are that is less dynamic and less rhythmic than the nDAC.
My summary in a line is "more colour, painted with softer brushes."
The most telling thing is that all the time I was listening to the Hugo. I was looking forward to listening to the nDAC (bear in mind when I first started listening to the nDAC I lost all desire to go back to the CDS2).
I appreciate that the Silver cable is more open, transparent and dynamic - but it feels like more than that.
I will live with it for two weeks and see how I feel then.
Posted on: 24 June 2016 by SpecCled Trout
Hugo now attached with the supplied USB cable into the HD port.
There is absolutely no hum or noise (Chord say that if the Naim pre-amp has another grounded source plugged into it then it should be OK).
The sound is more holographic, although at lower volumes it stills seems to lack dynamics compared to the nDAC.
Once the sound is cranked up it starts to come to life - much more engaging then the Toslink.
Of course the nDAC might equally benefit, or even more so from a USB/SPDIF connection. I will have to wait until Colonel Gustard arrives.
At the end of the day what I really comparing (allowing for the ebay values) is a £1,750 CD player to a £2,100 nDAC/XPS2 to a £900 DAC.
Currently, on a cost basis the Hugo just edges it - but it is not ready to be a permanent fixture in my system yet.
Posted on: 02 July 2016 by SpecCled Trout
I am now at the stage of a MM/Audivarna -> USB -> Gustard U12 -> Optical (the shortest cable that came with the Hugo) -> Hugo -> Chord Chrysalis -> NAC52
There is clearly a lot of opportunity to improve the interconnects, however this combination is better than the USB or the Optical directly to the Hugo (which was very detailed but not compelling). Adding the Gustard seems to have improved the timing and weight bringing the Hugo closer to the nDAC.
I have not tried the U12 into the nDAC yet.
Off to get a digital Coax cable.
