NAIM Synergy

I would definitely go with a NAS,  & fully wired (not wireless)    Wireless will struggle with HD files (24-bit) & the ND5 is 2.4GHz only so nothing to gain from the Time Capsule's 5GHz & 802.11ac.               The Time Capsule (I think) can operate as a network switch & it will link wireless to the router.    So ethernet from NAS - TC - ND5 

Yes NACA5 is a good suggestion,  as is TQ Black & the low/mid priced Chord's  but if you've got something OK at the moment I would not be in a hurry.  What do you have BTW

You seem to be assembling an interesting system, with good amplification yet inadequate sources. Neither the turntable nor CD player is up to the level of the amplification, and now you are about to repeat that with the ND5. The NDX is the right match for the Supernait. If you get a streamer, do you need a CD player at all?

As to the NAS, yes, do get one. I'd suggest a Qnap as it will run both Asset and Minimserver, so you have a choice. The other popular choice is Synology, but they won't run Asset, and setting up Minimserver can be a bit tricky. 

For cables they are generic 12 gauge with monster banana plugs

Agree with HH - ND5XS is NOT a a good match for the SuperNait. I've tested it and settled on an NDX.

Hungryhalibut posted:

You seem to be assembling an interesting system, with good amplification yet inadequate sources. Neither the turntable nor CD player is up to the level of the amplification, and now you are about to repeat that with the ND5. The NDX is the right match for the Supernait. If you get a streamer, do you need a CD player at all?

As to the NAS, yes, do get one. I'd suggest a Qnap as it will run both Asset and Minimserver, so you have a choice. The other popular choice is Synology, but they won't run Asset, and setting up Minimserver can be a bit tricky. 

I originally had a Nait 5si when I bought my cd player and my marantz. The reason I have the SN2 was because I found one used for almost the price that I could sell my Nait. I chose the Nd5 because reading about it, most mentioned that this with the PSU would be better then the NDX and currently I didn't have the $ for the NDX. I have kept the CD player since you can't always get what you want online and I don't want to rip some CD's but every once in a while I will listen to them.

In the fast moving world of streaming I rate the ND5 as practically a legacy item. 

Have a look at Roon and use your budget to get a Roon solution which should future proof you. 

To keep Naim synergy a DAC V1 with microRendu will give you better sound than an ND5 (I'm relying on others for this statement) and will allow you to use Roon, UPnP, Logitech Media server and AirPlay. 

SJB

Have you thought of buying an exdem or used NDX from a Naim dealer. It's about the same price as a new ND5. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Have you thought of buying an exdem or used NDX from a Naim dealer. It's about the same price as a new ND5. 

yes, but none were available here in colombia and most were European versions 230V and don't work here. And the few I did find with 120V were still more then what my dealer gave me if I bought the ND5 from him and his taking my NA8005 as partial payment.

Sloop John B posted:

In the fast moving world of streaming I rate the ND5 as practically a legacy item. 

Have a look at Roon and use your budget to get a Roon solution which should future proof you. 

To keep Naim synergy a DAC V1 with microRendu will give you better sound than an ND5 (I'm relying on others for this statement) and will allow you to use Roon, UPnP, Logitech Media server and AirPlay. 

SJB

The room would be vs Plex? If so what are the advantages?

Andres Herrera posted:

I have kept the CD player since you can't always get what you want online and I don't want to rip some CD's but every once in a while I will listen to them.

 

I don't follow that logic,  if you have a NAS you can rip every CD & then store the ugly CD's somewhere out of sight.  I ripped every CD I had - even those I never played.    Plus I believe a ripped CD to WAV (or FLAC) sounds better played thru a quality player like the ND5 (or better NDX) than it does with a budget CD player.  The CD5 will have a value & those funds can go toward an NDX (or NDX)  & the NAS ..........  & +1 for HH recommendations on NAS makes .

Noted you are from Columbia & the 2nd hand market & voltage difficulties 

Andres Herrera posted:

Sloop John B posted:

In the fast moving world of streaming I rate the ND5 as practically a legacy item. 

Have a look at Roon and use your budget to get a Roon solution which should future proof you. 

To keep Naim synergy a DAC V1 with microRendu will give you better sound than an ND5 (I'm relying on others for this statement) and will allow you to use Roon, UPnP, Logitech Media server and AirPlay. 

SJB

The room would be vs Plex? If so what are the advantages?

I don't know anything about Plex, my advice is not to shackle yourself to an older unit when going a DAC plus route leaves every option open  and will undoubtedly give better SQ (IMO)

A raspberry Pi into the DAC is another cheaper option.

Roon has been a revelation to me and increased my musical enjoyment by approximately 34.5%

SJB

Sloop John B posted:

In the fast moving world of streaming I rate the ND5 as practically a legacy item. 

Have a look at Roon and use your budget to get a Roon solution which should future proof you. 

To keep Naim synergy a DAC V1 with microRendu will give you better sound than an ND5 (I'm relying on others for this statement) and will allow you to use Roon, UPnP, Logitech Media server and AirPlay. 

SJB

Futureproof, in the fast changing world of streaming, maybe maybe not. I do not like the subscription model when you have to sign up for a year or for lifetime. And the setup of roon does seem quite complicated.

Claus

If you think you can upgrade nd5xs with its ps to get better sound over ndx you will be disappointeD. Ndx is definitely a better source even with SN2.

, However I don T think at all SN2 and nd5xs don t Work.they do match well,indeed.

I would broadly agree with the comments above that an NDX would be a better (and neater) solution and in your position, I would sell the CD player to help fund it and rip CDs to a NAS. 

SjB,  do use Roon through the Hugo TT and NUC?

Brian Dodson posted:

SjB,  do use Roon through the Hugo TT and NUC?

Yes, I have the NUC in a fan less case connected directly to the Hugo TT. I have Roon server running on the NUC and I control it from remotes on iPads, iPhones and various Windows PCs and laptops we have around the house. 

I have a Raspberry Pi with HifiBerry providing Roon to a UniQute and a Squeebox Touch providing Roon to a SuperUniti. 

The next logical step for me is to go microRendu into the Hugo TT and move the NUC to another site, but I think I'll wait for them to appear on the s/h market as things are sounding pretty good at the moment. 

Cheers, John. 

SJB

Best value I believe is Mac Mini (s/h late 2012 version), Audirvana, Gustard U12 into DAC, particularly Hugo (or possibly 2Qute though I haven't heard it) . into Hugo is better SQ than ND5XS with XP5XS power supply, renderer good enough to feed even a Chord Dave, Mac Mini doubles as a silent NAS, and no need to shift files on-the-fly across a network. 

And if it's the Naim sound you crave, emphasising the parts of the spectrum that carry the PRaT info, that comes primarily from the preamp, and not from the ND5XS.

Hi Andres,

How's the restaurant going?

In view of your earlier thread where your wife asked about the ages of the respondents, I wondered if you might get more pleasure from a CDX2.2 than a ND5XS.

Best, Chris

Christopher_M posted:

In view of your earlier thread where your wife asked about the ages of the respondents, I wondered if you might get more pleasure from a CDX2.2 than a ND5XS.

Erm, if the OP wants a streamer, how does a CD player help - and what has it got to do with age? 

From the age angle, whilst most youngsters are likely to be familiar with streaming online, and electronic storage of music, long before they start to think of a hifi system for better quality sound, inexplicably some of them are starting to play vinyl (I think its a fashion thing). CDS may be less popular. Old fogies, or those heading that way, will have grown up with vinyl, which many keep for the familiarity and love of its sound and tactility, and most will have adopted CD , whether replacing or supplementing vinyl, but many have/are also adopting streaming as it offers so much more.

For myself, rapidly approaching old foginess in numerical age even though still feeling 18,  I changed over to streaming a couple of years ago when a CD player needed replacing, seeing atreaming as the future, potentially (though not necessarily)  capable of better quality, no storage space requirements, easy to use (aside from laziness, it can significant once getting out of an armchair gets difficult as may happen in the future), and no cost of repair/replacement of CD player every 10 years or so due to mechanical wear.

IB, have a look back at Andres' earlier thread of maybe a year ago to get the context.

Chris

Christopher_M posted:

IB, have a look back at Andres' earlier thread of maybe a year ago.

Chris

I did, to see what you had referred to, finding one with his wife's query about age (Buying New Euipment, Nov 2015). In that thread the OP was talking about buying an NDX, actually sounding like that was definite in his last post, and no suggestion he wanted CD without also having streaming. And no-one really explored the preferences re age after that question.

clearly things have changed if he's now considering ND5XS, but he's obviously wanting tgat streaming option.

Fair enough, I'm just trying to understand the context in which the decisions are made. But this thread definitely begins with, 'I have decided to purchase a ND5 SX '. My understanding, from Naim's guidance, is it's not the best match for a SN2.

C.

It may be that the OP has more strain in his finances than when planning NSX - but clearly he's after a streamer. 

Mac Mini solution with suitable DAC will enable a level of play above ND5XS ( indeed including with it's power supply (indeed some have said better than NDX), and, including DAC, at lower cost than bare ND5XS+ NAS

Mac mini+dac is ONE solution.

I've heard three different ones in the last 2 years.some expensive some cheap.

they were nice in the ears of their owners, in reaality a messy sound ,lifeless and lacking bottom end or dinamically crap.

the diatribe nd5xs /ndx shows itself sterile in the view of the risky routes he would come across.

Antonio1 posted:

Mac mini+dac is ONE solution.

I've heard three different ones in the last 2 years.some expensive some cheap.

they were nice in the ears of their owners, in reaality a messy sound ,lifeless and lacking bottom end or dinamically crap.

the diatribe nd5xs /ndx shows itself sterile in the view of the risky routes he would come across.

It does of course depend what Mac Mini + other things  combination you are talking about, as some are far better than others - anything using the Mac Mini's soundcard output or electrical without adequate isolation and rf filtering before or in the DAC is compromised. I've never before heard anyone suggest that Mac Mini + Audirvana in ultimate quality dedicated mode through USB output and an effective isolator like the Gustard U12 into Hugo, or into nDAC using a suitable usb-SPDIF converter, or without an isolator into a well isolated DAC like Hugo TT is messy, lifeless, lacking bottom end or dynamically crap. Have you, Antonio,  listened to the MM setup as described, or has whatever you've heard been one of the inherently compromised alternatives based on Mac Mini?

just referring to Mac Mini is a bit like saying Naim, without indicating whether you mean ND5XS, NDS+XPS, or something between (or even a Muso or Qube)