NAIM Synergy

Yes, i m really not into technicism But I Guess all done with care.pretty sure of the use of the gustard.none of the dacs was the hugo But equally valuablE ones.

cd player had the edge over them,same can T be said of naim streamers(uq,nac172 apart)

And maybe not Audirvana, and maybe using the MM's sound card? If so it's a quite different beast, the more differences the further removed from a valid comparison, regardless of the DAC, as after all the MM itself, which might be the only common denominator, is only a programmable device that can do what it's told to do, and no more. So what you heard is hardly a fair basis for knocking the MM if the right setup is used, any more than saying you've heard a Naim and it was awful, but without regard for what it actually was or how connected.

Hi, Andres.

I would be surprised if the ND5 XS is not an improvement over the Marantz.  And part of the Naim synergy is the "system automation" the ND provides -- you will gain iPod control of both the Nait and the CD player.  

Get the QNAP NAS, as HH suggests; and I like MinimServer.

The other options all have merit, but I think if you like the CD5SI through the SN2, and want to keep CD (I have), the ND5 will not disappoint.

If trading in the CD would bring the NDX within reach, I would give that careful consideration, especially if you think you might end up there, someday.

Let us know your findings.

Good luck.

Nick

NickSeattle posted:

Hi, Andres.

I would be surprised if the ND5 XS is not an improvement over the Marantz.  And part of the Naim synergy is the "system automation" the ND provides -- you will gain iPod control of both the Nait and the CD player.  

Get the QNAP NAS, as HH suggests; and I like MinimServer.

The other options all have merit, but I think if you like the CD5SI through the SN2, and want to keep CD (I have), the ND5 will not disappoint.

If trading in the CD would bring the NDX within reach, I would give that careful consideration, especially if you think you might end up there, someday.

Let us know your findings.

Good luck.

Nick

Hello Nick,

This is probably the answer that I was looking for in line to my question, thank you!! There is still something about playing a CD that no matter the quality I still enjoy, the same as playing vynil even when it is not in the best condition! I will definitely go with the NAS instead of the time capsule.

Thank You

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.

Thank you for the response but this is deviating from my question of Time Capsule what I was asking since the decision to buy the ND5 is already in process. I really wasn't asking about changing my whole approach to the system. Unless what you mean is run the Mac mini through the nd5.

Once again than you

Andres

I should add, IME, better Naim amps improve all sources, humble or not.  Better amps may show off the benefits of better sources more clearly, is all.  When building a system from scratch, maybe buying an NDS or NDX before upgrading a Nait5i makes sense; but life is not always so straightforward.  I think your move to SN2 was a good one.  Wouldn't you agree?

Nick

Keep the Time Capsule for Mac backups.  Dedicate the NAS to music. Maybe attach a USB drive or second NAS to the first NAS, to back it up.

Christopher_M posted:

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

Hello Chris!

The restaurant is doing very well, in the process now of opening up 2 more!! The reason I went with the ND5 was that I could not go all the way to the NDX cash wise right now, and since I can not really try them out here in Colombia, I had to go with reviews and see different options. Most of the reviews talk about the effect of the PSU once installed how much it improves over the NDX so that is why I chose this route.

Thank You.

Andres

NickSeattle posted:

I should add, IME, better Naim amps improve all sources, humble or not.  Better amps may show off the benefits of better sources more clearly, is all.  When building a system from scratch, maybe buying an NDS or NDX before upgrading a Nait5i makes sense; but life is not always so straightforward.  I think your move to SN2 was a good one.  Wouldn't you agree?

Nick

Made a huge improvement, since my amp no longer became my bottleneck for sound improvement. My dealer recommends that the speaker cables would show the best improvement money wise now.

Andres

Changing from the marantz to nd5xs will dramatically improve things, you ll like it.

l believe there s always time to improve source.

Also, I do believe that a good rack such as the fraim  for both would still be the next best sound wise upgrade after the naca.

And with equal confidence, given that none of us know more about your tastes than you have divulged, I can say that if you were then to upgrade by adding a Hugo you would like it more, then if you were to substitute Mac Mini/Audirvana/Gustard U12 for the ND5XS (still into Hugo) you would like it even more. Unfortunately you have to make your own mind up: all we can do is tell you our experience - and you can read in these forums what others have said. (But bear in mind that a vote type determination is flawed as it depends on the numbers with experience, and the similarity of their taste to yours) - while some seem to believe that Naim or highest cost have to be best: I just wish I had received adequate advice before my first steps as I would have saved money.

Whatever you decide is likely to be a step forward.

The best upgrade to OP's, now decided, ND5XS will come not from the power supply, but from an nDAC.
It will take an OK player into a 'fantastic' player teritory, finally doing justice to the SuperNait2.

Adam Zielinski posted:

The best upgrade to OP's, now decided, ND5XS will come not from the power supply, but from an nDAC.
It will take an OK player into a 'fantastic' player teritory, finally doing justice to the SuperNait2.

Then why buy an "OK" player at all seeing as there are so many alternatives to feed a Naim (or any other ) DAC?

SJB

Sloop John B posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

The best upgrade to OP's, now decided, ND5XS will come not from the power supply, but from an nDAC.
It will take an OK player into a 'fantastic' player teritory, finally doing justice to the SuperNait2.

Then why buy an "OK" player at all seeing as there are so many alternatives to feed a Naim (or any other ) DAC?

 

 

SJB

Well.... dunnnoooo

OP seems to have decided on buying ND5XS and has read that a PSU will upgrade it. It certainly will, but not to a point a DAC will. The 'problem' with an ND5XS is that it's internal dac sounds just about OK. Adding an external DAC bypasses that problem, for a similar amount of money that a PSU would cost.

Adam's advice is spot-on

Naim dac improves many a naim products , in this case the good streaming device.

same can t be told of whichever streamer you d match it with. We have had many a disappointing feedbacks on it.do a search

Well I received my ND5XS yesterday and have been listening to it for the last couple of hours. My impression is that it was definitely a huge upgrade from de NA8005. Even though the Marantz unit was not bad, the amount of detail that is achieved with the ND5 is a big step. I understand it i not the top of the line but huge difference!

Great news, Andres.  Enjoy!  Nick