Hello,
I’m about to purchase a used Naim nDAC.
Unfortunately I won’t be able to give it a try.
I essentially listen to classical (baroque) music.
Voices, cello, harpsichord, piano.
I like details, being able to distinguish instruments recognize voices.
Before buying, I would appreciate some these two questions :
A - How would you describe the nDAC sound comparing to CDX2?
and
B - How would you describe the nDAC sound comparing to DAC-V1?
I own a DAC-V1 and was wondering if it makes sense to replace it with a nDAC (with Audiophilleo 1)?
Or should I wait for a nDAC-2?
Thank you for your help.
Thomas
My system : CDX2 or DAC-V1 ---> HiLine ---> SuperNait 2 + HiCap DR ---> JMR Abscisse
Posted on: 09 August 2016 by TOBYJUG
Some say the cdx2 has a more forward presentation that they like. The ndac has good depth transparency, better still with a power supply. Might depend on how you like your music presented - like listening at a distance from row F, or being up front with the conductor.
my experience of Baroque has been in small venues seated very close and with a loud all encompassing effect. harpsichord is a very difficult instrument to reproduce on a hifi.
Posted on: 09 August 2016 by Brilliant
The mention of baroque and that little battery powered portable DAC with the initials CH pops into my head - worth a listen if you can.
Edit - using USB directly into Hugo may not be optimum . I found it to sound better (in most cases) when fed with the Uptone Audio USB Regen. SPDIF though was good.
Posted on: 10 August 2016 by Geko
Personaly I think the NDac is one of those wow components. When I first bought one for my system everything seemed to snap into place. Images were wider, deeper just more understandable. Add a power supply and the effect is even greater and everything takes on a three dimensional almost holographic quality. Then there was the recent software upgrade, which improved thing further - if that's possible.
The bare CDX2 I have sounds a little bit crude by comparison. Exciting to listen to but it's almost like musical notes have a slight digital haze around them - you probably wouldn't even notice this unless you have some sort of comparison. Of course adding a power supply to the CDX2 reduces this but not to the same levels the NDac can reach even bare. So, I use my CDX2 just as a transport into the NDac with a power supply, which I find the best balance.
I certainly don't think you'll regret buying one.
Posted on: 10 August 2016 by yeti42
I heard an NDac fed from a CDX2-2 against the same CDX2-2 analog out, I thought the DAC was more detailed but didn't time so well. I'd rather have less, well timed detail than more, less well times detail as the music can get lost in it (more analytical). If everything is on CD then I'd be tempted to recommend a CD power supply over a DAC but if you have or plan a lot of downloads then maybe the NDAC (or a DAC, I've not heard the Chords).
