How good is the xpsdr?

Hi Wenger,  & Hi Lindsay, I agree 100% on the CDX2/XPS (the alternative version) that is one standout upgrade & for me the impact was from the first switch on,  its was the one single item that made so much impact in one move.   I moved the XPS to the NDX & although it was an improvement over the bare NDX,  it did not have the same impact.

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Well my XPS (non DR) was used but I can remember the first time it was hitched to my CDX2 - no going back - more refined, far more resolution, definitely more musical.  I understand the impact on the NDX is even greater. 

Regards,

Lindsay

Think I'm just going to have to be patient..... 

Mike-B posted:

Hi Wenger,  & Hi Lindsay, I agree 100% on the CDX2/XPS (the alternative version) that is one standout upgrade & for me the impact was from the first switch on,  its was the one single item that made so much impact in one move.   I moved the XPS to the NDX & although it was an improvement over the bare NDX,  it did not have the same impact.

Hi Mike, everytime I've heard an xpsdr, I have been suitably impressed , so far I can certainly hear increments of improvement , possibly it's just a case of being more patient 

wenger2015 posted:

Think I'm just going to have to be patient..... 

Indeed you do... i ultimately found the XPS2 on my CDX2 made it more forgiving and slightly more neutral. I did find keeping the Burndy optimum - i.e. not strained or unduly touching other wires helped. Yes the Burndy cable end with the white band around the cable needs to connect to the CDX2.

Also if you like the CDX2 - try a full fat Fraim - non top shelf - I think that gives  one of the best upgrades to the CDX2 - I now run mine on a Fraim without my XPS2 - but that is just me 

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Think I'm just going to have to be patient..... 

Indeed you do... i ultimately found the XPS2 on my CDX2 made it more forgiving and slightly more neutral. I did find keeping the Burndy optimum - i.e. not strained or unduly touching other wires helped. Yes the Burndy cable end with the white band around the cable needs to connect to the CDX2.

Also if you like the CDX2 - try a full fat Fraim - non top shelf - I think that gives  one of the best upgrades to the CDX2 - I now run mine on a Fraim without my XPS2 - but that is just me 

 

Thanks Simon, the naim fraim rack is next on my upgrade list, good suggestion on keeping the burndy away from other wires ,in the meantime as everyone seems to agree it's a case of just being patient...... 

Pcd posted:

At a demo earlier in the year using a NDX,282,Supercap dr,250 dr into D7
speakers it was immediately apparent how much better the NDX was when a XPS
dr was added.
I was surprised at the uplift in musical enjoyment, standard Naim cables
were used throughout this demonstration.

Hi Pcd, interesting that no expensive cables were used...i assume as it was a demo the xpsdr was obviously burnt in....hence patience required on my part.

Ps noticed in your profile you are using a quadrasphire rack, are you pleased with it?

Pcd posted:

Wenger, all the Naim equipment was fully burnt in the dealer was able to
easily demonstrate the uplift by adding the XPS likewise when changing the
282 for a 252.

The final item changed was the standard lead from the NDX to the 252 with a
Hi Line this improved things again.

My introduction to Quadrasphire was not through the normal hi fi channels
but when I was working I dealt with a company that repaired lifting
equipment they were right next door to the Quadrasphire production facility
located on the outskirts of Keynsham my home town. At the time I was
looking for some form of rack for my new Olive system had a look round and
liked what I saw so ordered a rack to suit in Maple, been very pleased with
it and I still get positive comments on it.

Fortunately I had a spare shelf so when I mentioned this to my local dealer
who sells Quadrasphire he suggested that I should use the spare shelf with
a SVT bronze upgrade kit to isolate the NDX and 252.This was duly done
during the installation it does look the part with these fitted and all is
still manufactured locally.They also do a wide range of options and
finishes plus matching storage to suit.

Currently trying out some SL speakers cables hope to pick up the SL
interconnect this week but after listening to the SL speakers cables for
over a week all I can say is that the lump hammer is getting very close to
the piggy bank looks like an attack is imminent?

Thanks for the info on the quadrasphire,  my next upgrade will be a rack and yours is on my short list along with the naim fraim.

I'm also keen to demo the SL speaker cables along with TQ black diamond cables,  I've tried the TQ black diamond interconnect din, thanks to my son in law letting me borrow his, it's superb by the way.

With all the positive comments from forum members that have tried SL I'm keen to compare them with TQ.

Ps, let's hope theirs plenty of cash in the piggy bank 

Hi Wenger,
Is your CDX2 now sounding demonstrably, obviously better that it was before you put in the XPS-DR?

If it isn't absolutely obvious by now then may I make a small suggestion borne out of experience?

A couple of months ago, I decided to strip down, level, clean and generally titivate my whole system.  Every plug was disconnected, all Burndy cables and inter-connects were wiggled (when no-one else was around to laugh, obviously), racks were levelled using a spirit level, bolts were checked for tightness, cases and shelves were cleaned and the whole lot re-assembled with obsessive levels of care.  I then switched everything back on and left overnight to warm up/settle down.

Next morning, I dashed downstairs, inserted the first CD and sat back to listen.  It sounded awful.  Flat, fat, slow & lifeless.  Rubbish in fact.  So I checked all cable runs and called a couple of forum friends for advice.  No-one had any idea.  So I switched the whole lot off, went out for a walk and switched it all back on again.  Try the same CD again.  Sounded awesome again.  Why?  No idea.  Perhaps the power supply capacitors wanted a decent belt of new volts to wake them up - I've no idea.

So, if everything looks correctly installed and you have tried the obvious, perhaps it's worth ignoring all the "leave on for 3 weeks before you listen" advice.  Just switch off the XPS-DR, leave for 5 minutes, then switch it back on and give the CDX2 a listen.

You never know...

Hi Foot Tapper,

Extraordinary coincidence but a forum member (finkfan) just dropped in for a coffee, whilst here he kindly helped put a new level on my existing rack and in the process we obviously  turned everything off, re-connected everything , re- set everything , and I think the 'Fat lady's' on her way........

Ps many thanks for the suggestion anyway 

Wenger - I think Mr Tapping Foot is onto something.

If anything try de-stressign the burndy cable - best to lay it on a flor and gently roll it. Then hang it up in the air and let it dangle for a while and massage it. Sounds silly, but it works.

Adam Zielinski posted:

Wenger - I think Mr Tapping Foot is onto something.

If anything try de-stressign the burndy cable - best to lay it on a flor and gently roll it. Then hang it up in the air and let it dangle for a while and massage it. Sounds silly, but it works.

Do I need to wait until SWMBO goes out? 

wenger2015 posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Wenger - I think Mr Tapping Foot is onto something.

If anything try de-stressign the burndy cable - best to lay it on a flor and gently roll it. Then hang it up in the air and let it dangle for a while and massage it. Sounds silly, but it works.

Do I need to wait until SWMBO goes out? 

I found that massaging the burndies together with my wife has other positive effects too

Adam Zielinski posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Wenger - I think Mr Tapping Foot is onto something.

If anything try de-stressign the burndy cable - best to lay it on a flor and gently roll it. Then hang it up in the air and let it dangle for a while and massage it. Sounds silly, but it works.

Do I need to wait until SWMBO goes out? 

I found that massaging the burndies together with my wife has other positive effects too

Adam, are you and your wife both massaging Burndies together or are you multi-tasking? Need to be careful with the English language, it can be tricky.

Chuck on some Barry White and job done!

nigelb posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Wenger - I think Mr Tapping Foot is onto something.

If anything try de-stressign the burndy cable - best to lay it on a flor and gently roll it. Then hang it up in the air and let it dangle for a while and massage it. Sounds silly, but it works.

Do I need to wait until SWMBO goes out? 

I found that massaging the burndies together with my wife has other positive effects too

Adam, are you and your wife both massaging Burndies together or are you multi-tasking? Need to be careful with the English language, it can be tricky.

Chuck on some Barry White and job done!

Is this what's meant by a threesome? 

"Need to be careful with the English language, it can be tricky."

I don't think Adam needs to be told to be careful with the English language...

Pcd posted:

Fortunately I had a spare shelf so when I mentioned this to my local dealer
who sells Quadrasphire he suggested that I should use the spare shelf with
a SVT bronze upgrade kit to isolate the NDX and 252.This was duly done
during the installation it does look the part with these fitted and all is
still manufactured locally.They also do a wide range of options and
finishes plus matching storage to suit.

Good call. I found the SVT bronze kit and sub-shelves on my brain and brawn racks gave a very nice performance lift to my (then) 282/SCDR.  

nigelb posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Wenger - I think Mr Tapping Foot is onto something.

If anything try de-stressign the burndy cable - best to lay it on a flor and gently roll it. Then hang it up in the air and let it dangle for a while and massage it. Sounds silly, but it works.

Do I need to wait until SWMBO goes out? 

I found that massaging the burndies together with my wife has other positive effects too

Adam, are you and your wife both massaging Burndies together or are you multi-tasking? Need to be careful with the English language, it can be tricky.

Chuck on some Barry White and job done!

we are both massaging....  or is she massaging my burndy? 

Having thought about that though.... Massaging with a burndy? Hmmm... Nope... prefere bare hands...

getting confused now....

Adam Zielinski posted:

nigelb posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Wenger - I think Mr Tapping Foot is onto something.

If anything try de-stressign the burndy cable - best to lay it on a flor and gently roll it. Then hang it up in the air and let it dangle for a while and massage it. Sounds silly, but it works.

Do I need to wait until SWMBO goes out? 

I found that massaging the burndies together with my wife has other positive effects too

Adam, are you and your wife both massaging Burndies together or are you multi-tasking? Need to be careful with the English language, it can be tricky.

Chuck on some Barry White and job done!

we are both massaging....  or is she massaging my burndy? 

Having thought about that though.... Massaging with a burndy? Hmmm... Nope... prefere bare hands...

getting confused now....

Just make sure your burndy is the right way round? 

 I would say the xp2 Dr is better than the xp5  but not as good as the 555dr.

i always find the naim price list to be very helpful in determining such matters.

Sorry to hijack this thread.

Have anyone compared a 555PS-DR with stock power cord to an XPS-DR with a powerline?

I know the 555PS comes default with powerline, so some may consider this a null point. But I wonder how much closer the XPS-DR will be if a powerline is added to it.

555PS and XPS would be as close as Ferrari and a Fiat. Both are Italian cars and have the same parent company. That's about it.

PowerLine is just an icing on a cake.

kmchow98 posted:

Sorry to hijack this thread.

Have anyone compared a 555PS-DR with stock power cord to an XPS-DR with a powerline?

I know the 555PS comes default with powerline, so some may consider this a null point. But I wonder how much closer the XPS-DR will be if a powerline is added to it.

 

And is the XPS with the burndy the right way round better that the 555PS with it wrong?