NDX - Path to the top

Hi Innocent

Can you detail more what you mean by system automation?

Do I have some kind of interaction between naim ndx and other naim equipments regarding control?

Bob Edwards posted:

Barratana - you might also consider the Hugo TT.  I had a chance to hear it back to back with a Hugo via headphones, and the step to the TT seemed well worth it. 

And with TT you have the option to dispense with the preamp if you don't need analogue inputs, reducing boxes and additional power supply needs. Actually that applies to Hugo as well, but not as well as it only has manual volume control, no remote whereas TT has a rather nice remote.

I think someone who uses system automation would be best to explain it, as my only awareness is the one I mentioned, allowing the Naim App to control the preamp volume as opposed to just controlling the music selection and play (whether NDX, Core etc). Maybe it allows simple switch to standby mode of all connected (if there is a standby mode).

I use system automation on a NDX into a 252 this allows you to control the input switching and volume/mute of the pre amp through the Naim app very handy.

As posted I used a bare NDX into a 82/Supercap/250 system upgrading from a third party streamer to the NDX quite frankly it was a revelation the NDX sounded so much better in all respects.

In addition:

With the system automation in place the NDX controls the following:

volume on the pre-amp, input switching on the preamp and nDac if connected, buttons on the remote can be assigned to any input on the NDX or the pre-amp 

The same functionality is then doubled up via the NAIM app. Most handy is the muting and volume control from the iPad   

Hi Adam,

Does this automation also can be done on the olive series NAC 82 and NAC 52?

BR

RM

System Automation will also control your Naim DAC and Naim CD player - Play, Skip, etc. all controllable from iPad or Uniti/ND-style remote.

Nick

Whichever ND you get, and/or if you get a Naim DAC, do treat yourself to playing AIFF or WAV music from a thumb drive plugged straight into the component -- it is the easiest, surest way to know what the component if truly capable of.  Just drop an album folder onto the root of the thumb and prepare to be amazed.  It will let you know if your network configuration is letting you down somehow.  Ideally, the network should sound just as good, I believe.  (Am I correct?)

I keep re-discovering this pleasure.  Listening to Joni Mitchell "Ladies of the Canyon" plugged into the front of the NDX at the moment.

Nick

NickSeattle posted:

Whichever ND you get, and/or if you get a Naim DAC, do treat yourself to playing AIFF or WAV music from a thumb drive plugged straight into the component -- it is the easiest, surest way to know what the component if truly capable of.  Just drop an album folder onto the root of the thumb and prepare to be amazed.  It will let you know if your network configuration is letting you down somehow.  Ideally, the network should sound just as good, I believe.  (Am I correct?)

I keep re-discovering this pleasure.  Listening to Joni Mitchell "Ladies of the Canyon" plugged into the front of the NDX at the moment.

Nick

That tends to support my suggestion of avoiding streaming across a network, with a prime cndidate being the Uniti Core if system automation isn't a key requirement, or with one of the non-naim approaches discussed earlier in this thread, with a DAC of choice.

Innocent Bystander posted:

NickSeattle posted:

Whichever ND you get, and/or if you get a Naim DAC, do treat yourself to playing AIFF or WAV music from a thumb drive plugged straight into the component -- it is the easiest, surest way to know what the component is truly capable of.  Just drop an album folder onto the root of the thumb and prepare to be amazed.  It will let you know if your network configuration is letting you down somehow.  Ideally, the network should sound just as good, I believe.  (Am I correct?)

I keep re-discovering this pleasure.  Listening to Joni Mitchell "Ladies of the Canyon" plugged into the front of the NDX at the moment.

Nick

That tends to support my suggestion of avoiding streaming across a network, with a prime cndidate being the Uniti Core if system automation isn't a key requirement, or with one of the non-naim approaches discussed earlier in this thread, with a DAC of choice.

Well, I suspect my network could be improved.  But it is a fair point; and I recall reputable folk saying a Uniti Serve into a  Naim DAC can be a rather sublime combination.  I have no doubt!

I require System Automation and FM, all served to the whole house.  NDX-FM pulls this together well for me, with options to explore to greater heights, on occasion, with only a little extra effort.

Nick

Neil Bennett posted:

Being relatively new to streaming, and doing it primarily to be able to listen to my CD collection around the house, I have an 'bare' NDX/US alongside a CD555/555PS DR (and LP12). The 555 and the LP12 benefit from SL interconnects whereas the NDX has quite an old mid-spec Chord (I forget which one). I have recently listened to several albums A/B between the NDX and the 555 and I find the 555 only very slightly better. So to me the bare NDX is very good, probably 'good enough' for most people/systems I should imagine. Of course adding a DAC/PS will doubtless make it better still as I'm sure is the NDS, but I too find the tuner module useful, having got rid of a NAT01 a few years back. I would think from your description a bare NDX would do you fine for a year or two, before adding to it potentially.

 

I found the SL interconnect on the NDS a revelation and would assume it might also be effective on  the NDX (which I also used to own and ran it bare for several years). Your comparison between the 555 and NDX is a little unfair due to the differeing ICs you are using. These two sources obviously have rather different SQ capabilities so I am a little surprised you thought they were quite close in this regard.

Here is an interesting thought: as you have a SL IC on your 555, why don't you at least try it on the NDX, you might be surprised.

Apologies if you have already tried this.

I found the change from NDX, NDac, 555ps to NDS / 555 a massive upgrade plus it released funds from the sale of 2 powelines, a level of  fraim and a DC1 cable.

I would strongly recommend listening to an NDS before purchased additional boxes to upgrade your NDX. 

The NDS has a lovely natural feel to it, much preferred it to the 3 box digital front end I had previously. 

Gary

+1..............sorry! ...................I agree. 

Nigel,

It's a fair point. I am surprised as well! The IC issue is in the 555's favour of course, as is the power cord (555PS DR with a Powerline and the NDX with a standard lead). Also. the NDX is on a separate Hutter stand while the 555 et al are on Fraim. This is the reason I haven't tried the SL on the NDX (although this would probably/presumably make it 'better'); there was no physical room near the Fraim, so it's on the other side of the room connected with a 10M IC which runs outside and back in near the 552, and I can't face the disruption it would cause to move everything! Just played the new Michael Kiwanuke album on both with the same result, except my daughter thought the NDX sounded better! 

Cheers,

Neil

Neil Bennett posted:

Nigel,

It's a fair point. I am surprised as well! The IC issue is in the 555's favour of course, as is the power cord (555PS DR with a Powerline and the NDX with a standard lead). Also. the NDX is on a separate Hutter stand while the 555 et al are on Fraim. This is the reason I haven't tried the SL on the NDX (although this would probably/presumably make it 'better'); there was no physical room near the Fraim, so it's on the other side of the room connected with a 10M IC which runs outside and back in near the 552, and I can't face the disruption it would cause to move everything! Just played the new Michael Kiwanuke album on both with the same result, except my daughter thought the NDX sounded better! 

Cheers,

Neil

Ah I understand. If your (bare?) NDX with a 10m mid range Chord interconnect is giving the 555 with the SL interconnect a run for its money then that is impressive.

I really liked my bare NDX and it took the superb NDS to dislodge it.