Are two 500 power supplies with CD555 better than one?

I use two 555PS DR.   I am no expert but it sounds pretty great.  You can hear everything that is going in a CD at all times.  I am pretty happy with my Verdier, and the CD555 sounds like a reasonable facsimile with 2 power supplies.

I would describe the effect more natural and acuarte tonality of the system. When you hear a piano and you close your eyes you could be listening to a real piano. A further reduced noise floor, and even more micro detail. I wouldn't doubt a second to install a second one on my NDS if I would have the funds.

Bert, playing devil's advocate ....

Some, like myself, have little exposure to a 'real' piano ergo recorded pianos become the primary point of reference. All the music we hear on our systems is recorded. Do we want it to necessarily sound 'real' or simply enjoy it for what it's worth? Maybe more a question of does it sound better. I'll take 'better' over 'real'

Mike - I think 2x 555PSs are better - others don't - as ever YMMV. More detail, no impact on timing to my ears, more bass and quieter noise floor.

Suggest check out the link and other threads around the date:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...938#1566878606504938

Just to balance up the argument, I found adding a second PSU increased the wow factor but at the detriment to the musicality and timing.  I prefer the 555 with a single PSU.

I found twin supplies (both on cd555 and NDS) to be brighter, more glare, more "hifi". Worse musical timing.

And I am somewhat suspicious of what twin PSU is doing to earthing and potentially EMC issues. 

And when I want to compare to a piano, I sit down at my Steinway and use that as a reference...

Two are better. A friend also eventually kept asking me 'why do I have so much more detail' than he was getting with his single 555PS 555 source - he home demoed via a Dealer a second 555PS...and it stayed and he now uses two.

The 'timing' thing is IMO down to the fact the two 555PS version of the 555 system emits a lot more deep bass that I have heard set-up problems in my own and other systems not handle right and cause a lingering heaviness and oppressiveness that killed the flow - but then you do the set-up right, position the boxes right and free cable-loom, and that fault goes away and the timing is then actually far better than the single 555PS.

In general, when you have a LF-filter in your system the set-up is less critical as it removes a lot of energy from getting to the speakers. People get used to this and don't take it into account when removing this filtering by introducing a second 555PS or things like the SL speaker leads that also boost the low bass. The SL interconnects do not have this issue, it is not a 'problem' but a benefit that you need to install right then the low frequency performance becomes easy and immersive and sound realistic and natural.

Lots of opinions - get a demo and install it right then decide is best.

DB.

I hear 'different' as opposed to 'better' with two supplies, and continue to be very content with one DR-555PS on my CD player. It was not designed to run on two power-supplies. Whether that's relevant is a moot point I suppose.

The player sounds more organic and analogue-like with one p/s to me - you know; a bit like those big flat black disc spinners which are admittedly all sorts of technologically 'wrong' but sound so utterly delightful and musically communicative. Maybe that's the point. I want my CD player to sound as much like a turntable as possible. Right or wrong? It matters not; as long as the smile generator is working.

DB is a good friend who doesn't enjoy the sound of vinyl as I do, and I respect his preference for the twin power-supplied CD555. As ever, it's a personal perception and preference issue and nice to have the choice.

I hope that helps to add to your confusion Mike 

John.

I've heard 2x555PS on both 555 and NDS, and in every case I'm not convinced. It does something to the sound I can't quite relate to. Many folk like it; my view's worth diddley-squat - you need to try in your own system with your own ears, it's the only way.

You need to demo it for yourself and decide. Not that it matters, but I personally respect anyone that actually tries something, preferably in their own system then opines on what they hear, positive or negative - and it they have put their money where their mouth was if they liked it.

Naim promote it as an upgrade for the 555 and NDS, whereas they do not promote a second 500PS as an upgrade for the 500 Amp, so they obviously try these things. We all prefer different musical and sonic-signatures in presentation - I head a far greater clarity in the low frequencies and clearer more lucid mid-band and just overall lower noise that for me it was obvious why Naim recommend it as an upgrade option for both 555 and NDS.

But you need to have a presentation that puts a smile on your own face and not on someone else, so that is why we end-up with different systems and it is all the richer for it IMO.
I never like absolutes when there are obviously differing opinions, so I respect others hear it another way to me.

On another note - I wonder if Naim have re-tested the NAP500 DR and still think two supplies does not upgrade it, as the DR version is a total replacement of the electronics, so it may now not have the same result? But I'm not wanting it to be better right now!

DB.

Sometimes, i' m toying with the idea of a second psu, i already have a spare level on the psu stack. However the arrival of S.Lumina brought different options to the party. Like first step i was thinking to upgrade the H.Line (555to 552) and see.

Regards

Roberto

The SL upgrade for IC between 555 and 552 should be first to try IMO.
it was rather shocking to hear what extra musical information did not make it into the 552 - I'll also suggest that the twin-supply increases this information retrieval and you need to have a better IC lead to transmit it onward. I was skeptical until I tried it. It does have a run-in journey that begins with it sounding thin and harsh before it fills-out, so try to get a Dealer run-in lead to demo.

For the cost of another 555ps together with the trade in value of your CD555 you could get a new NDS, NAS and decent Ethernet cable. Not only would it sound better but you get the advantages of internet radio, hi-def downloads and easy access to music files once you've ripped your CDs.

I recently went this route with a system similar to yours and after a few weeks burn-in the system sounds superb so no regrets.