Keep XPS2 Power Supply on NDX?

Judging by my experience with digital and power /supplies i would say very likely the system will sound better with the power supply in place.  How important it is will be system  and user dependent.

i put a Nordost Power cord on the Paul Hynes power supply feeding my macbook and weiss digital interface into NDAC.  I had the option to trade the cord, which had been on my preamp, but after the surprise performance shift i decided to keep it.  Thats just a power cord, not even a power supply. 

Sounds like you wil get a chance to compare the with and the without.  Take your time and do your own analysis and cost benefit assessment.

Freddie Kee posted:

Guys, my current setup is NDX > XPS2 > 282 > HicapDR > 250DR.

Im planning to get a Hugo DAC. Shall I retain the XPS2 on my NDX once I acquire the Hugo? Will it bring any benefits to the NDX as a streamer?

Thanks for your advice.

Don't get this..since you're planning to get the dac beforehand why asking whether it will or not?

Who better than you can  state whether worth keeping or not?

I can't see the point of keeping the XPS if the NDX is going to be used purely as a transport. As great as I think an NDX/XPS combo is, in your proposed setup the latter becomes a waste of space.

Sell the XPS & HCDR and put a SCAP on the 282...IME.

G

Its not as straightforward as with a CDP working as transport only where the XPS powers a lot of circuits that are not used.

A lot of sections of a network player (NDX) are still active & unless someone has a list of the NDX circuit blocks that XPS powers that I can look at,  I would not like to say what to do

As Antonio says above it's simply a case of trying it out. Are people losing the ability to trust their own ears? If it makes a worthwhile difference, keep it. If not, sell it. Is it really that hard?

Mike-B posted:

Its not as straightforward as with a CDP working as transport only where the XPS powers a lot of circuits that are not used.

A lot of sections of a network player (NDX) are still active & unless someone has a list of the NDX circuit blocks that XPS powers that I can look at,  I would not like to say what to do

When used with an XPS, all NDX circuits are XPS powered. It's not dual power like the NDAC. So yes, even the clocking, network, DSP sections will be powered from the XPS. However, it is unlikely that it's performance as a transport will be impacted. The built-in transformer is nicely over engineered as is.

I agree the OP can try it out easily enough though.

I would say keep the XPS and don't get a Hugo . It's even easier this way - you don't need to do anything

Adam Zielinski posted:

I would say keep the XPS and don't get a Hugo . It's even easier this way - you don't need to do anything

I wouldn't say that, he could easily change the NDX to an NDS!

trickydickie posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

I would say keep the XPS and don't get a Hugo . It's even easier this way - you don't need to do anything

I wouldn't say that, he could easily change the NDX to an NDS!

Of course he could - that's an even better idea.

Adam Zielinski posted:

I would say keep the XPS and don't get a Hugo . It's even easier this way - you don't need to do anything

Base on online review, it seems that Hugo DAC is better than Naim DAC, not to mention NDX internal DAC, which is inferior to nDac. I'm thinking to sell the XPS to fund for Hugo purchase..

XPS will not improve your NDX as a transport into Hugo

Better to invest in quality digital interconnect.

Ideally you need to get the Hugo first and compare the two options. Get it set up properly with the right cables, then choose which you prefer. There is no single right answer.

Freddie Kee posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

I would say keep the XPS and don't get a Hugo . It's even easier this way - you don't need to do anything

Base on online review, it seems that Hugo DAC is better than Naim DAC, not to mention NDX internal DAC, which is inferior to nDac. I'm thinking to sell the XPS to fund for Hugo purchase..

My suggestion is that you audition both Hugo and nDAC with your NDX BEFORE you sell your XPS.
Some testing suggestions:

Option 1: when using Hugo, XPS becomes a bit redundant on your NDX (but not entirely).

Option 2: when testing an nDAC - connect your XPS to the nDAC and see what happens. There is one advantage to nDACs - you don't have to buy it new - it's been around for a while so good deals can be found - I picked mine up for 1/3 of a price (and it was less than 3 years old). Cost wise it may be cheaper than buying a new Hugo.

Well I would sell the NDX and XPS and buy a microrendu into Hugo.

analogmusic posted:

Well I would sell the NDX and XPS and buy a microrendu into Hugo.

 

I second this, but then I would as I own, and am very, very pleased with this pairing.

I have however, never heard (other than at shows) an NDX, or NDS, but have owned NDAC/555ps and DAC V1, and to my ears, my room etc., I thought  the Hugo was better and considerable value for money. But the Naim DACs were very good, and if the Hugo never came along I could have probably lived with the V1. But something always comes along these days.

At this level it may not be a simple clear choice that A is better than B. There is a lot of subjectivity and individual preference which enters into the equation.

The best advice as given above is if possible to  try and listen to the various permutations and come to your own considered conclusion.

Also I would suggest trying to pick up the Hugo 2nd hand as a Hugo 2 will be released in a few months with every possibility that it will be even better than the original. So used original Hugo prices should start falling.

What's the most recommended connection for Hugo in between NDX & 282, to provide the best soundings?

I believe most Hugo users who has the same setup as me will be able to give me an advice.

Appreciate for all the inputs!