Upgrade time

I'd look at the source.  The NDX is obvious but others on here are far more expert on streaming and DACs.  

Regards,

Lindsay

I'd offer two options: swap the ND5XS for an NDX, or swap the ND5XS, 202, Hicap and naps for a 272. Then swap the 200 for a 250DR, as the 200 really isn't up to driving the speakers properly. 

Hungry halibut i really dont want a 272 i like having the seperate boxes im a bit OCD like that im afraid

I  was contemplating the pre amp upgrade to a 282 and changing the psu to supercap possibly. I also have read that a ND5 xs with a supercap or XP5 out performs an NDX which given i have the ND5 already im halfway there however i guess a NDX with a psu would be far superior again!

Ref the 200 i love the amp and would recommend it to anybody but it does lack the outright drive i think the pmc need and deserve. 

It seems perhaps rather than an upgrade im looking at a significant swap round and rebuild in my search for audio nirvana oh the joys! Lol 

In which case, swap the ND5 for an NDX, then swap the 202 for a 282, then the 200 for a 250, then add an XPS to the NDX. 

You have a great and well balanced system Wals79. If you already feel the need to upgrade, try and add nDAC to ND5, then XP5 or XPS to nDAC. Alternatively Hugo. NDX won't bring much more than ND5 and would eventually call for the same nDAC or Hugo.

Chag - 

Now that sounds like a plan ref the 250 would that be a 250 or 250.2 or DR what version were you referring to? 

Chag... posted:

You have a great and well balanced system Wals79. 

Except that it's overspeakered. The 200 isn't up to 20.23s, let alone 25.24s. Then you get to the source not being up to the amplification......

I think the 250 is a given as the 200 lacks drive however the nd5 was very well reviewed and im sure with a dac and or a psu will become more than very good, as a standalone streamer only im sure the components will be superior to that of an all in one 272. As for the 202 well im sure that would benefit being swapped to a 282, either way its going to cost me another small fortune 

Chag... posted:

You have a great and well balanced system Wals79. If you already feel the need to upgrade, try and add nDAC to ND5, then XP5 or XPS to nDAC. Alternatively Hugo. NDX won't bring much more than ND5 and would eventually call for the same nDAC or Hugo.

Chag - 

Chag is that the full size naim dac or the v1 half size?

Wals79 posted:

Chag is that the full size naim dac or the v1 half size?

The full size Naim DAC that you can purchase second hand at a very competitive price. Update 4.11.8 is a marvel that allows for DSD64 replay.

Chag -

Haven't experienced all the Naim source components, so can't say how much/if the ND5 XS is limiting your setup, but I can say that a swap from the 202 to a 282 should be a very nice jump & works well with the 200.  I too went from a 202/200 combo to first the 282 & then swapped the 200 for a 250DR.  Combined with the HiCAP DR, no longer have the big urge for box upgrades though may eventually swap to a SCDR.  You'll likely want to listen to the 282 first as sonically it does have some differences vs the 202 (on top of just being much more revealing in general).

I would actually add the following - keep your ND5XS but add an nDAC to it.

At a later stage add a decent power supply to the nDAC - XPSDR is a minumum.

Swap out source for NDX minimum. Have you considered the olive 52+SC plus a 250DR or 135s? Get the 52/135 serviced of course. 

A low cost great upgrade would be to add Chord Hugo DAC, keeping the ND5XS just as a renderer. Mojo possibly as good from many accounts on these forums, though I haven't heard myself, and the higher Chord DACs even better if within budget.NThen upgrading the ND5XS as renderer would improve further - some people around here use NDX with Hugo, but that is paying for redundancy of the NDX DAC stage. 

It sounds as if you don't have an analogue source, in which case an extension of this would be to use one of the Chord DACs from Hugo up and dispense with a preamp, selling which would help fund the upgrade - but do try first if you can because whilst sone people prefer the direct path, others prefer the sound character introduced by the preamp.

What store do you use? If a NAS then consider a combined music store/ renderer (=player), which takes out the network variable that causes some people trouble, while giving the opportunity to upgrade the renderer stage. I use a Mac Mini running Audirvana. Others similarly good for sound quality include Melco, and, though I've not heard myself, innuos Zenith. Another distinct possibility might be the Naim Uniti Core, but it is too new to yet know how well it performs in that role. 

Adding NDAC to your ND5XS would be my suggestion. 

If you dont want 272 just add Hugo and wait a little bit it is a far better value source upgrade vs nDac + PS....

take your time.... 

when you try to find something what you dont know you will loose money. you love the sound but feel there is a limiting factor in the chain, so you don t like it, hh told the options...but first try to decide what you like and what you don t like in your system.

You have to realize that you are on a journey and while you love every system along the road, there will always be an element of improvement. For you the first thing is to determine what you feel you miss, and then determine what you want to spent and what you are prepared to spent going into the future........, why people sometimes waste money in not logical in between steps.

In your system the source looks to be out of balance with the rest of your system. So just based on an analytical approach I would shoot for the NDX as it has also further options to be improved. 

Somewhere on the line, not now you should also consider a rack - fraim f.i.

Looking at the photo in your profile, I would certainly consider a dedicated audio rack. Also, try to put some physical distance between the PSUs and the more delicate source and preamp boxes.

Regarding source upgrades, there are plenty of different options, and you're going to have to listen for yourself to decide which you prefer. You could...

Replace ND5 with NDX

Add PSU to ND5

Add NDAC to ND5. Then maybe add PSU to NDAC

Add Chord or other non-Naim DAC to ND5

etc!

Once you've decided on that, I would consider a preamp upgrade, and finally, the power amp. Then balance will be restored.....good luck!

Ndac to the nd5 will improve your source significantly.  You will then be able to assess further upgrades more effectively eg 282, 250 etc. I currently can't entertain the thought of trading in my ndac for a 272 particularly since the firmware update has been implemented. Dedicated mains will also make a big impact if you can do it.