NDX/ND5 xs or DAC

I would go ND5/nDAC if at 202/200 level and eventually add XP5 or XPS to nDAC. Cost effective alternative on this forum would be Hugo in lieu of nDAC.

Chag -

Thank you

What I might try is an Arcam rPlay when they are released principally to use as the streamer into a DAC (cost a little more that a ND5 but a lost less than essentially buying two DAC's ND5 and nDAC combo). 

The DR upgrade is for the NAP 200 amplifier. Going HiCap DR on the NAC 202 preamplifier, and not on the NAP 200, in addition to the NAPSC, is another no brainer.  

Chag -

Phabh posted:

The question is that from the information that I have read the DAC is seen to be an upgrade to both streamers. Therefore, is it worth buying the DAC and utilising something else as the streamer? If so what would you suggest.

Absolutely not. Quality of the 'digital' transport feeding a DAC is of paramount importance.

I would actually start with a bare NDX - it is a very acomplished player. If an any stage an upgrade but strikes, you can contemplate adding a power-supply or an NDAC. The most important thing is that it can grow with you and be happy feeding any system.

I started with ND5XS and a basic NAS, and through several steps noted on another recent thread I achieved a significant upgrade by changing to the combined store/renderer approach with a Mac Mini+Audirvana and the wonderful Hugo DAC (and a Gustard U12 isolator in between to remove the inevitable electrical/rf noise from the computer). The MM runs headless - just a small box, without screen or keyboard). That end result was cheaper than the ND5XS upgraded with either a power supply or external DAC, and I wished I had known to go straight in that direction. (But I have since upgraded the DAC further).

A store-renderer of particular interest at the moment is the new Core Uniti, which similarly can feed a DAC direct - there are high hopes for it, but its sound quality used that way is as yet unknown. There's also the very well renowned Melco (which I found indistinguishable from my Mac Mini in a brief comparison), and Innuos Zenith. These combined store-renderers have the singular advantage of not streaming files over a network, with all the attendant problems that causes some people.

And there are other rendering solutions that are receiving critical attention on these forums at the moment, most notably the microRendu, though it seems to be very much a hands-on device to set up optimally. The one thing to avoid is a bog-standard computer with nondescript software and electrically very noisy outputs, as the chances of getting anywhere near the best your DAC can do are pretty remote.

If you search these forums you will find that most people who have compared Hugo with Naim's DACs prefer the Hugo, and quite a few people use Hugo fed by the NDx, despite the redundancy of its interrnal DAC. Within its more limited connectivity  Mojo is apparently as good as Hugo, though I haven't heard it myself, and CHord do even better DACs. If you only have digital sources, the Chord DACS from Hugo and upwards can feed a power amp direct, obviating the need for a preamp and its extra electronics, which some people find preferable, though others prefer the sound imparted by the preamp. Hugo TT is better than Hugo for that, as it adds a remote control missing with Hugo, though considerably more expensive (but maybe not significant if you use without a preamp)

Thank you for this.

It appears that there are plenty of good second hand DACs about. I might try a Sonos Connect for the internet streaming (Tidal) with a toslink into the DAC to allow the DAC to do the conversion into analogue.

Does anyone know if the DAC has received software updates, or can it be updated I the future?

The Naim DAC has had a few sw updates, it can be dowloaded at Naim site.

Latest one was released 2015-December which had a great impact on s/q.

I'm not sure that Hugo can be updated -I have in mind not, however tgat diesn't stopmit sounding any less wonderful than when it was made! Hugo 2 has been released, but I don't know what differences it brings.

Phabh posted:

Hi, Im ne to the forum and have a question in respect of Streaming.

I recently upgraded from a Unitilite to a NAC202/NAP200DR/NAPsc and I'm currently using an Arcam CDS27 until I can afford the next upgrade to an NDX or ND5 xs. My speakers have never sounded so good (B&W CDM7se).

The question is that from the information that I have read the DAC is seen to be an upgrade to both streamers. Therefore, is it worth buying the DAC and utilising something else as the streamer? If so what would you suggest.

One other question that I have, is that the NAPsc was seen as an upgrade to the NAP200. Now that the NAP200 has the DR upgrade to the power side for the NAC202...do I still need to upgrade with a HICAPdr?

Hicap DR is a great upgrade for you 202.

If planning to go the Ndac route, either nd5Xs or ndx would be fine.