Being a busy person I should have known better, but after reading positive comments on the forum about the impact of the firmware update on the nDac's performance I decided to try it when I had a spare 5 minutes.
I first checked my existing firmware version. The lights blinked 3, then 2 and 4, then 2. According to the firmware decoder table contained in the update instructions that seems to mean my unit had firmware v2.5.4. I don't know what that means, but it's different from v4.11.8 so I assume that meant I didn't have the latest version. After all, I purchased this unit a year before v4.11.8 was released in December 2015.
I downloaded v.4.11.8, unzipped the files, and put the five update files on a Sandisk Cruzer Blade 15GB flash drive. As far as I can tell they were in the root drive because they were not contained inside of any folder. I populated them directly onto the flash drive.
I turned the Dac off, and then on again, and after it was up and running I inserted the memory stick in the front USB port. The five lights lit up, but then they never went off one by one as the instructions told me to expect.
I consulted this thread from 2016: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...ights-permanently-on. Based on Jan-Erik's suggestion, I took the flash drive out, powered the unit off, did a hard restart by powering the unit back on while simultaneously holding down the Dock and 4 buttons, and then I inserted the flash drive into the USB port on the back of the unit after all five lights went on.
The five lights then went off one by one, which gave me some hope, but then they all went back on again. Basically, the unit is frozen and won't play any music.
Is this fixable?
Posted on: 16 February 2017 by ngarritson
I bought a couple of 16 GB flash drives by different brands at Staples (capacities less than 16 GBwere not available), reformatted them to FAT. Neither worked. The 4GB Cruzer is on its way from Amazon but frankly I have given up hope.
I spoke with another dealer who I trust more than the local dealer, and I was advised to take it up with Audio Plus Services, the distributor for North America, which I will do.
Posted on: 16 February 2017 by Dave***t
Just to check, gave you been in touch with Naim support about this? I'm sure at the very least they can tell you the exact type of USB stick they've successfully tested the upgrade process with. And you never know, maybe they have some other magic counsel to offer.
Posted on: 17 February 2017 by ngarritson
Last night I put the V-1 in my main system in place of the nDAC. The resolution was great, but it lacked the PRAT of the nDAC. This is a problem - I am used to the drug and now I cannot have the drug. I wish I knew how to quit you!
Posted on: 17 February 2017 by Mulberry
I hope get your NDAC back into action soon. For me and my preferences, the update made a good thing better by a noticable amount. It would by nice if Naim follows Mortons suggestion to include a working USB stick with every NDAC purchased new.
Posted on: 17 February 2017 by nbpf
I bought a couple of 16 GB flash drives by different brands at Staples (capacities less than 16 GBwere not available), reformatted them to FAT. Neither worked. The 4GB Cruzer is on its way from Amazon but frankly I have given up hope.
Have you followed the force-update procedure (dock and button 4 pressed at power on, wait for the button light to be all on, then insert the drive) precisely as described in https://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/ndac-update-crash?reply=69426746269287039#69426746269287039 ? What happens upon force-updating?
Yes. When I force update all five green lights come on and stay on. At that point I insert the flash drive in the USB slot on the BACK of the unit. The nDac appears to read the flash drive, as the green lights then turn off sequentially from right to left as the update instructions tell you to expect, but then all five green lights go back on and stay on. This happens regardless of which flash drive I use.
Sorry to hear that. Are you trying to upgrade to 4.11.8 straight from 2.5.4? Perhaps you could try to first upgrade to something in between. The firmware version before 4.11.8 was 4.10.6, I believe. You could also try upgrading from the front port. If all this fails you should probably get in touch with Naim's technical support, I'm afraid. Best, nbpf
Posted on: 14 March 2017 by Richard Dane
Will, sorry to hear that. Did you follow the instructions and check that a WAV file would play on the USB stick first?
Have you tried forcing the update?
Posted on: 14 March 2017 by sktn77a
It appears that you've pretty much exhausted available options and that your device needs to be reflashed by the local (?) distributor. Call AudioPlus Services in Canada and ask for Manu (I don't think AVoptions in the US does the digital/computer stuff, but you can check with Chris West there).
Failing that, you can try calling Phil Harris in the UK - they might be able to do something remotely. Anything is better than shipping back and forth, if it can be avoided.
Posted on: 11 April 2017 by ngarritson
There is a happy ending to the story. AudioPlus fixed the nDAC for just $80 (and replaced the green Naim light for free). I ran the Apollo-R through it and immediately the source was in an entirely different league. I did a quick compare of the nDAC vs. the V-1 and, well... I can't quit you nDAC.
The rest of the system is 82/hicap/250/ATC SCM7s. While the dac was gone for service I started wondering if I needed better speakers. Something wasn't quite right. Maybe the ATCs were the weak link. Then I put the nDAC back in and suddenly the ATCs sounded like world beaters. Incredible uplift. Didn't somebody once mention something about "source first"?
It's too bad a component that sounds so great could cause such misery with the interface.
Posted on: 12 April 2017 by Chag...
We are all happy for you. Another great ending story on the account of Customer Support. I am just hoping that Will had similar fortune.
nDAC, not just a great and timeless product, but an adventure journey on the path to SQ nirvana! ![:]](http://synthese-hifi.com/phpBB2/images/smilies/8.gif "Dan.San")
Chag -
Posted on: 24 April 2017 by oferr
Hi Chag, sorry, I did not see your post asking me : Hi Oferr; Have you had any response yet from dealer and/or Salisbury? I am just curious to understand issue and remediation. Well, the dac was sent back to England... and I am still waitting for it...
