xps dr or 555 ps dr

if you can get a decent trade of sale I'd go for it I have that setup but with Sopra 3

Keler Pierre posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

I'm inclined to agree with HH having recently heard a high end Naim configuration reproducing from Tidal I thought the performance was very considerably below that from a locally sourced file or CD.  

But all else being = the concision seems to be that the 555 provides for a fuller more coherent performance albeit at a cost. 

Regards,

Lindsay

with isolated network, linear ps on switch and nas, and good quality lan cable to the dac/streamer, these differences are very little.  

What differences? Between 555 and XPS?

Hungryhalibut posted:

Tidal doesn't sound anything like as good as stored music from a nas, particularly if the stored music is high res. I do wonder about the merits of upgrading the power supply if the source is only Tidal. Turds and polishing come to mind. 

this is taking things a little too far in my view. Not all highres albums are that good compared to cd quality, and  many albums does not exist in something higher than cd quality.

My celphone plan gives me access to tidal Premium, unfortunately they cannot find a way so I can pay the difference and get hifi, but for albums I do not really need it is better than you would like to admit an the money I  safe since I get Tidal for free can be used to buy the albums I want in cd or higher quality.

Claus

BPou posted:

ok,  I did the demo this morning.  The n272 with 555 Dr is better, no doubts.  No WOW! better, maybe 15% or 20% better, difficult to guess.  Everything sounds more natural, all sources, specially analogue.  TIDAL is better as well.  The big question is weather it worth the extract cost, considering that the 555 PS would be around $11K here in the USA.  For now I am going to hold on my decision and will work improving my network.  I am installing LPS in the switch and NAS, also order a lan isolator to put before the n272, this should reduce any electrical noise entering into the pre.  If that goes well, I will stop there.  

 

someone kindly pointed me to this discussion since I was wondering...exactly that same question.

I've already upgraded my network installation with proper LPS and network switch. Next up is the move to SCM40/50 in active or passive. I was able to schedule a test at the local ATC dealer so we'll see.

I guess 15%-20% of SQ uplift from the 555PS DR vs XPS DR is not that big of an improvement and the majority of other contributors to this thread did also hear a difference, but not night and day from --> hard to justify the incremental budget allocation towards the 555PS DR then.

So I think upgrading speakers will be my end game. For the foreseeable future at least

In a sports scene a 15%-20% can make you the world record holder or sunday amateur.... I believe it is a similar in hifi as well..

If I can shave 20% of my marathon time I will be a sub 3h athlete not in this life time!

[@mention:3678285645782720] Not sure I get your sports analogy considering that once cannot measure what we hear objectively, not to mention that what I year and what you hear will be quite different probably.

And if I wanted world record holder, I'd go for *at least* NDS, 552, 555, and and and. Not interested.

Been there done that in another world and it didn't make me an ounce happier. Just looking for the best possible under 20K

Manu68 posted:

[@mention:3678285645782720] Not sure I get your sports analogy considering that once cannot measure what we hear objectively, not to mention that what I year and what you hear will be quite different probably.

And if I wanted world record holder, I'd go for *at least* NDS, 552, 555, and and and. Not interested.

Been there done that in another world and it didn't make me an ounce happier. Just looking for the best possible under 20K

We got identical set up, I directly bought 555 and skipped the xpsdr

So I can not comment on xps vs 555

But I disconnected my 555 couple a weeks a go with a friend, all steep was something else, the stage was not there, the depth was gone.... it was day and night

But maybe xpsdr does the same as well... I used Israeli one before for my 272, it was nothing like 555ps

Sopras will make full use out of it...

With classical symphonies become stage like, every instrument in its proper place with depth... even with tidal

With acoustic music you hear things like you are inside the room, you feel the space of the stage, all dimensions...

With you music taste the effect is more than rock... sopra 2s are coming alive, disappearing to tell the truth, even turning your head or somebody passing in front of speakers change the perfection of the stage...

I am not employed by naim or selling a used 555dr

thanks a lot [@mention:3678285645782720] great write-up and very useful!

Thanks, Emre.  After listening  both configurations, xps-dr that I have, and the 555-dr that I don't.  It is clear that the n272 perform at its peak with a 555, though it doesn't mean that the n272 is less than extraordinary with the xps-dr.  Thus, it is kind of dismissing return on expenditures (I wouldn't call it investments).  You have to expend double the money to get few feet closer to nirvana.  

I am willing to go the extra mile if necessary but before I will experiment with my network.  If I don't get the results I am looking for, I will trade my xps-dr for a 555-dr.

BPOU - I would suggest that having sorted your network a 555 will be of even greater benefit. 

Keler Pierre posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

I'm inclined to agree with HH having recently heard a high end Naim configuration reproducing from Tidal I thought the performance was very considerably below that from a locally sourced file or CD.  

But all else being = the concision seems to be that the 555 provides for a fuller more coherent performance albeit at a cost. 

Regards,

Lindsay

with isolated network, linear ps on switch and nas, and good quality lan cable to the dac/streamer, these differences are very little.  

sorry, but not for me. optical bridge, uptone js2 on my unitserve and switch, audioquest diamond ethernet, made a dramatic jump in sound quality for me, more than 555dr after xps 2 on my nds.