Trading in a CD5i and moving to a ND5 XS

I've had a ND5/XS 2 with NACA5 and really enjoyed it. Great system. I have a Synology NAS with Minimserver and Tidal. I like Tidal and the way it is integrated into the Naim app. Enjoy it!

Loads of questions in the original post:

1. NAS - QNAP or Synology

2. Server software: Asset or Minimserver

3. Ripping software: dB Poweramp

4. Hardware: internet modem (ISP provided), wi-fi router and or small switch (e.g. Cisco), Apple or Android tablet for playback control, some CAT5 or CAT6 network cables.

One question from me - why do you need a CD transport?

Adam

Adam Zielinski posted:

Loads of questions in the original post:

1. NAS - QNAP or Synology

2. Server software: Asset or Minimserver

3. Ripping software: dB Poweramp

4. Hardware: internet modem (ISP provided), wi-fi router and or small switch (e.g. Cisco), Apple or Android tablet for playback control, some CAT5 or CAT6 network cables.

One question from me - why do you need a CD transport?

Adam

 

Adam thanks for the feedback.

In regards to you question.....    The transport allows me to play a CD. Thinking it would be a backup and allow music to be played if there was a network and internet failure. I also occasionally pick up used CD's or on occasion given a CD and this would allow me the ability to listen to a CD prior to ripping and adding to the library. Perhaps unnecessary but that was my thinking.

spurrier sucks posted:

I've had a ND5/XS 2 with NACA5 and really enjoyed it. Great system. I have a Synology NAS with Minimserver and Tidal. I like Tidal and the way it is integrated into the Naim app. Enjoy it!

Steve, thanks of the feedback and happy to hear you had a positive experience with a similar configuration!

I think you will find that the physical CD playbck will gradually diminish once the ND5 is up and running. And at the same time purchases of new music in various formats (CDs included) will increase exponentially.

I was in a similar position, thinking I will need my CD plyer as well as streamers - my CDX2 will by gone by the end of next week.

A streaming network, once up and running and set up well is quite robust. Playback from a local NAS is independent of a functioning internet connection. The latter is needed for iRadio, Tidal, Spotify etc.

I like having a CD player, for reference, and occasional use.

Unless the clutter bugs you, or you need the funds released, why not keep it?

Best,

Nick

NickSeattle posted:

I like having a CD player, for reference, and occasional use.

Unless the clutter bugs you, or you need the funds released, why not keep it?

Best,

Nick

I my case it was simple - had to make space and release funds for NAP 300DR. So CDX2 and 555PS had to go - rarely used them anyway.

But if the OP likes to have a CD player and space is not at premium.....

Adam Zielinski posted:

I think you will find that the physical CD playbck will gradually diminish once the ND5 is up and running. And at the same time purchases of new music in various formats (CDs included) will increase exponentially.

I was in a similar position, thinking I will need my CD plyer as well as streamers - my CDX2 will by gone by the end of next week.

A streaming network, once up and running and set up well is quite robust. Playback from a local NAS is independent of a functioning internet connection. The latter is needed for iRadio, Tidal, Spotify etc.

After adding a NDX to my system a couple of years ago my the use of my CD player diminished to such an extent that I sold it within a year. If you rip a CD and don't like just delete it.

I used to have a ND5 XS  /  Nait XS 2 system which I bought when my CD player started to die (mechanical failure), and I don't miss the CD one iota!  If I really need to play a CD without ripping it, my Blue-Ray player is connected via an optical cable and that suffices.

I use a simple Synology NAS, and I find that the integrated DLNA media server software (Synology Media Server) is quite reliable and perfectly sufficient for my needs, I haven't bothered with installing Asset or Minim.  Even a slow single core NAS never gets close to running out of steam, even streaming HiRes recordings, so for audio use there's no point in buying a fast (i.e. expensive!) NAS drive.

I also second getting a simple network switch, connecting the streamer and NAS to that, and then connecting the switch to your broadband router.  Initially, just use simple (and cheap) Cat 5e or Cat 6 unshielded (UTP) cables to start with, then you can experiment with cables later.

Don't fret over the SQ of the ND5 XS, even bare it's a terrific machine and will complement the Nait XS 2 perfectly (in fact it's actually better SQ than the preamp in the XS 2).  It's a slightly more 'grown up' sound than the excitable, puppy like CD5i, but then more than pays back that with much better resolution and musical insight.

I agree with those who say there's no point in buying the Cambridge CD transport:  Just use your video disk player for the occasional CD (or keep the CD5i temporarily) until you realise that you don't use it any more!

To put the other side of the argument, I have a NAC N272 on my main system, and pull my music from a Uniti Core. It all works fine and sounds great. But I did decide to buy an ex-demo CDX2 as well and a year later I wouldn't give it up. I like to be able to listen to CDs that don't belong to me and I don't believe in ripping music that I don't own. So I would suggest hanging onto your Naim CD player for a while.

best

David

It's also helpful when there are network issues and internet breakdowns...you can still enjoy music with a backup CDP.

Which now that I read above someone has already pointed out...

DrMark posted:

It's also helpful when there are network issues and internet breakdowns...you can still enjoy music with a backup CDP.

Yes when I was in a holiday cottage with my Qb and a Core a couple of months back, for about 24 hours the Internet connection kept going down, which didn't bother the Qb or the Core, but the wretched router kept restarting every 5 or 10 minutes and I would lose music for a few minutes. So if that were at home, I would definitely need a CDP!

best

David

David Hendon posted:

DrMark posted:

It's also helpful when there are network issues and internet breakdowns...you can still enjoy music with a backup CDP.

Yes when I was in a holiday cottage with my Qb and a Core a couple of months back, for about 24 hours the Internet connection kept going down, which didn't bother the Qb or the Core, but the wretched router kept restarting every 5 or 10 minutes and I would lose music for a few minutes. So if that were at home, I would definitely need a CDP!

best

David

Or a network switch between the player and the NAS.

Yes well I have that at home as well!

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful responses and suggestions, they are appreciated.

I was happy to hear that some of you had a positive experience with the ND5 XS/NAIT XS 2 combination.

Thanks for the suggestions on the NAS, either QNAP or Synology appears to be favorites.

Is anyone using ROON with their NAS?

I noticed that ROON had provided a recommended configuration on their website and did list both QNAP and Synology as there recommended NAS. I do not think I would be adding ROON out of the gate but was going to look in to it for a possible future update.

As far as the CD player goes, I am getting a 100% credit towards the ND5 XS by trading CD5Si. I need to let it go from a financial point of view. The Cambridge Transport CXC CD was an inexpensive safety net which I can recoup some of the cost  outlay in the future by trading it back in. I am sure I will be needing a Power Supply or some other item in the continuing quest for the perfect sound. I may not need it but until I get comfortable with the streamer and have the NAS up and running it provides a comfortable buffer, perhaps just psychologically. 

Talk to the dealer today and he stated that the ND5 was shipped from the distributor today so it should arrive some time next week.

All comments and suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Thanks once again.

Hi.

Whilst waiting for the new Nova Uniti I have been borrowing a Nait XS2 and CD5 XS to go with my PMC 25-23s.  With another set of recent delays, dealer gone the extra mile and I picked up yesterday a ND5 XS to cover streaming duties.  The ND5 XS I will use with my Synology dS215j.  All my CDs ripped with db Poweramp in uncompressed FLAC.  Also got some HI Res downloads from 7digital in FLAC.

In just a few hours I love it!  No discernible disadvantages on sound for sure.  Perhaps even argue a bit more rhythm and drive when playing files that based on ripped CDs. Maybe a better implementation of the DAC than in the CD5??   And as for Hi Res files, WOW!  So open and transparent.

And then there is the convience.  Been using the iPad Naim app and the response is instant in pulling files from the Synology.  I am using a 100MB wired connection and power line adapters between my lounge and NAS in the study.  Only initial issue was all my files on the ND5 were being played as a Wav file 44.1khz including the hi res once being desampled.  Switched the decoding off on the Synology and then all working correctly with all files being played in their native format.

Be interesting now to compare with my Uniti Nova when I get it, but overall loving the ND5 for sound and ease of use.....

I would also drop those power line adapters when you can... as you get more into Naim you will be discorving they are flooding your audio electronics connected to the mains (and other electronics)  with quite high levels of RFI .. this will be hardening the sound and robbing detail and effectively working against what the Naim electronics has been designed to do...power line adapters effectively turn your domestic mains wiring and everything connected to it into a radiating wideband radio antenna ...

Also from a network data point of view they are not ideal as they are effectively half duplex.. Naim streamers are best designed to work with Ethernet and full duplex communication through to the media server and NAS, or use the wifi connectivity.

Big John posted:

I picked up yesterday a ND5 XS to cover streaming duties .... And then there is the convience.  

Convenience is in the eye of the beholder. To me there is nothing more convenient than selecting a disc (CD or LP) from my shelf and playing it directly. No dependence on a computer network or control device. For me it gets no simpler or more convenient than that.

Objectively, if you want to throw in ripping/downloading, a network connection, and a smart pad to the streaming scenario then there is a cost to that mode of "convenience". I say this with recognition that CDPs and cartridges wear, but all modes of replay come with maintenance costs and CDs and LPs are free from updates, subscriptions, or any dependence on the etherworld,

Adam Zielinski posted:

I think you will find that the physical CD playbck will gradually diminish once the ND5 is up and running. And at the same time purchases of new music in various formats (CDs included) will increase exponentially.

I was in a similar position, thinking I will need my CD plyer as well as streamers - my CDX2 will by gone by the end of next week.

A streaming network, once up and running and set up well is quite robust. Playback from a local NAS is independent of a functioning internet connection. The latter is needed for iRadio, Tidal, Spotify etc.

How can you Adam? How can you?

Good old cd2x!

Emre posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

I think you will find that the physical CD playbck will gradually diminish once the ND5 is up and running. And at the same time purchases of new music in various formats (CDs included) will increase exponentially.

I was in a similar position, thinking I will need my CD plyer as well as streamers - my CDX2 will by gone by the end of next week.

A streaming network, once up and running and set up well is quite robust. Playback from a local NAS is independent of a functioning internet connection. The latter is needed for iRadio, Tidal, Spotify etc.

How can you Adam? How can you?

Good old cd2x!

Brutal economics and progress I'm afraid my dear Emre.

I had two boxes of high end audio, which did not do much most of the time, but gather dust. So swapped them for a power amp

300dr is very good enjoy it

I have a suggestion/question. Rather than retain or buy a cd player in case of network failure could you store maybe 50 of your favourite cds onto USB sticks and plug them into nd5 and play direct from them. Would this negate the need for a network if there were temporary problems? 

PS. 

What do you think of the D2s? 

stuart posted:

PS. 

What do you think of the D2s? 

 

Stuart thanks for the suggestion above regarding the USB stick, I will have to look into that.

I love the D2's. I started with the KEF LS50's and right out of the box they sounded great but after a short period of time they just were not working for me. So I visited the Stereo shop and spent some time listening to the KEF R500's, ProAc D2's, and ProAc D20's. Out of the three I picked the D2's, I honestly thought they sounded the best out of the three. I brought them home (returned the LS50's) and have been rewarded ever since. The first album I played was a Dave Koz (Lucky Man) album and the sound stage and detail was there. The bonus was that the wife also thought it was a great upgrade and she is enjoying the music more as well. 

I know everyone's tastes are a bit different but for me the D2's are magnificent. JMHO

Huge posted:

I used to have a ND5 XS  /  Nait XS 2 system which I bought when my CD player started to die (mechanical failure), and I don't miss the CD one iota!  If I really need to play a CD without ripping it, my Blue-Ray player is connected via an optical cable and that suffices.

I use a simple Synology NAS, and I find that the integrated DLNA media server software (Synology Media Server) is quite reliable and perfectly sufficient for my needs, I haven't bothered with installing Asset or Minim.  Even a slow single core NAS never gets close to running out of steam, even streaming HiRes recordings, so for audio use there's no point in buying a fast (i.e. expensive!) NAS drive.

I also second getting a simple network switch, connecting the streamer and NAS to that, and then connecting the switch to your broadband router.  Initially, just use simple (and cheap) Cat 5e or Cat 6 unshielded (UTP) cables to start with, then you can experiment with cables later.

Don't fret over the SQ of the ND5 XS, even bare it's a terrific machine and will complement the Nait XS 2 perfectly (in fact it's actually better SQ than the preamp in the XS 2).  It's a slightly more 'grown up' sound than the excitable, puppy like CD5i, but then more than pays back that with much better resolution and musical insight.

I agree with those who say there's no point in buying the Cambridge CD transport:  Just use your video disk player for the occasional CD (or keep the CD5i temporarily) until you realise that you don't use it any more!

My system is ND5XS, Nait XS2, Flatcap2( was part of my previous Nait 3 & CD5 combo) sadly my CD5 died. In an effort to keep CDs for the wife I purchased said Cambridge transport. It is used very rarely. Wish I put the money for another sh powerline. Anyway really enjoying my naim streamer. May upgrade PSU or NDAC to ND5XS.