Chord DACs

MDS posted:

Be prepared for dynamics and boogie. The nDAC isn't shy.

...this and more body is what I hear, like and why bought one.

But as always, listen for yourself and follow your own ears.

Mulberry posted:

MDS posted:

Be prepared for dynamics and boogie. The nDAC isn't shy.

...this and more body is what I hear, like and why bought one.

But as always, listen for yourself and follow your own ears.

Hi MDS did you ever try the Hugo against the nDac ?

No, Nina. I came to the nDAC having tried one of the bigger Chord DACs (a QBD64 or something like that). I was looking to upgrade my then Theta DS Pro Basic III.  That's a rather old bit of US kit with lots of exuberance but not much refinement. Having tried the Chord at home for a week or so, and despite having played about with the amount of 'taps' you could call on etc, I felt that while the Chord sound gave me lots of detail, texture and refinement is was, for me, something to admire rather than sweeping me away with the passion & beat of the music. I guess the Chord 'signature' was just not for me.  Then I tried the nDAC and it really hit the spot.  The Hugo seems very popular for many on here, and that's good for them, but the nDAC has, unsurprisingly, the classic Naim sound 'signature', perhaps even more so than the NDS.  I'll be interested to know what you think of it.

Mike    

I should have added, all that happened before the Hugo hit the market but despite the hype I've not been tempted to try the Hugo against the nDAC. In the past I also chatted to a dealer or two and they gave me no encouragement to try it either, and one of them sold the Hugo! 

Glad to hear you love your nDac MDS

Mine should be with me in a few days and I will report back with my thoughts of it against the Hugo... 

What MDS writes about his time with a Chord and the Naim DAC is precisely how I felt (and still feel) about the Hugo TT and the nDAC. I had both for a home demo shortly after the TT was launched. The current firmware has further improved the nDAC, at least for me and my preferences.

It's good to see that some people do prefer the Naim Dac compared to the various Chords

MDS said:  "something to admire rather than sweeping me away with the passion & beat of the music"   and this does make some sense to me as well, don't get me wrong I love the sound of the Hugo, and I may still prefer it to the Naim Dac

In truth I am really hoping I like the Naim Dac as I would much prefer it's aesthetics and I know it will be well built, reliable and a joy to use..  but if it has to be the Hugo, sound wise, then so be it 

Hi Nina, I used to be an NDAC/555PS owner and have been a great fan - I am still fond of it. I also now use the Hugo - they have very different signatures - with the NDAC having a slight organic roughness than can sound attractive with some music and very strong bass drive. The Hugo is somewhat more nimble seems to allow you to listen more into the music - quite a strange effect - but yes you need resolving equipment to perhaps sufficiently appreciate. Anyway you might be interested in the review I made a few years back

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...48#36342540955634848

This was with the earlier NDAC firmware - the later firmware has changed the signature a little bit - and perhaps has slightly removed the, what I found attractive, organic roughness to some extent but other NDAC traits remain the same. Hopefully you might find of this review of interest - and perhaps even use the same pieces of music to compare... enjoy.

Simon

Just wondering the best connections to use when I get the Naim Dac

I currently have the CD5XS as transport using the BNC output via a BNC to RCA interconnect into the Hugo then the RCA outputs to the amp

So I think I will do the same with the BNC output from the cd player via the BNC to RCA interconnect into one of the Naim Dac RCA inputs then use the 5 pin din output on the Dac into the 5 pin din input on the amp

Nina posted:

Just wondering the best connections to use when I get the Naim Dac

I currently have the CD5XS as transport using the BNC output via a BNC to RCA interconnect into the Hugo then the RCA outputs to the amp

So I think I will do the same with the BNC output from the cd player via the BNC to RCA interconnect into one of the Naim Dac RCA inputs then use the 5 pin din output on the Dac into the 5 pin din input on the amp

At some point, are you going to remove whichever dac completely and feed your CD5XS and Nait XS2 with a FCXS power supply?

C.

I agree you should, the Naim CDPs sound optimum in my experience using their inbuilt audio circuitry... otherwise you might as well use a generic quality transport or streamer.

Is the CD5XS' DAC not the same as that in the ND5XS? I sort of assumed it as, so ask out of ignorance. If it is, then surely substituting with Hugo (or nDAC) would have the same audible effect as doing the same with ND5XS - though I don't know how ND5XS-FC compares to ND5XS-Hugo, only ND5XS-XP5XS v ND5XS-Hugo

Innocent Bystander posted:

I don't know how ND5XS-FC compares to ND5XS-Hugo, only ND5XS-XP5XS v ND5XS-Hugo

FC won't power ND5XS.

Innocent Bystander posted:

Is the CD5XS' DAC not the same as that in the ND5XS? I sort of assumed it as, so ask out of ignorance. If it is, then surely substituting with Hugo (or nDAC) would have the same audible effect as doing the same with ND5XS - though I don't know how ND5XS-FC compares to ND5XS-Hugo, only ND5XS-XP5XS v ND5XS-Hugo

No, the DACs are different. The CD5xs uses the BB PCM1704K DAC chips with the PDM200 filter, whereas the ND5xs uses the BB PCM1791A DAC chipset with Naim's own DSP filter.

Christopher_M posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

I don't know how ND5XS-FC compares to ND5XS-Hugo, only ND5XS-XP5XS v ND5XS-Hugo

FC won't power ND5XS.

I meant FCXS as you had suggested  - or did you mean just powering the Nait?

Richard Dane posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

Is the CD5XS' DAC not the same as that in the ND5XS? I sort of assumed it as, so ask out of ignorance. If it is, then surely substituting with Hugo (or nDAC) would have the same audible effect as doing the same with ND5XS - though I don't know how ND5XS-FC compares to ND5XS-Hugo, only ND5XS-XP5XS v ND5XS-Hugo

No, the DACs are different. The CD5xs uses the BB PCM1704K DAC chips with the PDM200 filter, whereas the ND5xs uses the BB PCM1791A DAC chipset with Naim's own DSP filter.

Ah, the moral is to never make assumptions based on naims...  my mistake.

Innocent Bystander posted:

Christopher_M posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

I don't know how ND5XS-FC compares to ND5XS-Hugo, only ND5XS-XP5XS v ND5XS-Hugo

FC won't power ND5XS.

I meant FCXS as you had suggested  - or did you mean just powering the Nait?

I referred to CD5XS, FCXS, Nait XS2 with FCXS powering both items.

One cannot run ND5XS, FCXS and Nait XS2, with FCXS powering both.

Christopher_M posted:

I referred to CD5XS, FCXS, Nait XS2 with FCXS powering both items.

One cannot run ND5XS, FCXS and Nait XS2, with FCXS powering both.

OK Understood - my parallel was invalid anyway, as Richard has clarified re the DAC

The Dac arrived and just placed in system

I know everything needs a little while to come back to life so won't do any serious listening just yet

I am trying to play a .WAV file on a USB stick with no success any help greatly appreciated

I am only doing this so I can update the firmware on the Dac and the instructions say to test the USB stick with a WAV file first

Nina - the nDAC seems a little fussy about USB sticks. Some it doesn't like.  Most of mine have been ok but I suggest you try more than one. The latest firmware is definitely worth having. I was surprised at the performance improvement it made.  

Oh, and be sure that the WAV file isn't in any sort of sub-folder on the USB. It needs to be directly accessible to the nDAC when plugging in the USB.

Well I have two USB sticks and it doesn't seem to like either.  Would I be right that the Dock light comes on and then it should start playing the WAV file?

Yes, that's right, Nina.  Maybe it is worth re-formatting one of the USBs with your PC/Mac and having another go.

That's what I thought MDS thanks I will re-format both USBs

My initial thoughts on the sound of the Dac is "boogie"