Update opinions please.

There is no point pondering on what you should have done, because you have done what you have done. You need to have a good think about where you want to take the system. If you get the 252 you will find that the ND5 isn’t up to the task and you’ll need to change it. Do you want to go there, as well as getting a better power amp? 

One option is to get the Supernait and then swap the ND5 for an NDX, or swap the ND5 and 102 for a 272, and later swap the 180 for a 250 DR. Buying things because they are a ‘good price’ is rarely wise. Work out where you want to go, and how much you want to spend. 

I think that the 252 will outshine the ND5 - with a better front end, the 252 will show a great improvement but I'm not sure how it much it will reveal the shortcomings (relatively) of the ND5...
It sounds as though you don't wish to spend bucket loads (to keep SWMBO happy) so look for a balanced system. The Supernait might just be the ticket.
Lastly, if the 252 is quite aged, it might benefit from a service which will suddenly make the bargain price look less of a bargain...

Whilst it can be bettered, the ND5XS is not a bad player - indeed it was my own introduction to streaming, and I enjoyed it while I had it. It is worth noting that if at present the preamp is thevlimiting factor, and upgrading it then makes the ND5XS  the limiting factor, as others suggest, that will still have been an improvement over the present system.

However, I suggest you think about it in the round, considering whether this is a one-shot rejigging of the system to then remain static for many years (hopefully), or if you have any intent/expectation/likelihood of getting onto an ongoing upgrade path. The answer is key to deciding what is the best thing to do now within available budget. And if the answer to that is tbat one of the all-in-one Uniti models is best, or a different streamer of any description, then I’m sure that at well under a year your dealer would give a decent trade-in on the ND5XS - and the relatively small loss you’d take on it would not be something to fret over as, after all, you’ve had 9 months of enjoyment out of it and discovered the joys of streaming, just as I did.

Can I suggest considering this question then coming back here with your answer, together with some indication of budget below the divorce threshold,, when people can provide more focussed ways of soending it.

Yeah, perhaps you should have replaced it all with a Star and you can still do it

The 180 is fine, just get it serviced

If I were you I would compare the ND5 and  Supernait2 with the Nova bearing in mind the trade in values of your existing kit. I would guess that either would better your current set up.

I would just like to state that I now use a NDX/Supernait2 and had a Nova before hand and the NDX/Supernait2 is in a different league to the Nova!

Cliffh posted:

.....10 minutes later....

That seems like a rushed decision! I would go back to your dealer and ask them to help you choose a complete, balanced system that matches your needs. I would expect that to take a great deal longer than 10 minutes.

Alternatively, just be happy with the improvement you now have. If the 102/180 is 20 years old, time for a recap soon, which should bring a further improvement. As other posters have said above - you should upgrade the source as well to give a balanced system, which means an NDX, possibly with an XPS, to do justice to a 252.

The ND5 XS was also my first streamer and gave me years of enjoyment. The Naim app was a new and exciting way to browse and play music. I paired it initially with a Quad 303 and later a Nait XS2, laterally with a Hicap DR power supply. When I traded my ND5 in for an NDX this was a big step up in sound quality. It wasn’t long before I got restless again and started looking at separates and ended up with a beautiful 252/SC DR and 300 DR. At that point I traded in my NDX, XS2 and HC DR.

Here are a few truths I learnt during all this (and mostly from reading the forum):

1. The best control app today is Roon.

2. The best amps are Naim separates.

3. Naim’s streamers are good but outdated and very expensive because you have to add a power supply to get the most from them.

4. If you are prepared to invest your time learning about new products you can find a high-end streamer for about €120 (yes, one hundred and twenty) and a good DAC for about €350 used (or a very good one for 1K).

Following the advice on the forum, I invested several thousand € in a streamer/DAC that I believe matches the best that Naim can offer.

I invested the money freed up by selling the NDX in even better Naim amplification.

My other half supported me all the way because she could hear the difference and liked the results!

Will you be happy with a nice balanced system? If so by all means NDX/SN2 or 272 as HH suggested.

Or do you want the best sound your money can buy? Then trade in your ND5 for the best Naim pre/power you can afford (that doesn’t need servicing) and get a cheap and dirty streamer and specialized DAC.

Best of luck!

Thanks everyone for your comments.  It confirms what I had suspected;  that a 252 would be wasted unless I embarked on a major upgrade of everything else in the system - and that just ain't gonna happen.

As for the stuff I did buy, I told the salesman I wanted to buy a streamer.  He asked what other kit I had and, when I told him, must have thought "Aha - a man who buys entry level Naim stuff.  An ND5's just the thing."  I don't recall him suggesting alternatives, such as trading in the 102 for a 272.  Maybe he saw my wife's face when the price of the ND5 was mentioned and decided not to go there.

Most likely, I'll do nothing for the time being.  I've enjoyed listening to this setup for years and I'll continue to do so.  But a service for the old pre/power is on the cards.

Thanks once again for your help.

It sounds to me like the ND5XS was a good choice, and you are enjoying it into a system you like.  Good place to be.  And the work you do now ripping won’t be wasted if  you make changes someday.

Sometimes a “better” pre will lift all boats, more than show off source defects; sometimes it will do both. You can never predict reliably if you will like or dislike the results.

After your next sceduled service, your 102 will be “better”.  

Nick

......I think you will find quite a few members running a NDX / SuperNait2 combination and are enjoying it quite a bit. You may want to consider trading in your ND5XS/CD3/NAC 102/NAP 180 towards the NDX/SN2. You could see if the trade value of your gear gets you close enough to consider the move.

Since you have a local NAIM dealer perhaps you could ask for a home demo.

Best of luck with your decision.