4.6 update and upgrade sound quality ?

Bonjour M Rooster.   Yes it does bring a change to SQ, this was established in the beta testing.  With my NDX in my system & room & to my ear/brain interface,  the presentation is more dynamic & punchy,  bass is firmer, treble has detail,  sound stage has width & depth.   Instrument & voices are natural & I find it easier to follow & position individuals.     I read the same with NDS & 272 colleagues .    See other threads on this same subject

Why should that be? What does it do differently to affect the audio signal?

I wonder if this thread should be joined to Wenger's "I hope it's worth it" thread!

Naim have made changes in the DSP.

Any DSP code changed on this time firmware version ?

marcobb posted:

Any DSP code changed on this time firmware version ?

Yes thats what we are talking about - 4.6

Mike-B posted:

marcobb posted:

Any DSP code changed on this time firmware version ?

Strange question     yes thats what we are talking about - 4.6

Because naim didn't mention any DSP revised in release notes.

 The main 4.6 focus is functionality with multiroom on legacy & new platform products only.     The DSP area was one of a number of items involved to achieve these multiroom functions & it gave the opportunity to revisit SQ 

Ok let me upgrade at home later and see what did the SQ changed, thanks Mike-B

Mike-B posted:

Bonjour M Rooster.   Yes it does bring a change to SQ, this was established in the beta testing.  With my NDX in my system & room & to my ear/brain interface,  the presentation is more dynamic & punchy,  bass is firmer, treble has detail,  sound stage has width & depth.   Instrument & voices are natural & I find it easier to follow & position individuals.     I read the same with NDS & 272 colleagues .    See other threads on this same subject

hello Mike, i hope you are right. But how can you be certain, sure at 100%, because this update is not yet available.  Naim have told you that ?

What do you mean the update is not available.???   It was publicly released today - look at https://www.naimaudio.com/updates  + I have been working on beta test versions for months.

i understood it will be available at the end of the week, so i didn’t understood well....

You have already installed the 4.6 update?

i got the response on the thread” new firmware this week “.

How to do the update?   install the update on a pc first?   windows 7 will work?  then connect the usb to mini usb cable between pc and nds, and after?

French Rooster posted:

You have already installed the 4.6 update?

French Rooster posted:

How to do the update?   install the update on a pc first?   windows 7 will work?  then connect the usb to mini usb cable between pc and nds, and after?

YES  .........  pre 4.6 beta & todays 4.6

Follow the instructions:  Naim seem to have released only english language today.  But in meantime go to release v4.4 to read French instructions & download the USB driver.  Then go to release v4.6 & download 4.6 Western Europe

Mike-B posted:

French Rooster posted:

You have already installed the 4.6 update?

French Rooster posted:

How to do the update?   install the update on a pc first?   windows 7 will work?  then connect the usb to mini usb cable between pc and nds, and after?

YES  .........  pre 4.6 beta & todays 4.6

Follow the instructions:  Naim seem to have released only english language today.  But in meantime go to release v4.4 to read French instructions & download the USB driver.  Then go to release v4.6 & download 4.6 Western Europe

i had installed the 4.4 version more than 1 year ago with the help of one dealer.  I didn’t remember exactly how i did it.   Do i need to download the usb driver also before the 4.6 update?

If you upgraded your ND using your current computer, the driver is already installed.      

Whatever happened to version 4.5. ?
Any reason for skipping that version number ?

Claus

Yes,  4.5 numbers got eaten up with testing the various stages of multiroom & cross platform functionality.    Series numbers have gone missing before. 

The original rationale for the upgrade (about 2 1/2 years ago) was, in large part, to address dropouts on Tidal. The multi-room requirement came later (Autumn 2016). Since then, I think (correct if I’m wrong please) Tidal have improved their infrastructure and a lot us have improved our own network performance, so perhaps it’s a less pressing issue.

Keith

Just updated to the new firmware on my N272 and Unitlite - I noticed that for the N272, there was an update to the DSP and Streamer - but on the Unitlite, there was no DSP update.... so do I assume that any sound quality improvement will only be on the N272?

I don't think you should assume that the UL and UQ DSPs are unchanged. They use a different DSP to the more expensive units, so the way the firmware is bundled is probably different. I today updated my UQ, UL, SU and 272. I'm listening to the UQ at the moment and I may be imagining it, but it sounds wonderful to me.

best

David

Mike-B posted:

If you upgraded your ND using your current computer, the driver is already installed.      

As Mike says. I did the update today with the same Windows 7 PC that I did the 4.4 update two years ago or so and I didn't have to reinstall the drivers.

best

David

I’ve not had chance to update my 272 yet, but I’d be interested to hear of any improvement from others who have. 

........  we need @hungryhalibut to chip in (or should that be swim in)    he wrote up a good & positive description of the 272 sound with the new DSP in the beta test thread.  

272 user here. I'll let Mr HH describe in detail, but to my ears 4.6 is a major step up in SQ, akin to a hardware upgrade, but at no cost. My system has never sounded better.

Finkfan posted:

I’ve not had chance to update my 272 yet, but I’d be interested to hear of any improvement from others who have. 

I have definitely perceived SQ benefits. Bass is firmer and slightly more extended. Mids are clearer without anything being unduly accented, as if some distortion has been removed. They are also what might be described as firmer or tighter, with a bit more body in the mid-mid (ie as opposed to upper mid or lower mid). Treble appears to have less sibilance.

I wouldn't say the changes were massive, but the sound is more satisfying to me now.

Naturally I might just be imagining it, but I'm pretty sure I'm not.

PS, I should add, good work, beta testers and DSP team. Gold stars all round.