Active speakers.

Hungryhalibut posted:

The Dynaudio manual shows that the speakers connect with a digital or analogue cable rather than an Ethernet, so you would need to connect them to an output from the system. That’s how No Quarter described it above. It’s not just a question of plugging them into an Ethernet socket and everything just working - they are not effectively a giant pair of mu-sos. 

You are right HH,no Ethernet connection on the XDs...what he could do is get the connect box and feed it from the digital out of his NDS,then the connect box would transmit wirelessly to the XDs.Depending on where they are situated,he could also get a long SPDIF cable,I have/use a 4 meter Nordost Heimdall 11 to connect to my N272.I suggest he try the wireless option,which works really well,unlike Naim streamers,but this limits you to 24/96 max output.My dealer told me when he first heard the Xeo 4s with the wireless hub,it was set up at a hotel building in Montreal,the transmitter (hub) was on the floor above,and four rooms down.He said there were no dropouts at all,and worked flawlessly,I may get one myself...just to have on hand,it gives you many more connection options (optical and USB).

The connect box looks like the answer for a system with 2 main sources ( ndx and turntable in my case). I would need to demo if there are any compromises sq wise compared to linking the ndx directly to the speakers via digital coax or the turntable via phonos.

Yes, reading more on the Dynaudio site and NQ's responses, the XDs can only accept digital feeds and WiFi, so no ethernet/UPnP.

So if you stick with your current system to feed them then you are bypassing your Naim pre/power amps and the DAC in the NDS. Which I guess is fine if the XDs are for a second 'system' (just speakers actually) in the living room and you are going to stick with your main system in a separate dedicated listening room.

Mind you, there is someone on here who has given up his 500 series pre/power amps and replaced them active ATCs. So active speakers may, just may, have a place in top-drawer Naim systems.

yes indeed when I auditioned the Focus XD, the source was a Naim HDX, and it sounded fantastic.

Dynaudio really know what they are doing.... the musicality of HDX was preserved even while converting back to digital.

Superb active speakers... 

I have also fed my XDs directly off my Core,using SPDIF out,but you lose Tidal and internet radio,which is a reason why I wish they would add these to the Core.

No quarter posted:

I have also fed my XDs directly off my Core,using SPDIF out,but you lose Tidal and internet radio,which is a reason why I wish they would add these to the Core.

Thanks again, the plan is to speak with my dealer to look at the various ways of hooking these up, though the Connect Box seems to offer the most options.

Actually, the whole thing depends on this possible house move, which if I don't go ahead, means things remaining just as they are. 

james n posted:

Hi Dave - it sounds like you want ultimate quality in the dedicated room with your conventional system but just want good quality sound in the living space. How about something like a 272 with some active speakers or a Nova with passives. Very good SQ from both solutions and still fully controllable all from the Naim app rather than needing another app / control solution for the living space system.

James

 

I was thinking something very similar. It sounds far easier and would deliver multiroom very easily and it would work in the same way as the existing NDS. A 272 and some ATC SCM 19a or 40a could be just the ticket. 

HH

i am not sure the ATC option is better,would you not have to have another streamer (NDX,272) right next to the speakers,with XLR leads going to the speakers.With Dynaudio he could buy the connect box,set it right next to his NDS,using its digital out to the box (short SPDIF).The connect box is around 500 Canadian dollars I believe,then he could transmit the signal from the NDS,which he already owns,to the Dyn XDs wirelessly,to another part of the house.You can control the NDS with the Naim app,and use the XD remote for volume etc.

No quarter posted:

HH

i am not sure the ATC option is better,would you not have to have another streamer (NDX,272) right next to the speakers,with XLR leads going to the speakers.With Dynaudio he could buy the connect box,set it right next to his NDS,using its digital out to the box (short SPDIF).The connect box is around 500 Canadian dollars I believe,then he could transmit the signal from the NDS,which he already owns,to the Dyn XDs wirelessly,to another part of the house.You can control the NDS with the Naim app,and use the XD remote for volume etc.

That sounds like a good solution as long as SQ is not too compromised by the wireless connection between the NDS and the XDs using the connect box. I am sure Dave will be checking the difference in 'digital wired' and 'wireless' SQ with the XDs, assuming his house move is going ahead.

nigelb posted:

No quarter posted:

HH

i am not sure the ATC option is better,would you not have to have another streamer (NDX,272) right next to the speakers,with XLR leads going to the speakers.With Dynaudio he could buy the connect box,set it right next to his NDS,using its digital out to the box (short SPDIF).The connect box is around 500 Canadian dollars I believe,then he could transmit the signal from the NDS,which he already owns,to the Dyn XDs wirelessly,to another part of the house.You can control the NDS with the Naim app,and use the XD remote for volume etc.

That sounds like a good solution as long as SQ is not too compromised by the wireless connection between the NDS and the XDs using the connect box. I am sure Dave will be checking the difference in 'digital wired' and 'wireless' SQ with the XDs, assuming his house move is going ahead.

As hinted at earlier, I'm now stuck between the opposing priorities of whether the whole thing can wait until the house move, or whether the house move itself may well depend on getting the speakers right?

What to do, what to do?

Anyway, I'm supremely confident that SWMBO will no doubt make the correct decision!