ND555 Impressions

just read the last Hifi news mag, review on the ndx2 by Andrew Everard :   for Andrew the ndx2 has a bit more details but the nds has a bit more boogie factor, sounds a bit more captivating and real.  Review with one 555ps .

Michael posted:

Looking forward to my home dem of the ND555 tomorrow courtesy of Signals. I am certain that it will outclass my NDX, but what I am really interested in is comparing it to my CD555. I fear it will be an expensive experience!!!!

 

Looking fwd to your report Michael...

enjoy

/ken

The presentation of the ND555 has something familiar about it. The first time we met the 552/500 into SL2 at the dealer (HDX pre-launch event) we were both taken with how tight, lean, clear and essentially right the music sounded. We had never heard anything like it before and it changed our expectations. What I’m hearing now is taking me back there. Notwithstanding the unreliability of musical memory.

Compared to NDS/555PS-DR/555PS-DR, the ND555/555PS-DR/555PS-DR sounds bigger, tighter, leaner, faster and more detailed. Helen began the proceedings while I got stuck into some work. Because of the initial impression of a rather forward presentation, when the time came for me to sample a few tracks, I chose some rather forward and gritty recordings. The presentation did not grate or sting. I merely heard what was there, conveyed without harshness or apparent undue emphasis. So I think the shift in presentation that I hear can be attributed to clarity rather than over emphasis.

Not for the first time when looking at an upgrade, information that was inaudible has now become apparent. One has to distinguish between a shift in emphasis of certain frequencies (an often used dodge to suggest clarity or pace of grunt, etc.) and a genuine increase in detail. This is not so difficult to ascertain with the ND555 because the width, depth, height and separation of the mix (call it the image if you like) is so big as to allow things to get out of the way of each other and be more clearly presented.

I could go on about the HiFi stuff at length. This is a very interesting and capable player. But I found myself not so much listening for things as just listening to the music, the arrangement, the playing, the voicing. This is a good sign for me.  And it may not be run it yet. Audience Bath have had it sucking amps for a week. There's probably still more to come, even with well used power supplies.

Harry posted:

The presentation of the ND555 has something familiar about it. The first time we met the 552/500 into SL2 at the dealer (HDX pre-launch event) we were both taken with how tight, lean, clear and essentially right the music sounded. We had never heard anything like it before and it changed our expectations. What I’m hearing now is taking me back there. Notwithstanding the unreliability of musical memory.

Compared to NDS/555PS-DR/555PS-DR, the ND555/555PS-DR/555PS-DR sounds bigger, tighter, leaner, faster and more detailed. Helen began the proceedings while I got stuck into some work. Because of the initial impression of a rather forward presentation, when the time came for me to sample a few tracks, I chose some rather forward and gritty recordings. The presentation did not grate or sting. I merely heard what was there, conveyed without harshness or apparent undue emphasis. So I think the shift in presentation that I hear can be attributed to clarity rather than over emphasis.

Not for the first time when looking at an upgrade, information that was inaudible has now become apparent. One has to distinguish between a shift in emphasis of certain frequencies (an often used dodge to suggest clarity or pace of grunt, etc.) and a genuine increase in detail. This is not so difficult to ascertain with the ND555 because the width, depth, height and separation of the mix (call it the image if you like) is so big as to allow things to get out of the way of each other and be more clearly presented.

I could go on about the HiFi stuff at length. This is a very interesting and capable player. But I found myself not so much listening for things as just listening to the music, the arrangement, the playing, the voicing. This is a good sign for me.  And it may not be run it yet. Audience Bath have had it sucking amps for a week. There's probably still more to come, even with well used power supplies.

Phew...huge sigh of relief. I had hoped the sharpness meant more clarity and definition at the high end. 

Dusty can carry on with his South of France holiday. Normal service has resumed. 

Good work Harry. I fear a late night pending for you and your good lady wife! Enjoy. 

Michael posted:

Looking forward to my home dem of the ND555 tomorrow courtesy of Signals. I am certain that it will outclass my NDX, but what I am really interested in is comparing it to my CD555. I fear it will be an expensive experience!!!!

 

The comparison with the CD555 will be very interesting. You’ll have to report your findings, Michael. 

As is always the case Darren, it's in the ears of the beholder. I can see where all the positive comments are coming from.

I will be sharing the dem alongside the trusty ears of J.N. who is joining us. I have 2 x 555PSDR supplies here so we can try various options using one or two supplies on the ND555. Like RJS I am not intending to part with the CD555 head unit, so will have the luxury of three top notch sources using vinyl, cd and streaming. Will report tomorrow. Excited!

Happy to see so many more coming to the party and sharing their insights - I belief we are and will be a happy bunch.

Bert Schurink posted:

Richieroo posted:

Bert is it possible - to switch the colour display off when the ND555 is playing???

When you push the display button I haven't seen that switching off but just the buttons. I will soon dig in a bit deeper. But if possible not so obvious how to switch off.

In my view, all of the earlier remarks about the screen fail to take account of the possibility of others (a spouse, perhaps, or a friend or two) being in the room while you are indulging your passion ! I, for one, am looking forward to it.

David O'Higgins posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Richieroo posted:

Bert is it possible - to switch the colour display off when the ND555 is playing???

When you push the display button I haven't seen that switching off but just the buttons. I will soon dig in a bit deeper. But if possible not so obvious how to switch off.

In my view, all of the earlier remarks about the screen fail to take account of the possibility of others (a spouse, perhaps, or a friend or two) being in the room while you are indulging your passion ! I, for one, am looking forward to it.

They could look in the manual......if there was one? Do we get proper manuals for 500 series products?

We had a joint sofa session this evening, including multiple tracks from Rush, Yes, Kraftwerk, Bowie, Clannad, Propaganda, Lou Reed, Ian Dury, Peter Gabriel, Beethoven, Mahler. The first thing that stuck us was, apart from the obvious exception of the classical composers, we listened to a fair few musicians who we grew up with but who are no longer with us. It’s been a sad few years. The second thing that struck us was the sheer quality of texture and detail flowing out of the speakers. Not to mention the sheer volume of it. Stuff that I have been listening to for years turns out to be not what I was listening to at all. Where is all this detail and texture coming from?  

The detail in the arrangements, which seems to have been hiding in plain sight all these years was borderline confusing at times, because I never knew some of it was so complex. Strings separating into different instruments, double tracked vocals that are four tracks. A guitar part now clearly multiple dubs. Not a million miles away from the sort of change I heard when adding the second 555PS to the NDS, but now at a new level. Where will it end?

In my ears and in my room and system, the ND555 seems to mark somewhat of a return to old form for Naim. Or at least, a return to the spirit of it. Lean, fast, vital, tight. It’s not bass light, it’s just devoid of padding. I can hear more bass with less weight. Although, when a full-on passage and/or effect kicks in, it’s realistically huge and appropriately textured. I can hear more treble with no hardness. It doesn’t distract or grate, but if it’s bright there is no sugar coating. I can hear so much mid that I have to check it’s not a remix! A couple of this evening’s tracks were overwhelming because I couldn’t decide what new strand to listen to. As I become familiar with the increased clarity and separation and reacquaint myself with my music collection (again), it will ambush me less. Overall, it times, stays together and above all sounds like music suspended in the room, played by real people with real voices. Not for the first time, but again, at a higher level with the ND555,  the care, skill, sweat and talent that goes into something so good that you might think it easy, is more apparent. 

Helen is convinced. I would like to stay safe and double check what the situation is when the NDS goes back in. The truth is that the ND555 has sold itself, I just need to maintain some appearance of being sensible and non-impulsive! Additionally, I’m convinced the head unit is still bedding in. I think it will sound better when it gets some more days and probably weeks on it. We’ll give it another good seeing to tomorrow. Who knows, it might sound crap. That would be a close shave.

Michael posted:

I will be sharing the dem alongside the trusty ears of J.N. who is joining us. I have 2 x 555PSDR supplies here so we can try various options using one or two supplies on the ND555. Like RJS I am not intending to part with the CD555 head unit, so will have the luxury of three top notch sources using vinyl, cd and streaming. Will report tomorrow. Excited!

 

 

Are you going to have to swap burndies around to switch sources?

Harry posted:

 Stuff that I have been listening to for years turns out to be not what I was listening to at all. Where is all this detail and texture coming from?  

 

This succinctly sets forth what I've heard a few times in my life, demoing phenomenal hi fi hardware.  The last time I heard it was at the Statement demo at my local dealer a couple of years ago now.  Statement, NDS/555PSx2, and the Mobile Fidelity cd of Crime of the Century.  It's like I'd never heard it before . . .  

It depends on whether my dealer brings along more 555PS supplies, if he doesn’t then yes we will have to swap burndies to use mine.

Harry posted:

We had a joint sofa session this evening, including multiple tracks from Rush, Yes, Kraftwerk, Bowie, Clannad, Propaganda, Lou Reed, Ian Dury, Peter Gabriel, Beethoven, Mahler. The first thing that stuck us was, apart from the obvious exception of the classical composers, we listened to a fair few musicians who we grew up with but who are no longer with us. It’s been a sad few years. The second thing that struck us was the sheer quality of texture and detail flowing out of the speakers. Not to mention the sheer volume of it. Stuff that I have been listening to for years turns out to be not what I was listening to at all. Where is all this detail and texture coming from?  

The detail in the arrangements, which seems to have been hiding in plain sight all these years was borderline confusing at times, because I never knew some of it was so complex. Strings separating into different instruments, double tracked vocals that are four tracks. A guitar part now clearly multiple dubs. Not a million miles away from the sort of change I heard when adding the second 555PS to the NDS, but now at a new level. Where will it end?

In my ears and in my room and system, the ND555 seems to mark somewhat of a return to old form for Naim. Or at least, a return to the spirit of it. Lean, fast, vital, tight. It’s not bass light, it’s just devoid of padding. I can hear more bass with less weight. Although, when a full-on passage and/or effect kicks in, it’s realistically huge and appropriately textured. I can hear more treble with no hardness. It doesn’t distract or grate, but if it’s bright there is no sugar coating. I can hear so much mid that I have to check it’s not a remix! A couple of this evening’s tracks were overwhelming because I couldn’t decide what new strand to listen to. As I become familiar with the increased clarity and separation and reacquaint myself with my music collection (again), it will ambush me less. Overall, it times, stays together and above all sounds like music suspended in the room, played by real people with real voices. Not for the first time, but again, at a higher level with the ND555,  the care, skill, sweat and talent that goes into something so good that you might think it easy, is more apparent. 

Helen is convinced. I would like to stay safe and double check what the situation is when the NDS goes back in. The truth is that the ND555 has sold itself, I just need to maintain some appearance of being sensible and non-impulsive! Additionally, I’m convinced the head unit is still bedding in. I think it will sound better when it gets some more days and probably weeks on it. We’ll give it another good seeing to tomorrow. Who knows, it might sound crap. That would be a close shave.

Nice write up Harry, thanks. I’ve clicked on ‘like’ for this post, but I’d simultaneously  like to click ‘dislike’ because of the implications....

Yeah. Sorry about that Kevin. 

Interesting point about Crime Of The Century CD. In this world of silly sample rates and big bits, it's easy to lose sight of some of the superb material on humble CD. I've got some CDs which sound better than their HiRes siblings and many that will probably never get re released (a mixed blessing in itself) which sound spellbindingly good.  And in my little universe, sound better than they ever have, when ripped and streamed. CD playback is dead in this house. But the CD is alive and kicking. And I'm still buying them.

Harry posted:

Yeah. Sorry about that Kevin. 

Interesting point about Crime Of The Century CD. In this world of silly sample rates and big bits, it's easy to lose sight of some of the superb material on humble CD. I've got some CDs which sound better than their HiRes siblings and many that will probably never get re released (a mixed blessing in itself) which sound spellbindingly good.  And in my little universe, sound better than they ever have, when ripped and streamed. CD playback is dead in this house. But the CD is alive and kicking. And I'm still buying them.

Amen. My rip of that MFSL disc is absolutely my go-to version.

This is one reason why streaming services don't do "it" for me.  I've got my favorite versions of a lot of music.  I don't merely want access to ANY version of Crime of the Century -- I want THAT one. And it's on my server.  

My cd's live on in their bit-perfect ripped versions. Their carcasses have long been disposed of, but their essence lives!

Crime of the Century MFSL is on my Core, as are many other MFSL releases:  Queen, U2, Santana, Steve Winwood, Marianne Faithful, Heart, Jean Michel Jarre, Elton John, Boz Scaggs, The Police, and probably a few more.  Most of these are resting in boxes in my basement, with their digital contents stored & ready to play on my system.  ( I think  I have about 12 storage bins full of CDs.  They're not arranged in any particular order, however, something I may come to regret.)

Bart posted:

Michael posted:

I will be sharing the dem alongside the trusty ears of J.N. who is joining us. I have 2 x 555PSDR supplies here so we can try various options using one or two supplies on the ND555. Like RJS I am not intending to part with the CD555 head unit, so will have the luxury of three top notch sources using vinyl, cd and streaming. Will report tomorrow. Excited!

 

 

Are you going to have to swap burndies around to switch sources?

that is my plan, i can not buy another 555psdr.... maybe a one month cd one month streamer year.. 

will it be a 7k hassle? i dont know....

It looks like the machine had reached another level. I am now listening to piano music and the edgy feeling from at the top end from before is not there, it just sounds perfect. It’s a very very special source. Would be interesting to hear from others how the 2nd 555PS potentially adds dimensions - like with the NDS.

Hi - what concerns me is my NDS front end is voiced for my system .... spot on ...... neither bright or too bass heavy........does the ND555 change the general 'balance' of the system? I know when I installed a 552 to my 500 ......... holy smoke.. it was more upfront, fast and full of detail. The 552 initially sounded bright ...... but with careful auditioning it was apparent it was just letting allot more information through.......... it sounds like the ND555 is somewhat like this from Harry's description....any thoughts?

Bert thanks for the edginess update ........ does this apply to vocal sibilence???

docmark posted:

Most of these are resting in boxes in my basement, with their digital contents stored & ready to play on my system.  ( I think  I have about 12 storage bins full of CDs.  They're not arranged in any particular order, however, something I may come to regret.)

Yes I think you will. I’m up to storage box number 26 and thankfully I’ve been using a barcode scanner from collectors.com which allocates a unique numeric reference to each CD so even though the contents are randomly stored a quick lookup macro on my storage spreadsheet tells which box the CD is located. A few times I’ve had to track down a CD and it’s taken a couple minutes to find it.

Sorry back to ND555........

Actually - that's a really good idea .......... can you sweep scan - or do you have to blip each cd?

Not sure about sweep scanning. I bleep each CD doing a batch of about twenty at a time then plug the barcode scanner (size of a small matchbox) back in and the programme goes away and finds the album details and cover art plus allocating a sequential number. It’s been invaluable given size of my CD collection around the house and in storage. 

Plus I’m more than qualified to work at Tesco’s with my barcode scanning skills.