ND555 Impressions

Bert Schurink posted:

TomSer posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

I feared I would somewhere read the confirmation of what I already feared......, so I guess I will also need to put it on my list of things to buy.

Some have been said about streaming cables, that the ND 555 is not as sensitive for the quality of streaming cables as for example the NDS. I tested some different, from a cheap standard computer cable up to Chord Music and I found the Chord Music to be absolutely stunning in my setup. More separation between the musicians, easier to follow different instruments, more fun! Conclusion: In my system, for me, the streaming cable make a big difference.

 

Just hope I can get some kind of good deal for it..., after of course exploring it in my own setup.....

Hi Bert,

Have you tried WiFi versus cable connection?

I wonder if a good, well configured, WiFi access point wouldn't give even better results.

Worth a try I guess.

The WiFi is in a way shielded from my setup through the Melco. So I am talking about the Melco to ND555 connect. In my original setup when I moved up from good standard cable to Audioquest Vodka I also heard a great I,provement. In an earlier test I heard the difference with a Chord Music and was blown away by the difference. And I have by the way as well a separated music network, so I think also that should bring me closer to ideal conditions .

The ChordMusic Ethernet cable is fantastic on the ND555. Tried it , and I agree with Bert. 

I had this on a King Crimson album, and no matter what I did to the metadata manually, it still only read one disc of a double album. I alerted Naim, I am sure Davud said it was fixed or going to be fixed. So I think the new Beatles album would be of interest to Naim.

On the ND555 which was designed to be not so reliant on types of Ethernet cable and has low voltage differential decoupling to effectively eliminate or minimise network noise... can you tell me what you hear when playing a track and you disconnect the cable and let the track continue to play out? Remember the track loads very quickly on the new architecture, media server permitting. I know Naim were impressed by the effective decoupling achieved.

Also remember the Melco does NOT perform any network data isolation... It can offer is a degree of common mode electrical noise filtering, and possibly improved clean serial clocking  compared to a cheap switch, but that is very different from network isolation which would require a router and configurable forwarder/helpers.

Gazza posted:

I had this on a King Crimson album, and no matter what I did to the metadata manually, it still only read one disc of a double album. I alerted Naim, I am sure Davud said it was fixed or going to be fixed. So I think the new Beatles album would be of interest to Naim.

I would hope so . How do I officially alert them ? 

Either support@naim audio or just call them. There is a function within the Core App to post comments as well.

All gone very quiet here - obviously everyone is too wrapped-up enjoying their ND555 to post!

Mine is at the end now of week 6 run-in and a couple of days ago it did a big negative run-in spike that made it sound ragged and poor, but now it has recovered and I'm enjoying some gentle piano music from it.

I'm just giving it time and use to run-in some more and get to where it will eventually reach. At times I've had amazing performances then it goes flat and is not so good for a while. Someone ahead of me with their run-in said six weeks was past the worst, but still some big step improvements came after then - I shall see!

DB.

Well DB guilty of enjoying the music. At Audio show east the Chord guy recommended the Primal Scream album, Give out but don,t give up, The original Memphis sessions...just released. I can,t stop playing it , the ND555 just takes you right to the heart of the sessions. Just loving it. A few little ups and downs, but perhaps your system is more sensitive?

Hi DB & Gazza,my dealer installed mine on Monday after a long a wait,took him 5 hours ,compleat strip down and boxes repositioned,clocked up sixty hours so far,doing things the NDS only hinted at,happy bunny!.regards bob.

Bob, would you mind sharing what the rest of your system is.

Next week I am having a dealer demo comparing ND555/PS555DR/252DR vs NDS/PS55DR/552 front ends, as the move I am considering next is EITHER a pre loved 552 (currently 252DR) OR ND555 (currently NDS/PS555DR).

I will then be taking home either the 552 or ND555 for an extended home demo to finally decide.

Hi Nigel,system is as follows,552dr,nap 500 not drd,ND555,speakers are Focal Scalas,super Limuna speaker cable& interconnect all on Fraims,hope this helps,best wishes ,Bob.

Thanks Bob, great rig you have there and you are going to enjoy the new toy and am sure the wait was worth it. 

Bob green posted:

Hi DB & Gazza,my dealer installed mine on Monday after a long a wait,took him 5 hours ,compleat strip down and boxes repositioned,clocked up sixty hours so far,doing things the NDS only hinted at,happy bunny!.regards bob.

Glad you are happy with it Bob, keep us posted and put @Nigelb out of his misery with a system post. We will be expecting a blow by blow account from @Nigelb next week????

No problem mate!.

Forgot to mention for @Nigelb, make sure you don,t get confused and end up listening to a ND555 with a 552 by mistake.....could be expensive????

Gazza posted:

Bob green posted:

Hi DB & Gazza,my dealer installed mine on Monday after a long a wait,took him 5 hours ,compleat strip down and boxes repositioned,clocked up sixty hours so far,doing things the NDS only hinted at,happy bunny!.regards bob.

Glad you are happy with it Bob, keep us posted and put @Nigelb out of his misery with a system post. We will be expecting a blow by blow account from @Nigelb next week????

I assume Gazza, your bet is on me taking the ND555 home!

If a NDX2 with 555 ps is close to a NDS then yes, but I am still not sure that the NDX2 is as good. My very very limited NDS experience , a couple of tracks suggests that it’s probably ahead. So all bets off, anyhow it’s how the music and the streamers/ preamps affect you on an emotional level, always difficult to call. But if I had to bet...ND555.

Eight weeks in with my ND555 a lot has been said about the ND555 so my journey so far.

The dealer offered me a home demo of the ND555 and 555PS it didn't take very long to realise that the ND555 was something rather special at the time I had a NDX2 on order to replace my NDX which was used with a XPSdr power supply.

After the home demo the NDX2 was cancelled and the ND555 and 555PS were ordered. I don't think until you hear one in your system you will really appreciate the qualities of the ND555  quite frankly I still struggle at times on how much better the system sounds and the improvements the ND555 has made mind you it should do at this price.

Whilst it conveys all aspects of music exceptionally well Piano notes in particular are superb as is the grip and control of the bass.

I find I am playing and a lot more of my older ripped CDs like The Corrs, Oleta Adams, Sade, Alison Moyet its amazing how good some of these older recordings sound.

Mine has been left on 24/7 playing ripped CDs but burn in can be slightly alarming the sound can get very bright/harsh at times but this has not happened for the last week so I might be through the worse?

The only minor niggles are that the screen freezes on occasions ( The R&D chaps at Naim have been very helpful hopefully a Beta Update to test should be issued shortly ) plus the Quick Start documentation could be more comprehensive.

All in all one very happy ND555 user and all credit to Naim for a this rather special Black Box.

PCD, I note you and Gazza use the ND555 with a 252/SuperCapDR and it seems this pre amp has the transparency to convey the ND555's capabilities, although of course I accept a 552 would extract even more.

This is of interest to me as I currently have a 252DR fronted by NDS/555DR and am demoing separately ND555 and 552 at a dealer, each of these complemented by the source/pre amp in my system - see above.

And then I take ONE of them home.......

nigelb posted:

PCD, I note you and Gazza use the ND555 with a 252/SuperCapDR and it seems this pre amp has the transparency to convey the ND555's capabilities, although of course I accept a 552 would extract even more.

This is of interest to me as I currently have a 252DR fronted by NDS/555DR and am demoing separately ND555 and 552 at a dealer, each of these complemented by the source/pre amp in my system - see above.

And then I take ONE of them home.......

Nigel,

I also have a 252/SCDR + 300DR + full SL. I am currently demoing a Rega Aura with my RP10 Aphelion and am being blown away by the excitement this phono stage brings. The music seems to come alive across the sound spectrum. It’s classical and modern. It’s not that it was bad with the Aria phonostage.

The point I want to make is that with good sources the 252 is quite amazing. So I would try the ND555 out at home before the 552.

Phil

Back from walking 452 miles from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela for robocap dot org dot uk. £4385 raised so far for equipment for our NHS

nigelb posted:

PCD, I note you and Gazza use the ND555 with a 252/SuperCapDR and it seems this pre amp has the transparency to convey the ND555's capabilities, although of course I accept a 552 would extract even more.

This is of interest to me as I currently have a 252DR fronted by NDS/555DR and am demoing separately ND555 and 552 at a dealer, each of these complemented by the source/pre amp in my system - see above.

And then I take ONE of them home.......

Nigel, like yourself I could have jumped in one of two directions but as this is my only source I think that in a well balanced system the source principal still stands probably more so in my case as I was using a NDX. When the NDX was re-installed back in my system  make no mistake it was still a very credible performer at its price point it is just that the ND555 is so dam good 

As I have a full S/L loom ,powerlines  good rack etc etc I have squeezed the last drop out of the 252 so I felt that after hearing what the ND555 did for my system this was the right choice the only downside was I had to upgrade the XPS at the same time.

A lot to be said about a well balanced system that works in your room.

Have a good day trying out the black boxes as mentioned it will be interesting to see what decision you make.

 Finally the ND555 is the most musical bank account emptying device I have ever heard 

Pcd posted:

 ....Finally the ND555 is the most musical bank account emptying device I have ever heard 

I can attest to this truth.

In year or two it will all look like a great idea is how I usually sell to myself these dips into HiFi outlay. Usually followed by finite life - music now rather than later - price will only increase... and then you have it and problem solved!

Good to hear other opinions and views about this siren beast.

DB.

nigelb posted:

PCD, I note you and Gazza use the ND555 with a 252/SuperCapDR and it seems this pre amp has the transparency to convey the ND555's capabilities, although of course I accept a 552 would extract even more.

This is of interest to me as I currently have a 252DR fronted by NDS/555DR and am demoing separately ND555 and 552 at a dealer, each of these complemented by the source/pre amp in my system - see above.

And then I take ONE of them home.......

As another 252DR user who has just upgraded my digital source (CDS3 to 555), I am confident that you should go to the source before the 552 - I am assuming that 552 is in your longer term plans. The 252 is a truly excellent amp (but I would not risk listening to the 552 and as Gazza advises, be very careful at the demo!)

Clive

Cdb posted:

nigelb posted:

PCD, I note you and Gazza use the ND555 with a 252/SuperCapDR and it seems this pre amp has the transparency to convey the ND555's capabilities, although of course I accept a 552 would extract even more.

This is of interest to me as I currently have a 252DR fronted by NDS/555DR and am demoing separately ND555 and 552 at a dealer, each of these complemented by the source/pre amp in my system - see above.

And then I take ONE of them home.......

As another 252DR user who has just upgraded my digital source (CDS3 to 555), I am confident that you should go to the source before the 552 - I am assuming that 552 is in your longer term plans. The 252 is a truly excellent amp (but I would not risk listening to the 552 and as Gazza advises, be very careful at the demo!)

Clive

Is there any visible difference between a NAC252 and a NAC552 when viewed from the front? It might be wise to check round the back!

nigelb posted:

PCD, I note you and Gazza use the ND555 with a 252/SuperCapDR and it seems this pre amp has the transparency to convey the ND555's capabilities, although of course I accept a 552 would extract even more.

This is of interest to me as I currently have a 252DR fronted by NDS/555DR and am demoing separately ND555 and 552 at a dealer, each of these complemented by the source/pre amp in my system - see above.

And then I take ONE of them home.......

Nigel I look forward to hearing about what you heard. If it were me, and both were in the cards over say the next 12-24 months, I'd do the source first probably but only after listening like you are (where I could be talked out of it).  If it's truly only one, I'd listen. I've never heard a 552 much less in critical comparison to a 252, so I have no idea per se about the preamps other than the universal praise it gets.  

Bart, I didn't realise you too run a ND555 with as 252, so I can see where you are coming from, and I too have always erred on the side of source first.

It is just that the ND555 appears to be so revealing, I just need to be sure (as I can) that the 252DR isn't holding it back unduly. From the comments from you ND555/252 (and CD555/252) users it appears this is not the case. But of course you could also argue that the NDS/PS555DR could hold the 552 back. It does have to be either the ND555 or 552 first but hopefully the other will follow in due course.

The other thing I have to consider is that pre-loved 552s are rare (I always buy pre-loved from my trusted dealer where possible) so it may also be a somewhat pragmatic choice initially.