ND555 Impressions

Emre posted:

Please somebody tests Tidal...... i have high hopes for it with new platform..

+1

please let us know

What a good idea! .... qvc jewellery...hmmm

Always, always check she does not read this forum before proceeding with the diamond switcharoo. Could mean a trip to A & E if she twigs what has happened, in order to have fake diamond removed from which ever orifice she decided to insert it.

Ouch, and tricky to explain.

Just as an aside, there is obviously much love for the ND555.

Are those that are lucky enough to be using it doing so with 552/500 or has anyone heard it with “lesser” amplification ?

nigelb posted:

...check she does not read this forum...

Don't be ridiculous! Of course she doesn't read this forum 

IanG posted:

Just as an aside, there is obviously much love for the ND555.

Are those that are lucky enough to be using it doing so with 552/500 or has anyone heard it with “lesser” amplification ?

 

 

 

If you see earlier in this thread I listened to the ND555 via 252/300 at Audio T Brighton. They still had their NDS, so easy to A/B. Have no fear, this combo easily showed what the ND555 was capable of. 

ChrisSU posted:

nigelb posted:

...check she does not read this forum...

Don't be ridiculous! Of course she doesn't read this forum 

Are you sure? Ah, but you might get automatic e-mails when someone likes one of your posts, which she might see. I would switch that off if you are thinking of doing any sneaky fundraising for black boxes. Can't be too careful.

IanG posted:

Just as an aside, there is obviously much love for the ND555.

Are those that are lucky enough to be using it doing so with 552/500 or has anyone heard it with “lesser” amplification ?

 

 

 

552 300 here. 

IanG posted:

Just as an aside, there is obviously much love for the ND555.

Are those that are lucky enough to be using it doing so with 552/500 or has anyone heard it with “lesser” amplification ?

 

 

 

Yes 552/500 here with Super Lumina full loom.

I had my first extended demo of the ND555 in a Statement system yesterday.
This was my chance to play with it for a few hours at my Dealers in different modes of operation and against another excellent DAC from Chord.

We began with the ND555 with one 555PS and played a selection of music and it acquitted itself very well as many have said. But I was setting a very high bar for it against what I knew were the strengths and weaknesses of the CD555 I knew well, so wanted to see what it could really do. I felt with the single supply alone it was excellent but not exceptional as I rate the CD555 with two 555PS to be, so I asked to hear it in two supply mode. It was already in a different league to the NDS just to be clear, but I wanted to hear it's maxed-out perfomance.

My Dealer suggested we go to that via having a listen to the Chord Dave with up-scaler box. All sessions utilized the top of range Melco device for hosting the music data.

Once the Dave was playing I found in many ways it was just 'different' from the ND555 with one 555PS. The Dave was a bit leaner sounding and offered a little less perspective than the ND555, but was clean, clear and always in control and very musical. I could enjoy either of them at this stage of the demo and possibly would have gone for the ND555, but there was something more to come from it I felt.

We then went to ND555 with two 555PS and that was a very significant upgrade for me. There was a solid floor now and clear clean top-end that was stable. This is exactly the sort of thing the two supplies does for the CD555 so it did not surprise me the same effect kicked-in with the ND555, but perhaps it was better implemented with the ND555.

To be clear - I was being very fussy in what I wanted to find out about what this device was capable of and many would not perhaps weight the differences as I do, but I would not run the ND555 in a system of Statement level capability without the two 555PS as I think they really allow the sound to become solid and steady with a great sense of presence and 'being there' that I value.

In this session it was not possible to directly compare it to the CD555 - that comes in a week or two with my home-demo.

I was very impressed with this set-up in this configuration, but there was even more to come - and later go and return!

At this point it was noticed that in the switching back from the Chord Demo we had left two sets of Ethernet cable and analogue inputs into the S1 Pre. These were removed, on the feeling that at this level of performance it may be important - it was! The sound snapped into a new focus and really timed excellently and far better than I've heard any streaming device manage to date in a passive system.

It was then suggested we change the Ethernet cable to a more expensive one highly-rated by many. We did this and although aspects of the performance became more 'impressive' it lost cohesion and the sense of being special it previously had, so the original cable was returned to duty at the performance also returned. So just a consideration not to assume such things are not of importance.

I then stayed and played music for rather longer than I realised and had a great experience.

Next stop a home demo.

...it would also be nice to have my internet working again too as I've been cut off for a week - so far - and posting this using very primitive connection tech.

DB.

I actually don’t want to hear how much it sounds better with two 555PS as I am at least in the coming years, not thinking about going that road. But thanks DB for your impressions.

Yes Drake....great review and it's great to have your perspective with CD555...

Nice write up Darke Bear.

the Chord Dave (unlike every other Chord Source) has signal earth connected to mains earth, so when using with a steamer like ND555 and both are connected (as they seemed to be above), the switch on the streamer should be set to floating to avoid compromising the performance of both sources.

When I heard the ND555, it seemed to present music with a Vinyl like clarity in the high frequencies, and had a very low noise floor, possibly the lowest ever heard from a Naim source. It was wonderful to hear it, and seemed to have no harshness and a delightful sweetness.

Very impressed indeed.

I thought they were trying the Chord directly from the Melco, not streaming via the ND555, but I could be wrong. Would be good to clarify for the forum.

I think AnalogMusic is wondering whether both sources were left connected to the S1 Pre which has the potential to create a ground loop unless the ND555 is set to floating when the Dave is connected.

Great write up as ever DB, but I'm still resisting the second 555 until after I have a 500 to replace my current 300. Having said that the 300 still pulls its weight in my system with the 552 pre and SL cable throughout.

Dave

Thanks Dave understood

analogmusic posted:

Nice write up Darke Bear.

the Chord Dave (unlike every other Chord Source) has signal earth connected to mains earth, so when using with a steamer like ND555 and both are connected (as they seemed to be above), the switch on the streamer should be set to floating to avoid compromising the performance of both sources.

???? Analogmusic,....Love this,such "Attention To Detail" is very important.

◾Also that the machine who shall be tested, stands on the same shelf and exactly in the same place on the shelf...in other words,one switches out one device to the other.
It can differentiate in resonance-frequency between shelves of the same makes.

◾To use the same socket in the powerstrip for the power cord,..to both devices.
◾If the power cord is optimized for each device,use it,..otherwise use the same power cord for both devices to test.
◾That you think of the electrical phase (Live),that it is on the correct input side.
◾To "plug, unplug" contacts 6-8 times to remove any oxides,and create better contact surface,...both on interconnect, ehternet and power cord.
This shall be done at each change of test object.
◾And that many forget,that the direction is right on the ehternet cable.
◾That you have exactly the same cabledressing between the different devices you shall test.
◾That you use the same cables,....it may differ in shades.
◾That the devices are "heated" for exactly the same duration.
◾That the devices are "burn-in".

If there are small differences between the objects,the wrong conclusions can be drawn if you do not think about the above "Attention to Detail".
Just like "Analogmusic" writes about Chord Dave.

/Peder ????

Analog which one you like more nd555 vs Dave/blu2?

Great write up DB. Thanks for sharing your observations, the home dem will be a very interesting experience for you. Look forward to reading about that.

Now listened a bit more to classical orchestral music and chamber music. What I notice is the increased transparency giving you an immediate sense of what is going on....

analogmusic posted:

 

When I heard the ND555, it seemed to present music with a Vinyl like clarity in the high frequencies, and had a very low noise floor, possibly the lowest ever heard from a Naim source. It was wonderful to hear it, and seemed to have no harshness and a delightful sweetness.

Very impressed indeed.

 

 

My thoughts exactly. I love my CD555 and enjoy physically selecting and playing CD's. The alleged 'convenience' of streaming is irrelevant to me, so it would have to be pure sound quality to make me get with the program. The ND555 most definitely does.

I know my friend Michael's system very well and how his dual PS CD555 sounds. The ND555 elevates digital replay to a level of SQ I was not expecting. It really is that good.

NDX2 with an audiophile server will be a very interesting comparison with my (single PS) CD555.

John.

I guess some CD555’s will become available shortly....

But possibly without their PS.

6k on hifi for sale site, from august 2, with 555ps ( non dr).  sometimes i am tempted to sell my nds to get this beast. with 2 555ps it must be special!

IanG posted:

Just as an aside, there is obviously much love for the ND555.

Are those that are lucky enough to be using it doing so with 552/500 or has anyone heard it with “lesser” amplification ? 

552/300 used at acoustica demo if I remember correctly