ND555 Impressions

ChrisSU posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

I am looking forward to further hours with my ND555. Now on holiday, and enjoying the also great Sony NW-WM1Z.....just read about Chromecast and will also have a look at that when coming back, it mentions that you Leo can run Qobuz through it..., anybody experience with that and how it is done ?

I presume you mean Qobuz on the 555, not the Sony? It's pretty easy to set up if you have a Qobuz account running. Select the Chromecast input on the Naim app, and you should see a dropdown list with Qobuz on it. Select from there and you are in.

Alternatively, open the Qobuz app on your iOS device, and choose the 555 as an output from there.

Thanks didn’t know it was that easy....

Harry, yes it was me that P/X the NDX in with Andrew, to be honest I had an NDX2 on order but always looked at ending up with a ND555.

It was a choice of NDX2 then upgrade the XPSdr to a 555PS in readiness for the ND555. I did have a 555PS on demo with my NDX and very much liked the improvement it brought, but when the ND555 was slotted into place and used for three days I realised that any long term resistance would have been futile and to be fair never envisaged how good the ND555 would be, hearing is believing as they say.

Had I had gone ahead and purchased the NDX2 and then part exchanged it against a ND555 at a later date I would have ended up with th P/X loss on the NDX2 plus picking up any future price increases on the ND555 so thought this would be the most cost effective in the long term, well that's the theory behind this descision.

Can't wait for delivery.

Been there. I think that if you can do big jumps it's a lot more cost effective. Not always possible though. 

There’s a lot of love for Audience in this thread and a few folks who I hadn’t previously realised  are fellow customers.

Keith (still resisting the siren call of the ND555)

French Rooster posted:

Gazza posted:

Well seriously it had crossed my mind with my dealer offering one for £3.5 K ( ouch sorry about that). And although the ND555 is better, the NDS is clearly in the same mould, a very good chip off the old block as we say. But I am kind of set on the new streaming platform, having a Nova.

10/10 for trying NIgelb

What pre will you add, if i may ask?

Already demoed 282 and 252/ Supercap........wanted to like the 282, which I did. But the 252 is a step up.....so whatever I decide it’s a big expenditure.

nigelb posted:

Gazza, don't try '...my dealer has one half that price...' on me. Can't kid a kidder.

OK, I will chuck in a couple of pints on me. Can't say fairer than that. 

You drive a hard bargain Sir!

Love to share a pint with you one day.......it will be on me????

if this thread continues, naim will sell more nd555 than ndx2 or nd5xs

Gazza posted:

French Rooster posted:

Gazza posted:

Well seriously it had crossed my mind with my dealer offering one for £3.5 K ( ouch sorry about that). And although the ND555 is better, the NDS is clearly in the same mould, a very good chip off the old block as we say. But I am kind of set on the new streaming platform, having a Nova.

10/10 for trying NIgelb

What pre will you add, if i may ask?

Already demoed 282 and 252/ Supercap........wanted to like the 282, which I did. But the 252 is a step up.....so whatever I decide it’s a big expenditure.

I have no wish to perpetuate a thread diversion, but the question of which pre to own before going to the ND555 is relevant to me and others I would imagine.

Of course folk will say get yourself a 552 before going for a ND555 and that does make sense. After all they are both 500 series boxes and are made for each other. But I own a NDS/555DR/252/SupercapDR/250DR and for folk like me, it does beg the question which move now will give the biggest bang for the buck: 252 to 552; NDS to ND555; 250DR to 300DR? I do realise that my speakers will need upgrading at some point also.

I have always been a 'source first' bloke and I consider a pre amp an integral part of the 'source'. The introduction of the ND555 has increased my options but also the complexity of the decision.

Of course I would demo at home, but some experience from those who have moved or have demoed) 252 to 552 and NDS to ND555 (I realise that is only a few of you) would be welcome.

Nigel, I think you know the answer to that one.  If I were your dealer I would be lining up a NAC552 and an ND555 for a demo at yours.  I'd definitely be interested to hear such a demo myself. The NAC552 is very special but then, from what limited amount I've heard of it so far, and from the reports on this forum, likely so is the ND555.  Enjoy yourself...

Richard Dane posted:

Nigel, I think you know the answer to that one.  If I were your dealer I would be lining up a NAC552 and an ND555 for a demo at yours.  I'd definitely be interested to hear such a demo myself. The NAC552 is very special but then, from what limited amount I've heard of it so far, and from the reports on this forum, likely so is the ND555.  Enjoy yourself...

Yes a demo of both the 552 with my NDS and the ND555 with my 252 would make sense. It has to be those pairings though as I can't afford both a 552 and a ND555, unless my numbers come up of course.

My gut tells me 552 first both on SQ grounds and because you can find second hand (sorry, pre-loved) examples and I could possibly trade in my 252/SuperCapDR if I can find a dealer with a cherished 552. But then the ND555 seems such an advance from the NDS and I already own a 555DR.

Oooh, this is a tough one.

Hi Nigel,

Our system is similar to yours except my 555 is still non-DR and I have a 300DR.

I love the 300 and it’s the right level for the rest of the system. I always told myself the 552 is too much and surely I couldn’t justify both the 552 and the ND555. However, the amp seems like a more solid investment as NDS users like me are now discovering. 

Keith

I am with Richard on this.......Nigel just listen to both. But be realistic, if you cannot afford both. That’s where your local good dealer with a great home demo will decide for you. I know I am teaching you to suck eggs.....but hoping you get an upgrade before me and I get a free beer

With Richard, but add the 300dr into the mix.

KRM posted:

There’s a lot of love for Audience in this thread and a few folks who I hadn’t previously realised  are fellow customers.

Keith (still resisting the siren call of the ND555)

As I've said before on here, resistance is futile! It seems Andrew will be doing quite a business on the ND555.

French Rooster posted:

if this thread continues, naim will sell more nd555 than ndx2 or nd5xs

If too many buy, a shortage and waiting list will occur followed by over sticker prices—like cars. I am an oldie newby—any Naim product caused a stirr like the 555?

Bailyhill

KRM posted:

There’s a lot of love for Audience in this thread and a few folks who I hadn’t previously realised  are fellow customers.

Keith (still resisting the siren call of the ND555)

I fear it may be only a matter of time Keith. That's one of the mixed blessings of a good dealer.

Clive B posted:

KRM posted:

There’s a lot of love for Audience in this thread and a few folks who I hadn’t previously realised  are fellow customers.

Keith (still resisting the siren call of the ND555)

As I've said before on here, resistance is futile! It seems Andrew will be doing quite a business on the ND555.

I'm sure it's a similar picture elsewhere. Although Bath does seem to be a bit of a hot spot at the moment.

If we were still on 252/300 it would the ND555 that gets first choice as an upgrade candidate. The source first theory of system hierarchy still holds sway in my house. And it will, right up until the moment when it will not. Or not. Never say never.

I think dealers have a reasonable idea of who would want an ND555 based on their CD555 customers. I know my dealer ordered a few, so it’s not a huge wait, in fact still in stock. But other dealers may just order demo only.

Harry posted:

If we were still on 252/300 it would the ND555 that gets first choice as an upgrade candidate. The source first theory of system hierarchy still holds sway in my house. And it will, right up until the moment when it will not. Or not. Never say never.

That’s interesting Harry. You rate the ND555 upgrade more highly than the 552. Your old 252 is still doing sterling service, of course ????

However, my next move should probably be to DR the 555 and funding an extension is tying up resources. Possibly, just as well! 

Bailyhill posted:

French Rooster posted:

if this thread continues, naim will sell more nd555 than ndx2 or nd5xs

If too many buy, a shortage and waiting list will occur followed by over sticker prices—like cars. I am an oldie newby—any Naim product caused a stirr like the 555?

Bailyhill

i don’t know if the cd555 had such impact vs the cds3 at this time.  Perhaps some here will respond.   

French Rooster posted:

Bailyhill posted:

French Rooster posted:

if this thread continues, naim will sell more nd555 than ndx2 or nd5xs

If too many buy, a shortage and waiting list will occur followed by over sticker prices—like cars. I am an oldie newby—any Naim product caused a stirr like the 555?

Bailyhill

i don’t know if the cd555 had such impact vs the cds3 at this time.  Perhaps some here will respond.   

It was a huge leap forward at the time, but this leap is far bigger IMHO. I’m completely captivated, especially on my ripped CDs. Anyone remember Tanita Tikaram “Ancient Heart” for example? You’d think I’d never heard her before, but it’s 30 years! I have to keep counting my fingers to make sure I have that year count right. Some will say that I took a step back from CD555 to NDS, and therefore exaggerating the move NDS>ND555, but I don’t think so......

An extension would take priority here too Keith. 

I don't remember the market being awash with second hand CDS3s when the CD555 hit the streets. Doubtless there were some in circulation as a result of the launch. I think the CD555 had a more limited scope because Naim wanted to make sure every owner never suffered from mechanism anxiety and even then, the die hard CD playing community who were willing and able to pay for an over engineered CD playing marvel was self limiting. Streamers seem to have established a wider user base and sit next to CDPs in some households.  Streamers still have sceptics to convince and ground to gain. CD replay had nowhere significant to go in terms of the big picture. The CD555 is a swansong. And long may it keep singing.

It seem to share the 552s trick of getting the best of whatever it’s fed, still can’t get to the end of track 1 of my wife’s Paloma Faith album though, at least not after 4 days burn in.

i understand what you say Harry. But was there already streamers at the time when the cd555 was launched?   the linn ds, but other brands?      Perhaps also the stratospheric price of the cd555 is not so stratospheric today?     I think that today more people can pay a ferrari, naim statement or Wilson Alexandria speakers.