ND555 Impressions

musicfan51 posted:

Richard Sellicks posted:

Cost me a new kitchen!

Wow! 

Looking promising....did that kitchen last year, new hall carpet and decoration this month......what could possibly go wrong....probably everything????

Clive B posted:

I've just read some of the recent posts on here to my nearest and dearest who's assured me that she doesn't particularly wish to take tai chi classes.

Result!

How new is your kitchen?

Eoink posted:

Clive B posted:

I've just read some of the recent posts on here to my nearest and dearest who's assured me that she doesn't particularly wish to take tai chi classes.

Result!

How new is your kitchen?

As old as the house, but it's too good to justify replacement. Most winters, however, discussion turns sooner or later to the subject of underfloor heating.

Gazza posted:

musicfan51 posted:

Richard Sellicks posted:

Cost me a new kitchen!

Wow! 

Looking promising....did that kitchen last year, new hall carpet and decoration this month......what could possibly go wrong....probably everything????

My wife did get new kitchen cabinets this year , so there is that too. I may benefit from Tai Chi so we shall see how that turns out . 

Richard Sellicks posted:

Cost me a new kitchen!

Oh yeah, there was that too. And the new bed. Pool anyone.....

musicfan51 posted:

I wanted to tell everyone on here , my wife agreed to let me purchase an ND555

I don't believe that the fact that no-one has yet asked the question means that no-one has wondered to themselves... "Did you tell her how much it costs?"

Which then begs the question "If you told her how much it costs, how close to the actual  cost was the figure you disclosed to her?"

Surely I'm not the only one who's dealer offers the 'alternative receipt' option... where you tell him what price your second copy receipt should show?

Gosh, I'm beginning to feel a little guilty.  I took the retail price, deducted the maximum potential eBay price of my NDS, deducted the eBay price of one of my 555PS's (in case I decide to run the ND555 with just one power supply), deducted the eBay price of my NAC-N272 (in case I decided to sell this too to fund it), then deducted the discount that an ex-dem product might be sold for (in case I wanted to wait 12 - 18 months or so until an ex-dem ND555 became available) and I came up with a saving of around £1,000  (ND555 price £13k, less potential eBay sales income & disounts of around £14, 000).  And I've promised her this £1k windfall   (hey, it's much cheaper than a new kitchen).

Now...  after ariving at this £1,000 refund,  things may change  (e.g I might not sell the second 555PS or the 272),  but I won't bother SWMBO with day to day changes, I'm sure she wouldn't be interested.   And I certainly won't mess about with the £1,000 I've promised her.

PS - for all those wondering what happened to honesty and trust between a loving couple, the answer is simple... marriage.

rjstaines posted:

musicfan51 posted:

I wanted to tell everyone on here , my wife agreed to let me purchase an ND555

I don't believe that the fact that no-one has yet asked the question means that no-one has wondered to themselves... "Did you tell her how much it costs?"

Which then begs the question "If you told her how much it costs, how close to the actual  cost was the figure you disclosed to her?"

Surely I'm not the only one who's dealer offers the 'alternative receipt' option... where you tell him what price your second copy receipt should show?

Gosh, I'm beginning to feel a little guilty.  I took the retail price, deducted the maximum potential eBay price of my NDS, deducted the eBay price of one of my 555PS's (in case I decide to run the ND555 with just one power supply), deducted the eBay price of my NAC-N272 (in case I decided to sell this too to fund it), then deducted the discount that an ex-dem product might be sold for (in case I wanted to wait 12 - 18 months or so until an ex-dem ND555 became available) and I came up with a saving of around £1,000  (ND555 price £13k, less potential eBay sales income & disounts of around £14, 000).  And I've promised her this £1k windfall   (hey, it's much cheaper than a new kitchen).

Now...  after ariving at this £1,000 refund,  things may change  (e.g I might not sell the second 555PS or the 272),  but I won't bother SWMBO with day to day changes, I'm sure she wouldn't be interested.   And I certainly won't mess about with the £1,000 I've promised her.

 

PS - for all those wondering what happened to honesty and trust between a loving couple, the answer is simple... marriage.

I can only imagine how awesome the kitchen is going to be.....

rjstaines posted:

musicfan51 posted:

I wanted to tell everyone on here , my wife agreed to let me purchase an ND555

I don't believe that the fact that no-one has yet asked the question means that no-one has wondered to themselves... "Did you tell her how much it costs?"

Which then begs the question "If you told her how much it costs, how close to the actual  cost was the figure you disclosed to her?"

Surely I'm not the only one who's dealer offers the 'alternative receipt' option... where you tell him what price your second copy receipt should show?

Gosh, I'm beginning to feel a little guilty.  I took the retail price, deducted the maximum potential eBay price of my NDS, deducted the eBay price of one of my 555PS's (in case I decide to run the ND555 with just one power supply), deducted the eBay price of my NAC-N272 (in case I decided to sell this too to fund it), then deducted the discount that an ex-dem product might be sold for (in case I wanted to wait 12 - 18 months or so until an ex-dem ND555 became available) and I came up with a saving of around £1,000  (ND555 price £13k, less potential eBay sales income & disounts of around £14, 000).  And I've promised her this £1k windfall   (hey, it's much cheaper than a new kitchen).

Now...  after ariving at this £1,000 refund,  things may change  (e.g I might not sell the second 555PS or the 272),  but I won't bother SWMBO with day to day changes, I'm sure she wouldn't be interested.   And I certainly won't mess about with the £1,000 I've promised her.

 

PS - for all those wondering what happened to honesty and trust between a loving couple, the answer is simple... marriage.

I gave my wife worse case scenario and best case scenario . She is a bright lady and watches our money so she knows exactly what we have she knows I love music and use it to relax and to enjoy life .  Not everyone likes music as much as  the people in this thread .  I do not buy boats or vintage cars or planes . Stereo gear and music is my deal .  I would imagine most of you are music lovers ! 

We long ago agreed that the price of Naim equipment would not be discussed, provided that other ‘essentials’ (e.g. Leinster season tickets, furniture replacement, cars, holidays, pet care, etc. Etc.) were adequately provided for. So my so my advice is to look after the ‘essentials’ and never discuss the price of hi-fi.

David

I’m so p1ssed off I bought the vintage car and plane before the ND555 came out. Really stupid of me as my wife keeps an eye on these things. 

.sjb

My father owned a Stearman biplane and a Cessna 182 at the same time and I that was what I was getting at .  You pick your hobby that makes you happy . Certainly a high end Naim system with top flight speakers is similar in cost to a vintage car or good airplane !  Now if you are really wealthy maybe you can have it all . Your humor was not appreciated ! 

Hope people post impressions of the Sound quality of ND555 more . 

musicfan51 posted:

My father owned a Stearman biplane and a Cessna 182 at the same time and I that was what I was getting at .  You pick your hobby that makes you happy . Certainly a high end Naim system with top flight speakers is similar in cost to a vintage car or good airplane !  Now if you are really wealthy maybe you can have it all . Your humor was not appreciated ! 

I was wondering if you were offended by my explanation above of how I justified the spend on an ND555, arriving at an excess of £1,000... if so, please accept my apologies, but I can assure you that what I said is true;  my only attempt at humour was this: "PS - for all those wondering what happened to honesty and trust between a loving couple, the answer is simple... marriage."   On reflection, this was probably rather inappropriate because, in fact, I do love and respect my wife, but, similar  to David O'Higgins above, we no longer discuss the price of hifi in any great detail. 

musicfan51 posted:

Hope people post impressions of the Sound quality of ND555 more . 

Well if Naim were shipping more units we'd get more reaction on their SQ,  but with the recent hold ups in production* there are many of us sitting twiddling our thumbs and reading about how great it will sound when we eventually receive it.

* firstly lack of burndies, now lack of cases

If I told my other half I was buying 'her' a new kitchen I'd better run for cover!

Good Lord they won’t ship us empty boxes. ????

Chag -

rjstaines

 

Gosh, I'm beginning to feel a little guilty.  I took the retail price, deducted the maximum potential eBay price of my NDS, deducted the eBay price of one of my 555PS's (in case I decide to run the ND555 with just one power supply), deducted the eBay price of my NAC-N272 (in case I decided to sell this too to fund it), then deducted the discount that an ex-dem product might be sold for (in case I wanted to wait 12 - 18 months or so until an ex-dem ND555 became available) and I came up with a saving of around £1,000  (ND555 price £13k, less potential eBay sales income & disounts of around £14, 000).  And I've promised her this £1k windfall   (hey, it's much cheaper than a new kitchen).

 

Reassuringly my local Naim dealer has told me that Naim are of the opinion that the ND555 sounds better with one rather than 2  555DR  power supplies. 2 power supplies make it sound too hifi and less musical and organic. So guilt can be assuaged as you just need one 555DR PS, hooray!

i was listening to the ND555 with one 555DR 2 days ago, it was plugged into a Statement and believe me, there was , in the words of the Hollies, nothing left to be desired.

nothing less

Naim would not bother with going to the effort of developing an option for 2 power supplies, if one power supply was better! I think Naim and the dealers do not want to develop an expectation that it is a “must” to have both power supplies. My dealer confirmed that 2 power supplies is a big improvement, as others on the thread have said. One has to listen oneself and decide.

Kiwi cat posted:

rjstaines

 

Gosh, I'm beginning to feel a little guilty.  I took the retail price, deducted the maximum potential eBay price of my NDS, deducted the eBay price of one of my 555PS's (in case I decide to run the ND555 with just one power supply), deducted the eBay price of my NAC-N272 (in case I decided to sell this too to fund it), then deducted the discount that an ex-dem product might be sold for (in case I wanted to wait 12 - 18 months or so until an ex-dem ND555 became available) and I came up with a saving of around £1,000  (ND555 price £13k, less potential eBay sales income & disounts of around £14, 000).  And I've promised her this £1k windfall   (hey, it's much cheaper than a new kitchen).

 

Reassuringly my local Naim dealer has told me that Naim are of the opinion that the ND555 sounds better with one rather than 2  555DR  power supplies. 2 power supplies make it sound too hifi and less musical and organic. So guilt can be assuaged as you just need one 555DR PS, hooray!

i was listening to the ND555 with one 555DR 2 days ago, it was plugged into a Statement and believe me, there was , in the words of the Hollies, nothing left to be desired.

nothing less

Interesting - I know that  running two 500PS PSUs on the NAP500 is not recommended by Naim (I was there during the listening test at the factory) - initially impressive but ultimately more "hifi-ish" and less together and "of a piece".

Whereas, two 555PS is, AFAIK, a Naim recommended upgrade on the CD555.

So one would assume it works just as well on the ND555.  I guess we'll find out soon enough...

I wouldn't take anyone else's word for it. Trust your own ears.

Harry posted:

I wouldn't take anyone else's word for it. Trust your own ears.

Yes, but my ears are getting old and floppy and I'm not sure I can trust them any more, Harry, so I need the reassurance that what I'm buying is the right thing to buy.     

Thankfully, the day I heard the ND555 vs NDS demo at Acoustica, my ears were working OK and what I heard from the 555 was real and wonderful, but I'm not so sure I'd be able to hear what a second power supply does these days.

Ah yeah.... I think you would!

I think you would too. But I couldn't swear to it.

Richard Sellicks posted:

Cost me a new kitchen!

My wife is an excellent cook and loves to cook for us. Every kitchen upgrade has been a huge win for me too. She’s away for a new work venture all summer so I’ve been doing the cooking for me and the dog (he shares my steaks and chops) . . . and I’ve totally upgraded the living room hi fi. She’ll eventually notice when she’s home. 

The onlt thing she’s ever felt she had to say no to was a Ferrari. But she was just being proactive; I had no intention to buy one.

BPhotographer posted:

I respect Miles and Alison but this music is also (almost) fine with my NDS (I still think that the CD player is better here).

I'm talking about classical music - piano, orchestra, etc.

Orchestra - each instrument must be placed exactly where it was recorded (i'm talking about good recordings), with the CD player it's a smaller presentation
but I can point of each instrument. With the NDS it's like the "blur" option in Photoshop. Sometimes it's OK but then I hear a flute coming from the left speaker instead of the middle, and it's not placed in the right location.

Some notes of the piano comes from the left and some from the right. It doesn't sound real enough for me (i'm exaggerate but I want you to understand).
The weight of the instrument, whether it's a piano or a violin, is not real enough in comparison to the CD player or the LP12.

Yes, you hear it's a piano, extremely fine one, but it's all ambiguous.
I also noticed that, if you take a flute as an example, the body, the shape and the material of which it was made from is much more clear, effortlessly, with the CD player (and much much more with the LP12), with the NDS it's a flute, very nice, extremely fine - sounds delicate - but something is missing.

That is the reason I'm getting bored with the NDS after a while. I can listen to it all day but then I feel I heard nothing. Two minutes with the CD player and I feel
all of the emotion in the CD/music, it's all getting much more dramatic and dynamic.

The dealer here won't bring a ND555 for a home demo, and even then, it will take me a long time to stop be impressed by what's good with the new streamer (like I had with the NDS, that does some staff really well) and examine what's missing from my memory with the CD player.

BP.

very interesting perspective BP... I must admit i'm not very good at instrument 'placement' in space, so I place rather more weight on what I believe is instrument 'believability' and emotion in the musical expression...

enjoy

/ken