ND555 Impressions

Emre posted:

How about tidal vs nas?

i am expecting same kind of sound performance in tidal this time

enjoy it Bert! İ will wait till i hear NDX2 then maybe if i go for nd555 i may use it with same pS555 of the cd player for a while, 6 month of cd 6 month of streaming

Haven’t done the comparison, but expect as before that the Music coming from my Melco will win.

French Rooster posted:

 i wonder if it is not better to upgrade the nds with an outboard dac than selling the nds to buy an nd555?    nds with dave digital out must be also a terrific combo.    I don’t know yet what i will do in the future.

With 10 k i can also upgrade my speakers and some cables and power cords.   Anyway it will be a more difficult  decision for me.   Is it a good thing to have a 25k source like the nd555 with 10 k pre, 9 k amp and 7 k speakers ?    It seems a little bit unbalanced.  i don’t know.

Just let your ears and budget a ailable decide...

yeti42 posted:

Well my impressions will have to wait.

ND555 arrived this afternoon, installed with my 555ps, cables in place and dressed, power supply turned on and showing a glowing logo but nothing on the ND555. The unit was returned to the shop and connected to their ps and powered up OK so it’s my ps which is 10 years old and was a shop demo unit until I bought it 6 yeasr ago. It was last used with my CDX2 2 years ago. Looks like it will need DRing before I’d planned.

BUMMER.

Sorry to hear, I assume you where waiting with great anticipation.

Yes, I’d been undecided on DRing the ps but bought another Moto Guzzi instead for roughly what  th DR will cost on the assumption that the ps would still be fine after 2 years in its box and a service wasn’t due for another 5. It was a good price on the Guzzi.

BPhotographer posted:

I hope that the new streamer is going to sound like a good CD player, not an improved version of the relatively dull NDS.
I find the NDS very monotonous, like a black box of which all music sounds "the same".
With a good CD Player, all music is much better defined and I get exactly what's going on on the disk, everything is much better: focus, highs, bass, 3D, etc.
The streamer has more "layers" and a seamless presentation but it's dull for a long time-listening (even a single full time [80min] CD).
The turntable and the CD player catch my attention, while I get disconnect from the music, many times, with the streamer (it's worse with classical music genre).

BP.

Hope is always important in life

Gazza posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Harry posted:

It's going to be interesting to see how perceptions develop over the weekend.  Our NDS didn't seem to need a run it. I wonder if the ND555 will be more humpy?

Something that has been very striking with the NDS fronting 552/500  is how you can see into the stage depth. You can walk into it and as you approach it the 3D illusion seems very real.  If the ND555 takes this further, without over egging it, it's good news.  I think it may be more a trait of the 500 which the NDS and ND555 exploit, providing the information is in the recording.

It definitely takes the 3D aspect much further. But not over the top. Now I am listen to Brahms 2nd Symphony by Barenboim, and again the feeling of a relaxation comes accross with still giving you all the details you ever wanted. 

With regards to run in, I have the feeling that’s not such a big deal as with other components. Yesterday afternoon it became a bit edgy, but that was gone again in the evening. So let’s see if it further develops.

I guess if you already had a 555ps which was already run in, then that’s probably the one that needed the running in. If you bought both from new then it would be a much longer settling in period.

Good point. I had a well used 555PS when the NDS arrived.

And I'll have a couple of well used 55PS-DR for the ND555.

Dustysox posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Dustysox posted:

Exactly Harry, that’s my thoughts. 

I’ve waited along time for Naim’s reference streamer as when I brought into Naim they didn’t have a streamer available so I elected to stay with my Logitech Transporter which is a wonderful product. We had a very young baby back then and we decided to keep CD’s and vinyl hidden away from young inquisitive and sticky hands!!! 

The reference streamer could be my Naim journey end... that’s what I keep telling the wife!!!!

Just take her to a listening session and things will be sealed....

Not needed Bert..I ordered one four weeks ago. That’s the beauty of Naim..black boxes come and go and quite easily get pass the Wife Police!!!

 

Congratulations Darren. A fun summer in prospect.

Bert Schurink posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Bert, enjoy... what are your impressions when you put some complex music or discordant music on??? To me that shows a major attribute of the ND555.. interested in your views..

Simon. With complex music you hear every detail every aspect, without feeeling overwhelmed. I will post further impressions, but for now this is the most musical source I have ever heard, including black gold.

Indeed, it’s the coherence I notice and it’s quite different from the NDS... I noticed this at a recent listening event where three of us enjoyed a demonstration led by Jason @ Naim.

I attended a Naim evening at The Sound Org (York) last Thursday when the Naim reps demo’ d an NDS and the ND555. 

Now before I say anything it is worth noting that I have not yet found a digital source that I am happy with and the whole CD era just passed me by and I have never taken to streaming. I remain with my trusty analogue LP12 and Naim amps with no digital sources in my system, but…..

The Naim rep started the evening playing three tracks on the NDS before switching to the ND555. Listening to these on the NDS I was not impressed and thought they sounded typically what I expect from digital in being very bright and even though the notes were all in the right place the music lacked any soul, depth or engagement and the sound I love. All three tracks had that digital horror of horrors (well to me anyway) of brightness and crystal polish! This may partly be because the three tracks were really Hi-Fi'ish and all appeared to be closely miked (sound of squeaking guitar strings and breathing in vocals etc.) as if produced to sound impressive in a Hi-Fi ‘fire works’ sort of way. They all lacked enjoyment for me, I did not like any of them and this probably influenced me in a negative way. 

Then switching to the ND555 there was a definite improvement but I was not initially convinced that it came close to the engagement and depth I am used to my system. Definitely better mind you specially on vocals (read on…..) 

We then had a break after which the audience selected and played some of their own music and it was then that I became impressed by the ND555 as the music began to open up show some soul, engagement and enjoyment! 

So, I ended the evening with the view that the ND555 was a big leap forward as digital begins to sound like music to my ears. 

Richard

p.s. After getting home I was still delighted with my system and I will be sticking with my trusty 30 year old LP12 for a while longer but if I was newly into Hi-Fi and did not have a collection of X thousand LPs things might be different.

These are good news for the rest of us mortals, waiting for those juicy second hand NDSs.

Heard the ND555 for the first time today at Audio T Brighton. They were able to do an NDS comparison for me, which gave me a great reference point as I don't own one but I do own a CD555. Other components were 252, 300 and a 555DR powering the NDS/ND555 all on a Fraim.

I initially thought that the demonstration was going to take quite a while but listening to one track from Eva Cassidy's Live at Blues Alley was all that was really needed. Played first on the ND555, then on the NDS and then back on ND555. This was so convincing I didn't need to go any further.

The difference, in my mind, was somewhat similar to comparing a CDX2 to a CD555, and I've owned both. There was something so right about the way the ND555 handles music that it was like listening to the original master tape. Depth, width, image placement, timbre, timing, rhythm and dynamics were simply enhanced beyond anything I've ever heard before.

I can only congratulate Naim on being able to move the bar that far. Now all I need to do is sell  an organ to buy one!

Also heard the ND555 for the first time today at AudioT Brighton. We were blown away by it. It was also an Eva Cassidy track plus a Roddy Frame track on an NDS to 555 comparison that told us all we needed to know.

It presents a very encompassing soundstage and can handle complex passages with absoulte aplomb compared to our current NDS.

Sorely tempted......

I have only heard the ND555 with a 552DR/500DR (or was it a Statement pre?). Interesting to hear that, at the Audio T Brighton demo, a 252/300 was sufficiently revealing to show clearly the difference between the NDS and the ND555.

This implies 'source first', a concept I have always been guided by. I run a NDS/555DR with a 252/SuperCapDR and a 'mere' 250DR. The Brighton demo does make me wonder where to go next, streamer, pre or power amp (that is after I have sorted my speakers out)?

Yeah, right, in my dreams!

yeti42 posted:

Well my impressions will have to wait.

ND555 arrived this afternoon, installed with my 555ps, cables in place and dressed, power supply turned on and showing a glowing logo but nothing on the ND555. The unit was returned to the shop and connected to their ps and powered up OK so it’s my ps which is 10 years old and was a shop demo unit until I bought it 6 yeasr ago. It was last used with my CDX2 2 years ago. Looks like it will need DRing before I’d planned.

BUMMER.

I remember on another thread it was confirmed that the ND555 works with both 555PS-DR and 555PS-nonDR.   

I do hope that this is still the case as I have an older 555PS-nonDR too. 

Those with or aspiring to own a NDS should not lose heart in the midst of all of this ND555 hyperbole. It is always the same with a new product release. “It’s so far superior to the NDS I can’t believe I ever tolerated it etc etc....”

The NDS is not “broken” and remains a superbly accomplished source. It is more than the vast vast majority of us will ever want or need.

S3 posted:

Those with or aspiring to own a NDS should not lose heart in the midst of all of this ND555 hyperbole. It is always the same with a new product release. “It’s so far superior to the NDS I can’t believe I ever tolerated it etc etc....”

The NDS is not “broken” and remains a superbly accomplished source. It is more than the vast vast majority of us will ever want or need.

I fully agree with you, the NDS is still a fantastic streamer. When I started given my impressions I thought about the broken joke. The ND555 is however clearly in another league and with a margin. So for people having the money it will present itself as an easy decision.

nigelb posted:

I have only heard the ND555 with a 552DR/500DR (or was it a Statement pre?). Interesting to hear that, at the Audio T Brighton demo, a 252/300 was sufficiently revealing to show clearly the difference between the NDS and the ND555.

This implies 'source first', a concept I have always been guided by. I run a NDS/555DR with a 252/SuperCapDR and a 'mere' 250DR. The Brighton demo does make me wonder where to go next, streamer, pre or power amp (that is after I have sorted my speakers out)?

Yeah, right, in my dreams!

Even a Mac 172 showed me the big jump from Hugo to chord Dave and since then I haven't thought about any further amplifier upgrades

I am reading this with great interest... I don't doubt the ND555 is fabulous and there is a really apprecable step forward in quality... however I am reading comments regarding the nds ....and just don't agree ... mine sounds great ... very wide sound stage rich vocals great detail .... it is superb. I compared it with my LP12 and to me the nds is better.... in my system the nds is not bright and it definitely does not sound digital. All that being said ultimately I think I will end up with an ND555...

So now starting with the third day of listening. I would argue that the break in is not so dramatic. Haven’t heard major steps down or up, besides the first afternoon where it sounded a bit edgy. What did change and improve is the high register and the what I would call a bit longer decaying low end - which had now become super accurate. One of the things which sets this device so aside is the exact decay and positioning of the notes. It gives such a feeling of drive and rhythm. I am for instance now listening to the Sangoma Everett Trio, and it benefits and just sounds so playful. And also every single detail shines through in the right manner. In comparison with the NDS it had a longer decay on some of the notes, at least that’s what I feel.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Bert, enjoy... what are your impressions when you put some complex music or discordant music on??? To me that shows a major attribute of the ND555.. interested in your views..

Simon. With complex music you hear every detail every aspect, without feeeling overwhelmed. I will post further impressions, but for now this is the most musical source I have ever heard, including black gold.

Indeed, it’s the coherence I notice and it’s quite different from the NDS... I noticed this at a recent listening event where three of us enjoyed a demonstration led by Jason @ Naim.

I am interested if the ND555 is convincing you enough to consider stepping away from the Hugo, assuming funds are available of course.

mattl posted:

yeti42 posted:

Well my impressions will have to wait.

ND555 arrived this afternoon, installed with my 555ps, cables in place and dressed, power supply turned on and showing a glowing logo but nothing on the ND555. The unit was returned to the shop and connected to their ps and powered up OK so it’s my ps which is 10 years old and was a shop demo unit until I bought it 6 yeasr ago. It was last used with my CDX2 2 years ago. Looks like it will need DRing before I’d planned.

BUMMER.

I remember on another thread it was confirmed that the ND555 works with both 555PS-DR and 555PS-nonDR.   

I do hope that this is still the case as I have an older 555PS-nonDR too. 

I’d discussed using a non DR ps with Naim at Munich, there was no hint it wouldn’t work.

Are you sure this isn’t a case of using the wrong Burndies? I recall reading somewhere that the ones on the ND555 are wired differently?

DaveBk posted:

Are you sure this isn’t a case of using the wrong Burndies? I recall reading somewhere that the ones on the ND555 are wired differently?

Yes correct they are different.

This is another trait of the NDS, particularly in combination with a 552 and also noticeable with a 252 - note decay. It's something that I don't listen for, but when well executed it does so much to convey musical coherence. Hearing exactly where notes/sounds/effects start, how they decay and how and when they stop is something that once experienced tends to stick with you and blight anything that can't convey it with the last degree of realism.  That the ND555 has extracted more information without over emphasising seems remarkable. And probably is remarkable. 

I wonder when my dealer will be on the phone? Not that I'm in a rush. The NDS is serving our needs just fine. This week.

A great difference between the NDS and the ND555 is the level of authority/slam in rock music. I always found the NDS great for jazz and classical, but missed a bit with rock, now the ND555 brings everything I was missing from the NDS. Example is how well it plays the first song from the below album, Paradigm Shift, fast and with slam....

Also listening to Led Zeppelin becomes again more satisfying.