ND555 Impressions

DB, Laxton - many thanks

ebjoy/ken

ken c posted:

to all those proud owners of the new ND555, can you please report on how long it needed to fully run-in (if it needed this at all)?

enjoy/ken

 

I have it on good authority (Jason) that in around a month, my ND555 will be giving its all. 

After having spent far longer than planned today, reacquainting myself with a small cross section of my brand new music collection, and loving it very much, I can confirm that a 48 hour run in unit doesn't sound half bad at all. It's a 500 level streamer and it sounds like one, right from the minute it is first switched on.

Has the ND555 hypnotised our friend Dusty or is he just enjoying the music. Please Mrs Dusty, can he come out and play with his mates?

So long as she hasn't found him sticking out from under it.

Harry posted:

ken c posted:

to all those proud owners of the new ND555, can you please report on how long it needed to fully run-in (if it needed this at all)?

enjoy/ken

 

I have it on good authority (Jason) that in around a month, my ND555 will be giving its all. 

After having spent far longer than planned today, reacquainting myself with a small cross section of my brand new music collection, and loving it very much, I can confirm that a 48 hour run in unit doesn't sound half bad at all. It's a 500 level streamer and it sounds like one, right from the minute it is first switched on.

Thanks Harry. So the 'offcial' run-in is 1 month -- IIRC this was how long my humbler NDS took to mellow. Sounds like your new ND555 is delivering musical bliss Harry!!

enjoy/ken

The relatively up front emphasis that I heard with the demo sample is not present. Maybe next week? It sounds like money well spent at the moment. And apparently the best is still to come. Blimmin heck.

nigelb posted:

Has the ND555 hypnotised our friend Dusty or is he just enjoying the music. Please Mrs Dusty, can he come out and play with his mates?

I can tell you in day two of my tryout of ND555,  it sounds amazing . Never heard my Kef Blade twos sound this great ! Do you know the song Scotch and Soda by the Kingston Trio? It was a favorite of my fathers . I played it today and the richness of Bob Shane’s voice was fabulous to listen to. Never heard sound so good ! Vocals really shine with this streamer ! 

Laxton posted:

ken c posted:

to all those proud owners of the new ND555, can you please report on how long it needed to fully run-in (if it needed this at all)?

enjoy/ken

 

Mine is still running in after 3 weeks.

Initial impressions when raw was extremely sibilant in the highs and clouded in the mids. It sounded rather disjointed.

Things became much better after a week but it really took 3 weeks for mine to shine and show what the beast is capable of. 

YMMV though.

Great to know! Thanks 

musicfan51 posted:

nigelb posted:

Has the ND555 hypnotised our friend Dusty or is he just enjoying the music. Please Mrs Dusty, can he come out and play with his mates?

I can tell you in day two of my tryout of ND555,  it sounds amazing . Never heard my Kef Blade twos sound this great ! Do you know the song Scotch and Soda by the Kingston Trio? It was a favorite of my fathers . I played it today and the richness of Bob Shane’s voice was fabulous to listen to. Never heard sound so good ! Vocals really shine with this streamer ! 

Listening to Scotch and Soda as I type this. Belter! Think I'll get me a.....err.....Scotch, but a neat single malt is my tipple of choice.

Enjoy the new streamer while you have it.

@NigelB ........Perhaps we could organise a birthday present or Xmas present of a ND555  home demo with a tipple or two.....You know you want too?

Harry posted:

So long as she hasn't found him sticking out from under it.

Or worse just his ankles sticking out from under it

Sorry all for my lack of response. Blame Naim...!!

I’ve Had the perfect weekend, family...great BBQ..wine and song....o the song! Can this black box sing..aka ND555! 

If you are looking to go for an NDS then gents/ladies you are in for a treat. Yesterday morning i sat down with a rather nice Expresso and she (NDS) sang her heart out. Wonderful streamer, i take my hat off to Naim they sure deliver. So, go for an NDS, she sure punches above her weight. Great job Naim.

Which leads me onto the ND5555. I have NEVER spent this amount of money “blind”(unless we include getting married!!), certainly with HiFi with out a home dem.

Every show i have ever been to never delivers until a home demo which is where Naim eh....deliver! My esteemed colleagues/friends Dark Bear etc put into words so much better than i putting into words the audio experience. All i can add is that i had contemplated in the future upgrading my S600’s....not tonight mister! The Naim pixes (no disrespect intended, full of respect Naim) have added a sub into my Ovators. Where did that wonderful glorious bass come from? The highs and the mid range...gosh...more of everything...gulp....nice...befitting reference status....word!

My wife and i have had the best tickets in town for great concerts this weekend, artists literally have been performing in “Dusty Towers”!

I have more to add but Aretha Franklin “Sings the Blues” is cued up and i so want to press....play...forgive me...i’ll Be back!!

Bert..I’m not that old and Harry my Brother from another Mother, we seem to share a parallel universe. Seems we are on the same path, as Ken C  would say....Enjoy!!

Gazza posted:

@NigelB ........Perhaps we could organise a birthday present or Xmas present of a ND555  home demo with a tipple or two.....You know you want too?

Gazza, deal. I'll supply the booze if you guys will bring the ND555. Name a date. Dusty you are invited. Love the feedback.

Two years ago I advised my salesman that I wanted an NDS, with two PS555 DR, I already had one PS, but he refused the sale. Closing the door he assured me that something better would be available in year maybe two and I should wait. I've not auditioned ND555, but from the diverse  impressive meaningful exchanges above, I'd say my decision is proforma. In the Forum Naim have courageously offered the music lover and hobbyist a rare venue to think out loud.  

Apropos of another discussion on this subject in Ken Kessler's, Last Word column in September's HIFI News, he and Peter McGrath of Wilson Audio agreed that neither had ever heard any streaming system that came close to physical format. Yet right above the same theme is being hashed out by consumers debating the merits of investing in just such product and many on balance think the ND555 is a meaningful way forward approximating the better aspects of CD555.  Maybe Wislon and McGrath are right or maybe they could benefit by herring real buyers decision-making. 

Darren missing presumed fed. That's OK then.

The bass is remarkable. Everything else isn't too shabby either.

Hmack posted:

I recently attended a demonstration of the ND555 in which one of the tracks played was "My Treasure" from the album "Waiting for Dawn" by Sinne Eeg. I had never heard of Sinne Eeg, but the sound quality of this track was exceptional. It consists mostly of just double bass and vocal (with a piano interlude in the middle), but the quality and timbre of both the double bass and her voice were breathtaking and definitely the standout track of the demo I attended.

Not normally my type of music, but this track was so outstanding that the first thing I did on returning home was to listen to it on my own system via Tidal. To my delight (and some relief) the track sounded (to my ears) even better on my system than when played via the demonstration system. I have now become a fan of Sinne Eeg and her music and I'd definitely  recommend a listen to the fabulous "My Treasure" in particular. 

Wow - this is what is great about the Forum, the discovery of new artists / recordings (mainly on Music Room of course).  Just listening to Sinne right now via MP3 Deezer (I know - it's the equivalent of wearing socks with open shoes but I cannot help myself - the SQ is just not that bad that I cannot enjoy it!!). Music sounds just great. I think I might become a fan myself. By the way I saw Kandace Springs (mentioned earlier) at the Rye Jazz festival when she was first 'breaking'. It was amazing really. She had been interviewed earlier and had come across in a lovely, but quite young, way. As soon as she got on stage behind that piano though it could have been a different person - really mature music making. I thought then - here is an artist who will go far. I have her first album and it is very good - but it does not do her live presence justice.

cnewyork posted:

Two years ago I advised my salesman that I wanted an NDS, with two PS555 DR, I already had one PS, but he refused the sale. Closing the door he assured me that something better would be available in year maybe two and I should wait. I've not auditioned ND555, but from the diverse  impressive meaningful exchanges above, I'd say my decision is proforma. In the Forum Naim have courageously offered the music lover and hobbyist a rare venue to think out loud.  

Apropos of another discussion on this subject in Ken Kessler's, Last Word column in September's HIFI News, he and Peter McGrath of Wilson Audio agreed that neither had ever heard any streaming system that came close to physical format. Yet right above the same theme is being hashed out by consumers debating the merits of investing in just such product and many on balance think the ND555 is a meaningful way forward approximating the better aspects of CD555.  Maybe Wislon and McGrath are right or maybe they could benefit by herring real buyers decision-making. 

 

Doubt they heard the ND555 before they made that statement ! 

Alan Willby posted:

Hmack posted:

I recently attended a demonstration of the ND555 in which one of the tracks played was "My Treasure" from the album "Waiting for Dawn" by Sinne Eeg. I had never heard of Sinne Eeg, but the sound quality of this track was exceptional. It consists mostly of just double bass and vocal (with a piano interlude in the middle), but the quality and timbre of both the double bass and her voice were breathtaking and definitely the standout track of the demo I attended.

Not normally my type of music, but this track was so outstanding that the first thing I did on returning home was to listen to it on my own system via Tidal. To my delight (and some relief) the track sounded (to my ears) even better on my system than when played via the demonstration system. I have now become a fan of Sinne Eeg and her music and I'd definitely  recommend a listen to the fabulous "My Treasure" in particular. 

Wow - this is what is great about the Forum, the discovery of new artists / recordings (mainly on Music Room of course).  Just listening to Sinne right now via MP3 Deezer (I know - it's the equivalent of wearing socks with open shoes but I cannot help myself - the SQ is just not that bad that I cannot enjoy it!!). Music sounds just great. I think I might become a fan myself. By the way I saw Kandace Springs (mentioned earlier) at the Rye Jazz festival when she was first 'breaking'. It was amazing really. She had been interviewed earlier and had come across in a lovely, but quite young, way. As soon as she got on stage behind that piano though it could have been a different person - really mature music making. I thought then - here is an artist who will go far. I have her first album and it is very good - but it does not do her live presence justice.

I downloaded a Sinne Eeg album as well. “Face the Music” from 2017. What a huge voice. 

And riffing further on this topic I discovered that Kandace Springs will be performing at a small theater here in Boston in October. At $30 each for great seats how can I go wrong??

OK another 'this sounds totally different' ND555 report.  I've been listening to a lot of new music the past few days, so I decided I should listen to some well-worn albums to gauge my impressions.  I picked out "Behind Blue Eyes" from the HDTracks hi res version of Who's Next.

As they say, "OMG."  I heard notes in the bass line I never heard or appreciated before, and the 'chorus' effect on the backing vocals is something I never fully heard before either.  Because I'm using Roon now, and had it set to use their album titles (which I've since switched back to use my own metadata), I actually had to look on my server to see if it was playing some 'weird' version I'd never heard before

"Apropos of another discussion on this subject in Ken Kessler's, Last Word column in September's HIFI News, he and Peter McGrath of Wilson Audio agreed that neither had ever heard any streaming system that came close to physical format."

I have not read the exact comments that Peter and Ken Kessler shared in the review noted above, but I have spoken with Peter on this topic at length.    Peter is in a very rare position in the high end community.    He has a huge cross sectional experience of high end equipment and systems from many markets all over the world, and including a great many brands which are not all well known.    Since Wilson Audio does not make source components nor do they endorse them formally, Peter has extensive experience with a wide variety of high end equipment.    Add to that the fact that he is also an accomplished recording engineer with deep familiarity with high resolution digital formats, and a massive, lifetime commitment to seeing live acoustic music in person.    So, he may be as experienced as anyone in high end audio today and is certainly more experienced than many people, both inside and outside the industry.

The last time he visited our store in NY, he requested a CD player for use in the best system we were primarily featuring for that special event to play back any CD content in addition to the high resolution digital files he normally travels with, and plays back via a suitable DAC.    When he and I went around to our other rooms to insure the set ups in those rooms were also up to his high standards, he was immediately disappointed to see no CD player in our second best room and I immediately went and got our Naim CDX2.    Even with very little set up optimization, and perhaps with a lesser cable on the Naim, when we compared CD material on the Naim player to the same material played back on a Linn Klimax DSM streaming player, Peter immediately pointed towards those qualities he found lacking on most streamers: a lack of presence.    This was something he felt so strongly about that he made a point of playing this for some of my colleagues who were occupied on other matters and might not have heard this for themselves under day to day circumstances.     

It should be noted, that his comments to me were not specific to Naim products or Naim streamers; they were far more general.    Wilson Audio partners with stores and distributors all over the world, and Wilson defers to their partners in how a given system is assembled in a dealer's showrooms, or at consumer and trade audio shows in the many regional audio shows that Wilson regularly participates in.     Over time, they have regularly used digital sources by brands as diverse as DCS, Nagra, Audio Research, Spectral, MSB, Meridian, Linn, Naim, and countless others.     

Good listening,

Bruce

Hi Bruce I note your comments above, I have heard Wilson speakers some years ago - I have also listened to many demo's on youtube........ the strange thing is they have always struck me as sounding a bit dead in the mid range - something that is possibly attributed to the hi mass strategy deployed in the speaker design. I find it interesting he feels there is a lack of presence .......... I have compared my NDS/555DR with my LP12 on the same tracks ........ and the NDS is staggeringly more 'illuminated' and full of 'presence' - the ND555 is even more so -  just my personal view ......... 

I can’t agree with that at all Bruce

I have done the same exact comparison on the same Linn Kds vs naim CD555 and couldn’t hear any lack of presence in the Linn streamer

Bart posted:

I actually had to look on my server to see if it was playing some 'weird' version I'd never heard before

Snap! 

When we had the demo unit in. We're still hearing new material that we thought was old material, but we're not falling for the old am-I-listening-to-a-remaster-I-didn't-know-I-had? trick. 

Won't get fooled again.

Harry posted:

Bart posted:

I actually had to look on my server to see if it was playing some 'weird' version I'd never heard before

Snap! 

When we had the demo unit in. We're still hearing new material that we thought was old material, but we're not falling for the old am-I-listening-to-a-remaster-I-didn't-know-I-had? trick. 

Won't get fooled again.

No doubt you'll soon be calling a £13k streamer a bargain, probably the best you ever had.

I checked ebay and it‘s full of your old, praised, omg sounds great digital toys like HDX, NDX, Uniticore and now NDS. I think digital gear su..s! Hot now, bargain tomorrow. I didn‘t see prices coming down so fast with NAC 282 or 252 or PSUs. Maybe I‘ll stick with my rusty LP12 for longer time than expected:-)