ND555 Impressions

To me the app works well, and same way as nds. Maybe because i use naim unitiserve - of course it should work just as well with non naim servers. Br Lars

Bert Schurink posted:

Darke Bear posted:

Well it arrived!

Joy joy joy! Been playing music for last five hours straight so it is very good from cold - and it was finger-chilling cold to begin.

Some App problems if not using WiFi on the control iPad. WiFi mode works well - the Naim App expects WiFi and will lock you out and make you keep re-registering it as a new product to be able to use it in 'wired-LAN' mode, which I prefer, as it sounds better - to me, here. Hopefully Naim can remove the App lock-out screen block when WiFi is not on - really a pain! Only 0.01% of people (or just me) will use it this way. The older App did not have this problem, so it is new with the latest Naim App.

Apart from that - musically very beautiful!

Music that I really was into when I had it on Vinyl-play now has the verve and life in it again in a captivating way. The CD-format was obviously constrained by the players as it seems to offer no constraint at all now - bass is properly deep and controlled and top-end extended, fresh and open.

But I will have some run-in ahead for sure. Normally I expect a few days of great, then a wobble and back into gradual improvement after three weeks so I shall see if that apples this time.

Nice to get it finally!

DB.

 

 

Welcome to the club, looking forward to your reports as it develops.

DB looks like my one turned up with yours, so Tuesday looks like it’s the day, looking forward to a long session revisiting my record collection.

Hi all,

Just to add my 2 pence, i have no issues with the app. Two QB’s X 1 Muso and ND555 and X 1 Core.....sorry...Dusty ducks for cover!!

You troublemaker you!

I currently have no problems with a Nova and Core, will get back with news if ND555 and Core.

No issues with the app here as well, controlling ND555 works..but I prefer roon????

The ND555 alone (without considering the Naim App) is a fantastic device musically - I'm enjoying what it does with music. My possible only 'complaint' about it is that it is making me play too much music!

The App is another story unfortunately. I'm happy to contribute to the Beta-tester effort if it will help clear the final hurdles it obviously has. From comments of others it is reassuring that it works well in an all-Naim WiFi accessed system, which shows a level of competence in the App design.

But what is clearly needed is development-testing over a wider platform of home-use scenarios with other configurations. I used to Develop Apps, Servers and Databases over thirty years before I retired so my comments are inside of some idea of what are the problems - they are primarily all Logical decision-tree based:

1. It assumes you are using WiFi and locks you out if you are using a wired-LAN Connection and then forces you to re-register every time you want to use the App. This then works until it forgets again and makes you go through it all over again.

2. It has no memory of last use configuration when it is re-started.
It asks me if I am a human on Earth - what Country - what Language - what room -...all services...looks on network... then it finally works for a while.
It needs to not begin at the level of root evey time and begin when it last was - then if that fails drop-down a level logically - then if need another with root (world) the last option - not first.

3. Once it re-registers it has the feature of removing displayed artworks on the App and replacing them with blank music symbols for no great reason I can fathom other than to cause unintended irritation.

I've got the latest Apple IOS 12 on iPad mini. My system is 100% Naim apart from the Database access I've chosen via Twonky on a Melco.

Happy to help if I can - I'd like to just report the facts and see this App properly completed, as apart from the start-up logic-flow it seems fine. As a developer this is easiest to fix with appropriate decision flow-chat implemented into code of the App.

DB.

Michael posted:

Congratulations DB ... seems we did talk it up when you were here on Thursday. Yes it’s a shame about the app ... in my case it keeps losing the Melco server, using Twonky, switching the iPad on and off solves this but you shouldn’t have to do that. Frustrating to say the least!

Enjoy your new listening experience... look forward to hearing it in due course.

It was good you hear yous set-up a few days ago with the ND555 - a nice improvement. There is an ease in the presentation I really like.

I took the leap of faith that the App will eventually catch-up with the level of excellence shown by the ND555.

DB.

Dustysox posted:

Hi all,

Just to add my 2 pence, i have no issues with the app. Two QB’s X 1 Muso and ND555 and X 1 Core.....sorry...Dusty ducks for cover!!

Wise to duck!

Bert Schurink posted:

After all the praise of the sound of this fantastic machine, some huge dissapointment about the app. It get’s really annoying if you are faced with issues every time you use the machine....

1. Multiple times a day you can’t use the app, and you are forced to swipe it away and start new.

2. Multiples times a day it comes on the room selection screen. I only have the ND555 in this network, and it happens when being busy with selecting something new or searching something new.

3. You can’t select a direct move back to your server if you have been listening to Tidal. When you click on the server it always switches back to Tidal. And the only way to achieve the result without newly starting the app is to push multiple times the back button and cancel selections, to get back to your original selection before you started your Tidal session. 

 

So all in all a disgrace for such a high quality streamer.

App woes are eliminated with Roon. Personally I have good luck with the Naim app but with Roon it’s redundant. 

Darke Bear posted:

The ND555 alone (without considering the Naim App) is a fantastic device musically - I'm enjoying what it does with music. My possible only 'complaint' about it is that it is making me play too much music!

The App is another story unfortunately. I'm happy to contribute to the Beta-tester effort if it will help clear the final hurdles it obviously has. From comments of others it is reassuring that it works well in an all-Naim WiFi accessed system, which shows a level of competence in the App design.

But what is clearly needed is development-testing over a wider platform of home-use scenarios with other configurations. I used to Develop Apps, Servers and Databases over thirty years before I retired so my comments are inside of some idea of what are the problems - they are primarily all Logical decision-tree based:

1. It assumes you are using WiFi and locks you out if you are using a wired-LAN Connection and then forces you to re-register every time you want to use the App. This then works until it forgets again and makes you go through it all over again.

2. It has no memory of last use configuration when it is re-started.
It asks me if I am a human on Earth - what Country - what Language - what room -...all services...looks on network... then it finally works for a while.
It needs to not begin at the level of root evey time and begin when it last was - then if that fails drop-down a level logically - then if need another with root (world) the last option - not first.

3. Once it re-registers it has the feature of removing displayed artworks on the App and replacing them with blank music symbols for no great reason I can fathom other than to cause unintended irritation.

I've got the latest Apple IOS 12 on iPad mini. My system is 100% Naim apart from the Database access I've chosen via Twonky on a Melco.

Happy to help if I can - I'd like to just report the facts and see this App properly completed, as apart from the start-up logic-flow it seems fine. As a developer this is easiest to fix with appropriate decision flow-chat implemented into code of the App.

DB.

This is behavior I’ve never experienced. Never. Something is amiss. 

J.N. posted:

Nice one Gary. Enjoy.

The ND555 does seem to sound flippin' good, right outta the box.

John.

It will run-in, but since I'm using run-in 555PS with the old Burndy run-in leads there is just the innards of the ND555 to run-in. It sounded great from the box - in fact we hot-swapped-out the Signals ND555 demo unit with several weeks of run-in for this new delivery van cold unit: it sounded very detailed and musical but not as easy and relaxed as the more run-in unit. But nothing is intruding so far - I still expect it to happen as it always has before.

DB.

Gazza posted:

DB looks like my one turned up with yours, so Tuesday looks like it’s the day, looking forward to a long session revisiting my record collection.

What configuration will you use yours with respect to Music Server?

Interested to hear how it goes - you should have fun.

DB.

yeti42 posted:

Solved the double listing by removing the USB stick I used to transfer them but I think the album cover is a lost cause as they were downloaded as zipped wav files, the track names are there but the artwork only appears in the book icon and unlike rips there’s no option to change the default.

Neither Core nor 555 can find music on my pc though they see a directory I named “music share” which I’ve shared they can’t see the music in it. I’ve given up trying to solve this one and put it down to only having “homegroup” and not “workgroups” in this version of Windows 10.

As Harry said use db Poweramp to re tag. 

And you cannot store music for the Core to see as you’ve done. Save it to the Cores Downloads folder. 

ND555,Core,Unitilite and a Qb all OK here with the app.

Darke Bear posted:

Well it arrived!

Joy joy joy! Been playing music for last five hours straight so it is very good from cold - and it was finger-chilling cold to begin.

Some App problems if not using WiFi on the control iPad. WiFi mode works well - the Naim App expects WiFi and will lock you out and make you keep re-registering it as a new product to be able to use it in 'wired-LAN' mode, which I prefer, as it sounds better - to me, here. Hopefully Naim can remove the App lock-out screen block when WiFi is not on - really a pain! Only 0.01% of people (or just me) will use it this way. The older App did not have this problem, so it is new with the latest Naim App.

Apart from that - musically very beautiful!

Music that I really was into when I had it on Vinyl-play now has the verve and life in it again in a captivating way. The CD-format was obviously constrained by the players as it seems to offer no constraint at all now - bass is properly deep and controlled and top-end extended, fresh and open.

But I will have some run-in ahead for sure. Normally I expect a few days of great, then a wobble and back into gradual improvement after three weeks so I shall see if that apples this time.

Nice to get it finally!

DB.

 

 

Nice to read that music that was magical on Vinyl is now engaging on Digital.

Indeed to my ears it seems the DAC chip needed the proper system around it to be able to decode properly, in this case it seems the all new Naim streaming board with the LVDS.... (low voltage differential signalling)

Finally it seems digital is fulfilling the promise it made is 30 + years ago.

But I can't blame the engineers back then, they just did not have the very low voltage CPU's that are available now.

Bart posted:

Darke Bear posted:

The ND555 alone (without considering the Naim App) is a fantastic device musically - I'm enjoying what it does with music. My possible only 'complaint' about it is that it is making me play too much music!

The App is another story unfortunately. I'm happy to contribute to the Beta-tester effort if it will help clear the final hurdles it obviously has. From comments of others it is reassuring that it works well in an all-Naim WiFi accessed system, which shows a level of competence in the App design.

But what is clearly needed is development-testing over a wider platform of home-use scenarios with other configurations. I used to Develop Apps, Servers and Databases over thirty years before I retired so my comments are inside of some idea of what are the problems - they are primarily all Logical decision-tree based:

1. It assumes you are using WiFi and locks you out if you are using a wired-LAN Connection and then forces you to re-register every time you want to use the App. This then works until it forgets again and makes you go through it all over again.

2. It has no memory of last use configuration when it is re-started.
It asks me if I am a human on Earth - what Country - what Language - what room -...all services...looks on network... then it finally works for a while.
It needs to not begin at the level of root evey time and begin when it last was - then if that fails drop-down a level logically - then if need another with root (world) the last option - not first.

3. Once it re-registers it has the feature of removing displayed artworks on the App and replacing them with blank music symbols for no great reason I can fathom other than to cause unintended irritation.

I've got the latest Apple IOS 12 on iPad mini. My system is 100% Naim apart from the Database access I've chosen via Twonky on a Melco.

Happy to help if I can - I'd like to just report the facts and see this App properly completed, as apart from the start-up logic-flow it seems fine. As a developer this is easiest to fix with appropriate decision flow-chat implemented into code of the App.

DB.

This is behavior I’ve never experienced. Never. Something is amiss. 

The problem is that it is system dependent - it should not be is my point.

The discussion will hopefully not degenerate into presumptions of stupidity of the customer and be constructive.

My comments above are primarily intended for Naim, but also to encourage others to report. I've several other friends who have App problems that are terrified to mention it because they will be attacked for being stupid. All of them have physics degrees so it is amusing in a warped way.

I'm not saying I consider this reply in any way an accusation of personal stupidity, but want to attempt to head-off all the comments from people that have it all working dandy and seem to feel anyone that does not has something wrong with them.

DB.

analogmusic posted:

Darke Bear posted:

Well it arrived!

Joy joy joy! Been playing music for last five hours straight so it is very good from cold - and it was finger-chilling cold to begin.

Some App problems if not using WiFi on the control iPad. WiFi mode works well - the Naim App expects WiFi and will lock you out and make you keep re-registering it as a new product to be able to use it in 'wired-LAN' mode, which I prefer, as it sounds better - to me, here. Hopefully Naim can remove the App lock-out screen block when WiFi is not on - really a pain! Only 0.01% of people (or just me) will use it this way. The older App did not have this problem, so it is new with the latest Naim App.

Apart from that - musically very beautiful!

Music that I really was into when I had it on Vinyl-play now has the verve and life in it again in a captivating way. The CD-format was obviously constrained by the players as it seems to offer no constraint at all now - bass is properly deep and controlled and top-end extended, fresh and open.

But I will have some run-in ahead for sure. Normally I expect a few days of great, then a wobble and back into gradual improvement after three weeks so I shall see if that apples this time.

Nice to get it finally!

DB.

Nice to read that music that was magical on Vinyl is now engaging on Digital.

Indeed to my ears it seems the DAC chip needed the proper system around it to be able to decode properly, in this case it seems the all new Naim streaming board with the LVDS.... (low voltage differential signalling)

Finally it seems digital is fulfilling the promise it made is 30 + years ago.

But I can't blame the engineers back then, they just did not have the very low voltage CPU's that are available now.

Whatever had been done - I'll just call them 'improvements in implementation' have definitely wrought positive results.

In my view - based on what I'm hearing - the main impediments in playback were, in order of gratuitousness:

1. Mastering mess-ups.

2. The final D to A conversion process.

Item 2 clears red-book CD formatted material that was well-mastered to replay as intended by the format designers.

I don't even mention Hi-Def format above, as they are well-down off the list - meaning that any positive effects they may allow are strongly-impacted by 1 and 2 above. I can't clear item 1 other than procuring CDs that were done well - meaning not messed-up with extra EQ and compression and other distortion toys increasingly deployed as 'needed' after year 2000. Such material is plentifully available at relatively low cost.

Some Hi-Def is well done - for example some Fleetwood Mac stuff is good. But it still has some effects of tinkering in the mastering to noise-core the product, which removes both noise and the signal in that noise and also some life.

DB.

Pcd posted:

ND555,Core,Unitilite and a Qb all OK here with the app.

So as DB has alluded to it may well be the use of non Naim music servers that are causing the issue.... Melcos, NAS drives etc. Let’s hope it will be fixed soon.

Darke Bear posted:

Bart posted:

Darke Bear posted:

The ND555 alone (without considering the Naim App) is a fantastic device musically - I'm enjoying what it does with music. My possible only 'complaint' about it is that it is making me play too much music!

The App is another story unfortunately. I'm happy to contribute to the Beta-tester effort if it will help clear the final hurdles it obviously has. From comments of others it is reassuring that it works well in an all-Naim WiFi accessed system, which shows a level of competence in the App design.

But what is clearly needed is development-testing over a wider platform of home-use scenarios with other configurations. I used to Develop Apps, Servers and Databases over thirty years before I retired so my comments are inside of some idea of what are the problems - they are primarily all Logical decision-tree based:

1. It assumes you are using WiFi and locks you out if you are using a wired-LAN Connection and then forces you to re-register every time you want to use the App. This then works until it forgets again and makes you go through it all over again.

2. It has no memory of last use configuration when it is re-started.
It asks me if I am a human on Earth - what Country - what Language - what room -...all services...looks on network... then it finally works for a while.
It needs to not begin at the level of root evey time and begin when it last was - then if that fails drop-down a level logically - then if need another with root (world) the last option - not first.

3. Once it re-registers it has the feature of removing displayed artworks on the App and replacing them with blank music symbols for no great reason I can fathom other than to cause unintended irritation.

I've got the latest Apple IOS 12 on iPad mini. My system is 100% Naim apart from the Database access I've chosen via Twonky on a Melco.

Happy to help if I can - I'd like to just report the facts and see this App properly completed, as apart from the start-up logic-flow it seems fine. As a developer this is easiest to fix with appropriate decision flow-chat implemented into code of the App.

DB.

This is behavior I’ve never experienced. Never. Something is amiss. 

The problem is that it is system dependent - it should not be is my point.

The discussion will hopefully not degenerate into presumptions of stupidity of the customer and be constructive.

My comments above are primarily intended for Naim, but also to encourage others to report. I've several other friends who have App problems that are terrified to mention it because they will be attacked for being stupid. All of them have physics degrees so it is amusing in a warped way.

I'm not saying I consider this reply in any way an accusation of personal stupidity, but want to attempt to head-off all the comments from people that have it all working dandy and seem to feel anyone that does not has something wrong with them.

DB.

No physics degree here - I’m a life science guy!  

I was trying to say not to count it against me.
The App should just work as intended in all reasonable deployment scenarios is what I was getting at. Not saying that it does not work perfectly in all-Naim streaming solutions, as it really should here. But it would be nice to have it also tested, before release, against reference systems that use other Ethernet-connected databases and Servers, such as Twonky and Minim - and not putting special extra App-blocking in when not using WiFi but wire-LAN.

Apart from that problem the ND555 continues to run-in and it is going into its 'tight and thin' stage at the moment, but not musically unpleasant at all. Gregorian Chant seems to come-off rather well and is zoning me out at present.

DB.

Michael posted:

So as DB has alluded to it may well be the use of non Naim music servers that are causing the issue.... Melcos, NAS drives etc. Let’s hope it will be fixed soon.

I think it might be to do with ND555 FW. Everything was brisk and snappy with my NDS. The ND555 seems witless in comparison. Wired Muso, wired QB, wireless MuSo and wireless QB still performing faultlessly on the same network, with both Asset and Minimserver, each running on a dedicated NAS. Or it might be how the app interacts with the FW. Either way, it's the app that gets sworn at because it's the control point.

If the App blocks when not using WiFi and using wired-LAN it is hard to think what else to blame?
The previous App did not block like this and everything else works without complaint from the iPad over the wired LAN.
I've had to go through the 'register new product' process more than ten times since yesterday to get it to work - then it forgets it has been registered and blocks. On the WiFi this works ok and I suspect it was only ever tested via that before release and someone bad the bright idea of adding a blocking page on the App to improve used-experience!

DB.

...another 'feature-fault' - the ND555 display is stuck on a picture of Gregorian Chant album now, no matter what else I select!
The App shows the correct Album picture, but the ND555 is the one that is 'stuck'.

A nice picture, but if it does not clear and show the actual playing album artwork or even the default blank 'music' symbol then not a good sign.

DB.

Darke Bear posted:

...another 'feature-fault' - the ND555 display is stuck on a picture of Gregorian Chant album now, no matter what else I select!
The App shows the correct Album picture, but the ND555 is the one that is 'stuck'.

A nice picture, but if it does not clear and show the actual playing album artwork or even the default blank 'music' symbol then not a good sign.

DB.

Yes , that happened to me . Reboot by unplugging 555DR power supply,  plugging back in and it will work again .