ND555 Impressions

This is kind of going round and round with no way of being grounded like so many Hifi conundrums. The Naim software department have been engaging on the forum in recent weeks which has been very helpful. Perhaps they could give the current view from Naim on ND555 ( the original thread) and the ability of the new streamer and the listener to perceive differences in rips.

My ND555 run-in has now moved, again, out of the beautiful open detailed sound into a glare-harsh sound that I can't listen too, so I'll leave it to do its thing for a few hours and the dreaded TV, which was sulking from not getting a look-in recently will have to suffice for a while.

There are still ups- and downs at the end of (I think) week three of my run-in. Superb periods of a few hours of settled excellent performance - then onto the next wave of run-in shenanigans.

Again - posted for those with run-in issues to know this seems normal and it will all eventually end well.

DB.

ND555 six weeks in this is sounding rather superb a ripped CD from the Core all the bits seem to be in the right place at the right time?

DB so has mine...very shrill, i took a different tack, put on an old Andy Williams compilation cd on, reading a Hifi mag with some nice cheese and wine. Andy is sounding mighty fine, nostalgia.

anyone tried the Innous vs Melco with the.555?  Just joined the 555 club too!

tony abraham posted:

anyone tried the Innous vs Melco with the.555?  Just joined the 555 club too!

what was your source before Tony?

Closer to the original purpose of the thread, I can report that my machine arrived at the dealer's premises on Wednesday. I just need to pack up my NDS and sort out when to go and collect it.

The ND555 is now a week old, and is sounding great.

I did some AB listening against the Rega P10 today. Still some way to go to achieve the dynamics and involvement that good vinyl delivers (maybe with more run in time?) - to my ears at least!  But most of the time I can’t be bothered with all the faffing about with vinyl... the ND555, even as is, is a very (very) good compromise

Darke Bear posted:

My ND555 run-in has now moved, again, out of the beautiful open detailed sound into a glare-harsh sound that I can't listen too, so I'll leave it to do its thing for a few hours and the dreaded TV, which was sulking from not getting a look-in recently will have to suffice for a while.

There are still ups- and downs at the end of (I think) week three of my run-in. Superb periods of a few hours of settled excellent performance - then onto the next wave of run-in shenanigans.

Again - posted for those with run-in issues to know this seems normal and it will all eventually end well.

DB.

I'm interested in this shifting in the sound of the ND 555 that DB and Gazza mention, it is something that is troubling me too in my system the past month.  Could I ask, is it heard on all inputs, streaming [local and remote servers] CDP, and so on? At times I am delighted with the sound but at other times I'm sitting here pulling a face at what I hear. I have been a bit lax in carrying out any structured comparison with regard to the source of the input but today I'm set to be more rigorous in determining if I can hear any differences across the inputs.  Right now I'm sampling BBC Radio 3 iRadio and it is pleasant enough but then it is iRadio, which always seems a little lacking in body.  More soon.

I have ND 555/552/250/CDX2.2

Congratulations Clive. You won't be disappointed. It might have taken a bit of time but at least they took as long as they needed to build it right. And it's going to sound right. You'll see.

cycling66 posted:

Darke Bear posted:

My ND555 run-in has now moved, again, out of the beautiful open detailed sound into a glare-harsh sound that I can't listen too, so I'll leave it to do its thing for a few hours and the dreaded TV, which was sulking from not getting a look-in recently will have to suffice for a while.

There are still ups- and downs at the end of (I think) week three of my run-in. Superb periods of a few hours of settled excellent performance - then onto the next wave of run-in shenanigans.

Again - posted for those with run-in issues to know this seems normal and it will all eventually end well.

DB.

I'm interested in this shifting in the sound of the ND 555 that DB and Gazza mention, it is something that is troubling me too in my system the past month.  Could I ask, is it heard on all inputs, streaming [local and remote servers] CDP, and so on? At times I am delighted with the sound but at other times I'm sitting here pulling a face at what I hear. I have been a bit lax in carrying out any structured comparison with regard to the source of the input but today I'm set to be more rigorous in determining if I can hear any differences across the inputs.  Right now I'm sampling BBC Radio 3 iRadio and it is pleasant enough but then it is iRadio, which always seems a little lacking in body.  More soon.

I have ND 555/552/250/CDX2.2

Stuff takes a while to bed in. The process can be a bit up and down but the end result is usually better than you were expecting. The bedding in period for the ND555 is in the order of a month. My advice is to sit back, relax and wait. If it is all over the place in two months time contact your dealer. Naim will take your enquiry seriously.

Happy listening.

cycling66 posted:

Darke Bear posted:

My ND555 run-in has now moved, again, out of the beautiful open detailed sound into a glare-harsh sound that I can't listen too, so I'll leave it to do its thing for a few hours and the dreaded TV, which was sulking from not getting a look-in recently will have to suffice for a while.

There are still ups- and downs at the end of (I think) week three of my run-in. Superb periods of a few hours of settled excellent performance - then onto the next wave of run-in shenanigans.

Again - posted for those with run-in issues to know this seems normal and it will all eventually end well.

DB.

I'm interested in this shifting in the sound of the ND 555 that DB and Gazza mention, it is something that is troubling me too in my system the past month.  Could I ask, is it heard on all inputs, streaming [local and remote servers] CDP, and so on? At times I am delighted with the sound but at other times I'm sitting here pulling a face at what I hear. I have been a bit lax in carrying out any structured comparison with regard to the source of the input but today I'm set to be more rigorous in determining if I can hear any differences across the inputs.  Right now I'm sampling BBC Radio 3 iRadio and it is pleasant enough but then it is iRadio, which always seems a little lacking in body.  More soon.

I have ND 555/552/250/CDX2.2

For me it was Tidal and streaming off the Core, tried some music vid on TV, again a bit shrill. Got a glass of wine, some old Andy Williams crooning, cheese etc read a Hifi mag went to bed. Fine today, diificult to explain.

I find you need to reset your ears now and again, even just take a walk around the garden for a few mins and come back in and things can sound different - generally better! 

Just to add to some messages about run in. Yes like DB we will all and are all still having some level of run in experience. I didn’t write so much about it after the initial messages, as I was initially just impressed and just briefed about sometimes some harshness. Now with lower impact it still happens that I am every now and then feeeling a certain level of harshness which also goes away again. As I also was away for a short while, I am still having the feeling that I am not at the end of the run in process. While I might be further ahead then most as I was the first one on this forum who was writing about the first impressions on the ND555, I guess overall I was also quite early in the row of receiving the ND555. As we are getting anyhow now in a more busy music season now I expect the device to be fully settled at Christmas...

Bert Schurink posted:

Just to add to some messages about run in. Yes like DB we will all and are all still having some level of run in experience. I didn’t write so much about it after the initial messages, as I was initially just impressed and just briefed about sometimes some harshness. Now with lower impact it still happens that I am every now and then feeeling a certain level of harshness which also goes away again. As I also was away for a short while, I am still having the feeling that I am not at the end of the run in process. While I might be further ahead then most as I was the first one on this forum who was writing about the first impressions on the ND555, I guess overall I was also quite early in the row of receiving the ND555. As we are getting anyhow now in a more busy music season now I expect the device to be fully settled at Christmas...

Perhaps you could check if the variability that you are experiencing is still there when you drive the ND555 through its S/PDIF and USB inputs. It is also conceivable that the ND555 is meanwhile perfectly stable and that the network is the carrier of the variability. Or perhaps just the streaming card of the ND555 although this seems very unlikely to me.

nbpf posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Just to add to some messages about run in. Yes like DB we will all and are all still having some level of run in experience. I didn’t write so much about it after the initial messages, as I was initially just impressed and just briefed about sometimes some harshness. Now with lower impact it still happens that I am every now and then feeeling a certain level of harshness which also goes away again. As I also was away for a short while, I am still having the feeling that I am not at the end of the run in process. While I might be further ahead then most as I was the first one on this forum who was writing about the first impressions on the ND555, I guess overall I was also quite early in the row of receiving the ND555. As we are getting anyhow now in a more busy music season now I expect the device to be fully settled at Christmas...

Perhaps you could check if the variability that you are experiencing is still there when you drive the ND555 through its S/PDIF and USB inputs. It is also conceivable that the ND555 is meanwhile perfectly stable and that the network is the carrier of the variability. Or perhaps just the streaming card of the ND555 although this seems very unlikely to me.

I think you might have gotten the wrong perception. It’s not that the sounds varies day by day. But it still has it’s small moments of slight drops. And one can never be sure even what the reason is. Is it the running in of the machine or is it just a difference in the quality of electricity, or your personal mood. As such I am not concerned at all or find any abnormal behavior. It’s the normal effects. And I still remeber that when I got my 252 earlier that it also had a magical switch moment after almost 6 months in the journey. For instance my 552 was much easier with it’s run. The cables also took some time to run in....... so no reason to contact Naim or my dealer, just business as usual...

French Rooster posted:

tony abraham posted:

anyone tried the Innous vs Melco with the.555?  Just joined the 555 club too!

what was your source before Tony?

 

Ndac 555dr toslink Mac Pro

Bert Schurink posted:

nbpf posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Just to add to some messages about run in. Yes like DB we will all and are all still having some level of run in experience. I didn’t write so much about it after the initial messages, as I was initially just impressed and just briefed about sometimes some harshness. Now with lower impact it still happens that I am every now and then feeeling a certain level of harshness which also goes away again. As I also was away for a short while, I am still having the feeling that I am not at the end of the run in process. While I might be further ahead then most as I was the first one on this forum who was writing about the first impressions on the ND555, I guess overall I was also quite early in the row of receiving the ND555. As we are getting anyhow now in a more busy music season now I expect the device to be fully settled at Christmas...

Perhaps you could check if the variability that you are experiencing is still there when you drive the ND555 through its S/PDIF and USB inputs. It is also conceivable that the ND555 is meanwhile perfectly stable and that the network is the carrier of the variability. Or perhaps just the streaming card of the ND555 although this seems very unlikely to me.

I think you might have gotten the wrong perception. It’s not that the sounds varies day by day. But it still has it’s small moments of slight drops. And one can never be sure even what the reason is. Is it the running in of the machine or is it just a difference in the quality of electricity, or your personal mood. As such I am not concerned at all or find any abnormal behavior. It’s the normal effects. And I still remeber that when I got my 252 earlier that it also had a magical switch moment after almost 6 months in the journey. For instance my 552 was much easier with it’s run. The cables also took some time to run in....... so no reason to contact Naim or my dealer, just business as usual...

Sure, I thought of the experiment as a means of excluding external variabilities as most users who have reported run in effects appear to all drive the ND555 through its ethernet interface.

Thinking a little bit more about my suggestion, I realize that it is possibly a bad idea: if the other interfaces have not been used so far, they will likely need even more run in!

tony abraham posted:

French Rooster posted:

tony abraham posted:

anyone tried the Innous vs Melco with the.555?  Just joined the 555 club too!

what was your source before Tony?

 

Ndac 555dr toslink Mac Pro

That must be a huge improvement as the Toslink output of a Mac Pro is really nothing to write home about, I would expect.

The run-in story is generally along the same lines of good - harsh - dull - better - really harsh - even better - ...etc.

Mine is again out of the harsh and a bit dull today. I choose my music not to push against the problem presently in-play, so brighter music when a bit dull and visa-versa but there are limits when I walk-away and wait.

With all Naim things I generally find the worst run-in is in the first three weeks, then it progressively improves and the dips are less severe. Some things have fewer problems and some a lot more too.

Enjoying my ND555 at present and another three CDs arrived today for me to Rip so that makes 20 since I bought the ND555, so possibly something good is going on - but I have no proof!

DB.

Darke Bear posted:

The run-in story is generally along the same lines of good - harsh - dull - better - really harsh - even better - ...etc.

Mine is again out of the harsh and a bit dull today. I choose my music not to push against the problem presently in-play, so brighter music when a bit dull and visa-versa but there are limits when I walk-away and wait.

With all Naim things I generally find the worst run-in is in the first three weeks, then it progressively improves and the dips are less severe. Some things have fewer problems and some a lot more too.

Enjoying my ND555 at present and another three CDs arrived today for me to Rip so that makes 20 since I bought the ND555, so possibly something good is going on - but I have no proof!

DB.

when you buy your cds, do you try to have the most original copy, one of the first produced?   i ask because you don’t like remasters.  On discogs the year of production are written....

nbpf posted:

tony abraham posted:

French Rooster posted:

tony abraham posted:

anyone tried the Innous vs Melco with the.555?  Just joined the 555 club too!

what was your source before Tony?

 

Ndac 555dr toslink Mac Pro

That must be a huge improvement as the Toslink output of a Mac Pro is really nothing to write home about, I would expect.

it is a huge improvement over the ndac but I now want to take the Mac Pro out of the loop so am looking to find alternatives. this is my first streamer so am a complete novice in the field. so any help appreciated, can be wired or streamed but looking for quality.

French Rooster posted:

Darke Bear posted:

The run-in story is generally along the same lines of good - harsh - dull - better - really harsh - even better - ...etc.

Mine is again out of the harsh and a bit dull today. I choose my music not to push against the problem presently in-play, so brighter music when a bit dull and visa-versa but there are limits when I walk-away and wait.

With all Naim things I generally find the worst run-in is in the first three weeks, then it progressively improves and the dips are less severe. Some things have fewer problems and some a lot more too.

Enjoying my ND555 at present and another three CDs arrived today for me to Rip so that makes 20 since I bought the ND555, so possibly something good is going on - but I have no proof!

DB.

when you buy your cds, do you try to have the most original copy, one of the first produced?   i ask because you don’t like remasters.  On discogs the year of production are written....

Almost always in my case. A few excellent remasters do exist which I take over the originals... Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours being a good example... but this is not really a topic for this ND555 Impressions thread.... plenty of discussion on the subject elsewhere.

As Mike says above.

If you search enough you can find suitable and inexpensive early copies that sound wonderful. The old Masters had all the dynamic range and freshness - later tinkering generally reduces all that - not always but mostly.

The ND555 renders all the old recordings wonderfully. No need for Remasters - which mainly seem needed for systems with lower dynamic range handling ability.

DB.

tony abraham posted:

nbpf posted:

tony abraham posted:

French Rooster posted:

tony abraham posted:

anyone tried the Innous vs Melco with the.555?  Just joined the 555 club too!

what was your source before Tony?

 

Ndac 555dr toslink Mac Pro

That must be a huge improvement as the Toslink output of a Mac Pro is really nothing to write home about, I would expect.

it is a huge improvement over the ndac but I now want to take the Mac Pro out of the loop so am looking to find alternatives. this is my first streamer so am a complete novice in the field. so any help appreciated, can be wired or streamed but looking for quality.

How about connecting Mac Pro to ND 555 via ethernet.  Not sure if  you would need to connect via ethernet switch or if it could be done directly.  Then the options  of UPnP become available as per Simon-in-Suffolk's many posts - employing BubbleUPnP Server plus Linn Kazoo or Lumin app or Asset.  It's not so bad once you get your head round it all.