ND555 Impressions

I was running from an iMac using playback as the upnp over a Ethernet network but likewise wanted to take the iMac out of the hi-fi system when I upgraded to a Nova and decided to go with a Core - primarily to stay within a dedicated Naim ecosystem.

What’s the consensus on the power settings on the new streamers? It came up on another thread about the Atom, but applies across the range. Leave in standby mode, or set standby to never (I.e. power always fully on). The new standby modes seems to be causing some confusion, myself included, who always left previous streamers to always on.

I have it on 24/7 at the moment to ensure it runs in fully, as quickly as possible. It was playing music continuously for a month, now it's just idling between listening sessions. It will be switched off for all of November, as will the whole system. In December, I'll give it a month, then start using the stand by facility and try to evaluate if there is a difference. 

My last non Naim amp was a valve integrated which had a stand by mode which kept it alive but didn't light up the tubes. It took 15-20 minutes to get going after a start from stand by. I don't anticipate such a scenario with the ND555 but I'll know for sure in a couple of months. I expect this is going to be a lively conversation topic in the months to come.

Having trouble unscrewing transit bolts .... they are really tight!

With mine I held it half on half off the coffee table while the dealer concentrated on the transit bolts. Don,t turn it upside down, it’s a big no no apparently. Can a family member hold it for you?

Richieroo posted:

Having trouble unscrewing transit bolts .... they are really tight!

Yes, the ones on my ND555 were unfeasibly tight, and needed some ‘gentle persuasion’ by the dealer from a mini mole wrench (using a tea towel to protect the plastic covering of the bolt).  All whilst (as Gazza correctly says) holding the right way up, half on and half off a coffee table.  Not sure why they needed to be this tight - the NDS certainly didn’t have the bolts as tight as this.

ATB. George.

Yes, don’t flip it over on its back unless just to loose off the tightness of the bolts. Best to keep upright and level and put one end on a table holding the other end free with one arm while loosening with the other. 

My guess is he has sorted the bolts and is now listening. We probably won,t hear from him for a few days.....lost to the music????

Gazza posted:

My guess is he has sorted the bolts and is now listening. We probably won,t hear from him for a few days.....lost to the music????

Yep spot on!

Hi undid transit screws connected everything up......got into setup....pressed home for 3 secs and hit the app......nd555 on network....but it can't find room doh....so I am totally stuck.....there is a wireless signal that works on my phone it is a bit slow.....

Main network sees streamer.......fine...via wire..

Whenever I get finding rooms error on my iPad controlling my NDS, it is always because the iPad WiFi is connected to the wrong network point. It has to connect direct to the router WiFi point or I get Finding Rooms error. So I just reset the WiFi in Settings on my iPad

Sorry if this is obvious but I thought I would mention it.

Good luck.

I would go thru a complete power down inc iPad and router, and then restart from router end first, switch etc.

Hi the context is that I could get naim app to work with NDS it was ok but I never really used it. The ND555 is being found .... but the room is not. The signal is weakish....but it did work with NDS. So I am a bit frustrated...i will attempt to try and get signal stronger....by moving my Asus router to directly under the room....this going to be a painful process.

If I configure manually do I lose functionality....I want to use Roon....I am not really interested in naim app...

Richieroo posted:

Hi the context is that I could get naim app to work with NDS it was ok but I never really used it. The ND555 is being found .... but the room is not. The signal is weakish....but it did work with NDS. So I am a bit frustrated...i will attempt to try and get signal stronger....by moving my Asus router to directly under the room....this going to be a painful process.

If I configure manually do I lose functionality....I want to use Roon....I am not really interested in naim app...

In app jargon, a streamer is a room, so not sure what you mean when you say the ND555 is found but the room isn’t?

 I would avoid configuring manually if at all possible and get to the bottom of the problem, it should work but I have found that it can confuse the app later on when DHCP assigns a new IP address to the streamer, which is then discovered automatically by the app as if it were a new device. 

If you use Roon exclusively this may all be unnecessary, but sooner of later you will probably need the app for control of other inputs, settings etc. so best to get it working if you can. 

I presume you have paired the remote and pushed the WiFi antenna into place. As Chris says it needs to find the room or streamer....it should show nd555 and serial number xxxx as the room. From there you can configure the inputs/ outputs etc

Many thanks for the patient replies ... when I go through setup.....the app finds ND555 and it comes up on screen as a tab .... when I hit the tab it starts trying to find the room ... it's as if it knows it's there.....but trips over connecting...eventually it goes to a firmware download screen .... this constantly shows the rotating symbol.....eventually it fails....

Rich....sorry, not sure what you need to do. Can you call or text your dealer?

Are you connecting the ipad to the rooter wifi or trying to connect directly to the ND? If that can be done. With a wired connection to the ND what need is there for the wifi antennas? I don’t find anything missing without them except maybe chromcast, I still can’t get any sound out of that though airplay is fine.

All Naim streamers use either WiFi or Ethernet, and the WiFi antenna is disabled if you choose Ethernet. 

Of course you are correct, I hope he is able to sort this out, it should and will be a joy to listen to. Glad my dealer did the install in hindsight. Hopefully Rich will pull it off soon.

Richieroo posted:

Hi the context is that I could get naim app to work with NDS it was ok but I never really used it. The ND555 is being found .... but the room is not. The signal is weakish....but it did work with NDS. So I am a bit frustrated...i will attempt to try and get signal stronger....by moving my Asus router to directly under the room....this going to be a painful process.

If I configure manually do I lose functionality....I want to use Roon....I am not really interested in naim app...

This was why I went for a wired connection to my iPad controller - you can get a lead for under £10 for that.

It then has another App problem (the App thinks you must have WiFi to work - you don't), but you get past that and then it stays on rock-solid and never loses the room - what you expect from a wire.

I then purchased a stronger WiFi system and that works ok now, but I prefer the wired sound without the WiFi on so the wired LAN to the pad and App is where I am.

I was also very frustrated while all that was happening and could not control the ND555 - I know what that feels like!

DB.

...but my run-in has gone nasty today and tough to enjoy.

I really admire your patience, I’d have given up a long time ago, for such a high cost component and obviously a very high cost system you have I’d have thought things would run seemlessly.

I forgot to tick the 'run seamlessly with no run-in ' option when I ordered!

My Active system is very unforgiving of run-in artifacts, but on the other side when the are gone it is sublime - for me which is the main thing! Always get run-in and on a Naim source it is worse perhaps at times, because it is so good when out of those pits.

Just sounds rough and raw today. I'm risking low-volume Gregorian Chant today as male vocal is least impacted, but still is.

My reports here are not to knock Naim as I think the have no real control over it, but give some hope to others that it is normal and will eventually pass. A friend in USA tells me he only became satisfied that his was not defective after 6 weeks of use, as it can take some time to bottom-out. I've heard the more run-in ND555 and when mine is there I will be happy with it for years, so worth the irritations.

DB.