ND555 Impressions

Richieroo posted:

Ok....some misunderstanding here .... my streamer is connected to my router via CAT6 ........ and works.... however, the Naim app does not work .. the ND555 wants wifi.. to update the firmware etc. The streamer/phone need a better signal - my wifi is poor/very weak. The issue is the Naim app gives you allot more control over the streamer ......... and I cannot access this at the moment. I am looking into getting a wifi access point installed in the loft directly above the streamer........ 

Understood - and just to be clear, if your ND555 is wired, it will not use WiFi. Only your phone uses that, and it talks to the streamer via a WAP and the network, not directly to the streamer’s wifi input. 

Assuming Roon needs a PC of some sort to run on that is hard wired, how do you control Roon at the moment, a PC in the room with the system?

I updated firmware recently without wifi antennas on the 555, just a hard wired network connection, though I used the app on an iPAD to start the process. It took several goes to get it to stick mind.

yeti42 posted:

Assuming Roon needs a PC of some sort to run on that is hard wired, how do you control Roon at the moment, a PC in the room with the system?

I updated firmware recently without wifi antennas on the 555, just a hard wired network connection, though I used the app on an iPAD to start the process. It took several goes to get it to stick mind.

You can control Roon from the computer that runs the Roon Core, or from the Roon iOS app. 

ChrisSU posted:

yeti42 posted:

Assuming Roon needs a PC of some sort to run on that is hard wired, how do you control Roon at the moment, a PC in the room with the system?

I updated firmware recently without wifi antennas on the 555, just a hard wired network connection, though I used the app on an iPAD to start the process. It took several goes to get it to stick mind.

You can control Roon from the computer that runs the Roon Core, or from the Roon iOS app. 

But if he could use the Roon app he could use the Naim app, it's free after all.

Ok..........as I said I do have a weak signal ......... and where I sit I can get Roon to work on my SG9.........so it is cushty - just. I run Roon on a little i7 NUC with an SSD wired into the network - its a nifty little thing that whizzes through the Roon library

The problem  I also have is I have 2 asus routers .......... and my office connects to my access point ........ (with its own name ....... and the ND555 connects to the primary router/modem....I don't think the ND555 likes that...................the NDS did not mind.

Richieroo posted:

.... my streamer is connected to my router via CAT6 ........ and works....
however, the Naim app does not work .. the ND555 wants wifi..to update the firmware etc.
The streamer/phone need a better signal - my wifi is poor/very weak.
The issue is the Naim app gives you allot more control over the streamer ......... and I cannot access this at the moment. I am looking into getting a wifi access point installed in the loft directly above the streamer........ 

I'd use a wired connection to ND555 - you can do firmware over wired as I did that.

Have WiFi for the control App, but get a good backbone wired LAN if you have the option for it, as it is far more reliable and just 'works' all the time. A wired connection is always yours and not attempting of being shared by other items in your house or your neighbors.
WiFi is 'easy' but comes at the price of reliability compared to a wired Ethernet -  would not want my music streamed over WiFi - nice it is possible yes - but not as rock-solid reliable as a wire.

The App is different as it drops out it is not your music that goes. For reason of not wanting drops - I personally hate drops - I run the iPad wired on all time and once it connects to the ND555 'room' it stays on solid all day. If the iPad goes into power-save mode then the connection goes and it is back to hunting rooms again - don't like that so I set the brightness control to 'never off' and it stays up all-day and I recharge it at night. There is a wire-LAN adapter that allows the charger also to be connected I may purchase so that it can then be on and connected all the time.

I like my music to be there when I want it and not have to fight for it - others have a higher tolerance or more success with their App and network than me perhaps, but the method I outlined works for now until Naim get their App more rugged to snap back to the ND555 when it has been offline.

DB.

Richieroo posted:

The problem  I also have is I have 2 asus routers .......... and my office connects to my access point ........ (with its own name ....... and the ND555 connects to the primary router/modem....I don't think the ND555 likes that...................the NDS did not mind.

You must have one of these routers being a main one to define one house network and the other work to it as a switch to extend that network defined by the first router - otherwise you have two separate networks like two house LANs that should not be able to talk to each other by default.

DB.

I collected my ND555 this morning and have now installed it and rebuilt the Fraim around it etc. It's currently playing Bill Evans' Waltz for Debby, which sounds very pleasant and, I think, better than the NDS. The piano has a noticeably faster decay.

I had a bit of an issue which required a couple of reboots to resolve. This was that I'd forgotten to turn my NS01 back on and accidentally selected a back-up drive, from which there is no escape. The app locks on it and even restarting the app is no escape since it goes straight back to the last selected server. I ended up unplugging ithat drive from the network.

I already agree with those who have expressed a dislike for the remote, but maybe that will grow on me.

But the most significant issue I have is the rattle. I only have to touch the Fraim with a light finger touch and it rattles as though there were lots of little springs loose inside. This is very different to what I recall when I prodded the brass plates on an open model in Salisbury.

Clive....that does not sound right, just tried mine seems rock solid. 

Clive B posted:

...

But the most significant issue I have is the rattle. I only have to touch the Fraim with a light finger touch and it rattles as though there were lots of little springs loose inside. This is very different to what I recall when I prodded the brass plates on an open model in Salisbury.

That is wrong - it should be reasonably solid and only 'sway' a bit if it is a very high stack of more than 5 or 6 levels - mine use fewer levels and more stacks as I have more kit to stack.

But no rattle under any circumstance - highly recommend dismantle that Fraim stack and completely rebuild from bottom-up and correctly tighten (not over-tighten but not loose) every component. It will also sound and work a lot better for you.

Rattle is very bad.

Unless you mean the ND555 is making the noise - mine is quiet when gently poked, but my Fraim is not moving to allow that sort of movement. Loose flooring?

DB.

DB, I think Clive means the ND555 rattles, even worse!

I was realising he may mean that - but it should only rattle off the Fraim so something is wrong if it rattles when on Fraim, as it means either something is loose inside or the Fraim is not stable for some reason. You do get rattle with any of the suspended sub-chassis stuff when they are moved without transit bolts, so no need to become paranoid, as some rattle is fine - but not on the Fraim.

DB.

Maybe I overemphasized it a bit. In fact the Fraim is solid. It's just the ND555 which makes a tinkling noise if I touch it. I'm sure it's the suspension, but It's as if someone has dropped some small springs inside it - a sort of tinkling noise. It's far noisier than my NDS was.

If I gently rap mine with a nuckle it just has the ring of the casework as far as I can hear.

Mine is silent ........ my rack is on a suspended floor - and the Sondek is sensative to the vibration of foot fall - but the ND555 is silent like the NDS. I sure it would make a noise if I gave if a good shake..........

I just tap it on the casework and it makes a tinkling noise. I'm going to speak with my dealer about it. It's a lot of money to have something which might be defective.

I've seen that effect in past with other suspended sub-chassis boxes and it can be either a spring not quite seated right or a wire not dressed right. In any case it makes little impact on SQ but at some point see if you can get it checked without a trip to Naim and back preferably. I would not over-worry about it now personally but get it scheduled for a check later if the noise dose not settle and go away.

DB.

I think I'll just have to live with it. Dealer's only suggestion was to take it in and let them compare it with theirs, which was a bit disappointing given that I've only had it four hours. Oh well, at least it plays music!

Clive B posted:

I think I'll just have to live with it. Dealer's only suggestion was to take it in and let them compare it with theirs, which was a bit disappointing given that I've only had it four hours. Oh well, at least it plays music!

why not ask naim audio directly ?   they can tell if you should worry or not.

French Rooster posted:

Clive B posted:

I think I'll just have to live with it. Dealer's only suggestion was to take it in and let them compare it with theirs, which was a bit disappointing given that I've only had it four hours. Oh well, at least it plays music!

why not ask naim audio directly ?   they can tell if you should worry or not.

That's a good idea. I'll send an email. I've currently switched to playing vinyl to try to stop worrying about it. 

Clive. I just rapped the right hand side of my ND555 with one knuckle and it tinkled inside a bit. Either we've both got duffers or we're in the bell curve. If mine is broken I definitely don't want it fixed!

The suspension arrangement in the ND555 is different. I expect you felt the difference in weight distribution, how the plates move laterally and bounce when you switched your streamers over.

Harry posted:

Clive. I just rapped the right hand side of my ND555 with one knuckle and it tinkled inside a bit. Either we've both got duffers or we're in the bell curve. If mine is broken I definitely don't want it fixed!

The suspension arrangement in the ND555 is different. I expect you felt the difference in weight distribution, how the plates move laterally and bounce when you switched your streamers over.

Thanks, Harry. What you describe is exactly what I've found. Iain suggested I take it back to the shop, which is exactly what Naim Support just said on the telephone. They also said that it shouldn't do that! The trouble is that would mean removing the turntable and preamp which sit on top of the stramer and its all such a faff (esp. the turntable).

However, it does play rather well, even straight out of the box. If yours is the same then I think I'll try to persuade myself not to worry and live with it until something major goes wrong or it needs a service. According to all those who've gone before me the music just gets better, so maybe I'll forget about it in time. 

I'm sure you will.  It won't be too difficult.

Back in the mid 14th Century, I added a factory refurbished Olive HiCap to my CD5. I bought it from Infidelity, where Andrew used to be - total coincidence.

It rattled. I gingerly slid the case off to discover that the factory had thrown in a free capacitor, which made the HiCap even better VFM!

Clive B posted:

Harry posted:

Clive. I just rapped the right hand side of my ND555 with one knuckle and it tinkled inside a bit. Either we've both got duffers or we're in the bell curve. If mine is broken I definitely don't want it fixed!

The suspension arrangement in the ND555 is different. I expect you felt the difference in weight distribution, how the plates move laterally and bounce when you switched your streamers over.

Thanks, Harry. What you describe is exactly what I've found. Iain suggested I take it back to the shop, which is exactly what Naim Support just said on the telephone. They also said that it shouldn't do that! The trouble is that would mean removing the turntable and preamp which sit on top of the stramer and its all such a faff (esp. the turntable).

However, it does play rather well, even straight out of the box. If yours is the same then I think I'll try to persuade myself not to worry and live with it until something major goes wrong or it needs a service. According to all those who've gone before me the music just gets better, so maybe I'll forget about it in time. 

Give it some time Clive, but I think you should rethink, just letting it be. You will always have that doubt in the back of your mind that you are not getting the best from the ND555.