Redundant NDS's - jump now or wait to be pushed?

Gazza posted:

Not so sure....2 x 555ps and a second hand NDS costs more than a ND555 with one 555ps. And there are not that many 555ps on the market?

Not quite as much I think Gazza. ND555 with one PS is £20k, 2*555PS is £14k, so if you can get the NDS under £6k which seems pretty likely it’s cheaper for the double PSU NDS. 2nd hand PSUs will probably make the difference greater because the £13k for the ND555 is the big ticket item. The general point is fair tho’, especially with your point about the number of second-hand 555 PS. 

Sorry, you just triggered my number pedantry, not trying to be a pain.

Gazza posted:

Not so sure....2 x 555ps and a second hand NDS costs more than a ND555 with one 555ps. And there are not that many 555ps on the market?

I've seen 2nd hand 555PS sell for around £2.5k

Two 555PS with a 2nd hand NDS at £3.5k = £8.5k

New NDX2 plus 2nd hand 555PS = £7.5k

I know which I think will sound better given there's not a massive price difference.

Hi Antony,

 I’m glad you enjoyed last night‘s event and had an opportunity to meet so many forum and Facebook group members.  Some travelling to the event from as far away as Vienna! By the way thank you for picking up Franz from Leicester station It made the final part of his journey far easier.

I’m also pleased to read on Facebook that you enjoyed the refreshments and nibbles we laid on for the event.

 Just for clarification for any readers as I’ve had a few responses via email as well this morning. The ND555 powered with a single 555PS .

The new NDX2  which we received on Wednesday from the factory obviously needed a little more time to burn in than we were able to give it for the event but certainly during the later sessions it was starting to show its metal, sounding even better than before. It was not running with any external power supply.

 Regarding the choice of music not being to everybody’s taste.  Obviously the guys from the factory had chosen pieces of music they like and thought would give you a great comparison but as always you are welcome to arrange your own demonstration to confirm and perhaps expand on your initial findings. As always if you or anybody wants to arrange this with more than happy to use your musical choices for the comparisons. ????

 As always if you or anybody wants to arrange this with us we are more than happy to use your musical choices for the comparisons.

Very best wishes, Peter 

mattl posted:

Gazza posted:

Not so sure....2 x 555ps and a second hand NDS costs more than a ND555 with one 555ps. And there are not that many 555ps on the market?

I've seen 2nd hand 555PS sell for around £2.5k

Two 555PS with a 2nd hand NDS at £3.5k = £8.5k

New NDX2 plus 2nd hand 555PS = £7.5k

I know which I think will sound better given there's not a massive price difference.

Best of luck if you can find those prices , I would not disagree at all.

I agree that 555PS don't come up for sale that often, but I've seen the occasional one on that auction site albeit a non-DR version.

I mentioned £3.5k for the NDS as that is what Roger said his recently sold for.

Cymbiosis posted:

I’m also pleased to read on Facebook that you enjoyed the refreshments and nibbles we laid on for the event.

 

We did Peter, and the sausage rolls that you baked were yummy! 

I'm going to demo the NDX 2 in the next week or so, once it has well and truly settled in.

Alba1320 posted:

Clive B posted:

Alba1320 posted:

I wonder if, over time, once the initial take-up of ND555 etc. is over, and with a 'normal' availability of NDS, the 'real' second-hand price range (depending on age, condition etc.) will be reached?

By which time, if there is ever such a time, I suspect the price of the ND555 will have increased. 

 

(*FTR, I say that as someone who has no interest in, nor much knowledge of CA, so I may be talking bollocks! )?

More tea vicar?!

mattl posted:

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the fact that the NDS can be used with two 555PS whereas NDX2 can only be used with one. 

I doubt that the NDX2 will be close in performance to the NDS when the NDS is used with two power supplies so I would imagine that is an area where the NDS still has a clear advantage.

If one would want to invest in two ps, I think that type of customer would first get a ND. I guess the value needs to come from one ps and in comparison. Let’s not forget the NDS was until a good month ago the source we all loved and appreciated. Like mentioned before current pricing is supply and demand issue, unless the NDX2 proofs to be better or almost equal.

But even than some people might take a good decision in buying a pre-loved NDS. 

Sloop John B posted:

Nothing meaningful feature- wise

• roon
• airplay
• bluetooth
• chromecast

 

do you want it to make coffee  for you also ?

 

.sjb

 

The individual will decide if those particular features are meaningful. For me they are of limited value although I know some will like them and I know you particularly like Roon.

For me though, it would be pretty cool if the ND555 could make coffee!

Alba1320 posted:

Perhaps prices are artificially 'low' at the moment, given the relative 'glut' of NDSs, which also coincided with the summer, traditionally seen as the worst time for selling Hi-Fi equipment?

I wonder if, over time, once the initial take-up of ND555 etc. is over, and with a 'normal' availability of NDS, the 'real' second-hand price range (depending on age, condition etc.) will be reached?

Notwithstanding the fact that the NDS is, as we speak, no longer a current production item, 'normal' as we know it will never return     I wonder, though, if, with the passage of time, the NDS will acquire a cult following causing prices to rocket ?

nigelb posted:

For me though, it would be pretty cool if the ND555 could make coffee though!

That little feature was being saved for the Statement version...

At the event last night which model Focal speakers were used?  

Afternoon Roger,

I received a call from our mutual friend in Chester to let me know that their consignment of ND555’s has arrived, and that they could bring it over today.

Sadly, I’m away for the day, so it’ll have to wait until the 9th. of next month, which leaves me slumming it with my “broken” NDS till then.

Do you feel my pain? ????????????

Aw ra best,

Dave.

Zackwater posted:

At the event last night which model Focal speakers were used?  

Zackwater...If you're referring to the event at Cymbiosis, then Titan 808s were used.

dave marshall posted:

Afternoon Roger,

I received a call from our mutual friend in Chester to let me know that their consignment of ND555’s has arrived, and that they could bring it over today.

Sadly, I’m away for the day, so it’ll have to wait until the 9th. of next month, which leaves me slumming it with my “broken” NDS till then.

Do you feel my pain? ????????????

Aw ra best,

Dave.

Dave, just keep taking the tablets, I'm on medication till my ND555 arrives at the end of September

Gazza posted:

antony d posted:

just posted my thoughts following last nights ND 555 [@mention:1566878603906177]

ND 555 is superb! but 5K more than NDS? not sure of that one to be honest, Mark from NAIM demo same set up for NDS and ND 555  and yes the ND 555 showed more detail and focus, but not light and day difference

for me its given me some chin stratching to do - keep NDX and work on LP12, buy 555 for current NDX - ditch NDX and get NDX2 or sell NDX and get NDS with 555

from what i heard last night the guys who are purchasing good SH NDS for that kind of money are getting very good value!!

At the demo I had it was obvious the ND555 was better, though I struggled with the music played, and the Focal speakers used. Popped in recently and heard my music thru Kudos 808 and everything snapped into place, a very accomplished streamer. I know Naim are trying to highlight absolute differences, and they will never please everyone.......but you would hope that the music could be a bit better?

I was referring to this demo, which I think used Focal speakers.  Sorry for not being accurate.  Just wondered which model. 

They were a Utopia Evo 3;s I think......supposedly cost about £45k played thru 552/500 amps.

Ardbeg10y posted:

analogmusic posted:

The digital source market is making huge progress.... now the Audioquest Dragonfly red gives a level of performance for 200 dollars which is off the charts..... 

It's good for customers.

Analog, sorry for the sidestep but have you compared the Dragonfly red against your Chord Mojo? I have the Dragonfly Black and the Chord Mojo and I consider the Mojo into my Naim stuff a much smoother DAC compared to the Black.

the dragonfly red is a different league of product, and very superior to the black, easily worth double the money.

It is quite close the Mojo in it's rhythmic ability and musical performance... I really enjoy music on the DFR. 

Gazza posted:

They were a Utopia Evo 3;s I think......supposedly cost about £45k played thru 552/500 amps.

Sorry got that wrong they were Focal Maestro Utopia Evo in a large ex church hall.

Gazza posted:

Gazza posted:

They were a Utopia Evo 3;s I think......supposedly cost about £45k played thru 552/500 amps.

Sorry got that wrong they were Focal Maestro Utopia Evo in a large ex church hall.

What did you not like about the Focals with the 555?

dave marshall posted:

Afternoon Roger,

I received a call from our mutual friend in Chester to let me know that their consignment of ND555’s has arrived, and that they could bring it over today.

Sadly, I’m away for the day, so it’ll have to wait until the 9th. of next month, which leaves me slumming it with my “broken” NDS till then.

Do you feel my pain? ????????????

Aw ra best,

Dave.

I feel your pain, Dave !

I'm not sure if he phoned you before me or me before you... the net result, I'm pleased to say, is that there's now one of that same consignment playing quietly to itself in my lounge.  It's been a few weeks since I sold my NDS and I've been listening to my 272 in the meantime.  Good as the 272 is (and I've sung its praises before frequently), with just three hours or so on the 555 clock, I'm already hearing night & day.

BTW, does the offer of an instant delivery today mean that you were able to make our mutual friend an unmissable offer, or is that still a work in progress ?  (probs best not to answer that or everyone will be rushing over to Chester, NDS's in hand ! )

The 9th of next month... ouch, that's a whole nine days 

Best, Roger

Zackwater posted:

Gazza posted:

Gazza posted:

They were a Utopia Evo 3;s I think......supposedly cost about £45k played thru 552/500 amps.

Sorry got that wrong they were Focal Maestro Utopia Evo in a large ex church hall.

What did you not like about the Focals with the 555?

Just not really engaging.......but to be fair the dealer has been trying many speakers to fill the room with sound. They now have the PMC Fenestria on order...so it is a difficult room to satisfy. The Statement amp in the same room was better with Kudos 808 , but not jaw dropping. Speakers are very personal to the room, so don,t take this as a criticism of a Focal......I heard a Sopra No2 on Nova launch..very good.

Gazza posted:

Zackwater posted:

Gazza posted:

Gazza posted:

 

Sorry got that wrong they were Focal Maestro Utopia Evo in a large ex church hall.

What did you not like about the Focals with the 555?

Just not really engaging.......but to be fair the dealer has been trying many speakers to fill the room with sound. They now have the PMC Fenestria on order...so it is a difficult room to satisfy. The Statement amp in the same room was better with Kudos 808 , but not jaw dropping. Speakers are very personal to the room, so don,t take this as a criticism of a Focal......I heard a Sopra No2 on Nova launch..very good.

A church hall needs an organ :-)

rjstaines posted:

dave marshall posted:

Afternoon Roger,

I received a call from our mutual friend in Chester to let me know that their consignment of ND555’s has arrived, and that they could bring it over today.

Sadly, I’m away for the day, so it’ll have to wait until the 9th. of next month, which leaves me slumming it with my “broken” NDS till then.

Do you feel my pain? ????????????

Aw ra best,

Dave.

I feel your pain, Dave !

I'm not sure if he phoned you before me or me before you... the net result, I'm pleased to say, is that there's now one of that same consignment playing quietly to itself in my lounge.  It's been a few weeks since I sold my NDS and I've been listening to my 272 in the meantime.  Good as the 272 is (and I've sung its praises before frequently), with just three hours or so on the 555 clock, I'm already hearing night & day.

BTW, does the offer of an instant delivery today mean that you were able to make our mutual friend an unmissable offer, or is that still a work in progress ?  (probs best not to answer that or everyone will be rushing over to Chester, NDS's in hand ! )

The 9th of next month... ouch, that's a whole nine days 

Best, Roger

Our mutual friend did, as he has done so often in the past, make me an offer which would have been difficult to turn down.

Regarding delivery dates, as I previously mentioned elsewhere, I quite happily volunteered to slide to the back of the queue, in order that others with a more pressing need might receive their units first ........................ and as I also pointed out, you therefore owe me a beer! 

Let's face it, it's no hardship to be slumming it with my "broken" NDS for a few more days, though I am fully expecting to be mightily impressed with the ND555 once it does get here.  

Regards,

Dave.

I am wondering if the NDX value will drop as much when the NDX-2 starts to ship in a few short weeks. ????

Chag -