NDX2

In the app goto other setting and set standby to never, after the music stops, 20 mins later the display goes off, but not the Naim logo and left button lights.

antony d posted:

went back to [@mention:1566878603906177] today (mainly to listen to LP12 and arms) but I did get the opportunity to re listen to thier demon NDX2, which they have had for a week

what a transformation from last week when fresh out of the both - focus, detail musicality blown away to be honest, rest of system was 252,SCDR, 250DR into the NEW demo par Kudos T505 - which are spell bindingly good - musicality on another level!

put on High res of Genesis Firth of Forth - WOW the music came ou focus soundstange - the Piano was detailed and focused, love this track and it just came alive! 

If you are in the market for some new stand speakers these must be added to your list and as for NDX2 - brilliant uplift in a week 

 

Anthony

I am so pumped to hear this.  I have an NDX2 on order and its arrival was a little dulled by the early review with respect to "boogie factor".  Your report bouys my ego, as the ND555/2PS555 is just not a comfortable thing right now.  Perhaps in a year or so I may do it.  Just digesting my current system.

Bailyhill

Bailyhill posted:

antony d posted:

went back to [@mention:1566878603906177] today (mainly to listen to LP12 and arms) but I did get the opportunity to re listen to thier demon NDX2, which they have had for a week

what a transformation from last week when fresh out of the both - focus, detail musicality blown away to be honest, rest of system was 252,SCDR, 250DR into the NEW demo par Kudos T505 - which are spell bindingly good - musicality on another level!

put on High res of Genesis Firth of Forth - WOW the music came ou focus soundstange - the Piano was detailed and focused, love this track and it just came alive! 

If you are in the market for some new stand speakers these must be added to your list and as for NDX2 - brilliant uplift in a week 

 

Anthony

I am so pumped to hear this.  I have an NDX2 on order and its arrival was a little dulled by the early review with respect to "boogie factor".  Your report bouys my ego, as the ND555/2PS555 is just not a comfortable thing right now.  Perhaps in a year or so I may do it.  Just digesting my current system.

Bailyhill

I take all reviews with a large pinch of salt. Have lost track of number of albums, films, books, hifi, restaurants etc. where the critic has said something and I have been left wondering if I am missing something. Your review is the only one that counts. Hope NDX2 sounds amazing when it arrives. I have a feeling you will not be disappointed.

Crispy posted:

I take all reviews with a large pinch of salt.  Your review is the only one that counts. Hope NDX2 sounds amazing when it arrives. I have a feeling you will not be disappointed.

Agreed and absolutely. It's your findings that really matter on this one.

KR,

Peter

Mike-B posted:

Rattlesnaic posted:

Doesn't the NDX2 revert to its switch mode power supply when not in use ?  Will this effect its burn in time ?

I suspect it might.  When its not needed (night times & when house empty) I would not put it into standby & point it at an iRadio service & leave it on that 24/7.   With the pre-amp on & muted all the NDX2 circuits, incl output stage, are working.   200 hours is just over 8 days.     

Also remember if its used with an XPS or 555PS the SMPS low standby power feature is not used.

Mike, the European Treehuggers will be having a fit at your suggestion!

Richard Dane posted:

Wow, what a result. Bet you can hardly contain your excitement...

Him or his bank manager.

gramophone posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted

 

 

 

I am assuming you auditioned your NDX2... how does it compare with your Star? What changed with your Star after you demo’d it.. did it not improve as it burned in or did it deteriate? Curios.. thanks

Hi Simon

...Didn't audition the NDX2. Full faith in Naim. I........

It's marvellous, demoing one now, utterly superb with only a few hours on the clock......

Gazza posted:

.

We then swapped out the NDX2 for the ND555 and replayed the same track I had been playing by Dr John. It only took the first few notes and unfortunately my jaw dropped in front of my dealer.

Hi Gazza. Please cut me some slack as I get on what's rapidly becoming a hobby horse - the topic of how difficult it is to accurately evaluate these kind of things and how little things can bias us.

It's gotta always  be a good thing to audition stuff and there's absolutely no saying you're final evaluation isn't spot on.

But I'm a sceptical person in all things. I've recently  been reading pop-science stuff in which psychologists / neurologists say that much of the choice we think we have is illusory, i.e. our neural biology, our deep down, not Freudian stuff,  but our basic "wetware" runs our mind and like how our body works it's a process that is on auto: we aren't in the driving seat but have the experience that we are.

I came across this article:

https://www.theatlantic.com/he...ine-from-bad/247240/

it's about how powerful biases can be on our minds.  Informative, short easy read.

Friend told me that in any audition to compare hifi the mind will fall back on the first as a reference point and the first is difficult to dislodge. This wasn't the case in your NDX2 v's ND555 test. But perhaps the "told it's much better and more expensive" influence is paramount. This is the subject of the article above. Wine experts (who really can make meaningful distinctions when not led astray) fall for a trick like suckers when misled by this bias (i.e. falsely told "this one's much more expensive) - fall for the deceit to a man (/woman).

There is definitely something in that @Gramophone....a while back I did post about adding a NAP300 to my Nova. I had a big expectation that it would be impressive, so I sat back and delighted in the new sound. Took a few tracks for that light bulb moment.....had done the burndies, forgot to change the speaker cables over, was still listening to Nova????

So I am wary of this phenomenon, I am sure what I heard was real. The increase in the reality of the soundstage which could be turned on and off by changing the streamer etc. But you are right when it is subtle changes, and you want something to be good......beware.

Also find when listening to a potential upgrade, you tend to actively listen and hear things that appear new. You then go back to the original set up and realize they were there all along.

gramophone posted:

it's about how powerful biases can be on our minds.  Informative, short easy read.

Friend told me that in any audition to compare hifi the mind will fall back on the first as a reference point and the first is difficult to dislodge. This wasn't the case in your NDX2 v's ND555 test. But perhaps the "told it's much better and more expensive" influence is paramount. This is the subject of the article above. Wine experts (who really can make meaningful distinctions when not led astray) fall for a trick like suckers when misled by this bias (i.e. falsely told "this one's much more expensive) - fall for the deceit to a man (/woman).

This is so relevant and prevalent in all walks of life, that is unconscious bias. It’s apparently how our brains work... part of the implicit herd instinct of group message reinforcement and expectation and basic snap judgements we do based on our natural survival instincts. I have been looking at this in my pressional world.. to counter it you need to be aware of it and compensate by making decisions on clear objective parameters. Where there is subjectivity and ‘feel’ almost certainly subconscious bias will be at play.. I paid a lot for something, or I value this brand, therefore I expect and want this to be good or a positive experience for me, therefore the chances are it will be unless something is quite wrong.  It’s one reason why branding is so important...

in life this applies to far more than just consumer brands and cars and Hi-Fi, but  also to race, colour, creed, age , sex, accent, appearance, education  etc.......

up grading is the holy grail.   some how every new unit must be better in truth its cheaper production is the maim focus in manufacturing is profit/cost. in 1968 I heard the quad 57 . even now to me they seem the same. biased.   plays apart in all audio.  IVE Listened to the new uniti range from naim and I think it the best they have done and I iam not biased pro naim at all. 

I currently have a NDS/555DR and have experienced 4 or 5 demos now of the ND555 (which is excellent), whilst waiting for a NDX2/555DR demo...

Last week I spent a good hour just listening to the NDX2/555DR combination into a 500 series pre/power. Unfortunately I have to admit that I was slightly underwhelmed in comparison to my previous experience comparing vs NDS or, of course, the ND555. Believe me, I was hoping for the NDX2/555DR to be approx equivalent/similar to a NDS/555DR in performance (and hence potentially save me £8000 on an upgrade) but for my ears this unfortunately is not the case.

Like Gazza mentioned earlier, I experienced exactly the same phenomenon when moving from NDX2 to ND555 demo within the first few seconds of play. The difference, in my view, is massive and so I have placed an order for a ND555.

I'd be interested to know if other forum members currently having an NDS/555DR combo have concluded the same?

Had a demo today of ndx2 vs nds both with 555ps. The voicing is definitely different. The new streamer is light airy fast and agile. The nds sounded slightly warmer but wooly by comparison. 

I would happily live with an nds at home although the ndx2 is coming for a home demo

Gazza posted:

There is definitely something in that @Gramophone....a while back I did post about adding a NAP300 to my Nova. I had a big expectation that it would be impressive, so I sat back and delighted in the new sound. Took a few tracks for that light bulb moment.....had done the burndies, forgot to change the speaker cables over, was still listening to Nova????

So I am wary of this phenomenon, I am sure what I heard was real. The increase in the reality of the soundstage which could be turned on and off by changing the streamer etc. But you are right when it is subtle changes, and you want something to be good......beware.

Gaza,

As you may recall I have just purchased a Nova which has been on every day for the past 7 days for 10-12 hours a day...we love it...our LG TV sounds amazing through the system.

It goes without saying that I will be gradually upgrading based on our current limitations of space and my wife’s requirement that it looks neat etc. so I’m wondering when you did connect your NAP 300 up did it make a noticeable difference to the SQ?

Also am I right in thinking you use Kudos X2’s?  If so what speaker wire are you currently using?

Many thanks,

CTJ (Paul)

You’ll see Gazza’s speakers in his profile -PMC twenty5.26. The 300 and Nova was always something of a stop gap solution and it’s not an ideal combination. As the Nova is so new it’s best just to enjoy it. Upgrades can wait, and remember that they are an option not a necessity. The Nova is a great piece of kit. 

HH is absolutely right. I decided to by a Nova...it’s a great all in  1 solution. I did the initial demo with the last songs on a Nova/250 just to hear the improvement. Not many weeks later, my dealer had a 250dr.....then a Nap300. I had already decided this was my stopgap to  my next step up, hoping that the Nova trade in was good. ND555 on order and ex demo preamp etc.

Still listening to my Nova tonight, sounds great. You just need to decide on what you can spend.....then work with dealer on ex demo etc.

To be specific, the NAP 300 makes a big difference, it’s a lot of fun as a system. But it will show up the compromises that the Nova has in the preamp. For me not the final solution.

Apologies, not sure how to access members profiles yet!

Thanks for the advice...i’m probably going to wait until the new 272 is launched and go from there for my next step...so no rush.

As I said I’m loving the Nova...I find it’s sound very ‘addictive’ which is, I guess, why we want more.????

Out of interest if I do go 272 & 250 combo would the X2’s still be suitable or should I be thinking something like PMC 25/23’s as any floorstander’s need to be no more than 170mm wide.

Whatever is decided it will be following a proper audition.

The X2s would be fine, but the 272/250 can easily handle something a lot better. I used twenty.23s with a 272/250 briefly and they worked very well together. Don’t squash speakers in a tiny space though, they need room to the sides to breathe. 

CTJ

Just tap/click on the poster’s forum name above their post which will open a dialog box/shortcut. Tap the name agin in the shortcut and you’ll see their profile.

sjbabbey posted:

CTJ

Just tap/click on the poster’s forum name above their post which will open a dialog box/shortcut. Tap the name agin in the shortcut and you’ll see their profile.

That explains it...I was only pressing once on the members name.

Thanks for letting me know????

Cut Throat Jake posted:

sjbabbey posted:

CTJ

Just tap/click on the poster’s forum name above their post which will open a dialog box/shortcut. Tap the name agin in the shortcut and you’ll see their profile.

That explains it...I was only pressing once on the members name.

Thanks for letting me know????

Actually, one click on the forum member's photograph / avatar will take you straight to their profile .................. repetitive strain injury, and all that. 

I notice that with a name like Cut Throat Jake, he gets instant answers to his queries.

Gotta get me a scary name too!

gramophone posted:

Gazza posted:

.

We then swapped out the NDX2 for the ND555 and replayed the same track I had been playing by Dr John. It only took the first few notes and unfortunately my jaw dropped in front of my dealer.

Hi Gazza. Please cut me some slack as I get on what's rapidly becoming a hobby horse - the topic of how difficult it is to accurately evaluate these kind of things and how little things can bias us.

It's gotta always  be a good thing to audition stuff and there's absolutely no saying you're final evaluation isn't spot on.

But I'm a sceptical person in all things. I've recently  been reading pop-science stuff in which psychologists / neurologists say that much of the choice we think we have is illusory, i.e. our neural biology, our deep down, not Freudian stuff,  but our basic "wetware" runs our mind and like how our body works it's a process that is on auto: we aren't in the driving seat but have the experience that we are.

I came across this article:

https://www.theatlantic.com/he...ine-from-bad/247240/

it's about how powerful biases can be on our minds.  Informative, short easy read.

Friend told me that in any audition to compare hifi the mind will fall back on the first as a reference point and the first is difficult to dislodge. This wasn't the case in your NDX2 v's ND555 test. But perhaps the "told it's much better and more expensive" influence is paramount. This is the subject of the article above. Wine experts (who really can make meaningful distinctions when not led astray) fall for a trick like suckers when misled by this bias (i.e. falsely told "this one's much more expensive) - fall for the deceit to a man (/woman).

 

Yes you are so right about biases. Especially in hifi when in demo rooms you move up the ladder, there is also a certain element of expected improvement you should hear. That’s why I found my last high end show in Munich so liberating. If I forget on my potential bias on the ND555 and NDX2, I compared all kind of setups, just on what I heard, irregardless of price. And as you hear so many different setups it makes it interesting to distinguish. But even than so many factors play a role in block8ng an objective view. Music choice of the demo, earlier experiences with the brand, the person doing the demo, audience ambiance, acoustics in the room and I could go on forever.

I think the key thing is that one is still happy in hindsight with choices made. It’s bad to trick yourself into believing you made the right choice. Be moving more problematic as the investment is higher.