intreaged

Perhaps an analogy of riding two different push bikes rather than driving two different cars are more relevant. You still need to make an effort but can appreciate how one might fit better and provide more ease and less strain.

Not Night and day, but after a days riding a better bike you might not feel as uncomfortable and nut numbed as if on a lesser one. Not necessarily a more expensive one at that..

Don't forget that music CAN and does sound "good" when played through a radio. Or at least the enjoyment does come thru. As you go further up the hi-fi stream you can expect to hear more of the details ,the harmonics and the extremes, fullness of sound  and even a soundstage. Small differences become noticeable. Two cars may both be able to reach 100 mph but one may do so with ease and the other - well the car might do it,but no one in their right mind would be in the car at 100 mph. The differences can easily be heard , up to 80/ 85%  after that extreme minor improvements (my own guesstimate as to what level is easily noticeable)

The "difference" can be pretty remarkable.  That does NOT mean, however, that a more modestly priced system (whatever that means to anyone) provides any less enjoyment.

If you are curious about the high end of hi fi, book yourself an appointment at your local dealer to hear their high-end gear.  Believe me, it's worth the experience to just hear it.  I've heard the full Statement system (back then with NDS and 555PS x 2) with top-end Magico speakers, and a top of the line dCS system at my local dealers.  

I have a nice little Qute2 system in my loft; it's my second system.  It provides as much enjoyment as my much more expensive system in my living room.  I'm glad I own both; I love listening to both.  But both are very enjoyable.  

Hello Popeye.  Your system is only "modest" in the context of this forum, where some people have 500 level systems. I also have a modest system, even more modest than yours! I have an ND5 XS and Supernait2. Yes, my system is somewhat modest in this forum. 

The funny thing is, the cables in my system cost more than the whole house audio system of some people I know. OK, ONE cable in my system costs more than the whole house audio system of most of the people I know. 

This forum is a great reservoir of knowledge. It is though, not representative of audio systems in general. I strongly feel that this needs to be said.

 If you have an 5SI or an XS2, please do not preface your message with "I have a humble system". 

I know I'm sounding a bit like a broken record here and people have said that there must have been something wrong with my admittedly modest to some 282/300 (although the people who bought it would beg to differ) but I enjoy the music more through my 'modest' 102/180.

This could be because I am a tight arse and have convinced myself the cheaper one sounds more 'enjoyable' it could be my sense of hearing is worse, better or different to everyone else, it could be that I have been lucky to have found a an exceptionally well built 102/180 and my 282/300 was thrown together on a Friday afternoon when everyone was dying to get to the pub.

It doesn't matter why or if other people do not agree with me the important thing is that I enjoy it more or even that I think I enjoy it more.

Of course an amp built with better components or more expensive components should sound better shouldn't it ? But there are people out there who are convinced that a length of bell wire is as good as Super Lumina and there are also people who will tell you that the best pre amp is just a piece of wire and a volume pot and there are other people who will say that we are all mad on this forum that we have all been conned because Naim Audio products sound shit!

The car and push bike analogies were both relevant but here's another analogy an ordinary working man who loves a drop of whiskey has a win on the lottery and buys himself that bottle of very expensive single malt he has always dreamed of tasting and then a very rich guy who is used to drinking very, very expensive single malts all the time buys an even more expensive bottle of whiskey. Who do you think would enjoy his glass of single malt more?

So of course the same song can be presented in different ways it can be served up on a very ordinary plate or it can be served up on a silver platter it is stiil the same song and different people will enjoy it presented in different ways and for different reasons.

So be happy with your very unmodest NDX/SN2 because it probably sounds as good to you as an ND555 sounds as good to it's owners and to you it may even sound better.