Naim DAC

Posted by: Khan on 31 October 2018

hi guys, can anyone chime in on how the N DAC fares against the modern plethora of DACS. any comparisons to Schiit, Berkeley, Aqua would be handy. Anything from tonal balance to definition will be great.

 

If Mr Underhill could kindly report back if he has any feedback of the Border Patrol DAC SE and the Naim DAC that would be lovely. My DAC history so far has been, Audiolab MDAC,  HRT, Chord Hugo, Schiit Gungnir Multibit. Never owned a Naim source component therefore I’m considering moving to an all Naim setup. 

 

Thanks 

Posted on: 01 November 2018 by hungryhalibut

Dearie me, there are some incorrect its as well. Standards are indeed slipping. 

Posted on: 01 November 2018 by Timmo1341

Q. How many grammar nazis does it take to change a lightbulb?

A. Too

Apologies for topic drift, but couldn’t resist!

Posted on: 01 November 2018 by Gazza

It was still a cracking read even if I had to hold my breath ????

Posted on: 01 November 2018 by bongoman

My much loved nDAC is back in it’s box since my NDX2 arrived and is now partnered with 555PSDR. The NDX2 is sounding great with PSU and SL interconnects on loan from my dealer. I’m thinking of trading in nDAC to fund the interconnects but worried I might regret it...

Posted on: 01 November 2018 by TOBYJUG

Not sure I can add any more, but I'll chime in anyway. Sure you don't have to use it with an added power supply to get the best out of it.

I run mine with circa 1k Nordost cables on digital, power and RCA and supported on a Finite elemente Pagode master reference. Gets out what I like about it's stock mode.

Although I have never tried it with a power supply, so It could be a case of the blind leading the blind, but that's never put me off and shouldn't put anyone else off when considering these devices that "benefit" from such.

Has been a few times I have read, even on this forum of listeners actually preferring a power cable upgrade over a power supply upgrade, and those upgraded power cables can cost a lot less.

Posted on: 02 November 2018 by Mr Underhill
Khan posted:

Mr Underhill thank you for your response. I can get a Naim DAC from a dealer whom I’ve dealt with before so I’m not worried about that. I would love the audio note DACs to be honest but they are way out of my budget. Which is around £1250. The border patrol DAC SE and NDAC are the 2 I’m most interested in. 

In regard to the Hugo. I really enjoyed it for almost a year before it went in for repair and I realised that I actually enjoyed the HRT pro which had a more warmer tone. 

Mr underhill How would you compare the Border patrol against the NDAC? I understand it’s from memory, but any insight will be helpful. 

Hi Khan,

I think my ownership was so far apart that anything I stated would be of no real value, apart from the fact that they are both good DACs. I bought my nDAC when they first came out and owned it for about seven years; it has always been an over-achiever, in that it leaps the cost/quality Naim hierarchy. But, there is something about NOS R2R that just sits right with me.

As your system is Naim I think it is worth being straightforward with yourself: In due course will you feel the upgrade itch? If 'yes' then the nDAC has a built in path forward. If 'no' then Gary will sell you a box on sale or return, and perhaps your dealer may lend you his nDAC so you can at least get a feel for your options; I, for one, will be very interested in your thoughts afterwards.

Good luck,

M

Posted on: 02 November 2018 by Simon-in-Suffolk
hungryhalibut posted:

Dearie me, there are some incorrect its as well. Standards are indeed slipping. 

I best go and sit in the corner then 

Posted on: 02 November 2018 by mattl

It has been mentioned how the nDac benefits from an external power supply, but in my experience it also benefits hugely from upgrading the digital signal fed into it.

I've had a number of nDacs in my system over the years as I've chopped & changed my setup so I know its sound well however last week I tried feeding the digital output from an NDS into it and I'm astounded by the difference it makes to the nDAC. I'm genuinely hearing details in recordings that I've never heard before and it also seems to have that relaxed musical flow that upper level Naim sources do so well. And this is without any external PS on the nDAC.

Posted on: 02 November 2018 by Khan

Agreed. The Berkeley audio alpha USB did the same trick for me. Mind you my server is a MacBook Pro ssd running audirvana so it was much needed. 

Posted on: 12 November 2018 by Fred11

I have my ndac with the Teddy USB/spdf interface. I recently bought a cheap teddydac out of curiosity and put it head to head with my ndac. The Teddy throws a bigger soundstage and has a nice analogue quality, but the ndac has lots more prat and focuses on rhythms more. It sounds also more detailed and focused, presenting better colors of instruments. And it has by far the best bass! So my ndac is staying it has out-dueled the chord qutest and now the Teddydac for me in my system. A stayer and digital legend, perhaps?

Fred