NDX and BADAC

Posted by: naimUnT on 07 November 2011

The NDX + nDAC + 555PS was very good when I auditioned them recently in my system. The only problem was the 2 extra box count and the mullah! The cost is staggering indeed! Looking for a cheaper alternative, I tried the Berkeley Alpha DAC. The configuration is digital out from NDX via BNC to BADA BNC in. The Berkeley conveniently displays the sample rate. Interestingly, when my NDX is configured native digital out, the FM radio and iRadio and UPnP samples at redbook 44.1 but when the digital out is configured 24/96, the sample rate stays at 96. The soundstage is capacious and the resolution is quite impressive! Has anyone tried a NDX with the Berkeley Alpha DAC?
Posted on: 08 November 2011 by naimUnT
After about 2 hours of listening I felt fatigued! The soundstage was very wide and resolution and imaging was very good but it just lacked that organic sound that I was looking for! It reminded me of a 7 channel system with impressive soundstage and detailed imaging. Ive heard humbler DACs which emotionally involved me with the music better.
Posted on: 08 November 2011 by Rosewind

Interesting comments on the well-regarded Berkeley Alpha Dac, a DAc that is on my must-listen-to list.

 

This Spring I listened to a bare Naim Dac into a Nait XS fed by an HDX and was not too impressed. To my ears it sounded rather bright in the upper registers in comparison to a Rega Dac. I ended up buying an Ayre Dac that sounds very clear and detailed, yet isn't unforgiving at all.

 

I suppose that choosing a Dac comes down to money, personal preferences and system balance. In that order.

 

Best wishes,

Peter

 

 

Posted on: 08 November 2011 by naimUnT
Peter: well said! In fairness, perhaps more time is needed to play around with it in my system. Too often I tend to dismiss an item when I really should spend more time understanding the equipment and making a real effort to to get some synergy with the rest of my system. Alas, as with most home auditions, I just did not have enough time before the dealer calls for it back!
Posted on: 08 November 2011 by Tylercoupe
I have HDX SSD systems in two separate homes. One system has HDX/ndac/PS555. The other system is HDX/ARC dac8. Both systems use bnc digital interconnects. I greatly enjoy both configurations. The ndac provides a natural and detailed presentation without sounding analytical. The ARC dac8 combo takes this presentation and adds several layers of texture to the musicians. I can easily listen to both systems for hours... But would say the dac8 is my preference
Posted on: 08 November 2011 by likesmusic

Why not look for a much cheaper streamer than the NDX, given that in feeding it to your proposed nDAC you would be wasting the DAC that is inside the NDX, which must be a substantial part of the it's cost.

Posted on: 09 November 2011 by naimUnT
Originally Posted by likesmusic:

Why not look for a much cheaper streamer than the NDX, given that in feeding it to your proposed nDAC you would be wasting the DAC that is inside the NDX, which must be a substantial part of the it's cost.

Hi likesmusic: yes, I am very tempted to swap for the less expensive N5XS but I am not sure yet whether it is confirmed that the digital out from the N5XS would be the same as the NDX.

 

Hi Rosewind: the Ayre QB-9 is also looking quite attractive although I have not yet auditioned it. From what I hear, the Ayre has a warmer, rounder sound (whatever that means, I take it to mean analog) than the Berkeley and Weiss.

 

Hi Tylercoupe: glad you found a good DAC in the ARC and, from what you also own, to be compared with the HDX/nDac/PS555 and to prefer the ARC is very high praise indeed! Maybe I should give the ARC a listen too!