NDX vs. PerfectWave DAC?

It was on my short list, too, because it could be converted into a Network Player by the addition of a "Brifge" that could simply be slotted in at the back of it. As far as I know there is a new "edition" of it coming out soon. Look around the web for more info. I never got round to listen to this interesting DAC though.

Best wishes,

Peter

Hi Peter,

today I was able to listen to both of them and was surprised about the difference imo. The PWD seems to show more resolution/details. With the PWD I clearly hear details in the music that were only hardly noticable on the NDX.

As I know Naim is not known for the best/last detail production, but this huge difference was a suprise for me.

Josch

Hi Peter,

today I was able to listen to both of them and was surprised about the difference imo. The PWD seems to show more resolution/details. With the PWD I clearly hear details in the music that were only hardly noticable on the NDX.

As I know Naim is not known for the best/last detail production, but this huge difference was a surprise for me and I am a little disappointet by Naim in this regard.

Josch

Hi Josch,

I waited to see if anyone with knowledge posted, as they haven't let me give you my uninformed reactions:

When the PerfectWave solutions became available I was interested - but getting to listen to boutique solutions from the US in the UK is very difficult. The reviews I read were interesting, and generally positive.

How any individual bit of kit functions is a product of the system into which it is placed.

I am surprised by your observation of the lack of resolution of the NDX. Now I have not listened to the NDX, but I do use the nDAC, and directly compared this to the Benchmark DAC1, which has frequently been praised for its resolving ability, and the two where equal in my system. Since then I have added a PSU to the nDAC which has significantly upped its game.

All that said, I am sure that for all of us the thing we want is music. Historically I have listened to DACs that have made elements of the music stand out, but that have been less satisfactory when listening to music over the medium/long term.

If you have the chance to borrow these for a longer period I'd be interested in what you hear.

It could be that the PWD is a blinding bit of kit!

M

I think PWD is a serious kit and needs a proper Naim product to stack up against -- which is a nDAC  and which falls in the same price range. I was a happy user of PS Audio DLIII and it was a very good DAC. It takes care of speed and isolation of PS, discrete output stage and finally provides a very good bass punch. It has a very typical upsampling digital sonic character (overall soft but a bit "ringing"). It was far from neutral but featured very Naim-type bass punch. I can't say bare nDAC outperformed DLIII in all aspects except much better jitter rejection. But going to nDAC/XPS was a huge step-up from bare nDAC and outclassed DLIII. On the other hand PWD improved on PS and introduced the non-upsampling conversion and apodizing filters. It would be interesting to see how it works against nDAC/555PS but local dealer does not have a sample on display. 

It would be interesting to see how it works against nDAC/555PS but local dealer does not have a sample on display.

AMA,

I think this is a REAL issue.

When I wanted to listen to valve amps there were NO dealers close enough to assist, and one (an EAR dealer) described the amps I wanted to listen to as 'soft', something that went against the reviews I had read, and my own personal experience, when I borrowed them from a different dealer.

When comparing speakers I spent several hundred pounds on postage, to borrow the speakers I anted to listen to - and could do no back to back listening.

My local dealer, at least the one I used and trusted, has closed.

I described the PWD as a boutique product, of course the truth is that ALL high end HiFi is selling into a very limited market, and many producers seem to me to be sprinting up-market in the hope of surviving.

-- Sorry J, complete sideline from your thread!

M

I have seen that the Perfectwave Dac II is out now. Interestingly, Mk I owners can upgrade their machines themselves to the new version with a DIY audio board, or get a dealer to install it. Thanks!