New NDS Streamer

Posted by: 0rangutan on 30 January 2012

See Doug Graham interview on the audiostream.com site:

"In February we will launch our top-of-the-line NDS streaming network player at the Bristol Sound and Vision Show".

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Phil Harris

I'm suprised that there's been nothing from anyone at Bristol yet...

 

This could mean one of several things of course...

 

Maybe there's no-one there with internet access (nah - they're generally quite well geekified there aren't they? )...

 

...they're all so blown away by the demo they've been taken off to medical and are being revived with smelling salts...

 

...or maybe Doug's doing the demo and they're all locked in the room still being forced to listen to whalesong.

 

Phil

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by AllenB:

I'm quite surprised that the main webpage hasn't been updated as yet (at least not the last time I looked).

 

The official press release was sent out at 10am - I'm not expecting the website to change til the PR girls (and guy), who are at Bristol themselves today, have the time to do that...

 

Phil

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by totemphile
+1
Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by AllenB:
Sorry Phil  That's actually not great PR, surely they could have set it up so that someone flicked a switch at 10.00 this morning

If we were shipping product today then I'd agree with you but we're not ... it's being demo'd for the first time to the public at the show and the press release information was embargoed until 10am this morning so I would expect the website to be updated at some point today (but I'm not in charge of the website so I'm only speculating).

 

Phil

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by AllenB:

So, when will the NDS ship? Are we down to polishing the fascias, or is there still lots to do in the tweaking or procurement departments?

The schedule that is planned is May...

 

Phil

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by pz

Phil,

 

Please let us know something about the quality of the internal DAC of the NDS,

especially how does it compare to nDAC.

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by pz:

Phil,

 

Please let us know something about the quality of the internal DAC of the NDS,

especially how does it compare to nDAC.

 

I think that's already been covered previously?

 

If not - exactly what are you wanting to know?

 

Phil

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Harry

There is some blurb on the NDS in the streamer section of the website.

 

As for reporting from the show, I am reduced to sitting here watching the forum. My trip has been cancelled. Not happy at all.

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by pz

Which one is "better" musically: internal dac or nDAC ?

 

Should NDS/555PS sound better than NDX+DAC+555PS ?  

 

Thx.

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by fixedwheel
Originally Posted by Phil Harris:

...or maybe Doug's doing the demo and they're all locked in the room still being forced to listen to whalesong.

I knew there was a reason you are not "officially" going!!! 

 

John

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Harry
Originally Posted by pz:

 Should NDS/555PS sound better than NDX+DAC+555PS ?  

 

Thx.

I am told it does. My ears will confirm or deny in due course. 

 

There would not be much point in launching an S level streamer if the nDAC could trump it, but the proof of the pudding and the preferences of the listener(s) will shake out in time.

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by james n

Am i missing something - no FM / DAB Radio module ?

 

James

 

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by m0omo0
Originally Posted by Phil Harris:
...or maybe Doug's doing the demo and they're all locked in the room still being forced to listen to whalesong.

That same old neverending joke !

 

Funny it was even mentioned in the comments on the WhatHifi piece, where the author politely referred to "unfamiliar" music during the press demo on Monday !

 

I won't complain though, Doug make me discover the wonderful Acoustic Live album from Nils Lofgren. Thanks Doug !

 

Maurice

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by AndrewH13
Up at six, and drove from Southend to Bristol. 10.30 and sat in front row ready for the off. Wow. But that's the ND5 through this top active setup! NDX upped it a bit and the NDS made Roadhouses and Automobiles sound devine. So natural. Then we heard 4 more tracks just through the NDS. Jeff Becks Brush with the Blues was probably the best sound I have heard outside of live music, well actually it was better than 95% of live music.

I moved on from Naim to Tag Mclaren about 12 years ago in order to achieve EQ for my poor sounding room. This has given me a very expensive steer on where I want to go next!
Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by pz:

Which one is "better" musically: internal dac or nDAC ?

 

Should NDS/555PS sound better than NDX+DAC+555PS ?  

 

Thx.

 

That's already been covered - the NDX is intended to sit at the top of the "classic" range and be a reference streaming product (i.e. it has suspended sub chassis etc.) .. therefore it *SHOULD* sound better than the Naim DAC (by the way, the Naim DAC is called just "DAC").

 

Better than being told which sounds best though - go listen.

 

Cheers

 

Phil

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by james n:

Am i missing something - no FM / DAB Radio module ?

 

James

 

 

Absolutely correct - streamed audio only ...

 

... to add a DAB/FM module would have compromised the performance.

 

Phil

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by fixedwheel:
Originally Posted by Phil Harris:

...or maybe Doug's doing the demo and they're all locked in the room still being forced to listen to whalesong.

I knew there was a reason you are not "officially" going!!! 

 

John

 

 

I'm there in spirit...

 

Phil

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by pz

Thanks Phil.

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by Harry:
Originally Posted by pz:

 Should NDS/555PS sound better than NDX+DAC+555PS ?  

 

Thx.

I am told it does. My ears will confirm or deny in due course. 

 

There would not be much point in launching an S level streamer if the nDAC could trump it, but the proof of the pudding and the preferences of the listener(s) will shake out in time.

 

Well you know what I want to do with my money...

 

Phil

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Hook

Phil -

 

Thanks so much for your availability today (this morning, my time)! 

 

Is there any way you can post a clear picture or a diagram of the NDS back panel?  

 

Thanks!

 

Hook

 

PS - Thank you AndrewH13 for the first live reports of sound quality!  Wow!!

 

PPS - Chin up Harry!   Home demo in May for you I suspect!    Me, maybe...August?  Actually, I may just have to take a flyer on this one and place the order.   I cannot imagine the NDS not living up to expectations....at least for those of us lucky to be 555PS owners, and with both NDX and DAC ready for trade-in!

 

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by AllenB:

Phil

 

The nDAC has 10 clocks to work with the infinite number of possible incoming signal, I assume the NDS does not need this. But what of the digital inputs?

 

Allen

 

The DAC has five clocks for 44.1kHz and five for 48kHz (and multiples thereof)...

 

...the NDS has 512 clocks for each sample frequency which allow for a variation of +/- 150ppm in the clock speed. This should be enough to encompass the clock drift in *ANY* reasonable digital source (certainly it's far in excess of what is allowed as clock variation by the Red Book standard).

 

For anything outside that then we fall back to a sample rate converter.

 

Does that help?

 

Phil

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by Hook:

Phil -

 

Thanks so much for your availability today (this morning, my time)!  

 

No problem ...

 

Originally Posted by Hook:

Is there any way you can post a clear picture or a diagram of the NDS back panel?  

 

 

I'm afraid not - I don't have one to hand - is there anything specific you're after?

 

Phil

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Ian G.

This is the first streamer product which makes me seriously consider replacing my beloved CDS3 and moving all those silver discs to the attic. 

 

Roll on the summer when there will be enough of them out in the wild for extended home-dems.  

 

Exciting times. 

 

Ian

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by Hook
Originally Posted by Phil Harris:
...is there anything specific you're after?

 

Phil

 

Comparison to the NDX.  Other than the dual Burndys, and no DAB/FM, any other differences?   

 

Thanks!

 

Hook

Posted on: 24 February 2012 by rjstaines
Originally Posted by Hook:

 

PPS -  Actually, I may just have to take a flyer on this one and place the order.   I cannot imagine the NDS not living up to expectations....at least for those of us lucky to be 555PS owners, and with both NDX and DAC ready for trade-in!

 


I believe there's a queue already, Hook !  (welcome to the queue)