New NDS Streamer

I guess this is  it!

Thanks Andrew ! Nice detailed piece BTW.

Cheers

Maurice

But Phil, they're having a good time there ! Flooding your colleagues with thousands of questions, chatting with each other, and digging up nice second hand vinyls !

And it's not like it was dead easy to post from an iPhone, especially when the network is crowded...

Must dash, but I'm really looking forward to the pictures and the first hand impressions later in the night.

Thanks for your time BTW. Nice to have you here.

ATB

Maurice

Thanks Andrew, very interesting, very simple !

All I can say is that I am very glad I decided to go to the show tomorrow.

This thread has upped the ante..!  And it's nice to see Phil enjoying

himself so much on it.  Can't wait for tomorrow!

California Jim

ahhh well it's a pleasant relief from trying to beat a NetGear Stora into submission ... I'm currently having a discussion with NetGear about whether a product that appears incapable of providing a shared folder on a network should actually be being sold as a "NAS".

NetGear ReadyNAS Duo = Good .... NetGear Stora = not so good it seems.

Phil

Phil,

Slighty off topic, but, out of curiousity, does this mean that the quality of the NDX is also compromised if you choose to have the FM/DAB module added?

Cheers

Steeve

Ultimately it's an additional piece of digital electronics in the box running at RF frequencies and sucking power from the power supply ...

It's not a huge load but for the NDS (which was designed to be as good as we could make it at the price point) it was a compromise that we didn't want to accept...

Phil

Posted a brief report here with NDS content: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...nt/13956224327840369

Just got back from Bristol....

Well... very easy on the eye, put a big smile on my face, great curves and even brushed my hand.

I am of cource talking about the very beautiful lady on the stand sorting out tickets for the dem room .

O....and the NDS, for me was eveything I expected. Active 600's driven by 3 X 250's and a 552.

Suffice to say, the NDS had a high expectancy and steped up to the mark. The NDX as well gave a good account of itself, but as you would expect with a price difference I could clearly hear the improvement given by the NDS.

Well done Naim.

Alison and Chelsea are lovely!

Phil

Oh the problems of living in Canada, just too far away to go see Alison and Chelsea, er I mean the NDS.

I'm pretty excited about this as I may be able to upgrade my system to a higher level than expected. The original route was to go for an NDX to attach to my NDac which is powered by an XPS2 and I have my CDX2 modded so it also connects to the NDac then get a 555PS to power the NDac and attach the XPS2 to the NDX. 

Now it seems that I could purchase the NDS and sell my NDac, assuming this combination sounds better and also attach my CDX2 to one of the inputs on the NDS, then that leaves the way clear for a 555PS. Price wise it sounds good and also shelf wise as well.

Good one Naim.

Tim

It is impossible. However, I think you'll like it. There was no opportunity for me to hear the difference between NDX/DAC/555 and NDS/555. So all I can say is the NDS was the best thing I heard on the day. 

Hi Plinko -

From The Sound Organization, through my Naim dealer.   

Sound Org distributes both Naim and Isotek in the US, along with several other brands (Chord, Rega, Dali, etc.).   As far as I know, Isotek only makes a 20amp version.   Do you need a mains cable rated for something higher than 20amp?

Hook

Nicely played Allen! 

I must confess that I really enjoyed the recent What Hi-Fi article on Ms. Esposti ...er, um, I mean, on that new streaming whatever thingee. 

Hook

Hi Allen,

Sorry for this admission....to be honest ( and I know this doesn't help) a home dem is going to tell everyone what they need to know. I was sat off centre on front row seating in a relatively small room. I was sat very close to the S600's, too close. Less than ideal to get a true picture. Suffice to say the XPS/NDX config was very good. A setup I am very familiar with. What threw me was how good active is. At low listening when I walked in, a complete audio spectrum was all there to enjoy (Cue Darke Bear any second ) I confess to being somewhat of an active virgin (cue the jokes!!), boy am I glad we only had 35mins listening alocated, then the next group moves in.I could quite easily of sat there enjoying any genre listening to the NDS/555PS on an active system and then the what if's start....o no I'm a Naimoholic!! 

Not much I know, but enough to know Naim have achieved the next step on the streaming ladder....with some considerable steps I might add.

I know others will be along to report in better detail than I.

Will I be getting one...O YES. What was interesting in a very breif chat to one of the Naim guys when I mentioned losing my DAC as well as NDX in favour of the NDS he said hang on to it and see what it brings to the party...ouch my head hurts.

Any way Phil.....Alison & Chelsea eh!!!

Thanks Hook.  I will contact Sound Org.  No, I don't need something higher, 15 amp was just more convenient.  I have a device (non-Naim, I might add) where this cord might help.

ooops.

If the nDAC will really add to the SQ of the NDS, either the heads of R&D or of Product Management should be sacked right away.

Alternatively, Naim should consider to better brief stand personnel.

This is ridiculoius.

it could mean that my nDAC is still king of the f-ing hill!  I love it!

Maybe there is just no way of jamming all of that other stuff into a DAC's box without compromise.

Of course a NDS>nDAC must be better than an nDAC alone with whatever source.  But the fact that it may be able to play a part with kit this sophisticated makes me happy.  It may simply change the flavor or something but the digital output on the NDS is interesting to say the least.

Maybe it is just there because it needs to be on a unit that spendy.  There are other DACs out there right?  Maybe an NDS into one of those crazy four box DCS get-ups?

-patrick

Maybe there will be a reference DAC coming in the future (another external box to, once again, upgrade the NDS).

Gregg

First of all, the NDS/555PS versus NDX/XPS2 comparison done today wasn't exactly a fair fight, now was it?  Anything less than "OMG...what a difference!" should have been a disappointment!

More interesting comparisons will be done with identical PS's, for example, the 555PS.  Most of us, I have to believe, will want to hear:

1) NDS/555PS versus NDX/555PS, or

2) NDS/555PS versus Streamer->DAC/555PS, or

3) NDS/555PS verus Linn KDS/1.

...and, most importantly, in the comfort of a proper demo room (ideally, our own listening room)!

I do understand why Naim did what they did today.  In a crowded, noisy hotel room with thin walls and mediocre at best acoustics, it was important to clearly demonstrate the concept of their product hierarchy.  But I have to believe that most of Naim's NDS sales will come from folks who put it up against stiffer competition!

Given the NDS design, and given a room designed for good music played by high-end audio, I anticipate the NDS winning these more interesting battles.   Whether it wins by a wide enough margin to result in purchases remains to be seen of course!

As far as the comment "one of the Naim guys" made to Dustysox, I am baffled.   Naim clearly feel that the DAC is an upgrade for NDX.   It says so on the NDX's web page!   Naim have yet to publish the "Upgrade Path" (or "Suggested System" for that matter) for the NDS.  But given its design, I do not see how it is even remotely possible for the DAC to be an NDS upgrade! It would be very nice if whoever it was from Naim made this comment offered to explain their thinking further...

Hook

Most definitely there will be.  Doug said as much in the What Hi-Fi interview.