(Squeezebox Touch + nDac) vs. (CD5XS + Flatcap) vs. ND5XS

I am using a SQT into a nDac (via DC1 RCA-> BNC).  I have also given the SQT (with Sound Check mod 3.0) a linear power supply. 

Having tried multiple coax cables, I find DC1 the most natural. the Sound Check mod made it more black for the background.  The most important change was the power supple. This made SQT very listenable.

Has anyone tried different power supple for the SQT? 

cheers matpip, yeah I have tried some of these: very worthwhile.   By the sounds of it a new PSU

would be good too even though SBT digital out only is being used.  Some have said though that the biggest change here is the lack of noise being injected back into local mains rather than what it does to the SBT.

I'm using the CIAudio power supply. Not too expensive at $250. It made the SBT into the Rega Dac totally worthwhile. Almost where you want to get the Naim Dac instead.

Have a funny feeling its only a matter of time before a new PSU is tried So delighted with the usability of the touch for my needs so well worth exploring. 

I've set the media server as suggested, but not gone as far as downloading toolbox 3. I'm a little concerned that it will automatically remove functions I need. Is this the case or can I make selections. I don't really want to blank the screen, will it be permanently  turned off.

Dear Fatcat,

ToolBox 3 is very easy to use and comes with a clear and understandable manual. Every setting can be individually manipulated, activated or de-activated afterwards and quite easily. If anything goes wrong, with 1 button on the SB Touch, you go back to factory settings and thus back to your start position.

Iver

Dear Fatcat,

ToolBox 3 is very easy to use and comes with a clear and understandable manual. Every setting can be individually manipulated, activated or de-activated afterwards and quite easily. If anything goes wrong, with 1 button on the SB Touch, you go back to factory settings and thus back to your start position.

Iver

Dear Fatcat,

ToolBox 3 is very easy to use and comes with a clear and understandable manual. Every setting can be individually manipulated, activated or de-activated afterwards and quite easily. If anything goes wrong, with 1 button on the SB Touch, you go back to factory settings and thus back to your start position.

Iver

Thanks Iver,

That's good to know, I didn't know it could be manipulated after installation. That's given me the confidence to use it, particularly with the reset button being available.

Hi Warpeon

I used a Pardo PSU with v3 mods on my Touch into nDac, even though this setup is very good it’s not a patch on the UQ into nDac.

Sean

@Iver:

How's the ND5XS working out for you? I know that you're running it into a flatcapped xs separates. Do you think the flatcap is too much for the source? I'm sure the psu on the nd5xs will improve things, but do you feel it's required? Thinking of maybe getting rid of the flatcap on the naitxs and springing for the nd5xs.

Hi MangMonkey,

Thanks for asking. My current set up gives me superb pleasure. It composes of Nac152/FcXs ( especially the FcXs was a greate upgrade) nap 150xs and the new ND5XS. I sold the SQ Touch and the North Star Essensio.

The ND5XS is constantly playing 24/7 since I git it 3 weeks ago. The performance gets better and better, and I am really happy with it. The system feels very much in balance. There is plenty of dynamics and a lot of punch. The warm sound I love so much is all over the place :-). The ND5XS has slightly less detail than the nDac I compared it to. I m planning the buy the XP5xs within 2 months since the demo showed me it gave the streamer the level of detail the bare nDac had, plus even more punch. From the demo I remebered I liked the ND5/XP5 combo just a bit more than the nDac/XP5. Probaly the majority of the community here will disagree with me, but for me the nDac was on the edge of to detailled and crispy.

Buying the ND5 also brought some "disadvantages": badly recorded music immediately shows itself. Also my Epic 5 speakers are very present and fast. The ND5 even increased this behaviour having a strong forwarded sound. This means that In the future I might look for speaker-replacement thinking of Kudos, Ovator or Totem. The biggest disadvantage is nStream, i will not elaborate to much on it, it does control music, but that's it ....... Slow, barely intelligent music browsing, no filtering etc ..

Another thing is the power amp. i have the 150XS which has a slightly other (!) color than the Nap155XS. If I can get a good deal somewhere, I will quickly replace it. Do you think there is lot of difference between 150 and 155 ?

I read an interesting thread on "end of Journey" by a guy so happy with his set up, he stops upgrading. i am close to that, and will remain in the XS series.

Ah, tip of the month: spend some 250€ in absorbtion panels. In my listening room, this gave me more than all the expensive interlinks and main distribution blocks together :-)

ND5XS == Highly Recommended !!

Iver

Sure, but the CIAudio + SBTouch @ $500 is also 1/5th the price of the UnitiQute. :-)

If you've got a UQ + nDac, you might as well have gotten a NDX instead. Probably be better than the UQ + nDac at the same price. :-)

A linear powersupply + SBT is 1/5th the price of the UQ, so really there's no comparison. The fact that you talk about them in the same forum is testament enough.

Yes - sorry that this all a bit late in the day but I had an ND5XS to try over Easter. It was very good, hugely enjoyable and an obvious improvement over my SBT Dacmagic combo but I couldn't get on with the small screen and on internet BBC radio 3 there was an obvious 'beat or clicking' in the background. I have borrowed an nDAC today and after 2 minutes it was obvious that even with the SBT that it was a special box and a step up from the ND5XS (to my ears at least. My wife also said that it was better than that other box). The sound was more natural and clearer than the ND5XS.  Obviously you need to listen and the end result may not suit everyone but i'm pretty sure that it will be an nDAC for me.

The difference reminded me of when I was auditioning speakers and the difference between the Credo and the SBLs.