HDX - Hard Disk Noise

Posted by: xela on 26 October 2009

Thanks for joining.

I´m thinking about selling CDX2 and buyiung HDX + Naim DAC for installing a NaimNet in my new house.

But I hate hard disk noise in my music-room.

What are your experiences about the hard disks in the HDX?

Here in Germany I still haven´t the chance to hear the Naim DAC. Is the sound of HDX + DAC + XPS better than CDX2 + XPS

I know I have to test it at my dealer. But somtimes you are sitting at your desktop and thinking about something and you want to have a quick answer.

Regards Alex
Posted on: 26 October 2009 by John R.
Hard disc noise was an issue if you are sitting close to your HDX and are listening to rather quiet music. A CDX 2 is surely more quiet, but I heard that Naim decreased the noise level. Give it a listen and decide if it is too loud for you.
Posted on: 26 October 2009 by xela
Thanks for request.

In my new living-listening-room i ´ll sit 3.5 m away from the black-boxes.

Do you think I´ll hear the nois in quiet passages of classical music?

Regards Alex
Posted on: 26 October 2009 by Bruce Woodhouse
Xela

I would doubt you will notice any noise from that distance. However it is a very soft background 'white noise' anyway, the sort you might get from the central heating for example. It never seems intrusive.

Every now and then you get the disks spinning up, for example to do a scheduled back-up. That is louder but over in a few seconds. You can schedule the back up for overnight if you leave the player powered up.

Bruce
Posted on: 26 October 2009 by xela
thank you Bruce.

I think it is worth to try.

What do you think about the sound:

CDX2 + XPS against HDX + Naim Dac + XPS?

Regards Alex
Posted on: 26 October 2009 by John R.
If you are planning to use the Naim DAC than I would think about buying Naim NS 01 instead of the HDX. NS 01 digital out right into the Naim DAC should be good. Comparing the NS 01 to the HDX the latter has got a better output stage, but the output stage will not be used when you use the Naim DAC... And the NS 01 is way cheaper. The only downside is that the NS 01 has got no touch screen which for me would be no downside at all - I would use an iPod touch to operate the NS 01. There is an thread about this topic here in the forum.
Posted on: 26 October 2009 by Bruce Woodhouse
quote:
Originally posted by xela:
thank you Bruce.

I think it is worth to try.

What do you think about the sound:

CDX2 + XPS against HDX + Naim Dac + XPS?

Regards Alex


Not a comparison I've tried. Thread here is my thoughts in comparison with CDS3.

Bruce
Posted on: 26 October 2009 by pcstockton
quote:
Originally posted by John R.:
I would use an iPod touch to operate the NS 01.


With the Streamnet app?
Posted on: 27 October 2009 by David Dever
No, there will be a native iPod touch / iPhone app to control the local audio output(s) of the HDX (or NS01/02/03) directly.

Details to be announced once the app has been approved for release by Naim and Apple.

The StreamNet app you refer to is iLinX, which is used to control the NNP01 or 02 room amps (among other things) within a NaimNet / DigiLinX system.

As an aside, if you prefer a larger user interface, it is also possible to connect an Elo 1515L 15" VGA touchscreen to the NS01 via VGA and USB.
Posted on: 27 October 2009 by T38.45
Hi xela, i sold my hdx because of the noise of the blower and the internal disks... going now with linn and naim dac! you should def . hear the hdx before you buy it!!! as soon as naim build a noiseless streamer i will switch back to the lovely black gear! regards ralf
Posted on: 27 October 2009 by xela
Thank you for your advice T38.45.

Does the noise of your hd and the blower have increased or could you hear it from the start of your system?

Regards Alex
Posted on: 28 October 2009 by T38.45
hi alex, i could hear it from start, but i listened (and bought) on my dealer's side in a bigger room...there, hdx was about 4m away.
now, in my living room, i have only 2m distance from hdx....
the hdx sounds superb but it makes "backround noise"!
regards ralf