NDS

Ken - given the engineering in the NDS, it's certainly got the potential to better the nDac. Not long to wait now before you'll be able to do the comparison yourself 

Ken, the word from the Naim gentlemen who were running the 'Future of...' event that I attended was "Yes".

(mind you, at the same time as I was asking about the DAC, someone else was asking if he wanted another glass of chardonay... I'm pretty sure he was answering me, not the other fella.)

thanks guys. rjstaines, then maybe the DAC in the NDS will be rather like a good chardonnay?

enjoy

ken

As a Naim DAC owner I'm thinking the NDS is an upgrade, but so far only heard it @Bristol show - thought it was excellent plus it uses the 555PS to full effect. I just hope you don't need anything running Windows to keep it up to date as that would curb my enthusiasm; I want it to play nice and let me do upgrades without a computer - just like my cheap as chips Apple TV. 

I attended a The Future of Hi-Fi event a few days ago. While demonstrations of the show are to compare streamers and power supplies up to the NDS in an all analogue - no nDAC - output configuration, it was clearly stated by the importer that the DAC onboard the NDS indeed was superior to the nDAC.

This was said to be thanks to largely advertised separation and suspension of digital and analogue PCBs but also to digital processor integrated buffering instead of external RAM usage, thus a circuit simplification and further noise reduction. Little was said however around power supply distribution except for the inherent difference of the NDS requiring external thus greater PS to power the digital stage.

I was very impressed by the NDS powered by one 555 PS. I felt at the time a greater gap in general from NDX to NDS than from ND5 to NDX (spare you here still the large impacts of the different PS configurations). This contradicts what I had read and heard said before. I would put this on the accounts of above mentioned developments as well as of the superiority of the 555 PS (if not also of the demonstration conditions as for effective burn-ins and warm-ups between changes of connections).

It will be interesting then to compare the NDS with the CD 555 or the CDS3 for that matter (not that I can afford any one of them today..). While quite too early at this stage as the final version of the NDS is not out yet, rare rumors around first comparisons already seem controversial. The benefits of high-end dematerialization may not be all obvious yet..

Note: It was reported that Naim is preparing imminent commercialization of an entry level DAC. The unit would be in the format of the UnitiQute and provided with a file access screen display. It was also said that it is quite possible that Naim would issue a new version of the current nDAC if not a high-end DAC in the beginning of next year. I would assume that most of the latest developments will be implemented in both units.

Chag…

Chag, many thanks for the detailed response. the rumour that naim may be working on an entry level and at the same a new high end DAC is also interesting. i like the idea of the NDS (simplifies things a bit as i will not require a power lead for it).

enjoy

ken

These are great news. I always thought Naim needed a budget DAC/Streaming of Unitiqute's size.

Always rumours. Forums thrive on them.

Doug

I am sorry.. I guess we'll have to wait and see then.

I heard a rumour that, when alone at home, Doug Graham listens exclusively to AM Top 40 pop!

Who woulda thunk it!  

Hook

Hook. What a guy. Got me sussed......

I know it is a rumour! But it would be great if Naim made a junior DAC! Hopefully with async USB connectivity! Just a prod in the right direction from an old timer! Might even be able to afford such a thing in time!

Pure and simple, just a DAC with no frills in a small case with something like an iSupply to power it. Best to keep the transformer away from the gubbins inside! Possibly upgradable with a Hicap? Two neat little cases would go well with a Nait etc. ...

ATB from George

The NDS seems to tick a lot of boxes, but I would like to see a few more S/PDIF inputs as per the nDAC. If this is not possible at least an extra BNC input so I can still connect my CD transport(CDX2.2) as well as my Mac. If the NDS is still in "development" it may not be too late to implement. I live in hope. Haven't got into streaming yet, but I guess at some date I will.

Well, I can clearly see so many paths.

Naim can expand to 384 kHz, Naim can extend support for DSD2, Naim can incorporate new discrete regulators.

Naim can license Dynamic PS and get SQ closer to the scottish rival  

At the "Future Of.." event I attended Paul chose his words carefully. What's in the NDS is essentially the nDAC. It's how the sections work in one box and if any tweaks will be incorporated by  production that remain to be seriously auditioned. For this reason I believe a future higher level DAC will appear, but the nDAC is superb with a 555PS so it will have to be very special and it might take a long time. The dig out on the NDS is there for a reason. Unless you believe this facility is offered for those who may wish to put another make of DAC on their NDS. That would be a first.

Graham - surely the NDS is a no compromise approach to getting the best out of the silver disc (and more) via UPnP. Why would you want to run a CD transport - an inferior source at this level ?

James

James, not necessarily a CD-transport but many of us would like to see S/PDIF input on the back side of a network player. I like watching movies through my 552/500 system. It rocks !!!

But when it comes down to get the best SQ from digital recording the network streaming is obviously the ultimate solution.

Arthur - isn't there 3 inputs already on the NDS or am I missing something ?

James

Hi Harry -

Agreed 100%.  

As a current NDX->DAC owner, I am tempted to trade both in on an NDS.  But the thought that the NDS could be relegated to digital output duties by the introduction of a DAC555, is enough to make my head hurt!

I love using the NDX, but its digital output is already probably overkill.  And yet, I know if my clever dealer ships me an NDS just to, say, have a casual listen, I will probably fall in love, and declare it my ever lasting streamer.   Until the DAC555 comes out. 

Given it is the political season over here, I plan on flip/flopping on my streamer versus dac position at least a couple of dozen more times before finally deciding what to do...or not to do...or what to do...

Hook

It could be there to make recording to MiniDisc easier 

This man is a genius...  plain as the nose on your face, but it took Guido to point it out to us all. 

Well done Mr Fawkes!

Obvious now he says it.

Lest we forget Hook, we will have a facility to use not one but two lovely 555PSs with the NDX. I suppose one of them powering the internal DAC is equivalent to what some of us are already lucky enough to have. But that's only the beginning. I can say this in mock cheerleader mode because there will be no question of my considering a dual powered NDS.

Yet!

oh I wish I had the money or time, right now my life is  in chaos with elderly family problems, my apartment being worked on, system has been on back porch for over a month, no TV either.  Soon to have a new paint job and put it all back in order.  Last night contractor called and I had to take all my LPs and put them from bedroom to living room. What a headache, so guys if yer niggling about details, take a breather, be thankful you have music.

Hi Mudwolf -

You have my empathy! Taking care of elderly family members can be emotionally draining, and I am sure it doesn't help when you come home to relax, only to see everything turned upside down!

Hope things soon get back to normal for you.  I'll look forward to seeing some new pics of your setup -- am sure it will look great sitting in front of your newly painted wall!  

ATB.

Hook