NDS

I wonder how much further Naim can go. As mentioned above the DAC stages within the NDS are basically an optimised nDAC albeit with the option of utilising the 555PS fully. The only thing holding it back in the NDS application is the 'noisy' streamer and control board. I wonder if Naim will explore the custom converter option like DCS have done to give them even more control over the digital to analogue conversion process if and when they produce a 500 series DAC ?

Hook - hope the recovery is going well.

James

Allen, I don't think ND555 is gonna happen.

nDAC was a temporary solution for the transition period between CDPs and network players.

I think that a "streaming" part of the network players will fast become a commodity.

So I guess that Naim (and Linn) will stick to network players with reclocking S/PDIF inputs for alternative sources (like DVD, BD, PC etc.). 

If the NDS pushes the bounds of CD555 and also the KDS ( , the question I am asking is where do Naim go with a ND555? Would it be a commercially viable unit? How many would buy such a unit at probably double the price (at least), if the NDS performs as well as we hope? If a high end DAC2 comes next year, how much better can that be over the NDS (certainly 384 kHz is not going to be a huge selling point)? I see the DAC2 being for people who just want a high end DAC, the NDS without the streaming section (so mass-loaded suspension, etc, etc), simple for Naim to do without too much development time (all the engineering has predominately been done on the NDS and previously on the nDAC).

I seem to recall discussing just how good the CDS3 was when it was first introduced and many questioned whether it could ever be surpassed.

Then Naim released the CD555, nuf said?

I must admit the prospect of seperate NDX feeding into an optimised Ndac2 sound interesting. For me the NDX -> ndac/555PS with Redbook is astounding, but perhaps it's with hidef that the ndac2 will take things further. For me separating the noisy network streamer from the delicate DAC makes perfect sense and I suspect that the path I'll continue to tread.

Simon

On the contrary Naim would hardly leave a 25 K$ niche open in the sources range which give commercial chances to the better-than-NDS box  

Naim can always suspend NDS guts on a heavy brass rack in the quiet room and split the board into two stages and work out a thicker billet for the top plate, employ the latest digital filter, play the tricks on the bias at the output stage, extinguish the lights on the front panel and call it a "STATEMENT PRODUCT".

I'm sure all of these tricks will lead to an audible effect to justify the cost 

Naim can also put a heavy die-cast cumbersome god-knows-who-use-it remote in the box  

Hey, leave the poor R-Com alone.....I miss mine since moving to HDX and having to handle plastic again!  G

I like the look though  -- it gives my casual guests a faint trace of logic on why the home audio may be that expensive 

I tend to agree but in the case of the mythical SuperDAC there is a marketing imperative and this will lead to a queue forming.

We seem to be heading into the same realm as computer upgrades. i.e. whatever you buy will be out of date almost as soon as you buy it.  I think what I may go down the route of a second 555PS for the nDAC (I use my first one for the NDX, as my ears tell me it produces the most benefit there).  That is unless I could get a good price for my nDAC and NDX ...