New NDS collected & installed - first impressions

Hope to get mine soon! I'm replacing my much loved NDX, thanks for the warm up warning.

Hi CDI,

I heard the NDS/XPS2 today and also disappointed.

I can tell you, the perfect match is NDS/555PS, this combination can give me the best vocal quality, vocal presentation and musical.

Go to 555PS !!!

Cheers,

Marco

Mine is going through 2 hours of some burn in audio before any listening ... one hour to go

CDI, do Saturday afternoons get any better? Hopefully the traffic is bad, and the family will be a while yet!!! 

Great news CDI, I'm really jealous as I have to wait a few more months before I can afford one, so I'm having to make the best of a DAC/555PS DR for now. I'm really pleased with the impact the PS has had on a bare DAC, and it sounds like investment will really pay back when the NDS arrives.

Keep the initial impressions flowing... Interested in wired vs wireless, and how hi-def sounds compared to CD rips.

Thanks

The best ears in the house (wife) have confirmed the NDS is superior to CDS3 but some vocals on the CDS3 are slightly smoother albeit the music is less detailed - just need a 555PS and a Unitiserve SSD - aaaaaghhhh! Eagles hotelCalifornia in 24/192 blows away the cd ripped version (expected that). 

Dave, can you imagine me having a 3-box monster TP/DC1/nDAC/555PS and a tiny black box with Renew DS atop of it

Tomorrow I shall try to publish my findings on A/B test ... 

CDI,  interesting I found the same when moving from my CDS3 to NDX -> DAC/555PS. It was female jazz vocalist where I noticed most, and some early Sandy Denny recordings. However I have got used to the new presentation now and there is no going back. I suspect it was a case of getting used to hearing more detail, also it will smooth further over time, it did with the DAC at least.

Hi Allen,

When does your NDS turn up?

Hi Allen, 

Do you think you will have time to write a comparative report on NDS/555PS vs. NDX/nDAC/555PS or are the NDX and nDAC going back to the dealer immediately as part exchange? It would be great to read another one of your splendid evaluations.

All the best

tp

Well it continues to improve. The only real issue I have (apart from not enough time at home) is the Asset NAS (4TB) running Asset with part DB poweramp rips and part Unitiserve rips. I know that a new Unitiserve SSD will solve the problem as there was no issue with a borroewd NDX and Unitiserve & as I am trading the CDS3 my family members were up in arms learning the lounge was going to have no CD player.

In summary, adding a US allows CD replay in lieu of the CDS3 (albeit not a patch on a streamer but it would not be me listening and would be rubbish music anyway) and avoids my dying laptop / DVD burner any more stress and using asset on the US will be easier. Also, the best ears in the house claim to hear a difference between a Naim rip and laptop / DBS Poweramp (vocals again) rip.

I guess I know the answer if money was no object but do wonder if US SSD is still an expensive luxury when I have the NDS to pay for??? Especially as a 555PS will be needed at some point in the future.

I guess the US is really for replay via a DAC I assume?

The US prime purpose is in its name, and thats not as a dac.

it good, far toooooooooooooo expensive 

Arrr, that's a shame! Still, looking forward to your assessment. I guess it will be quite thorough?

TIA

tp

CDI, the US is meant as a ripper and server. When used as a server, it's preferably providing files over the network to your NDS. It does have a digital output (BNC and optical) in case you want to use it with a DAC. Now, in theory there should not be a difference between your US rips and dbpoweramp rips. The US rips will be in WAV. What format are your dppoweramp rips in? I presume they are not WAV or are they? Some have reported WAV to sound better with Naim streamers. Have you enabled on the fly transcoding on your AssetNAS? You can set your Asset UPnP server on your AssetNAS to convert your dppoweramp rips from any format to WAV. This is done before the file is sent to your NDS over the network, so the NDS will receive a WAV file, rather than FLAC let's say. You can change this setting in the menue, have a look at your AssetNAS. According to many Asset UPnP server is possibly the best UPnP server out there, so you shouldn't need a US. Do you have a Mac in your household? If so, try ripping with XLD on the Mac, rather than using dbpoweramp, if on the fly transcoding does not deliver the desired result.

Good luck

tp

Thanks TP,

All my Rips via DB Poweramp are WAV and recognised fine by Asset on Asset NAS, US are WAV but I can only access on Nstream when sharing music with "ASSETNAS:1: Windows Media Connnect" instead of "ASSET UPnP: ASSETNAS.

The former can be selected and played but sound awful even though appearing to be standard WAV files?

How do you enable on the fly encoding on the AssetNAS? should I need to all files are WAV?

CDI - sorry, I don't use Asset any longer, so wouldn't know...

CDI, how is the new toy shaping up, is it still improving?

Apologies for not providing updates on the new NDS.

Work away from home, elderly mother moving house, children doing GCSE's time in my listening lounge has been limited.

I have heard enough to know I can order one and be happy. It has been a little up and down as expected for a burning in period.

I could have kept the brand new box but am returning it at the weekend as unfortunately it has packaging marks on the facia.

Will order another one + Unitiserve HDD or SSD - not sure which but that is another thread!

Hi CDI,

Congratulations!

Whats your thoughts on US rips compared to db? Seems to be many threads about rips etc. I know the US is expensive but I'm sure Naim have done their homework.

Hi Allen,

That's my problem ( according to the wife...always thinking..or lack of!)

Not sure ref US. I was wondering how US rips compare to what I am currently using (db poweramp). There seems to be much debate ref ripping Cd's, there must be something in it, or "There maybe trouble ahead". I've just read a great point you make, we spend so much money trying to squeeze every ounce of performance, why short cut what is really one of the most important parts of streaming....the rip.

Have you some thoughts?

Hope your daughters wedding went well...I love a good wedding me!!

Dusty,

The us rips sound better to me and my better hearing wife, vocals especially.

However it is the overall ease of ripping and cd playback facility (cd playback not for as it is way inferior to NDS but needed for rest of the family) that make the us a necessity albeit anexpensive one.

Thanks CDI,

I guess the only way to satisfy my curiosity is to dem one.

Many thanks.

If it is just for improving the  sound of the ripped cd I am not sure the us is good value to be honest, it is pretty marginal - it is the convenience and cd replay that sold it to my lifestyle and family acceptance factors! May do a more detailed dB v US rip comparison when burned it. Previous comparison was on a borrowed NDX not my new NDS. Watch this post in about 3 weeks when back from work / hols- should I leave the NDS on I radio for 3 weeks whenaway. It needsburning in? Is it safe?