Of being content

the 5 is probably naims best streamer and through it dig out to dac and psu it is a fine trio. i did power the 5 up  with the psu and fed analogue out. the psu did make a difference but not that much to use the psu.  nd5 /dac and 5 psu truely is the top combo enjoy thorsten  ,you must try high res,   bob marley from linn is stunning at 192k

I have gone through so many different configurations of audio equipment and have spent a small fortune, but it is a hobby. My lowly qute is a replacement for Arcam A18 and AVR 250 and Arcam CD17.

The qute is def better and impressive with my MA RS6s, I did audition a Uniti, but didn't need the CD player after hearing the streaming quality and felt the extra oomph! was useful but not critical in my 5x4 mtr room. I may succumb to a power amp, however, 

It is easy to get the upgrade bug and I'm resisting a superuniti, mainly because it costs £3.4k.....and we need a new car.

The qute is still intriguing me, despite some technical glitches from time to time....I do question whether the return in terms of sound quality against cost increases as much as you may have to pay out.

Its a bit like I'd really like an Aston Martin but I'm not sure I'd get as much pleasure out of as I did my Caterham 7 or Mazda MX5....I'd just worry about crashing it...

Last week I heard a bare ND5XS into a bare Supernait, into SF Cremona M.

Simply stunning, the best 2 box system I've ever heard. 

quote:

 I am a teacher, earning a nice 2800€ every month.

Wow,... not bad Thorsten. (mine is closer to 50% of that!) 

Nice to read your enthousiastic experience with the ND5xs.

So far I've only heard the Unitiqute and the NDX, at a dealers show.
Both left a good impression though.

I agree that it's quite insane that a (overhere already) € 2600,- costing streamer, would "need" an extra PSU, costing another silly € 2000,- to sound at its best.

I'm quite confident the 5XS PSU would make a nice upgrade, but I'm also confident that it already sounds stunning on its own.

Enjoy

regards,

Alco

Still can't understand why ND5XS wasn't designed to take flatcap or hicap like the rest of the XS range

Hi

Whilst what you have written is all true, it has been true for years. There are not huge, life shattering rewards from upgrades to any digital sources IME. Certainly not like there was from vinyl anyway. That said, putting a s/h 555ps on my NDX was a no brainer for me and the additional enjoyment I got out of it. Would I spend out full wonga on a new 555ps, not so sure.

What I do believe strongly though is that, apart from very, very few CDPs I have heard, none have pulled my strings enough to warrant purchase and those that did, were far too expensive for me. Then Naim* came along with their streaming and even the lil ole UnitiQute did it for me in spades.

Glad your enjoying your kit!

Julian

nb * I include the Linn KDS/1 in my list of streaming stuff that does it for me too.

@Music Lover: How long did the ND5XS take to break in/Perform at it's optimum?

On a different note: Are you completely bonkers? Why would you spend a month's pay on a streamer?

Sounds familiar to me:

1. I'm content

2. I don't need that PSU

3. No, really not

4. I'm really, really content

5. "Buy it now"

I can't think of many boxes I've heard that need an external PSU to sound good at their respective price points. That many have the option indicates only that an upgrade is possible without getting rid. But it's not mandatory.

Hmmm...I know.

My point was rather that I read several comments on the ND5XS/NDX where it was stated more or less that: 

"Yes, the machine is fine, but you NEED a PSU."

Hmmm...break-in...about a month...but I am not a firm believer in huge break-in results...it sounded fantastic icecold and straight out of the box.

Bonkers? Thank you, my dear.

Of course I am bonkers...did you see my system in my profile?

Actually, I did a lot of "item-juggling". Like give away the CD5i-2 for the ND5XS + some Euros, etc...and similar deals over the years.

And, on a different note, my wife is a teacher too and we both chose to not have kids...YEAH!

So, we have enough. Thanks for the concern...

I don´t drink, don´t smoke, no drugs, no expensive meat (vegetarian), no fancy clothes...happy and simple.

Except when it comes to music...then: BONKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way: Yes, hi-def stuff kicks phat...

T,

Glad to see you are happy man.

Yes a psu will up its game, but you will only be chasing the quality you are already getting from your TT.

If you do ever feel the need to upgrade a box or even add a box?

The new DR Hicap for your Snait is worth a listen and one for your Superline

Enjoy,

Stu.

Stu,

both planned for end of the year!!!

Nothing beats vinyl, but IMHO the ND5XS comes very close...

Hi Music Lover

I am new to this forum and Naim 

I have now had my ND5 for 3 days and just can't stop playing it!

I stream from an iMac and everything is lossless aiff. Also have studio 192 files also. I have been really impressed with sound quality.

Yesterday I was listening to iradio 320 Kbps and was shocked with the sound quality 

Its on now as I type but I have found the forum really useful for information and other users experiences. It's a great help when you are a newbie!

Its close to the weekend and I will put the ND5 to the test! 

Thought you would want to know another ND5 lover is out there!

Bonkers indeed!!  How about this one?  Sell your car:

no insurance costs, no maintenance, no gas/petrol. 

All the money I saved goes directly into music and 

hifi...Naim's the Game!  

Cailifornia Jim

A refreshing point of view on this forum, where there seems an ever present need to upgrade to something better.

To suggest that an outboard PS is a requirement to allow a product to perform properly is nonsense. If it is sold as a stand-alone product then it should perform perfectly adequately as such. A PS may improve things, but so what? It doesn't mean you are obligated to buy one. Equally in some cases people prefer the performance without a PS.

Some people apparently are unable to enjoy music without a 552 in the system .......................

Peter

a nice post and thread by Thorsten

There is way too much advice to mindlessly upgrade on this forum.

I would rather buy 2000 euros of vinyl (not in one go, of course) than buy 2000 euros worth of power supply for a format that is inherently flawed anyway (digital)

So would I.

Recently, I sold my Led Zeppelin LPs ( I, II, III, IV) on 200gr CLASSIC RECORDS-vinyl for a pretty good price and because the money came in handy and because I have some very awesome hires-vinyl-rips of these records.

Then, trying to be content , yesterday I found 3 very nice pressings (early Germans for "I" and "II", French 1st of "III") and I have to admit that they sound very good to my humble ears. 

Then, against the opinions of many critics, I found a sealed copy of the 4-LP-Mothership-box.

I am very happy that I bought this box, because the sound on ALL 4 records is absolutely stunning and even a tick better than my 200gr-LPs...I could immediately tell on hearing the first 10 seconds of "Good times, bad times".

I paid 60€ for this sealed box and being content is cool.