Just added a XP5XS to my ND5XS

Posted by: Thorsten_L on 27 December 2012

Oh my God.

Full nirvana.
Posted on: 27 December 2012 by Iver van de Zand

more details Thorsten :-) !!! Very interested !

Iver

Posted on: 27 December 2012 by IanG

Wider sound stage, better separation between instruments, deeper bass. More of everything that the ND5XS already gives you. I didn't realise how good an upgrade it was until I took it off again for an experiment.

 

i would say though that adding a Flatcap XS to my preamp was a much bigger upgrade. I did the XP5 first and then the Flatcap.

Posted on: 27 December 2012 by totemphile

But why would anyone? Second hand XPS2 prices have fallen considerably and are now costing quite a bit less than a new XP5XS. Makes no sense. Sorry. Unless size is important to you of course...

Posted on: 27 December 2012 by rich46

 a ten year xps 2 goes for 1300,   ten years is OLD

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by Thorsten_L
Originally Posted by IanG:

Wider sound stage, better separation between instruments, deeper bass. More of everything that the ND5XS already gives you. I didn't realise how good an upgrade it was until I took it off again for an experiment.

 

 

My experience exactly.

 

You now can look/hear DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP into the music.

 

FANTASTIC.

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by Thorsten_L
Originally Posted by totemphile:

But why would anyone? Second hand XPS2 prices have fallen considerably and are now costing quite a bit less than a new XP5XS. Makes no sense. Sorry. Unless size is important to you of course...

Quoting my friend El Duderino:

 

"Well, yeah, that´s just your opinion, man."

 

So, it may make no sense to you. But

 

1) I couldn´t care less...

 

2) You don´t know anything about how much I paid for this beautiful ex-demo XP5XS.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVCtkzIXYzQ

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by Thorsten_L

@Iver

 

If you have the money = total no-brainer.

 

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by Thorsten_L

Oh yeah...one more thingy:

 

Warmth, sweetness and FRIGGIN DETAILS...

 

I hear things I never heard, even on cheapo mp3´s (VBR, CBR 320)...

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by lawoftrust
Cool, an Ndac would fit in neatly :-)
Posted on: 28 December 2012 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Thorsten, good stuff... Enjoy your music with your new setup, and I am with you I woulnt buy older than 5~6 years for PSU/Poweramps, as the cost for servicing those electrolytics will soon need to be considered.

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by Thorsten_L
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

Thorsten, good stuff... Enjoy your music with your new setup, and I am with you I woulnt buy older than 5~6 years for PSU/Poweramps, as the cost for servicing those electrolytics will soon need to be considered.

You know, Simon, many people just post to express what they "think" is right without knowing anything about any "background".

 

I rather buy ex-demo stuff than "hunt" down used stuff...

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by niceguy235uk

So, is the purchase of a 10yo XPS2 not a good idea as it will need a service?

 

How much is a service then?

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by Thorsten_L

Hmmm...this thread was actually not about "buying" older stuff...it was just me being happy about a purchase.

 

Totemphile is of the opinion that it would be much better to buy an older XPS...without knowing what my deal was...

 

He may be right.

 

A new XP5XS is about 2100€. I guess you can be lucky and get an XPS for such an amount.

 

But I am very satisfied with a pretty new ex-demo XP5XS and I would never buy stuff which is about 5-10 ys old. 

But that is just me.

 

The service is not cheap...exact costs I don´t know.

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by Thorsten_L

I checked online prices and I found none that would match the price my seller made me.

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by totemphile

That's good news then.

 

Generally, even a ten year old PS will still sound pretty much as new. The idea that a service is due after 10 years just because it's 10 years old is one being repeated over and over again here on the forum without most people having even compared stuff. I have it official from one Naim dealer that there is no reason really to get them serviced on the 10 year mark. More than anything its been repeated often enough for people to accept it as a given. Bottom line even a 10 year old XPS2 will sound much better than an XP5XS. Saw one for €1700 recently. A three year old one for €2100. It's a buyers market at the moment for PS, that's all I am saying. Doesn't take away anything from the fact that you are enjoying your XP5XS. And if you got it at a good price, well, better still. 

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by totemphile
Originally Posted by niceguy235uk:

So, is the purchase of a 10yo XPS2 not a good idea as it will need a service?

 

How much is a service then?

Depends on the unit and where you live. Getting a unit serviced is cheaper in the UK than over on the continent. Where do you live?

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by Thorsten_L
Originally Posted by totemphile:

Bottom line even a 10 year old XPS2 will sound much better than an XP5XS. 

Maybe, maybe not...

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by rich46

tried 2004 xps and the 5 no difference    the 5 runs the dac now.   

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by living in lancs yearning for yorks
Originally Posted by totemphile:
Originally Posted by niceguy235uk:

So, is the purchase of a 10yo XPS2 not a good idea as it will need a service?

 

How much is a service then?

Depends on the unit and where you live. Getting a unit serviced is cheaper in the UK than over on the continent. Where do you live?

I spoke to one of Naim's authorised service agents and he reckoned my 10-year old XPS probably would not need servicing for some time yet.  

 

I shied away from having it upgraded to DR spec in case the factory decided it needed a service (which would affect the maths too much) - and chopped it in for a 2009 555PS instead!

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by Thorsten_L
Originally Posted by rich46:

tried 2004 xps and the 5 no difference    the 5 runs the dac now.   

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by pixies

Hi MusicLover. Congratulations on being happy with your xp5xs and sharing your joy with the forum. I too am happy with mine and find it the ideal partner for the nd5xs, in both sound and looks.

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by MDS

Glad you're enjoying your XP5XS, MusicLover.  I've got two of them, one on my CDX2 (used as a transport) and the other on my nDAC.  I've been very pleased with mine.  When I demo'ed the combination at my dealer's we also tried an XPS (non DR) on the nDAC and I must say I struggled to tell the difference so I don't agree with the earlier statement about a 10-yr old XPS sounding much better than an XP5XS.  If and when I upgrade the XP5XS on my nDAC I would expect to skip the XPS(DR) and audition the 555PS(DR).  And that's the steer my dealer has given me too. So don't let anyone undermine your new upgrade - the XP5XS is lovely bit of kit which punches above its weight.

MDS

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by rich46

before using the xp5xs on the dac .tried the nd5 streamer with the psu and it did make an improvement ,so that's worth checking out .  tried also ndx digital out to the dac compares with nd5 digital out and dac  ,couldn't really detect any changes at all.

 

the only naim gear I have is nd5/xp5/ndac the power supplies the dac hub   excellent trio . no fancy expensive over priced cables but the system works like a dream, no flaw at all. maybe naim app could be alittle easier to switch from playing album to search albums.. the psu is very quiet 

 

.

 

 

Posted on: 29 December 2012 by Thorsten_L

Hi@all!

 

Thank you.

 

Actually, that was what my post was all about: sharing my NAIM-joy.

 

At my shop when I bought the ND5XS, we auditioned the NDX and the little brother and I honestly can say that the difference was not 2000€-ish...never.

 

@totemphile

 

To be honest, I really was annoyed by your post.

I think your "motivation" might have been nice (to make a point of the PSU-buyers-market) but overall, the vibration didn´t land well in my feelings. It was like a kid (me) sharing his joy over a new toy and another kid (you) telling the other kid that actually he did a stupid thing, there are better toys for even less money...

 

I still don´t understand why you posted anything in this "appreciation of the XP5XS-kind-of-thread"...

 

Maybe I did crosscheck with "older" PSUs??? 

Maybe I prefered the sound of my ND5XS + XP5XS over ND5XS + XPS2...

 

Whatever...

Forget it...

 

I earlier said in another post, that I would never pay so much money for a PSU, but now...boy oh boy...this XP5XS really transformed the ND5XS into "somethin´else"...unbelievable.

 

Yesterday, I did a fine listening session and I was found by my wife air-drumming (again) on the couch to a vinyl-rip of "Slayer - Seasons in the abyss" (24bit/96)...the timing, the sheer IMPACT thrashed a big big smile in my face and I really "saw" what Lombardo did on his drums...goose-pimples...

 

Then I listened to one of my faves, "Counting Crows - August and everything" (24bit/96), and I really was with them in their living room, where they recorded most of it...stunning...

 

The vocals are now "alive and breathing"...the soundstage is HUGE...the tonality absolutely wonderful (and this from a vinyl-freak)...breath-taking.

 

Then on to "Sophie Zelmani - A decade of dreams" (redbook) and I heard things I never heard before.

In the song "Dreamer", during the chorus, there are wonderful tunes of a piano "over-laying" the chorus, very high tunes, beautiful...the vocals again caused goosepimples...

 

All in all, a wonderful sounding upgrade. 

 

On to "MSG - S/T"....

 

 

Posted on: 29 December 2012 by Thorsten_L
Originally Posted by MDS:

So don't let anyone undermine your new upgrade - the XP5XS is lovely bit of kit which punches above its weight.

MDS

Why would I ? Just because people try force their opinions here on my humble self???

 

Never. I made my decision after careful thinking. 

And I am not in need to justify my decisions...