Calling Simon: Please debug this..

Posted by: MangoMonkey on 17 February 2013

Playing around with the NDX today, I noticed something strange and I could very well be imagining this, but I'm sure somethings amiss.

Using the NDX as a streamer, I sense a little digital glare/harshness/distortion.

When just using the NDX's Dac section and using the Apollo-R as a transport, the music sounds a lot more relaxed.

Any ideas?

My suspects:

a) something wrong with the CD rips. I find this hard to believe though. I'm using dbPoweramp but a LiteOn CD ripper. I've got a Plextor on order. It's cheap and worth the 20 minutes or so to try to compare the digital files that I'll get with it. They should be identical... but let's see.

b) Network related noise? I've got a choke on the ethernet cable. Not sure what else I could try..

c) The NAS not fast enough: It's a Synology, and I somehow doubt that too..

d) Maybe that's just the noise of the ethernet card within the NDX - and I'm better of forgoing streamers at this point.

Or, I could just be imagining it and a glass of Wine is in order. ;-)

Posted on: 17 February 2013 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Hi, ok I doubt it's anything to do with the rips... Has the NDX just recently changed it character?

Things to think about and check

When using the NDX audio out, are you disabling the SPDIF out

Have you got the NDX on a suitably mechanically decoupled rack.

Use DIN and ensure its loosened slightly in it socket

Ensue Ethernet lead is not touching other lead like mains lead or interconnect.. Check cable dressing.

Finally try adjusting chassis grounding switch.

Try ensuring preamp and NDX are powered from same mains block

You could try a different Ethernet lead to see if there is a change... Or remove leadand play from USB.. Is brightness still there.. If not then we need to look at Ethernet further.

But your last point is valid, you might be hearing different presentations and reading more into it. Best leave a long gap between lisyening sessions when comparing the two devices...

Let us know how you get on.

Simon

Posted on: 18 February 2013 by MangoMonkey

Thanks Simon. Will try a few things and get back.

Having said that, I don't think I ever liked the NDX too much. I've got a ND5XS in there right now, and seem to much prefer it. Seems like a better balanaced system too: ND5XS/NaitXS/FCXS. Throwing a HiCap and/or a NDX just seems to mess things up. Had a supernait for a while but sold it. Just don't seem to get along with the supernait/SuperUniti presentation. If the NDX was designed with the Supernait in mind, no wonder I don't like it much either - the whole network glare notwitstanding..

I'll still try to debug the situation in my other system using the NDX there..

Posted on: 18 February 2013 by james n

It sounds like the balance of your system favors the ND5XS. Enjoy it and maybe trade in your NDX for a PSU (This transforms the NDX and i'd assume would do the same for the ND5XS).

System synergy can be the most difficult thing to get right and it sounds like yours works well fronted with the less expensive streamer.

I ran the NDX with the Nait XS / FC XS combo for a while and really enjoyed it. It's also worth making sure you are running the latest firmware, which (IMHO) adds bass definition and a bit more refinement.

James

Posted on: 18 February 2013 by totemphile

Does the NDX have the latest streaming board?

Posted on: 18 February 2013 by MangoMonkey

It does have the latest streaming board, and the latest firmware.

Posted on: 18 February 2013 by totemphile

Fully run in?

Posted on: 18 February 2013 by MangoMonkey

... A few months old.

Posted on: 18 February 2013 by james n

You're not Mangomonkey under another name are you ?

Posted on: 18 February 2013 by MangoMonkey

I am. That account is disabled.

Posted on: 18 February 2013 by MangoMonkey

I agree that the newest firmware made a huge difference in SQ.

I really like the XPS2 on the nDac and don't want to disturb that system by putton the XPS2 on the NDX.

Let's see what I do: I could either get rid of the NDX and the FCXS. There's somethign about the simplicity of the ND5XS/NaitXS two box system that is appearling. It just feels dumb to have 4 boxes in one room and 6 in the other...

Although.. it's hard to take the FCXS off the NaitXS. ;-)

Posted on: 18 February 2013 by MangoMonkey

In my second room: $10 Asus sound card into $10 optical cable => nDac/XPS-2 => NaitXS/HiCapDR => P3ESR. Sounds fabulous. I'll debug the networking issue this weekend.