ND5 XS
Posted by: Nigel 66 on 18 November 2013
Dear Forum
Just thought that I'd post an update, following my earlier deliberations around whether to buy a 202, or an ND5 XS.
After a demo at a local dealer, I went for the ND5 on the basis of 'source first', convenience and so that I could enjoy access to internet radio. My system is a 112x, 150x, FC2x with a CD5x and Thorens TD160 as my sources.
I'm not a computer 'geek', so was a little worried about setting up a newly bought QNAP (2x 2TB) NAS, but managed to map the new network and get things working (within a few hours) with only a marginal increase in my blood pressure !
I started off ripping some CDs through dBpoweramp as AIFF files, and streaming wirelessly. The result was fine, but no more. I was a little disappointed as the replay seemed to be a little below that from my CD5x. Don't get me wrong, it was good but it left me a little under-whelmed.
So I decided to buy a 12 metre CAT 6 cable to try it on a wired basis, and also ripped some CDs as FLAC files. The difference was immediate, and to my ears gave a better listening experience than my CD5x. The separation of instruments is better, the soundstage much wider, vocals are more realistic and bass so much more controlled.
iRadio, whilst obviously having a few limited support issues has been great, in particular Radio Paradise which sounds very good. I'm using an I-Pad with the n-Stream app which is great - providing loads of interesting info about the 'CD being played'.
The upshot is that I'm listening to a lot more music that before, my TV is hardly on these days and the sounds coming from my speakers is more alive than ever before (except maybe vinyl - but that's another story all together !).
So, anyone thinking about trying streaming, like I was, give it a go. The tech stuff isn't that hard, and if I can work it out (with a little help from the Streaming Audio threads, then anyone can, trust me.
Yours very happily at the moment
Nigel