SQ upgrade ND5xs

Use a better ripping software like DBPowerAmp and maybe add a Flatcap to push your system a bit further.

I'm waiting for an XP5XS (995 £ ex-dem) and a ZoneRipper mini (929 £ new, 1x2TB), just ordered.

I'll let you know ...

Thanks .. both helpful , will be interesting to try ripping software . Hope you enjoy the new gear Matteo!

I think the Flatcap doesn´t work with the ND5xs...

I also use a ND5XS and the SQ is superb. Not sharp at the top end.

I rip with dbPowerAmp in a Synology NAS. From NAS to ND5XS with an 9m Audioquest Ethernet Cable.

Quite right, but it does work with the amp the OP has...

There was a significant improvement with a XP5XS on the ND5XS, more on the SQ for 'Red Book' CDs at 16/44.1, but then also with the HiRes 24-bit tracks @ 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 172 & 192 KHz.

Also try a HiLine interconnect between the ND5 and Amp. This improvement was more subtle, but improved the 'polish' of the sound.

What makes the ND5 such a delight to use, is the UPnP server, and the improvements in responsiveness with n-Stream on the iPad, browsing, Album Artwork handling, Album Artist and Compilation Album organization and FLAC-> WAV transcoding with Asset over Twonky Server. I can certainly recommend introducing Asset UPnP on a Raspberry Pi into your system over Twonky on a NAS, see the discussion elsewhere in this forum.

Simon.

I ve already downloaded DBPoweramp and will try some side by side comparisons of FLAC and iTunes ripped ALAC but my gut feeling is the lack of a wired connection is the problem as SQ from USB source is often better than the NAS even with MP4 type downloads. On the whole I love the ND5

and am just trying to get the best out of it. SQ on Radio paradise etc is also excellent. Thanks again for everyone's input.

it looks like the sound from the USB is always better than one from the NAS, using the UPnP, with Naim network players. I have the Uniti and can hear the same thing.  and to be more precise, it is not that the UPnP does not sound good it is that  USB inpit sounds VERY good, indeed.

Bobby

As promised ...

... XP5XS (part I)

After a week or so with my new (ex-dem) XP5XS on ND5XS, I can say what follows:

- subtle improvement of mid/highs and soundstage (already good in the bare ND5);

- big improvement in "analogueness" (a piano solo seems played by vinyl ...);

- bass remain, IMO, the main weakness of ND5.

So, IMO, worth the XP5XS the investment?

- s/h: absolutely

- ex/dem: maybe yes

- new: maybe no

My 2 cents.

M.

OK I think I'll look  into ex demo as a future upgrade.I did download hi def wav from naim label and thought the sound was superb. Re CD ripping if the original CD is badly produced it will still sound poor no matter what file format is used for the ripping so I think the original source material is the most important variable in a decent set up and this probably applies to downloads too IMO.

MMM more food for thought. I've not noted any real difference between ALAC and FLAC on side by side comparisons of the same tracks so far but will compare wav too.

In my personal experience, FLAC uncompressed are indistinguishable from WAV in term of SQ and have better metadata (I had some, unresolved, issues with WAV and n-Stream, especially concerning album-art, naming and tagging).

Dbpoweramp software allows cd ripping in uncompressed FLAC and also the conversion in this format from WAV, FLAC compressed 0-8, AIFF, ALAC ...

Regards

M.

Its an odd one as this is what NAIM have endorsed it seems, going so far as to make sure WAV on their US have a corresponding attached metadata file to accommodate that extra information, if there wasn't any difference why bother to go to all that effort? Maybe just so their is a choice maybe? Or NAIM choose WAV a while back and as things have developed then gave the FLAC option to address those concerns?

I would rather keep all my files as WAV, why convert on the fly if I don't need to, and the metadata is mainly album artwork and song titles which is easily done if you have non-purchased WAV (say rips etc outside the US/NAIM software)

It is an issue that WAV are not easily adaptable natively, but not too much for me personally. All my purchased downloaded WAVs have all been fine with the artwork/metadata they came with.

Curious one to be sure.

Ask to Graheme ...

All his WAV collection, ripped with an HDX, doesn't work with ND5XS ...

M.

I stand to my suggestion.

Add a Flatcap to your pre. You will see that the ND5xs can do bass.

IMO, your source is now ''too good'' for the preamp.

And you may have more chances to hear the difference between formats...

Just to confirm:

Hi

Without the HDX a UPnP server will not read the HDX files correctly! The only way round this is to update the HDX to 1.7A software and convert the HDX rips to FLAC

Regards

Steven Hopkins 

G

But I recommend you still rip with DBPA, ... just in case they sound different. so you won't have to do it again

And no... files are not the same...

Hi RwVet,

Personally I do neet believe that chaning you NZAS or storage will looking for. Depending on your budget, in you case you might want to consider:

• adding the XP5XS which will bring better detail and bass control, but especially more maturity in your sound
• replacing the 122 by the NAC152XS. In my xase this was a serious improvement. Not sure whether you use a FlatCap but this is a no-brainer for both the 122 and 152. The FlatCap is very good value for money. There are plenty available second hand
• have a look at the interconnect between pre-amp and ND5XS. Either a HighLine or similar (Chord !) will help
• I use Assett as UpnP Server which - amongst others - has the functionality to transcode your files on the fly to WAV. So my Flacs are presented to the ND5XS as Wav and again this was a small, but audible improvement
• room acoustics: by far the best improvemnt I made by somply adding some absorbtion panels at the right places.

Good luck and keep us posted !

Iver

Something is not right with ND5XS and NDX. Poor definition of the sound and poor contrast with celluloid-like heights. Everything is sticked together and dull. I hope Naim will address that. They make albums to sound same and boring. I wish it was me, but this is not the case unfortunatelly. I only hear more and more polished resolution whithout structure which can move me. Give back balls to my Naim please. 

Last Friday ZoneRipper arrived.

Just few minutes for setting via Remote Desktop.

It seems to work flawlessly for both functions, ripper and Nas, very useful, no SQ improvement though.

Fanless, no noise, quite cold operations.

Second week with XP5XS ... there's something wrong in bass. I need further time for investigate.

M.

Thanks for all posts and advice re ripping as I am learning as I go along with this technology. I did ring the Naim dealer and they suggested any improvement in SQ would involve upgrading source by adding XP5PS or even trading in the ND5 for a better streamer..something I would be reluctant to do having only had the ND5 for 1 year.

So I,m grateful for the posts from the XP5PS users in particular . ..and will add own opinion if/when I audition one at the dealers.

Lowest budget improvement I've made so far was to decode my Flac files on the fly from Vortexbox (using LMS) to WAV. Others include AQ cinnamon ethernet cable into a switch. Looking into a linear power supply now for the VB which is also supposed to be an improvement. But this is all for a lowly UQ (v1) into a NAP 110 through Tannoy DC6 standers so not exactly 'top of the line' but every little thing I've done so far has improved the sound by degrees, including unplugging the Vortexbox (which is in a closet directly below the living room setup) from a power strip and plugging directly into a wall outlet (the hi-fi is on it's own circuit). I'm sure on a more revealing system the tweaking must drive one nuts!

And yeah, like Wat, I don't take too much stock in the one software making better rips then another. Just rip to the format that works best for you (in my case the VB only rips to FLAC level 5) and transcode. And definitely hardwire the ethernet!

Yes I like the idea of low budget to try before more expensive options and will definitely hard wire the nd5 ..which the dealer also recommended.