NDS has arrived

I am currently running it during the day at during the night on web radio - to get it as quick as possible to run in. Let's see how long it will take to get all at the level I would like to see it.

Just listened to a couple of things - an amazing improvement as compared to yesterday. More air, more weight, more musical. Bring it on :-)

Sorry for the delay.

Here is the export of my profiles. Ian set me on the right path with them.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Illustrate\dBpoweramp\CDRipper\Profiles]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Illustrate\dBpoweramp\CDRipper\Profiles\Classical] "AlbumArtFolderJPG"=dword:00000001 "LastCodec"="[Multi Encoder]" "CodecCLI_FLAC"="-compression-level-5 -verify" "FileNaming"="[IFVALUE]album artist,[album artist],[IFCOMP]Various Artists[][IF!COMP][artist][][]\\[album]\\[track] [artist] - [title]" "DSPEffects"="" "CodecCLI_[Multi Encoder]"=" -enc1=\"FLAC=-uncompressed -verify\" -encMopt1=\" -tofolder={mqt}F:\\NimbieRips\\FLAC\\Classical\\{mqt} -dynamic={mqt}[IFCOMP]Various Composers\\[album]\\Various

Conductors\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][][IF!COMP][IFVALUE]composer,[composer],Various Composers[]\\[album]\\[IFVALUE]conductor,[conductor],Various Conductors[]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\

\[track] [title][]{mqt}\" -encDSP1=\"-dspeffect1={mqt}ID Tag Processing=-delsingle0={qt}Title{qt} -case={qt}0{qt} -exportart={qt}(none){qt} -importart={qt}(none){qt} -maxart={qt}(any){qt} -maxartkb={qt}(any){qt}{mqt} -

dspeffect2={mqt}HDCD={mqt}\" -enc2=\"mp3 (Lame)=-b 320\" -encMopt2=\" -tofolder={mqt}F:\\NimbieRips\\MP3\\Classical\\{mqt} -dynamic={mqt}[IFCOMP]Various Composers\\[album]\\Various Conductors\

\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][][IF!COMP][IFVALUE]composer,[composer],Various Composers[]\\[album]\\[IFVALUE]conductor,[conductor],Various Conductors[]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title]

[]{mqt}\" -encDSP2=\"-dspeffect1={mqt}ID Tag Processing=-delsingle0={qt}Title{qt} -case={qt}0{qt} -exportart={qt}(none){qt} -importart={qt}(none){qt} -maxart={qt}(any){qt} -maxartkb={qt}(any){qt}{mqt} -dspeffect2=

{mqt}HDCD={mqt}\"" "EjectAfterRip"=dword:00000001 "NoAccurateRip"=dword:00000000 "NoARDiffPressing"=dword:00000000 "RippingMethod"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Illustrate\dBpoweramp\CDRipper\Profiles\Jazz] "AlbumArtFolderJPG"=dword:00000001 "LastCodec"="[Multi Encoder]" "CodecCLI_FLAC"="-compression-level-5 -verify" "FileNaming"="[IFVALUE]album artist,[album artist],[IFCOMP]Various Artists[][IF!COMP][artist][][]\\[album]\\[track] [artist] - [title]" "DSPEffects"="" "CodecCLI_[Multi Encoder]"=" -enc1=\"FLAC=-uncompressed -verify\" -encMopt1=\" -tofolder={mqt}F:\\NimbieRips\\FLAC\\Jazz\\{mqt} -dynamic={mqt}[IFCOMP]Various Artists\\[album]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc

[disc][]\\[track] [title][][IF!COMP][IFVALUE]album artist,[album artist],Various Artists[]\\[album]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][]{mqt}\" -encDSP1=\"-dspeffect1={mqt}ID Tag Processing=-delsingle0={qt}

Title{qt} -case={qt}0{qt} -exportart={qt}(none){qt} -importart={qt}(none){qt} -maxart={qt}(any){qt} -maxartkb={qt}(any){qt}{mqt} -dspeffect2={mqt}HDCD={mqt}\" -enc2=\"mp3 (Lame)=-b 320\" -encMopt2=\" -tofolder=

{mqt}F:\\NimbieRips\\MP3\\Jazz\\{mqt} -dynamic={mqt}[IFCOMP]Various Artists\\[album]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][][IF!COMP][IFVALUE]album artist,[album artist],Various Artists[]\\[album]\

\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][]{mqt}\" -encDSP2=\"-dspeffect1={mqt}ID Tag Processing=-delsingle0={qt}Title{qt} -case={qt}0{qt} -exportart={qt}(none){qt} -importart={qt}(none){qt} -maxart={qt}(any){qt} -

maxartkb={qt}(any){qt}{mqt} -dspeffect2={mqt}HDCD={mqt}\"" "EjectAfterRip"=dword:00000001 "NoAccurateRip"=dword:00000000 "NoARDiffPressing"=dword:00000000 "RippingMethod"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Illustrate\dBpoweramp\CDRipper\Profiles\Rock and Pop] "AlbumArtFolderJPG"=dword:00000000 "LastCodec"="[Multi Encoder]" "CodecCLI_FLAC"="-compression-level-5 -verify" "FileNaming"="[IFVALUE]album artist,[album artist],[IFCOMP]Various Artists[][IF!COMP][artist][][]\\[album]\\[track] [artist] - [title]" "DSPEffects"="" "CodecCLI_[Multi Encoder]"=" -enc1=\"FLAC=-uncompressed -verify\" -encMopt1=\" -tofolder={mqt}F:\\NimbieRips\\FLAC\\Rock and Pop\\{mqt} -dynamic={mqt}[IFCOMP]Various Artists\\[album]\

\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][][IF!COMP][IFVALUE]album artist,[album artist],Various Artists[]\\[album]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][]{mqt}\" -encDSP1=\"-dspeffect1={mqt}ID Tag

Processing=-delsingle0={qt}Title{qt} -case={qt}0{qt} -exportart={qt}(none){qt} -importart={qt}(none){qt} -maxart={qt}(any){qt} -maxartkb={qt}(any){qt}{mqt} -dspeffect2={mqt}HDCD={mqt}\" -enc2=\"mp3 (Lame)=-b 320\"

-encMopt2=\" -tofolder={mqt}F:\\NimbieRips\\MP3\\Rock and Pop\\{mqt} -dynamic={mqt}[IFCOMP]Various Artists\\[album]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][][IF!COMP][IFVALUE]album artist,[album

artist],Various Artists[]\\[album]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][]{mqt}\" -encDSP2=\"-dspeffect1={mqt}ID Tag Processing=-delsingle0={qt}Title{qt} -case={qt}0{qt} -exportart={qt}(none){qt} -importart={qt}(none)

{qt} -maxart={qt}(any){qt} -maxartkb={qt}(any){qt}{mqt} -dspeffect2={mqt}HDCD={mqt}\"" "EjectAfterRip"=dword:00000001 "NoAccurateRip"=dword:00000000 "NoARDiffPressing"=dword:00000000 "RippingMethod"=dword:00000001 "DisableTagWriting"=dword:00000000 "WriteTagElements"="AccurateRip Result Album Art Album Artist Comment Compilation Flag Composer Conductor Disc Number Genre Style Instrument Custom Period Orchestra Soloists Chorus Catalog # Rating ISRC

UPC Source (ie CD (Lossless)) Encoded By Encoder Encoder Settings Label" "CustomTags"="" "AlbumArtResize"=dword:000002ee "AlbumArtResizeKB"=dword:000000fa "AlbumArtStr"="Folder.jpg" "PerfectMetaDiscNumToAlbum"="[album]" "PerfectMetaNoLeadArtistToFirst"=dword:00000000 "PerfectMetaNoArtistsTo70PC"=dword:00000000 "PerfectMetaNoReplaceCommaInArtists"=dword:00000000 "PerfectMetaNoReplaceTheInArtists"=dword:00000000 "PerfectMetaNoAllGenresSame"=dword:00000000 "PerfectMetaNoDetectMultiArtists"=dword:00000000 "PerfectMetaChrReplacement"="" "PerfectMetaNoAMGRemoveBracket"=dword:00000000 "PerfectMetaNoGD3RemoveArtistTitle"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Illustrate\dBpoweramp\CDRipper\Profiles\Soundtracks] "AlbumArtFolderJPG"=dword:00000001 "LastCodec"="[Multi Encoder]" "CodecCLI_FLAC"="-compression-level-5 -verify" "FileNaming"="[IFVALUE]album artist,[album artist],[IFCOMP]Various Artists[][IF!COMP][artist][][]\\[album]\\[track] [artist] - [title]" "DSPEffects"="" "CodecCLI_[Multi Encoder]"=" -enc1=\"FLAC=-uncompressed -verify\" -encMopt1=\" -tofolder={mqt}F:\\NimbieRips\\FLAC\\Soundtracks\\{mqt} -dynamic={mqt}[IFCOMP]\\[album]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\

\[track] [title][][IF!COMP]\\[album]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][]{mqt}\" -encDSP1=\"-dspeffect1={mqt}ID Tag Processing=-delsingle0={qt}Title{qt} -case={qt}0{qt} -exportart={qt}(none){qt} -importart={qt}

(none){qt} -maxart={qt}(any){qt} -maxartkb={qt}(any){qt}{mqt} -dspeffect2={mqt}HDCD={mqt}\" -enc2=\"mp3 (Lame)=-b 320\" -encMopt2=\" -tofolder={mqt}F:\\NimbieRips\\MP3\\Soundtracks\\{mqt} -dynamic={mqt}

[IFCOMP]\\[album]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][][IF!COMP]\\[album]\\[IFMULTI]\\Disc[disc][]\\[track] [title][]{mqt}\" -encDSP2=\"-dspeffect1={mqt}ID Tag Processing=-delsingle0={qt}Title{qt} -case=

{qt}0{qt} -exportart={qt}(none){qt} -importart={qt}(none){qt} -maxart={qt}(any){qt} -maxartkb={qt}(any){qt}{mqt} -dspeffect2={mqt}HDCD={mqt}\"" "EjectAfterRip"=dword:00000001 "NoAccurateRip"=dword:00000000 "NoARDiffPressing"=dword:00000000 "RippingMethod"=dword:00000000

BTW It makes more sense copied into a text editor.

WonkyBit, your post there may be the best advert I have ever seen for the Unitiserve!  

So where do I stand now with my new system ? It's not yet all great. Bass is defintely fantastic right now a reach and weight i have never experienced before. But mid and high tones sound still a bit strained. Airiness also is varying by the day. So i guess it will require still some further run to be at an in heaven point. I did already have some great moments but it's still varying a bit.

I can't wait to get to the next level.

If you've already ripped the collection with a UnitiServe, why on earth would you want to re rip it using something else. Ripping my 2,000 CDs was one of the dullest things I've ever done. Maybe you like pain? You could just stick pins in your hand, which would get it over with more quickly......

@Hungry, Dang now you tell me about the pins in the hands. Okay that will have happen after the second rip-fest is done. 

But seriously the Nimbie can batch rip up to 100 CDs at a crack. I know it is redundantly redundant it is mostly an academic exercise. I won't get started until the late Spring.

When I am done I figure by having both sets, one ripped by my US and the other by dbPoweramp, i will have a large enough sample set to perform a randomized and programmatic A - B digital file compare. 

I suppose that makes sense, but rather you than me.

Pat Metheny is this mroning coming very nice out of the speakers. Put's a smile on my face. On ongoing base now ripping. I guess it will take something like half a year before I will be totally done.

I did 2,000 in two months. It was very hard work, but at least with the UnitiServe in the living room it was easy to feed the CDs in while doing other things. Even so, the infernal whirring notice started to drive us all mad. And you still need to check after every few discs that metadata and album art are correct, and change the genre where necessary.

It's great when it's done though, and all those nasty CD cases are stored away.

@Bert: Are you using a UnitiServe or going the dbPoweramp route? If the later look at the batch ripping option and their recomendations. The Acronova Nimbie is what I got.  

@Hungry: 2000 in a two months. That is very fast. Work for home?

I managed up to 90 a day at the weekend and 30 or so during the week, after work. It may have been a little longer than exactly two months, but I was keen to get it over with.

I use so far EAC and rip it ro my QNAP.

Bert,

Thanks for sharing your experiences with your new NDS. Some questions:

- which music sources did you use before your NDS? CD only, into your 552 and 200?

- How did you decide to buy the NDS? Did you listen to alternatives like NDX, Naim DAC etc? 

- Are you sure the different performances you hear through the days, is caused by the NDS? Could it also be the difference in recording quality of your albums/files? Do you also hear improved quality when listening to the same album over time?

Best regards,

naamgenoot

I've spent all my spare cash upgrading my Naim system and plunging into the complexities of streaming, ripping and juggling metadata (aided and abetted by this forum).  It is now the best 'sound' I've got, the best 'sound' I can afford; the best 'sound' i can listen to in the house i live in, and therefore the 'sound' I love.  We are all listening to Naim kit so can't go far wrong, but naamgenoot is right, some CDs (ripped or raw) undoubtedly sound better than others.  What delight when a good one allows the Naim to sing!

I'm delighted with the flexibility and quality my (humble) new ND5 delivers.  In the back of my mind i know i can add a XP5 (etc. etc.) to raise my game, but then again i could beat myself up for owning a Renault and not a Naim-empowered Bentley.  So for now I want to focus on enjoying my music, my new found flexibility, and not get too hung up on being over analytical.  It's what I've got - it's better than anyone I know has got (apart from you guys and gals).  I love it to bits!

Hi Bert (naamgenoot),

My source was CDX2, NDAC powered by XPS...And two weeks before I had also a 252 non DR instead of my 552DR. So I had a major shift in my sources and pre. So it's not always easy to attribute the changes to just the NDS, although the 552 was a demo 552 - so I have to assume that it's earlier at it's ideal point.

I think I can distinguish between the different qualities of recordings, so that shouldn't be a too big difference. I do hear the NDS coming to play, f.i. yesterday evening it was quite a bit better again than this brief. So I see it as the normal burn in of NDS and  PS555 DR. I am still excited and get indications of what is coming when it's fully there.

I didn't do a like to like comparison and have heard the NDS in different demos and was excited about it in combination to the ease of access to the music. My old set was of course fully burned in and at it's max...so that's why the differences are experienced. 

So bottom line. I see what it coming and have more and more smiles on my face.

Thanks for checking in.

Bert

Our NDS didn't seem to take any running it. It may have changed a bit but not significantly. I'm not suggesting that yours isn't changing but the difference is that our NDS went straight onto a well used and run in 555PS. I suspect this could be more what you are experiencing. 

Our original 555PS from new could be quite skipey and lumpy for a few weeks and really took a good few months to perform consistently. It didn't sound bad at any time, but it could make itself known and occasionally detract from the overall enjoyment. When we had it converted to DR it certainly did spit a bit for a few weeks. Then a second new 555PS-DR went onto the NDS. At no time did we not want to listen to it. However, after about three months a kind of ease and flowing musical insight emerged which took a good experience to an altogether different level of musical enjoyment which eschewed allusions to HiFi and was all about realism, musical communication and almost a kind of magic. 

I'm sure this is where you are heading.

I think you might be right that it is mainly due to my new PS555 DR. I can't wait until it sounds perfect...However it already starts to sound a lot better with it's magical moments.

.....had yesterday evening a real aha Erlebnis....., I could throw anything at the NDS and it was sounding so right, son engaging.....that I ended up staying up real late. This was the first time that all the parameters sounded right:

1. Highs - before had sounded a bit sharp, now where just right rounded.

2. Bass - was round and punchy, anyhow heard much more bass in everything then before with my NDAC/XPS

3. Detail - you hear things on the record you never had heard before

4. Balance - all musical instruments are in right balance (of course if the recording is right)

5. Airiness was also great....

Have gotten into the happy state, while I realize I still have a couple of weeks to go to get it all to it's full extent.