ND5 XS, XP5 XS and Naim DAC

Posted by: greentg on 10 April 2014

I have just purchased an NDac and am picking it up tomorrow. Currently I have my XP5 XS connected to my ND5, however *I suspect that this may not be the best way forward in the new configuration. Would I be correct in assuming, that in order to get the "biggest bang for my bucks", that I would be better off connceting the power supply to the DAC? Purchasing an additional power supply is, I'm afraid, not an option at the moment given lack of funds and rack space.

 

Regards

 

Tony

Posted on: 10 April 2014 by sjbabbey

I asked the same question here a while back when considering purchasing the nDac and the consensus was to connect the XP5 to the DAC.

 

In the end I opted to upgrade my amp to the SN2 and putting PLs on the XP5 and amp.

Posted on: 10 April 2014 by greentg
Originally Posted by sjbabbey:

I asked the same question here a while back when considering purchasing the nDac and the consensus was to connect the XP5 to the DAC.

 

In the end I opted to upgrade my amp to the SN2 and putting PLs on the XP5 and amp.

Thanks, I thougt that would be the case, but it never hurst to check.

 

Regards

 

Tony

Posted on: 10 April 2014 by PTPlayers
Originally Posted by greentg:

I have just purchased an NDac and am picking it up tomorrow. Currently I have my XP5 XS connected to my ND5, however *I suspect that this may not be the best way forward in the new configuration. Would I be correct in assuming, that in order to get the "biggest bang for my bucks", that I would be better off connceting the power supply to the DAC? Purchasing an additional power supply is, I'm afraid, not an option at the moment given lack of funds and rack space.

 

Regards

 

Tony

I have heard  The xps on the Nd5xs and the dac and and sounded better hooked up to the dac .

Posted on: 10 April 2014 by Chag...

Congratulations on your acquisition of nDAC greentg!

Many will indeed confirm as well, ND5/nDAC/XP5 offers great VFM. Some will even say that XP5 is close to XPS. Next upgrade then is really 555PS. Even greater transparence, clarity of low end, extinctions of notes and silences.

 

Chag -  

Posted on: 13 April 2014 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Tony, congratulation. You have potentially one of the best sounding digital sources in the Naim portfolio now.

As Chag says you can look forward to perhaps a nice used 555PS on the NDAC in the future which magically transforms the NDAC yet further.

The bass and rhythm is the NDACs strongest point and with Powerlines and 555PS beats all the other Naim components with the possible exception of the CD555 (in my opinion). You have a lot of upgrade potential ahead of you.

 

BTW the NDAC can be a little fussy on setup. Use good isolation, I use a top shelf of a Fraim and use ferrite chokes on the digital in leads, as well as Powerlines when you can.

 

You will have many months/years of music enjoyment ahead of you for one of the darlings of the Naim portfolio.

 

Simon

Posted on: 13 April 2014 by MDS

Tony

 

Like others, I'd say put the XP5 on the nDAC. I had one on mine for a couple of years and was very pleased with it. I trialled an XPS2 and XPS2DR as potential upgrades to the XP5 but didn't think the improvement in performance was sufficient to justify the price. I'm one of those who think the XP5 gives about 80% of the XPS2's performance. For me it took a 555PS to oust the XP5, which shows just how good the XP5 is.  

 

Enjoy your system. 

 

MDS

Posted on: 13 April 2014 by greentg

Many thanks to all of you for your kind words. the DAC has only been in place a couple of days and already I can hear a vast improvement in terms of both bass and to my ears at least, a distinct uplift in the treble. My ARTs are nicely voiced speakers and now they are really singing. If it sounds like this now, I can only imagine how things will improve once it's all run-in!

 

Simon, thanks for the advice, ferrite chokes are in place and I will now start saving for what I fear will be the inevitable 555 upgrade.

 

all the best.

 

Tony