So, is it bye-bye NDX?

 I'm not an expert about linux and related machines but for more than a year I had 2 sources in parallel that I use in a quite revealing setup (Nac 282 + Supercap; Nap 250.2; Dali Epicon 8):

1) Fanless PC (just for music) based on the C.A.P.S. 3 project with Win server 2012 core and Jriver MC + linear PSU + Naim Dac-V1

2) Naim server ND5 XS

The 2 sources could fight against each other more or less on the same SQ level: the PC was a little bit more open on the voices while the Naim server could control the bass better.

1 Week ago I bought the Naim XP5 XS PSU for the ND5 and the things changed dramatically ! The sound stage widened up, the basses are far more controlled, less harshness. In a word: pure enjoyment !  

So in my point of view I will upgrade my Naim streamer (hopefully) to the NDS level and my PC will be relegated to office use !

Have fun, Andrea

Fosfocreatina

i hope you demo'd the Chord Hugo before you purchased your PSU. if not you should have

Graeme

Hi Foxman !

No I didn't try the Chord Hugo but you really think that the C.A.P.S. Server paired with the Hugo can win against the Naim streamer with PSU ?

A friend of mine used the NDX paired with Hugo and a good monitor loudspeaker and was happy. After changing the loudspeaker with more bass heavy and more revealing tower loudspeakers he returned to use the NDX internal DAC and now he uses the Hugo only with portable devices.

Take care

Can only say for myself. Adding Hugo to my NDX improved it imeasurably. So much so i sold the XPS2 i had attached to the NDX.

As always with these things you need to listen for yourself, but its definitely something i would suggest to anyone before they purchase a PSU For their streamer

Graeme

What I don't get in all these recent posts about the Chord Hugo is that everybody seems to only focus on this one device. I guess we all have to realize that technology around streaming and digital analogue conversion is still very much under further development and innovation. What I miss is a balance in the discussion .  Why are other great DAC like PS Audio's DSD DAC and others never mentioned.

i for now haven't at all given up on Naim and just enjoy my NDS. I think I get some specific Naim qualities which non of the Dac's right now might offer. They might be more hifi but do they also have the same sound signature, I doubt it.

i will just wait for the next innovation and or new product from Naim which again will put them ahead of some of this competition.

+1 for Bert Schurink

I believe others have tried the PS Audio DSD DAC and preferred Hugo. Of course other DAC's wont have the Naim sound signature, but i for one do not think this signature sounds correct, at least not compared to Hugo. 

I think this becomes apparent when you listen to Hugo. However it will not be for everyone. 

Anyway i now have the wolfspn card installed on Pi and it actually sounds pretty good.

will let it burn in and do some comparisons against the NDX. 

playing 24/192 flac and its faultless, quite amazing for the little Pi if you ask me

Graeme

The wolfson has an analog output?

So it could be plugged directly to an analog input of an amp?

Yes, the Wolfson Audio Card does have an analogue output by way of the Wolfson DAC IC.

That said–I am using it in an office system, connected by way of coaxial SPDIF to a NaimUniti (used as a 192 kHz DAC / network-controlled analogue volume attenuator / power amplifier in this configuration).

Both the internal Naim streaming board and the RPi / Wolfson combination pass through the same internal DAC in the NaimUniti, which is (oddly enough) a Wolfson itself!

Well i have done some lengthy testing of the Pi/Wlofson card using the coaxial output into Hugo, and although its good, in fact its very very good and spectacular considering it costs less than £100, i won't be swapping the NDX out for it.

I have been controlling it with ipeng for ipad and it has been faultless in operation. However while i would say that detail retrieval is on a par it just does not have the body and weight of the NDX. It sounds slightly noisy also, but as i said for £100 what a bargain.

Oh well Auralic Aries to demo next.

Graeme

Graeme, it might also be worth trying the Moon Mind as an alternative; it edged the Aries on a recent test on Audiostream, and it's slightly less expensive. They really liked the Aries too.

I'd love to see Naim make an alternative to these products, it would be a great companion to the DAC-V1... rather like a stripped down Unitiqute.

Hi Paul

Thanks for that, i wrongly believed the Auralic was the only device of its kind. I think it is possibly a gap in the market for devices of this kind, and i would imagine Naim could produce such a device quite easily.

Graeme