NDX Back in 'the' House

So all those funny little reclockers and malarkey weren't so good after all? It's so easy to mistake different for better. It's great that you are sorted now though, and you won't need to hide it all behind the sofa!

An interesting experiment and not at all bad - I'm such a critical listener though and small nuances mean a lot.  A slight edge was always evident I realise in retrospect.

G

Now you just need an RCA-Din Super Lumina IC Graeme. Then you'll know how good the 2Qute can really sound. 

Oh stop it!

G

Funny thing is I can hear a slight edge on a bare NDX when just using digital out - I honestly think a Mac is just as good and a lot more flexible. Adding an XPS2 to the NDX removed the edge and a Powerline also helped but an Aurender N100 sounded significantly superior to me at much lower cost.

How are you handling streaming now Graeme - i thought the move to Sonos and all the re-clocking was aimed at sorting that side of the system out ?

James

Feeding the Sonos through the NDX via a DC1 RCA-RCA.  Not quite up to NAS files but as good as the separate reclocker was.

I'll hold out for Naim integration .

G

Ah ok 

Hi G, I know what you mean by slight edge.. I can hear that with my Mac as a transport source, but the NDX with a quality SPDIF choked lead, and choked Ethernet lead for me sounds pretty near perfect, sure it can sound different if I attach a PSU to the NDX when acting as a transport.. But can I honestly say it's better when acting as a transport? I don't think so.

The NDX is a pretty versatile transport and I'm sure Naim will continue to increase the functionality of the streamers.

In my system the NDX sounded much better with an XPS2 (Choked Ethernet and SPDIF based on your earlier recommendation - thanks!). This may have been because the external PS was cleaning up a dirty mains supply - I don't know. Do you use a Powerline on your NDX Simon? Again in my system the Powerline was clearly better than the standard cable. 

I hung onto my NDX for a year in the hope that Naim would add lossless streaming but have now given up and sold it and to honest I don't miss it at all. Compared to something like an Auralic Aries or Linn DS it's not  a versatile transport at all...

PhilP

have you decided on a new front end, Aurender ???

Graeme

Looking at the Auralic Aries it does seem to tick all the boxes

The mini version looks rather good too. Auralic seem to be on a bit of a roll with some very nice products. 

James

Hi Graeme,

I'm finding it difficult to decide. I'm really looking for a single box solution that covers Qobuz, streaming local files and iradio. Whilst the SQ of the Aurender is excellent it only covers one of my three preferred sources and if I buy it I will still have to use my Mac which I am trying to avoid.

The Aurender would be an excellent solution for someone who's priority is streaming local files and is happy with Tidal. I really like exploring music on Qobuz (better classical catalogue than Tidal) and am less focussed on streaming local files (say 80:20 with a little iradio listening). If Aurender supported Qobuz in the same way as Tidal I would buy one in an instant.

Did you manage to resolve the issues with gaps in DSD playback in your system?

Philip

I agree Auralic Aries functionality is excellent but I've read comparisons which put SQ well behind Aurender, Melco and even Macs.   Apparently recent FW updates have improved the SQ of the Aries so it may well be worth a try. The Mini is intriguing.

I'll be staying with the Mac for now. No interest in streaming services and with Audivarna and the Uptone Regen in place it still does the business. I didn't change the external PS in the end as the company never delivered . 

The Aurender kit looks great - if i was in the market for something like this then i'd be certainly looking this way. I'll be interested to see where you end up Phil 

James

Sorry Graeme hope you don't mind these comments on your thread.

PhilP, Aurender are adding Rune apparently, however i do not know what this brings. It may bring access to other services.

i have the Aries for the weekend, its a shame i have to return the Aurender to Paul so a direct comparison will be difficult 

Graeme

No worries Graeme. It's all useful info for folks.

The NDX is my first 'regret sale' and I'm very glad to have one back. I found an exceptionally good deal from Germany courtesy of the strong pound and I couldn't resist!

Looking forward to putting 4.3 on it when the requisite cable arrives.

Cheers,

G

From what I've read on the Roon forum it seems unlikely that they will add Qobuz support any time soon.

I will be very interested to find out what you think of the Aries. On paper it looks great but I've read some quite negative comments on SQ though recent FW release are supposed to have improved it considerably.  The NAD M50? (I always get the model number wrong) also has a great spec. and Louis-Andre who used to post on here rates it very highly. Also the Bryston BDP-2 - I'm sure Paul would lend you one

Good luck! Philip

Jack has lent me the Aries and Vega and the combo is very good indeed. Slightly softer on the edges than the Aurender/ Hugo combo With less attack but it makes music in a different way

What cable do you use between NDX and 2Qute? I am also thinking about this DAC. What is the most contributuon of this DAC to your NSX?

Run a NDX to Hugo here..  outstanding. I use a Gotham Cable 75 ohm BNC to phono connector 50 cms long with a RF choke around the phono end. I run DNM HFN phono to DIN interconnect between Hugo and 252.

Hugo is better than2Qute? I read they have the same DAC

Probably pretty similar. In some quarters people say the Hugo pips it, others prefer the 2Qute setup. They are both based on the same architectutre and the aim of the designer according to his musings on another forum was to match the Hugo performance where possible with the 2Qute and so i suspect not much between the performances overall. A few on this forum have moved their Hugo to other duties and substitued it with 2Qute on their main audio system and seem pretty pleased.

Simon

Ok, my dealer has Hugo but not 2Qute on stock. I will test Hugo.