NDX Back in 'the' House

Posted by: GraemeH on 22 July 2015

Well, after various circuitous streaming diversions an NDX is back fronting a Chord 2Qute. That wonderful mellifluous organic 'natural' sound is back. Anyone doubting the difference the streamer makes, even with an excellent dac, don't kid yourself. There's something about the NDX that excels here. What was I thinking!

 

Playing 'A Momentary Lapse of Reason' as penance and to remind myself 'never again'!

 

G 

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Of course, there might have been a hardware failure or a connection failure that is preventing the upgrade process from starting/reliably completing. It's somewhat academic, but the issue might not be the upgrade process itself... It does sound like the NDX is in the boot strap stage waiting for connection from the updater.. which perhaps through hardware failure or loose connection of the serial connection  it's not going to see...  

Luckily my bricked NDX cleared once I tried a new serial lead... clearly hasn't worked for Graeme here... very frustrating for him

Simon

 

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by GraemeH

I'm still thinking (hoping) it's a lead/drivers/pc issue Simon. Just setting off to 'hospital' now.

 

G

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Good luck 

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by steven2907

Suppose it's now NDX in the hospital.  Hope it's got private health care 

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by HiFiman

Yeah good luck Graeme and lets hope its a simple fix, hopefully using the dealers cables/PC may fix the NDX without sending the unit back to HQ.

 

I do feel that the firmware upgrade is a bit clunky and you are in the hands of the gods once you have clicked the upgrade button.

 

Ever looked on the back of a TV and noticed a USB service port never to be used by the purchaser, its as though the RS232 port on Naim's products was designed as an upgrade port for only Naim's service personal and the upgrade software we use was an after thought, just my opinion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Hifiman, other than that initial time with a bad serial lead and wifi connectivity with the upgrader, I have had no issues, and I have loaded many firmwares being part of several beta programmes over the years... Yes I guess newly designed  devices could be more seamless with the upgrade process, however I find the Naim process more comforting and assuring than the user software update process on my new BMW for example.. 

Simon

 

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by ChrisH

Good luck Graeme, hope it gets a good dose of 'green' medication to make it better as soon as.

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by HiFiman

Regarding the upgrade process I have upgraded my UQs several times over the years, few heart stopping moments and one occasion I had to power off / on the unit but in the end success.

 

The main thing here is that Graeme has his NDX back with little or no cost at all.

 

Regarding the BMW mine is on its second computer and the car is just over 1 year old 

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

 ... Graeme .. Look away

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by GraemeH

Well, back from the best toy shop (err..hospital) in these parts with a loaner NDS/XP5XS which I've had running about 2 hrs.  Tried the analogue out but it's not as good as digi-out to 2Qute so that's how I'm using it. I sense the external ps helps the digi-out as this combination edges the NDX so I might ask to try it on the NDX when it returns. Not sure if their is any logic to that thought.

 

Seems my streamer board might be fried so Naim sending up another to try this week.  A huge thank you to Steve Hopkins and Robert Ritchie for helping sort this. I rely on my music hugely and to be without it is a bind.

 

Saw a brand new black Hugo TT which looks very nice.

 

Thanks for the good wishes!

 

G

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

G, glad it is being sorted... so it sounds like it was a hardware failure then... Unlucky.. 

With regard to the NDS, yes I found it is less electrically noisy than the NDX, which is hardly surprising given its design, and so can have the edge as a transport. If you take care with RF and the NDX though when using an off board DAC it can sound pretty close to the NDS as a transport... But then you probably know I have a bit of a fixation with electrical noise and RFI   

 

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

G, glad it is being sorted... so it sounds like it was a hardware failure then... Unlucky.. 

With regard to the NDS, yes I found it is less electrically noisy than the NDX, which is hardly surprising given its design, and so can have the edge as a transport. If you take care with RF and the NDX though when using an off board DAC it can sound pretty close to the NDS as a transport... But then you probably know I have a bit of a fixation with electrical noise and RFI   

 

Is their a logical reason why an XP5XS added to NDX may improve the digital-out Simon? I've no idea how the circuits work in these things...but I know what I hear.

 

Cheers

 

G

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

G, possibly a better regulated or lower impedance supply, so ultimately better regulation on the transport clock - however given the Chord devices you may hear a difference but would be surprised if there was much material difference to overall SQ - but there is only one way to find out

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

G, possibly a better regulated or lower impedance supply, so ultimately better regulation on the transport clock - however given the Chord devices you may hear a difference but would be surprised if there was much material difference to overall SQ - but there is only one way to find out

Cheers - I'll definitely try it. This NDXSXP5XS 2Qute combination is excellent.

 

G

 

 

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by Foxman50
Originally Posted by GraemeH:

 

Saw a brand new black Hugo TT which looks very nice.

 

G

Mine arrived yesterday and is sitting in my rack providing sonic and visual bliss. Sounds great straight out of the box, which Hugo did not.

 

Glad your getting sorted Graeme, i have to say i could not hear any difference with my XPS on my NDX with Hugo. If there was any it certainly was not worth the outlay.

 

But let us know what you find.

 

Graeme

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by totemphile
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

G, possibly a better regulated or lower impedance supply, so ultimately better regulation on the transport clock - however given the Chord devices you may hear a difference but would be surprised if there was much material difference to overall SQ - but there is only one way to find out

Cheers - I'll definitely try it. This NDXSXP5XS 2Qute combination is excellent.

 

G

 

 

Back to counting boxes then Graeme? 

Posted on: 25 July 2015 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by totemphile:
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

G, possibly a better regulated or lower impedance supply, so ultimately better regulation on the transport clock - however given the Chord devices you may hear a difference but would be surprised if there was much material difference to overall SQ - but there is only one way to find out

Cheers - I'll definitely try it. This NDXSXP5XS 2Qute combination is excellent.

 

G

 

 

Back to counting boxes then Graeme? 

Sounds like not. SN2/NDX + 2Qute will be the system...unless the XP5XS proves its worth on the NDX...

 

G

Posted on: 27 July 2015 by Tariqv
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

       

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.

 


       


Hi Simon,

I'm using my NDX with a Hiline connected to my SN2. What do you mean by SPDIF choked lead? What about choked Ethernet?

Sorry to be so ignorant
Posted on: 27 July 2015 by Tariqv
Originally Posted by GraemeH:

       
Originally Posted by totemphile:
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

G, possibly a better regulated or lower impedance supply, so ultimately better regulation on the transport clock - however given the Chord devices you may hear a difference but would be surprised if there was much material difference to overall SQ - but there is only one way to find out

Cheers - I'll definitely try it. This NDXSXP5XS 2Qute combination is excellent.

 

G

 

 

Back to counting boxes then Graeme? 

Sounds like not. SN2/NDX + 2Qute will be the system...unless the XP5XS proves its worth on the NDX...

 

G


       


Looking forward to your final decision after hearing both, 2Qute vs. XP5XS. I have the same NDX/SN2 combo as yours...
Posted on: 27 July 2015 by MartinKocurek

I am also looking forward your feedback after testing Chord DAC.

 

I have NDX and SN2 as well. Tommorow I will test Hugo

 

Posted on: 27 July 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Tariqv, I put a RF ferrite choke around the outside of my SPDIF and Ethernet patch leads. I put the choke around the SPDIF at the point it enter the off board DAC (Hugo), and around the Ethernet patch lead at the point it enters the NDX.

Cheers

Simon

 

Posted on: 27 July 2015 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by Tariqv:
Originally Posted by GraemeH:

       
Originally Posted by totemphile:
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

G, possibly a better regulated or lower impedance supply, so ultimately better regulation on the transport clock - however given the Chord devices you may hear a difference but would be surprised if there was much material difference to overall SQ - but there is only one way to find out

Cheers - I'll definitely try it. This NDXSXP5XS 2Qute combination is excellent.

 

G

 

 

Back to counting boxes then Graeme? 

Sounds like not. SN2/NDX + 2Qute will be the system...unless the XP5XS proves its worth on the NDX...

 

G


       


Looking forward to your final decision after hearing both, 2Qute vs. XP5XS. I have the same NDX/SN2 combo as yours...

To be clear I'm going to test NDX into 2Qute with and without an XP5XS attached.  Not 2ute vs XP5XS.

 

G

Posted on: 28 July 2015 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

Of course, there might have been a hardware failure or a connection failure that is preventing the upgrade process from starting/reliably completing. It's somewhat academic, but the issue might not be the upgrade process itself... It does sound like the NDX is in the boot strap stage waiting for connection from the updater.. which perhaps through hardware failure or loose connection of the serial connection  it's not going to see...  

Luckily my bricked NDX cleared once I tried a new serial lead... clearly hasn't worked for Graeme here... very frustrating for him

Simon

 

Simon - You get the prize for the closest diagnosis!

 

NDX back in 'the' house tomorrow!

 

G

Posted on: 28 July 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Graeme, glad it's sorted... Give it a welcome home coming....

Posted on: 28 July 2015 by HiFiman

Simon says