ND5XS or Naim DAC+Sonos,.. for Tidal/Qobuz

Posted by: Twilight on 22 August 2015

Dear audiophiles,

 

For some years I use the following system: 152/155 XS preamp/poweramp, CD5XS, ND5XS, Headline-NAPSC and JMR Bliss speakers.

 

I recently got Tidal and Qobuz which I use trough the frontUSB port of the ND5XS.

It was a great step up in SQ to the streaming of my files bought trough itunes at 256bps or my CD's imported in Itunes.

 

I decided that I wil sell my CD5XS (which I used only very rarely...) and my Headline/NAPSC. With the funds of that I would like to upgrade my system a bit.

Ideally to facilitate listening tot Tidal/Qobuz...but I understand that this will not be possible trough the ND5XS.

 

What would  be the best setup, knowing I listen a lot to internetradio (Radio Paradise, national radio), would use it a lot with Tidal/Qobuz and occasionally stream from my Imac (Itunes) where my stored music is. My television is also connected to the system trough the ND5XS.

 

Would it be better to use something like Sonos (or airport express,...) directly in a Naim DAC or the DAC-V1 (and  also sell the ND5XS) or is it better to keep the ND5XS, continue doing what I do (using the IPAD into the front USB port)?

 

The headphone amp will be sold and (depending on the funds) I would by the portable Chord Hugo or iFi Micro DAC headphone amp/DAC for connection to my Iphone (for use with Tidal/Qobuz). 

 

I have read already some threads on it here, but an uptodate summary would be very very much appreciated...

 

Thanks

 

Peter

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by totemphile

I would keep everything as is, well mostly. You have a nicely balanced system that surely sounds great. I don't know your speakers, so maybe change those to get the biggest wow experience? Other than that, you could add a FlatCap XS to your 152, that would be nice, one more box though. You could try a Chord Hugo or 2Qute for your ND5 too.

 

256 is ok but nowhere near CD quality rips. Better to start buying CDs instead of wasting money on iTunes.

 

Best of luck! 

 

 

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by Sloop John B

Indeed most of the things you mention seem to be a sideways move.

I'd stick with IPAD into ND5 at the moment because Naim undoubtedly be supporting a lossless streaming service in the near future.

 

I've never heard one but perhaps the Hugo as a headphone amp would be worth a try if you really must scratch the itch as it can also be used (to upgrade?) the ND5.(and to take the Sonos feed)  but also has the portability you mention.

 

You may regret ever having started this and totemphile has a point in that a speaker upgrade will upgrade every source (apart for the headphone listening)

 

 

SJB

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by ChrisSU
Originally Posted by Twilight:

 

I recently got Tidal and Qobuz which I use trough the frontUSB port of the ND5XS.

It was a great step up in SQ to the streaming of my files bought trough itunes at 256bps or my CD's imported in Itunes.

 

There's something wrong if your ripped CDs sound worse than web streaming. They should sound at least as good as web streaming, probably better. Personally, I would address this issue first. Make sure your CD rips are as good as they can be, i.e.bit perfect, not compressed. 

 

Regarding Tidal, Qobuz etc., Naim have made it clear that it is their intention to support these services natively in their streamers. I would suggest it might be worth waiting to see what they come up with, before parting with your ND5, although Naim will not give us a time scale for this. 

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by David Hendon

If you rip CDs into iTunes, you have to tell it to use something other than the default MP3 if you want higher quality.  You can rip into ALAC in iTunes which is Apple's lossless format and that is supported by Naim streamers, but of course it's not a lot of use telling you that now If you didn't know that before you ripped them all!  ALAC and FLAC sound pretty much the same.

 

i hope this helps

 

David

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by Jumping Jack

There is a topic here that shows a way to listen to Tidal without any hastle with cables or other renderers. All you need is a nas (or maybe even a computer) and the Linn Kazoo app... Support for Qobuz is said to follow...

 

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...al-to-naim-streamers

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by My naim is immaterial
Originally Posted by Twilight:

Dear audiophiles,

 

For some years I use the following system: 152/155 XS preamp/poweramp, CD5XS, ND5XS, Headline-NAPSC and JMR Bliss speakers.

 

I recently got Tidal and Qobuz which I use trough the frontUSB port of the ND5XS.

It was a great step up in SQ to the streaming of my files bought trough itunes at 256bps or my CD's imported in Itunes.

 

I decided that I wil sell my CD5XS (which I used only very rarely...) and my Headline/NAPSC. With the funds of that I would like to upgrade my system a bit.

Ideally to facilitate listening tot Tidal/Qobuz...but I understand that this will not be possible trough the ND5XS.

 

What would  be the best setup, knowing I listen a lot to internetradio (Radio Paradise, national radio), would use it a lot with Tidal/Qobuz and occasionally stream from my Imac (Itunes) where my stored music is. My television is also connected to the system trough the ND5XS.

 

Would it be better to use something like Sonos (or airport express,...) directly in a Naim DAC or the DAC-V1 (and  also sell the ND5XS) or is it better to keep the ND5XS, continue doing what I do (using the IPAD into the front USB port)?

 

The headphone amp will be sold and (depending on the funds) I would by the portable Chord Hugo or iFi Micro DAC headphone amp/DAC for connection to my Iphone (for use with Tidal/Qobuz). 

 

I have read already some threads on it here, but an uptodate summary would be very very much appreciated...

 

Thanks

 

Peter

Know I'll be chastised, sold my NDS X5 after 2 weeks of ownership.  

 

More than happy with Sonos connect front end and their proprietory software/UI is perfect for me. Can't believe my new NAC-N272's music control is no better than a £20 Chinese DLNA renderer box, just using the digital input now. Lossless Deezer is icing on the cake.

 

To some, sound quality is all, I like a more complete experience.

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by NickSeattle

Lossless local rips should sound best.  If they do not, something is not set up right, and you do not have a good basis from which to decide.  I'd try Sonos into the ND5XS, to keep system automation, including Volume control via nStream/Naim App.  I also like the remote that comes with the ND5XS.

 

Nick

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by Twilight
Originally Posted by totemphile:

I would keep everything as is, well mostly. You have a nicely balanced system that surely sounds great. I don't know your speakers, so maybe change those to get the biggest wow experience? Other than that, you could add a FlatCap XS to your 152, that would be nice, one more box though. You could try a Chord Hugo or 2Qute for your ND5 too.

 

256 is ok but nowhere near CD quality rips. Better to start buying CDs instead of wasting money on iTunes.

 

Best of luck! 

 

 

Buying CD's was the initial plan 4 years ago, but with the HiRES files on Tidal/Qobuz, I  prefer this. 

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by Twilight
Originally Posted by NickSeattle:

Lossless local rips should sound best.  If they do not, something is not set up right, and you do not have a good basis from which to decide.  I'd try Sonos into the ND5XS, to keep system automation, including Volume control via nStream/Naim App.  I also like the remote that comes with the ND5XS.

 

Nick

I was a bit unclear in my first post. The lossless local rips sound great indeed, just the 256kbs bought files from itunes not so much off course (but this is a minority of my music and mostly non classical music). Since I have Tidal/Qobuz I didn't buy songs from iTunes anymore.

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by Twilight
Originally Posted by Jumping Jack:

There is a topic here that shows a way to listen to Tidal without any hastle with cables or other renderers. All you need is a nas (or maybe even a computer) and the Linn Kazoo app... Support for Qobuz is said to follow...

 

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...al-to-naim-streamers

Thanks, however sounds a bit complicated for me.

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by Twilight

Now that I will get some funds by selling the CD5XS and headline, would it be the moment to also sell the 152/155 XS preamp/poweramp and ND5XS and buy the Superuniti instead? The amp and DAC session should be better, no?

Posted on: 22 August 2015 by jmtennapel

I would recommend to audition the SuperUniti against the ND5XS before deciding. I did, and ended up with a ND5XS+Nait XS-2 combo.

Posted on: 23 August 2015 by hungryhalibut
I see no point in selling the streamer and preamp and swapping to a Superuniti. Getting a 272 may be a different matter though.
Posted on: 23 August 2015 by ChrisSU
Originally Posted by Twilight:

Now that I will get some funds by selling the CD5XS and headline, would it be the moment to also sell the 152/155 XS preamp/poweramp and ND5XS and buy the Superuniti instead? The amp and DAC session should be better, no?

As HH says, a 272 would be a much better move. Just keep your power amp to use with it.

Posted on: 23 August 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

However I would recommend auditioning, I read somewhere that the ND5XS streamer performance is what lies within the streamer part of the 272 - so you might be doing a lot swapping with marginal gain.. but of course only your ears can decide.

Simon