What next?

I moved from the CDS3 to the HDX, and, finally, to the NDS.

Opinion on here seems divided, but for me, the NDS delivers SQ in Spades compared to the CDS3.

Since you already have the 555PS, the move ought to be relatively painless, though I'm unsure of the cost of repairing your CDS3, so that you can move it on.

As for ripping, I've so far retained my HDX for the following reasons.

It rips my CD's natively in WAV format, which I've convinced myself sounds better than FLAC.

Using it as a server to the NDS means that in WAV, the metadata is preserved.

Even though I use it to rip to a NAS, it still seems worth keeping it, rather than use external ripping software involving FLAC.

My two pence worth, anyway. 

Dave.

I converted from CD to streaming a few years ago starting with a Uniti, then NDX and now a NDS all using a Unitiserve and haven't looked back.

You don't need to leap straight to a NDS though and I would strongly suggest you audition say a NDX first and see if it is to your liking as the presentation will be a little different to your CDS3. You also don't NEED a Unitiserve. You can rip from a computer then store and serve files from a NAS. This will be more cost effective but I find a Unitiserve convenient and some say it sounds better than a NAS but I can't be sure as I have never done a direct comparison between a Unitiseve and a NAS.

Once I got into streaming I found the user experience was superb and my NDS sounds amazing. The rest of your kit (555/252/300) would also complement a NDS (or NDX for that matter).

BUT, always, always try a streamer out first (preferably at home in your system if you can) before you commit. If a dealer dem is the only way, try to compare to your CDS3 even if you have to take it to the dealers.

Good luck.

Can't answer this one but what happened about the old Kefs?

Chris

Thanks for your replies!

I live in a remote place so it's not easy to "try a streamer" first. My dealer have given me a quite good price for NDS/US 2T package. He claims that the US HDD sounds better than the SSD version (I don't know why).

I am a novice when it comes to data, so I think it's best to buy the UnitiServe because everything seems easier that way.

Nigel: Is it really so much difference between streamer and CD when it comes to SQ?

Christopher_M posted:

Can't answer this one but what happened about the old Kefs?

Chris

Hi Chris.

You mean my Kef Ref 205.2? They are not that old. Now I finally made them sing!   They've got better spikes (Soundcare) and much better placement in the room. I am satisfied with them now..

Hi,

Thanks. Pleased it's worked out. Just that it's a massive forum bugbear for me when threads are left dangling.

On your present topic, when was the last time the CDS3 had a new puck? 

Cheers, C.

I have never owned a CDS3 so I can't be sure how much difference there is. I left Naim many years ago as a CD user and returned several years later and went straight to streaming so I have no direct comparisons of CD vs streamer to rely on. My advice was precautionary.

You can't really go too far wrong with a NDS/US package and if you are a novice at this then it is certainly the most straight forward solution and will sound great with your amp and power supply on the NDS.

Hopefully the dealer will be able to demo it so you can hear it before you buy or are you really that remote?

You will need the dealer's help in setting up the network to get the best from a NDS solution. Make sure you cover off things like ethernet cabling and introduction of a network switch if possible between the US and the NDS. A good dealer will always help you with this stuff if you are a beginner and it is not too daunting.

Christopher_M posted:

Hi,

Thanks. Pleased it's worked out. Just that it's a massive forum bugbear for me when threads are left dangling.

On your present topic, when was the last time the CDS3 had a new puck? 

Cheers, C.

Christopher: CDS3 has the latest mech with magnetic puck, so I do not think that it's a puck issue.

Beside I (and my wife) are keen of getting rid of CD collection now..

oldneil posted:

 

Beside I (and my wife) are keen of getting rid of CD collection now..

No probs, I was attempting to offer a ten bob possible fix   :-)

C.

nigelb posted:

I have never owned a CDS3 so I can't be sure how much difference there is. I left Naim many years ago as a CD user and returned several years later and went straight to streaming so I have no direct comparisons of CD vs streamer to rely on. My advice was precautionary.

You can't really go too far wrong with a NDS/US package and if you are a novice at this then it is certainly the most straight forward solution and will sound great with your amp and power supply on the NDS.

Hopefully the dealer will be able to demo it so you can hear it before you buy or are you really that remote?

You will need the dealer's help in setting up the network to get the best from a NDS solution. Make sure you cover off things like ethernet cabling and introduction of a network switch if possible between the US and the NDS. A good dealer will always help you with this stuff if you are a beginner and it is not too daunting.

Nigel: Do I need to connect both NDS and Userve to the router? Well, I'll talk to my dealer about this, but he is 500 km from here so I have to do the set-up via the phone..

The best solution is to connect a network switch (most like me use a cheap Netgear unmanaged switch) to the router and then connect your US and your NDS separately to the switch. You can of course just connect the US and NDS direct to the router. The switch however isolates your streamer and server from all the other network traffic going on in your house. This will improve SQ and is recommended by Naim also I believe.

Don't worry this can all be managed by phone with your dealer.

Thank you, Nigel!

You are welcome, and for the record if you can't hear the NDS/US before buying, you are not taking a big risk IMHO. I think you will love it with the 252/300/555!

Let us know how things turn out.

I have not yet made up my mind, but if it happens I'll let you know!

oldneil posted:

My dealer have given me a quite good price for NDS/US 2T package. He claims that the US HDD sounds better than the SSD version (I don't know why).

Martin Colloms of HiFiCritic had this to say when comparing the HDD and SSD version :

(full review here)

(if the link is removed, search "Martin Colloms UnitiServe")

Sound Quality
The HDD and the SSD UnitiServes sounded fundamentally similar, with very good detail and a strong sense of rhythm and drive. They were substantially involving musically when compared to so much digital audio replay out there, especially that emanating from computer style CD ROM drive machines, rather than classic Red Book 'realtime' players.

Operating with the Naim DAC for example, both UnitiServe versions delivered a solid performance that matched the standalone NaimCDX-2, while those power supply upgrades for the Naim DAC continue to chase the sound quality dragon. This continued right up to the heroic 555PS, though I felt this final step was bordering on the side of diminishing returns.

The UnitiServes did sound different, not by much but enough for us to determine a preference. However, our result is not claimed to be universal. The SSD initially seemed to have an advantage, but we had walked into a trap. While it seemed to have higher definition, sounding more evenly tempered, sophisticated, certainly a little clearer and also somehow more vitally connected, there was also an slightly foreign processed quality, almost a coloration – not quite a 'glare' but more as if the lights at the recording venue had been turned up a little too much. Direct comparison with the HDD version showed that the SSD's subtle 'halo' effect was indeed less natural. And the HDD version has a clear advantage on one aspect of sound quality: music flowed a little better and timing was superior too, with more natural dynamic expression. So despite the SSD's advantage in clarity and audible sophistication, in the end we considered that the hard disk version beat the SSD by about 13% – a significant margin in a HIFICRITIC review context, though in another system the SSD might be preferred.

The SDD can undoubtedly provide great sound quality, but the regular hard drive version certainly sounded a little better in our review system. The SSD is physically silent, the HDD very nearly so, and while the SSD sounds cool, sophisticated, pure, smooth, vital, almost crystal clear, it ultimately lacks the full quotient of musical drive and rhythm that we know is possible from our test programme, due, we believe, to a touch of 'processed sound' detachment. That said, we have no hesitation in Recommending both the standard hard drive and the SSD UnitServes.

nigelb posted:

... for the record if you can't hear the NDS/US before buying, you are not taking a big risk IMHO. I think you will love it with the 252/300/555!

+ 1 to that !

I had the CDS3 and loved it, not sure if the NDS is better but far more convenient. The possibility to play your whole library from a iPad is a game changer  

If you want THE BEST you buy a US SSD and rip it to a Melco. Expensive it might be but not bettered for numerous reasons. 

//Jonas

Surely if you are ripping to a Melco the US is irrelevent from a SQ point of view. May as well rip from a cheap PC or am I missing something?

In terms of poise, transparency and what for want of a better expression I’ll call musical accuracy, I think the NDS is a kind of spiritual successor to the CDS3 but much more capable.

I used to feed it with an HDX-SSD but playing the files from a NAS using Asset sounded considerably better to me so the HDX went.

Stating the bleedin’ obvious possibly – you have tried a new puck on the CDS3?

If you go for the HDD 2T version you can rip your music to the internal disc. Also, you can rip your music to a NAS and not use the internal disc. Or, you can use both. That makes the 2T version superior in my view. Last, but not least, you can bring your US 2T over to your friends, the cabin or wherever you go and your music is there with you.

If you have a lot of music, more than 2500 albums, the 2T disc will go full and you will need a NAS. If you don't have a lot of music, you may find Tidal as your best friend and the US may be a bit redundant.

NDS or NDX in your system? The streamer magic starts with the NDX, but with the NDS you get something really special. Wonder if thats why I sold my NDS/ 555 recently?

With an ethernet cable connected into the wall socket and into a switch ala Netgear from komplett.... Another cable from the switch to US. Then a third cable from the switch to the NDS. There you go.

Anyway, just my humble view.

S

Many thanks for your useful information, Stover!   Jan-Erik, Jonas, Harry and all the rest of you, too!

It's not an easy decision to take..