nDac System Integration Question

Posted by: Aric on 29 February 2016

Thanks to a plethora of thoughts and recommendations by forum members over the years - and after a long weekend of research - I pulled the trigger on a s/h nDac last night. I purchased a s/h CD5XS last September and have greatly enjoyed the improvement on my system's digital side since then. Should have my rebuilt 82 back from AVOptions later this week.

Everyone's opinion I dissected said the nDac was an improvement over the 5XS, whereas not everyone universally agreed a FCXS or HC improved the 5XS. I had previously run the 5XS with my HC, but that all changed when I sold off the 172XS and acquired the 82.

So the digital side of my system will look like this: CD5XS,_____, nDAC, Chord Sarum TA, 82 (rebuilt & w/ POTS8), (just recapped) PSC, (recently recapped) CB HC w/ PL, Chord Cobras (DIN --> XLR's), ATC active 10s.

My question is which digital IC I should use between the 5XS and nDac? Given the use of Chord in my system, my thought was something like the Chord Anthem Digital TA w/ BNC connectors, or possibly the Chord Clearway Digital w/ BNC. Alternatively, of course, there is the DC1 w/ BNC as preferred. In short, Chord synergy or Naim's solution?

Aric

Posted on: 29 February 2016 by Geko

I use a DC1 between source and NDac but I have tried a few others. If you like the typical Naim 'house' sound then the DC1 comes with bucket loads of the stuff. I genuinely found it to be the most dynamically realistic of the IC's I tried. I should think that between the two Naim items you speak of there should be a perfect synergy regardless of what you have down-stream?

Posted on: 29 February 2016 by rjstaines

I've been using a Chord Indigo digital (BNC-BNC) to take the digital signal from my CD5XS to my nDAC and I can thoroughly recommend that. It's a 3-cable job... +ve, -ve and earth, I believe I read somewhere... whatever it is, it works well.

But the time has come for it all to go... CD5 XS, nDAC, NAC202, NAP155XS, Flatcap, Chord Indigo... in order to make way for an N272 (and a Mu-So) !

What is it they say about 'change' ? ...it's inevitable

Posted on: 29 February 2016 by rjstaines

A word of explanation, perhaps... I'm using the nDAC to switch between my digital sources (DAT, DAB, CD..) and the NAC202 to switch between my analogue sources (Cassette, Reel to reel, Stageline)... these 'switches' comprise 3 boxes (including the Flatcap), but the N272 does it all in one box, and what's more the remote control doesn't use the same code page as any of my other things, so I'll no longer need got get off my backside to go and switch (legacy) inputs.

All makes perfect sense to me (at the moment).

Posted on: 29 February 2016 by Chris G

Hi Aric, I use Chord Sarum Super Array TA, BNC-BNC which is really excellent, but expensive. Most quality Chord interconnects are worth trying (such as you suggest), but I have used the Naim DC1 with very good results between the ND5XS and NDac. I guess it's largely down to individual preference and budget. A good dealer should allow you to try some out.

Incidentally when you get the NDac its worth checking if it's been updated to the latest firmware - if not that's a modification to be recommended.

Good luck with your upgrades.

Regards

Chris

Posted on: 29 February 2016 by Aric

rjstaines posted:
I've been using a Chord Indigo digital (BNC-BNC) to take the digital signal from my CD5XS to my nDAC and I can thoroughly recommend that. It's a 3-cable job... +ve, -ve and earth, I believe I read somewhere... whatever it is, it works well.
But the time has come for it all to go... CD5 XS, nDAC, NAC202, NAP155XS, Flatcap, Chord Indigo... in order to make way for an N272 (and a Mu-So) !
What is it they say about 'change' ? ...it's inevitable

Hi,

My Sarum TA was ex-dem and, at slightly less than a new HL, I think a pretty good deal. Certainly was happy with the improvements it made between the 5XS and a pre-serviced 82. Unfortunately my budget can't splurge on an Indigo at the moment.

Did you by chance try any of Chord's other digital cables, or pit the Indigo against the DC1? What other cables are used in this particular system, i.e. between DAC/202, 202/155, etc?

Thanks for input!

Posted on: 29 February 2016 by Aric

Chris G posted:
Hi Aric, I use Chord Sarum Super Array TA, BNC-BNC which is really excellent, but expensive. Most quality Chord interconnects are worth trying (such as you suggest), but I have used the Naim DC1 with very good results between the ND5XS and NDac. I guess it's largely down to individual preference and budget. A good dealer should allow you to try some out.
Incidentally when you get the NDac its worth checking if it's been updated to the latest firmware - if not that's a modification to be recommended.
Good luck with your upgrades.
Regards
Chris

Hi Chris,

Yes, the nDAC was updated to 4.11.8 just recently, so all should be good there.

I assume you have Sarum STA downstream of the nDac? Did you find cable selection more impacting before or after the nDac, i.e. did you try a non TA IC before the nDAC and a TA post nDAC to see what level of benefits the digital Sarum later imparted?

Unfortunately I don't have a local Chord dealer, so I'm left to making deaf purchases. Perhaps I could arrange the dealer I purchased the Sarum TA from to mail me a couple of cables to try out.

Regards

Aric

Posted on: 29 February 2016 by MDS

I haven't heard the Chord cables but between my CDX2.2 and nDAC I have heard a high quality Kimber cable, which I had used for years, and then heard the, slightly cheaper, DCA1. The DCA1 won and I switched. So my vote would go for the Naim cable.

Posted on: 29 February 2016 by rjstaines

Aric posted:
rjstaines posted:
I've been using a Chord Indigo digital (BNC-BNC) to take the digital signal from my CD5XS to my nDAC and I can thoroughly recommend that. It's a 3-cable job... +ve, -ve and earth, I believe I read somewhere... whatever it is, it works well.
But the time has come for it all to go... CD5 XS, nDAC, NAC202, NAP155XS, Flatcap, Chord Indigo... in order to make way for an N272 (and a Mu-So) !
What is it they say about 'change' ? ...it's inevitable

Hi,
My Sarum TA was ex-dem and, at slightly less than a new HL, I think a pretty good deal. Certainly was happy with the improvements it made between the 5XS and a pre-serviced 82. Unfortunately my budget can't splurge on an Indigo at the moment.
Did you by chance try any of Chord's other digital cables, or pit the Indigo against the DC1? What other cables are used in this particular system, i.e. between DAC/202, 202/155, etc?
Thanks for input!

A Hiline takes the analogue signal from the DAC to the preamp. And yes, the Indigo replaced a DC1... I can't remember the exact benefits, it'a while ago, but the Indigo just works ! The 202 links to the 155Xs with a regular SNAIC, nothing esoteric like Sarum STA !

The HiLine is a worthwhile upgrade, and if your pockets are deep, a Super Lumia interconnect takes it all a stage further.

But Rome wasn't built in a day... unless you have a generous credit card company with a long zero interest offer.

Posted on: 01 March 2016 by Chris G

Aric - I use Super Aray TA digital out from CD5XS in toNDac; then Super Lumina analogue out from the NDac into the Supernait 2. I previously used Chord Signature (not TA latest version) digital from CD to NDac, but the Super Aray was a significant improvement. I listen to classical music and the soundstage and detailing was much better after the upgrade - solo instrument placement within the orchestra was much clearer. I introduced the Chord Signature cable to replace the DC01 between the ND5XS digital out in to the NDac. I found the Chord was an improvement over the DC01.

I found the most significant single upgrade in terms of cabling came from the introduction of the Super Lumina. A massive upgrade!