HDX and NAIM DAC

I am very happy for you Thorsten, especially since several have reported in the past that, for unknown reasons, nDAC had been giving disappointing results with HDX. nDAC is an amazing product, in particular since update 4.11.8, that still remains a reference DAC and a cornerstone of the range seven years after release. I just couldn't part from mine when I went to NDS.  

Chag - 

What you absolutely must not do is change your Hiline for a Super Lumina. This will take you into really scary territory and show you just what is possible  from this combination. I received mine yesterday afternoon and started playing tracks at 5pm. I finally got to bed at 4am this morning. A musical revelation on a scale I've rarely experienced! Be warned.

LOL...I am a poor school teacher...so...Super Lumina is a dream...

Yes, it is rather good isn't it? If you ever go that far, the 555PS will give you a 500 level DAC. That sounds more than rather good.  At all price levels I think the DAC is remarkable value for money. Not everyone does though.

Agree with Harry on the 555PS. The best part is yet to come - nDAC works really well with a non-DR version of a 555PS. Somehow it's more organic, less forced. Those can now be had to half the price of a new XPS. That is how I run my nDAC now (NDX > nDAC with 555PS).

SuperLumina DIN-DIN is of course very good, but similar results can be achieved with TQ Black Diamond DIN-DIN, which costs 50% of the SuperLumina (essentially HiLine money).

HI , yes ditto everyone above , HDX - Ndac - 555psdr - power lines all round , changed the HI Line for Super Lumina about 6 months ago , the best piece of Hi Fi i,ve ever bought , got a decent trade in for the Hi Line as well .....  "go on you know your worth it " (in the Cheryl Cole voice).........roy

Hi Thorsten,

Good to see you back here. If your nDAC doesn't have the latest firmware, it is well worthwhile updating it to version 4.11.8

Jan

Latest firmware on board....

Tried any DSD files?

Adam Zielinski posted:

Agree with Harry on the 555PS. The best part is yet to come - nDAC works really well with a non-DR version of a 555PS. Somehow it's more organic, less forced. Those can now be had to half the price of a new XPS. 

Bloody hell! I never would have guessed that. Absolute bargain.

Harry posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Agree with Harry on the 555PS. The best part is yet to come - nDAC works really well with a non-DR version of a 555PS. Somehow it's more organic, less forced. Those can now be had to half the price of a new XPS. 

Bloody hell! I never would have guessed that. Absolute bargain.

Yeap - bought one from a well know UK dealer to power my nDAC. Waiting for a delivery of another one now. It's being re-capped before being sent over. This one will power my CDX2.2. Even after a re-cap 555PS will still be half the price of a new XPS

Glad that you've found yourself a nDAC. As an early adopter, I have mine for several years now and it never fail to amaze me everyday. The technological excellence, the musical performance and product experience are stellar high IMO.

Mixing a classic DAC design with a modern era programmable DSP/filter head is not something you'll find very often, as you're having two systems praticly able to do music on their own into one box. But this is the extend Naim pushed it to get the best out of both aproaches. Not an easy journey, as you have to convince everyone that what you said about a DAC out of the box during the past 20 years is still true... But the real answer came with the NDS a couple of years later! ;-)

Enjoy!

Bye.

Hi!

1) Hmmm...I am still happy with a 12000+ € digital source...and already people advice me to spend MORE money...nope.
No upgraditis for me.

2) DSD files = check.

Which are the preferred ones?? SONY DSF or PHILIPS DSDIFF (EDIT MASTER FILE) or PHILIPS DSDIFF????
SONY seems to my ears a bit "louder" and PHILIPS a bit more "natural"...???????????????

I have just ordered a new ndac and waiting for delivery. The ndac will be paired with my ndx/sn2 system. Good to know this Dac is still holding well after 7 years. 

I have the SN2 and the HDX...I couldn´t close my mouth...DYNAMICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everything just gets a huge kick in the butt, but also at the same time harshness (if you can call it that) goes away...fantastic.

Now there is a tight competition between my analogue vs my digital source...LOL...

In my NAIM history, I did many upgrades...

Ranking:

1) NAIM DAC to HDX

2) NAIM DAC to CD5XS

3) SN2 over SN/HiCap-combo

The DAC is not everyone´s taste, but it suits ME perfectly.

Some prefer the HUGO, for example...but I already had the DAC years ago with my CD5XS and it blew me away then too.

So you knew about nDAC then. Didn't you?  

Chag -

Yup.

But I sold it to buy my BAUER AUDIO DPS...LOL

kaydee6 posted:

I have just ordered a new ndac and waiting for delivery. The ndac will be paired with my ndx/sn2 system. Good to know this Dac is still holding well after 7 years. 

Good move!  I also use mine with NDX and SN2. Good combo.

+1 for the nDac, a wonderful device. Of course it can be bettered with PS and better cables etc., but even the bare nDac with the new firmware gives great musical pleasure - enjoy!

Every now and again I like to read up on the white papers and the more technical reviews on the NDac, just to remind me how complex everything is under the hood that's simply taken for granted in doing its job - and what a job - I forget that it's a digital device..