External DAC with NDX

I've been enjoying the NDX ~ nDAC partnership since Jan 15 though was criticised on this board at the time I bought both boxes ... and, indeed, with my latest upgrades (Aug 16), the dealer told me to dispense with the nDAC.

I replaced a Squeezebox Touch with the NDX in Jan 15 ... I though the SBT was great until I heard the massive improvement brought about by the NDX (though user interface was not an improvement) and a few days later added the nDAC to the set-up.  Perhaps because I was still getting used to the NDX improvement I must admit the nDAC didn't really add anything new and that might still be the case.  I've often thought about taking it out of the mix but as I enjoy the sound I have / had ... why bother?

And yet I still wanted to upgrade and so I recently added a NAP250 DR to the SuperNait and an XPS DR to the nDAC.  The dealer reckoned I'd really notice the XPS upgrade (notwithstanding he suggested I sell off the nDAC) and perhaps that black box is the magic ... I think it's the 250 though.  It's taken several weeks but I'm slowly finding music I've known many years is sounding clearer. more vibrant, with much more clarity/depth.  That said, it isn't across the board and I honestly can't say the spend for those two new boxes is fully justified ... yet.  Of course, adding two boxes together means I will always wonder just which box creates what magic.

This doesn't really address the OP's query: both my wife and I heard some improvement when the nDAC firmware upgrade happened (I forget when ... perhaps a year ago) and so I'm inclined to think that the nDAC definitely adds to the NDX.  The Naim website for NDX does include the nDAC as an upgrade (my reason for buying it).

Having run the present set-up for 10 weeks or so I'm thinking I shall move the XPS over to the NDX so perhaps there are further improvements ahead (source first?)

Set-up:

NDX ~ nDAC/XPS DR ~ SN/HC1 + NAP250 DR ~ NAC A5 (4mtr) ~ ProAc TriTower

+ CD5x/FC2x

Fraim

Music choices: mostly orchestral/instrumental (classical, soundtracks, chamber) + song stylists (Sinatra, Day, Monro, Martin, Carr et al.)

Mitch

Hmack posted:

Jonn posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Been using NDX with nDAC for a while now. Recently added a pre-loved 555PS to the nDAC. 
Forget the Hugo - nDAC is the way to go (ok - I will run for cover whilst the Hugo brigage reloads.... )

Just wondering if you've ever actually listened to Hugo, as you always seem to argue against it? No problems of course if you haven't, though perhaps you might owe it to yourself to hear what it is others see in it...!

I had the Hugo on home dem for a week, messed about with different settings, cables etc and it still sounded mediocre at best, so I agree with Adam having also had a Naim Dac in my system before upgrading to an NDS . Just wondering if you've actually listened to NDAC. No problem of course if you haven't, though perhaps you might owe it to yourself to hear what it is others see in it.....!

Another Hugo user here, having just replaced my ND5 XS into Hugo with a microRendu into Hugo in one of my systems.

When I originally auditioned the ND5 XS, the dealer also demonstrated the ND5 XS into dDac (with XPS) as a potential future upgrade for me. I found the upgrade pretty underwhelming, preferring a Linn Akurate he also demonstrated. In fact, I struggled to hear a significant difference (let alone improvement) in the overall sound at all. I purchased the bare ND5 XS and added the Hugo shortly afterwards which appeared to me to be a much more effective and also a more cost effective upgrade. I suspect though, that the demo I received must have been flawed in some way, because I am sure I ought to have noticed a significant improvement or at least a significantly changed sound.   

So, on the basis of my listening sessions, the Hugo certainly trumps the nDac, but maybe I should have given the nDac another chance. I have only heard an NDS once (with twin 555 power supplies), and it sounded pretty good for the most part (as part of a £300,000 or so system). But for the sort of money an NDS with twin power supplies costs, I would definitely aim for a Chord Dave (with something like a microRendu, NDX or Auralic Aries) which must be just about the best DAC you can buy right now, and for considerably less money than the NDS combo.

 

Himack,

Interesting your demo with the ND5 XS, combined with the ndac. At my dealer the demo with the extra addition of the NDAC (without PSU) to the ND5 XS just somewhat "blurred" the sound.  Got the feeling this would be a waste of money for my hearing system........Next steps were the Hugo with ND5 XS and replacement of the ND5 XS with the microrendu. 

Afterwards it might be the cabling between ND5 XS and NDAC or ????. Anyway this was one of the demos that got me in other directions.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

MontyMusic posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

i have heard and owned the NDAC / 555PS - and jolly good it was too... for me though it was eclipsed with immersive listening sessions with the Hugo - quite a different performance - providing that Mandelbrot effect - I can listen into many recordings rather than listen to them - but that doesn't take away from the fact the NDAC/555PS produces  a fun and dynamic performance.

If you use a Hugo with a Naim NAC ensure the lineout level  is turquoise, preferably use a Naim hiline or better - and I always use SPDIF from a top class transport - NDX in transport mode.

Thanks - you'd use optical out from an NDX and not Coax ?

Hi, there is no optical (Toslink) output from the NDX, you connect the NDX to the DAC such as the NDAC or Hugo  using a BNC SPDIF lead - but note the Hugo uses a phono connector for its SPDIF. The NDX SPDIF out is galvanically isolated so you won't run into ground loops with the Hugo. Also for optimum performance you switch the NDX using the settings menu to transport mode by disabling the the analogue outputs with their  associated DAC and solely enabling the digital output function.

Simon

Hi Simon,

After listening to the ND5 XS (with TP PSU) and Hugo combination for several months, switching off the the analogue outputs on the ND5 XS did not give a significant (if any) improvement on SQ in my ears.

Interested in your experiences with the NDX......... 

Peter

Bowers posted:

Hmack posted:

Jonn posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Been using NDX with nDAC for a while now. Recently added a pre-loved 555PS to the nDAC. 
Forget the Hugo - nDAC is the way to go (ok - I will run for cover whilst the Hugo brigage reloads.... )

Just wondering if you've ever actually listened to Hugo, as you always seem to argue against it? No problems of course if you haven't, though perhaps you might owe it to yourself to hear what it is others see in it...!

I had the Hugo on home dem for a week, messed about with different settings, cables etc and it still sounded mediocre at best, so I agree with Adam having also had a Naim Dac in my system before upgrading to an NDS . Just wondering if you've actually listened to NDAC. No problem of course if you haven't, though perhaps you might owe it to yourself to hear what it is others see in it.....!

Another Hugo user here, having just replaced my ND5 XS into Hugo with a microRendu into Hugo in one of my systems.

When I originally auditioned the ND5 XS, the dealer also demonstrated the ND5 XS into dDac (with XPS) as a potential future upgrade for me. I found the upgrade pretty underwhelming, preferring a Linn Akurate he also demonstrated. In fact, I struggled to hear a significant difference (let alone improvement) in the overall sound at all. I purchased the bare ND5 XS and added the Hugo shortly afterwards which appeared to me to be a much more effective and also a more cost effective upgrade. I suspect though, that the demo I received must have been flawed in some way, because I am sure I ought to have noticed a significant improvement or at least a significantly changed sound.   

So, on the basis of my listening sessions, the Hugo certainly trumps the nDac, but maybe I should have given the nDac another chance. I have only heard an NDS once (with twin 555 power supplies), and it sounded pretty good for the most part (as part of a £300,000 or so system). But for the sort of money an NDS with twin power supplies costs, I would definitely aim for a Chord Dave (with something like a microRendu, NDX or Auralic Aries) which must be just about the best DAC you can buy right now, and for considerably less money than the NDS combo.

 

Himack,

Interesting your demo with the ND5 XS, combined with the ndac. At my dealer the demo with the extra addition of the NDAC (without PSU) to the ND5 XS just somewhat "blurred" the sound.  Got the feeling this would be a waste of money for my hearing system........Next steps were the Hugo with ND5 XS and replacement of the ND5 XS with the microrendu. 

Afterwards it might be the cabling between ND5 XS and NDAC or ????. Anyway this was one of the demos that got me in other directions.

Bowers,

I now have a similar setup to your own (on one of my systems), in that my ND5 XS (plus cuddly toy PSU) has also been replaced by a microRendu (and a different cuddly toy PSU). It sounds pretty good.

Do you connect your microRendu to the Hugo over USB?

 

I now have a similar setup to your own (on one of my systems), in that my ND5 XS (plus cuddly toy PSU) has also been replaced by a microRendu (and a different cuddly toy PSU). It sounds pretty good.

Do you connect your microRendu to the Hugo over USB?

Connected the Microrendu and Hugo directly with a Curious cable. Really enjoyable 3D sound music. Next step will be the PSU on the rendu: Uptone LPS-1 expected next week.

Peter