ND5 XS with separate Dac or NDX

ND5XS with, say, an nDAC is supposed to be as good / close to NDX acting as a transport into an nDAC>
In this mode ND5XS + nDAC will outperform a stand-alone NDX.

I cannot advise on Hugo, as I have not heard it. Other Forum members report very good results with it.

I used ND5 XS alone then with an XP5 XS - big difference. Then I bought a Hugo - the improvement was so great I immediately dispensed with the XP5. I'm a long standing and very contented Hugo user.

When I upgraded to NDX I'm afraid I didn't compare ND5 XS + Hugo vs NDX alone. I just kept the Hugo.

I've only heard nDac at a dealer demo years ago so I can't really comment on it sensibly.

There is also a debate as to a qualit of a digital 'transport'.

There were some differences when I compared NDX vs ND5XS in a 'digital out', although subtle ones. NDX sounded more composed and confident.
Eventually I went for an NDX but purely because my deler made an offer which was too good to refuse

DAC will improve the performance of the NDX so my logic says that adding DAC to ND5 and comparing with NDX is worth exploring. You may prefer the Hugo. I didn't. Your ears will know what is best. 

I can confirm that NDX doesn't come to Naim DAC's level of SQ. It has quite different sound signature, very exciting and toe tapping yes but Naim DAC is more refined, dynamic and easier to listen to in a long run. I would definitely go for ND5XS + Naim DAC since IMO your money is wasted if you go for NDX and use it as a transport only. ND5XS is perfectly capable of doing the same. Can't comment on Hugo since I haven't heard one. 

Bob the Builder posted:

After some good advice on another thread I have another question regarding upgrade. ND5 XS with separate Dac a Chord Hugo for example or an NDX?

I would have thought that ND5 and a good external dac would give better SQ and more flexibility than an NDX.  I have compared the Ndac to a Hugo over the space of a week in my system and personally felt that the Hugo was much better but it's something it's best to compare for yourself.

nickpeacock posted:

I used ND5 XS alone then with an XP5 XS - big difference. Then I bought a Hugo - the improvement was so great I immediately dispensed with the XP5. I'm a long standing and very contented Hugo user.

 

My experience was very similar to this, except that I hadn't felt that the XP5XS on the ND5XS made all that great an improvement. 

I subsequently changed the ND5XS (plus NAS) for a combined renderer/music store, the renderer improving sound quality further. In case it is of interest, I use Mac Mini+ Audirvana, though it needs an isolator into Hugo. Other options include Melco (to me the N1A was indistinguishable from my MM/Audiv, though only very short comparison), also, though I haven't heard,  Zenith and possibly the new Uniti Core, although the latter's performance in such a role compared to others is as yet unknown.

And although I was a very contented Hugo user, the opportunity presented itself to upgrade further, so I did -but I wouldn't have been unhappy if that had not happened.

Hi Bob ,

I'm in the ND5/Hugo club too , it works very well indeed and definitely worth a try . Similarly to Nick , I also tried XP5 power supply which has a similar cost to the Hugo and whilst an improvement it wasn't in the same street sonically . A few years back I compared the ND5/XP5 to an NDX at a dealer and they were very similar .The ND5/Hugo combo also benefits greatly from quality cabling , I use Chord signature TA digital and TQ black diamond analogue . Hope this helps . 

Peter .

Don't try to lie yourself:

nd5xs

ndx

nd5xs+xps

ndx+xps

nd5xs+ndac

ndx+ndac

nd5xs+ndac+xps

ndx+ndac+xps...

At the moment I'm running two digital systems until I move one into the other room. First is a Unitiserve SSD into NDac with an XPS DR, music stored on a Qnap NAS. Second is a Moon Mind into a Chord 2Qute using music stored on a hard disk which is installed into my old Mac Pro running minim server.

So far the Moon/2Qute  is very much superior in sound to my ears, more alive with PRAT, definitely gets my toe tapping. I'm going to do some testing over the next couple of weeks to see if I can optimize the combinations.

Tim

I have heard that although the Hugo has excellent detail it can be a bit bass light can anyone comment?

Bob the Builder posted:

I have heard that although the Hugo has excellent detail it can be a bit bass light can anyone comment?

All I can say is that I didn't think so, and for me bass is an important part of the music. But my speakers had very good bass extension, and an amp capable of driving and controlling them well. 

When I changed to Dave I didn't notice any increase in bass.

Bob the Builder posted:

I have heard that although the Hugo has excellent detail it can be a bit bass light can anyone comment?

Definitely not bass light to me and thats the first time I've heard it mentioned .

Bob the Builder posted:

I have heard that although the Hugo has excellent detail it can be a bit bass light can anyone comment?

Nope, not something I have found.  The bass on my Hugo is easily as good as that on my Rega RP8 or tuner

 

Don't try to lie yourself:

nd5xs

ndx

nd5xs+xps

ndx+xps

nd5xs+ndac

ndx+ndac

nd5xs+ndac+xps

ndx+ndac+xps... 

... ndx+555ps or ndx+ndac+555PS. Some have preferred the former to the latter..

Chag -

Chag... posted:

 

Don't try to lie yourself:

nd5xs

ndx

nd5xs+xps

ndx+xps

nd5xs+ndac

ndx+ndac

nd5xs+ndac+xps

ndx+ndac+xps... 

... ndx+555ps or ndx+ndac+555PS. Some have preferred the former to the latter..

Chag -

NDX + 555PS is not really a good combo in my opinion. 555PS seems to amplify some of the less desirable traits of an NDX.

NDX + nDAC + 555PS on the other hand....