Will it be too late to have a nDAC?

It wasn't that long ago, 2010 more like.

I like your thinking Jeff with both sources benefitting from the nDac.

If you consider 2009 to be 'around year 2000' then it's close . The nDAC was released in 2009, and the latest firmware was released in 2016. Takes approximately 15 seconds to upgrade it -  a free download from NAIM.

You will need two DC-1 BNC-BNC leads to connect both of your sources to the nDAC and some mini-jack cables for the system automation to work well.

It's a highly recommended upgrade for the sources you have.

The Naim DAC was released in 2009.  Still a superb DAC, particularly if you value the emotional over the cerebral and appreciate rhythm and sheer brio over out and out forensic analysis.

Maybe there are better prospects out there from the likes of Chord, based on the recent posts on here and elsewhere, for a similar price, but new.

It can always be improved (and how!!!) by, say, a 555ps. Not being minted I got mine pre-loved from a fine dealer in the East Midlands.

SAT posted:

It can always be improved (and how!!!) by, say, a 555ps. Not being minted I got mine pre-loved from a fine dealer in the East Midlands.

Indeed - 555PS takes the nDAC to a superb level. But for the OP a bare nDAC will represent a significant upgrade, even without a power supply.

Adam Zielinski posted:

If you consider 2009 to be 'around year 2000' then it's close . The nDAC was released in 2009, and the latest firmware was released in 2016. Takes approximately 15 seconds to upgrade it -  a free download from NAIM.

You will need two DC-1 BNC-BNC leads to connect both of your sources to the nDAC and some mini-jack cables for the system automation to work well.

It's a highly recommended upgrade for the sources you have.

I play the AV stuff through  the nDAC with a 5m toslink. The TV has far more sound effects than a basic TV can reveal. The sound system is working all the time with the tv volume at zero. I go to subtitles if I want to listen to music.

A S/H nDAC for less than £1,100 is a steal. Go and get it. Update 4.11.8 is so good. It even allows you to play DSD64. 

Chag -

I agree. The nDAC is superb and in my view offers tremendous VFM.  It also responds very well to improved PSUs. I thoroughly enjoyed mine bare, and with an XP5XS, and with a 555PS, and now with a 555PSDR.  

An opposing view, from an ex-owner of a n-DAC. 

£1100 is too much to pay and in reality it does need a PS to "really sing". 

I bought mine for £1000 about 3 years ago and sold it for £1000 about a year ago. For me a Hugo TT sounds better than the n-DAC/XPS2. 

You are really limiting yourself if you don't get a DAC that can accepts asynchronous USB. 

At £800 it may be worth a chance, not £1100, not now, when Hugo 2 is on the way. DACs (whether Chord or others) are improving more than any other piece of hifi as they get more computing power, don't hobble your system with  8 year old technology. 

.sjb

Your Narcom and ND/Uniti remotes will operate the Naim DAC naturally, unlike with other DACs.  Same with Naim app.

Nick

Jeff Kwong posted:

3-4 years in NAIM and first post here

currently having cd5xs/nd5xs/ SN2, found a 2nd hand nDAC which cost less than £1,100. Very tempted to add one more box since the nDAC can benefit the cd5/ nd5 at the same time( both unit as transport) 

however, my consideration is, nDAC was released in around year 2000. Will it be a 2nd generation coming soon? Will it be too late to have one now?

thanks for all input from you guys 

ndac is very good and 1000 pounds is a bargain. But personally i would buy 2 second hand hicap for that money. cd5x with hicap is much better than cd5x alone. The sound is fluid and organic, natural. With the ndac you have more details... The second hicap would give the same on the nd5x.  But the ndac is a good choice too. But for me, i would choose the hicap first.

Thanks all

I've got the HCDR feeding the cd5 actually. Won't update SN2 to 202/200 shortly, therefore nDAC is really attractive to me

nDAC is a natural fit to CD5 XS with/for which it has been optimized back in 2009. It brings the CDP, already a well achieved product on its own, to a different league. Adding then an external PSU to the nDAC will bring this all coherent source to high-end playground and will offer numerous possibilities for demat but asynchronous USB conversion indeed. A real bargain and still somewhat of a cornerstone in the product range.  

Chag -

Jeff Kwong posted:

Thanks all

I've got the HCDR feeding the cd5 actually. Won't update SN2 to 202/200 shortly, therefore nDAC is really attractive to me

Even better. After adding the nDAC you can move the HCDR to the SN2. 

In the event you are so unfortunate as to be a tinkerer, like me, a Mac Mini playing Audirvana+ into your Naim DAC would be interesting as an alternative to your other sources.

May you be spared.

Nick

Jeff Kwong posted:

Thanks all

I've got the HCDR feeding the cd5 actually. Won't update SN2 to 202/200 shortly, therefore nDAC is really attractive to me

Good. Once you put the nDAC on it, the HiCap can power your SuperNait2 (as long as it a HiCapDR, since SN2 already has a DR circuitry).

The NDAC is a fine DAC, and very much improved with a 555PS (non DR in my opinion). It excels at providing a strong tight bass response which tends to accentuate rhythm and pace in music which can be quite addictive.

I think on the sheer emotional level there are now alternatives that do better especially with classical and choral music ... and some of those same  alternatives do insight and detail better (afterall the underlying technology has evolved quite a lot over the last 10 years), but perhaps don't dig out the rhythmic drive and pace to the same extent.. 

If there will be a 2nd generation nDAC? Naim has refreshed practically everything else recently (e.g., new streaming board in the uniti series), thus a revised DAC architecture should be in the making for refreshes of e.g. the NDX streamer series. Simon said previously that this might be more incremental than a radical departure from the DAC chips currently used, but this is only for naim to know at the moment. If there will then be a separate nDAC2 is another matter (e.g., I noted that none of the new unitis have digital outputs, except the Core).  Perhaps rather a DAC-V2 (half-width) to complement my wished-for half-width digital streamer box?

S.

"If there will be a 2nd generation nDAC?"

I doubt it. What would change?

If you buy it be sure it is on the current firmware 4.18 that was released at the end of last year. Unfortunately I did not check the sonic diferences from 4.17 to 4.18 but others has said that 4.18 makes a big difference over 4.17.

 What comes out next from Naim only they know. It may be an updated dac,or it may be a 372 based on the new streaming platform. Personally I hope for the 372, but we will have to wait and see.

Claus

Claus-Thoegersen posted:

If you buy it be sure it is on the current firmware 4.18

This is irrelevant.
An upgrade can be done at home - the latest firmware is available from the NAIM website. The whole update process takes few minutes - the longest part is 'decoding' which firmware is being used

nDac alone for 1000£ it may make sense but when you add a 555PS even second hand you end up with a big amount, ı would go for Hugo second hand or brand new hugo 2 for that kind of money....

Isn't it quite amazing that the OP asks if a second-hand nDAC is a good proposal to connect the TWO sources he has and inevitably Chord Hugo is suggested, which can only accept one connection (I discount optical, because NAIM sources sound far better via BNC)?

The only DAC from the Chord stable which would seem to accept two sources via BNC / Coax is the DAVE - but that's a somewhat a pricier option than the Hugo.