FM modules

Joppe posted:

How good are the optional FM-modules availible for ND5XS/NDX? How do they compareble to eg a NAT05XS tuner. Are they possible to retrofit if I get a used ND player?

To answer your second question - no i'm afraid. 

My NDX-FM sounds better than the Rega Radio it replaced.  I have not heard a better tuner, but they may exist.  I have not heard any of the NATs.  The NDx-FM have the advantage of integrating nicely with iRadio and Naim app.

I had to trade in my NDX to get the NDX-FM.

Nick

I have the FM module in my 272 and it sounds very nice on Radio 3 and 4, with a good natural sound. I've owned various Naim tuners in the past, and while it isn't as good as the 01 or 02, it's not that far off the 05, and may even be as good, so far as I remember of course. The module costs about £300, but of course doesn't need its own case or power supply, which probably make up most of the cost of an 05, so really you'd expect it to be pretty good. 

I prefer much much my naked NAT05XS to the tuner modules I have heard and it is better again with a flatcap XS installed.  Best thing to do is have a listen

Just used the internet radio function. Sounds good, massive choice of stations and no messing about with roof aerials.

Jonn posted:

Just used the internet radio function. Sounds good, massive choice of stations and no messing about with roof aerials.

Fair enough, Jonn.

That said, I have the choice of listening to local radio either way with the NDX-FM.  I have done the A/B test -- with a decent signal, FM wins every time.  I wish it were not so.

Using a Magnum Dynalab whip in the attic temporarily.

Nick

They sound fine. Never compared one with the NAT05 though. Yes they can be retro-fitted. 

I asked Naim -- they said no retrofit is possible to add FM to non-FM NDx.  That is why I traded.  My two dealers concur.

Well Naim should know. I have been misinformed. Apologies.

Thanks for all the feedback! I will talk to my dealer but doubt he have a Nat on demo, possibly an ND with an FM module? I really begin to miss a deacent tuner, right now my radio listening is limited to the AV reciever (bypass into my 252). The idea of an ND apeal as it would double as an entry in to a more "decent" streaming audio setup, right now this is limited to the same AV setup and an Apple TV.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone who does not listen to Radio 3 feel the need for FM sound quality? I've never been that interested in R3, but listen to R4 a lot, for which high sound quality doesn't seem that important to me.

I don't mind the quality of R4, what I listen to on R4 is mostly speech & despite that its not top quality it is acceptable even tho' it might be mono, it is audibly very clear & acceptable enough for that program content - & Desert Island Discs is maybe another discussion & maybe its not actually a music program.    R3 must be best quality - end of - no discussion.  I would argue that some R2 evening progs need better quality,  when I listen to R2 evening progs - Jamie Cullum (jazz) & David Rodigan (reggae) - I invariably switch to iRadio for better HF & LF definition & no/low compression,  its better on iRadio than FM.

KNKX-FM, KING-FM, and KUOW-FM all stream around the globe, I believe.  I prefer all of these,  even talk-radio, over FM.  An added benefit is that a portable radio turned on in audible range of the main system is in sync.  

Nick

ChrisSU posted:

Just out of curiosity, does anyone who does not listen to Radio 3 feel the need for FM sound quality? I've never been that interested in R3, but listen to R4 a lot, for which high sound quality doesn't seem that important to me.

We actually listen to FM and some DAB broadcasts at least 2-3 hours each day. Having an FM / DAB module in our NDX is vital.
As to an argument 'it also has an iRadio': why would I want to listen to a 128 kbs MP3 if I can get an analogue transmisison in top notch quality (we live less than 3 km from the main FM relay station).

ChrisSU posted:

Just out of curiosity, does anyone who does not listen to Radio 3 feel the need for FM sound quality? I've never been that interested in R3, but listen to R4 a lot, for which high sound quality doesn't seem that important to me.

Drama, panel games, discussions; all sound better with the lifelike sonorous voices that FM can provide. A lot of the specialist music shows on R2 merit the best quality, even if the good old BBC does slaughter the sound quality to make DAB sound better in comparison. Johnie Walker's Sounds of the 70s on Sundays and Pick of the Pops on Saturday lunchtime are great ways to hear the pop music of our [ok my] youth properly, or at least in decent quality, often for the first time having heard it all on R1 mw way back when and then for the most part not since.

So yh, R2 and R4 are good uses of FM. R1 is a dim distant memory, local commercial radio doesn't get a look in, and BBC LR is via the net as I don't live where I come from now. 5L and 6M are both v good on HD streams but have no FM equivalent so don't count in this discussion.

On a wider point, I don't get why non-serous music is less deserving of decent quality, in the same way that I don't get the arguments that BBC local news output doesn't need to be in HD. If decent quality is achievable, I'd like to make use of it.

ChrisSU posted:

Just out of curiosity, does anyone who does not listen to Radio 3 feel the need for FM sound quality? I've never been that interested in R3, but listen to R4 a lot, for which high sound quality doesn't seem that important to me.

Yes.. to be honest I rarely listen to R3 on FM. I very much enjoy specialist music programmes on R2 and my local BBC radio (BBC Suffolk) has some great themed music shows at certain timesof the week. Radio 4 is a staple, and dramas can sound magical on the Naim... really contrasts with the compressive lossy multichannel or stereo sound used for film.

To be honest I am convinced even Radio 1 has improved in recent months on FM, seemingly less aggressively compressed with some programmes in the evening. I just wished Radio 6 was available via FM... perhaps we need a petition.. . so I can now only enjoy it when my internet access is not being used for anything else significant... hardly progress.

R4 on FM is a delight. I love hearing the bongs before the midnight news. At other times I sometimes I hear the low clunk as the studio clock clicks up to the hour. And I can tell when the presenters are poorly and should really be at home.

The plays can be glorious. Even if they do call them dramas.

C.