DAC V1 or Nait XS 2 as an upgrade?

Well, something came up! I found out today that there is a Naim special on streamers, until December 31st in my area. There is a huge discount on new ND5 XS streamers.

I spoke to my dealer about the product. It seems I can use my Mac Mini as a NAS to feed music files to the ND5 through the ethernet network connection. The Mac Mini would be like a NAS, and the ND5 XS would be the streamer and music player. This should provide better sound quality than the Mac Mini as server and player (using Audirvana+).

I was also told the internal DAC of the ND5XS was better than my Rega DAC R. So, Mac Mini as a NAS (or a real NAS) to store the music, and feed the ND5XS that acts as music player AND DAC. Simpler, and better sound quality than Mac Mini as server and player, feeding the Rega DAC R. Opinions anyone?

The internal DAC of the ND5 would need to be better than the Rega DAC R to seal the deal. I could then sell the Rega to lessen the expense of buying the ND5XS. I will probably audition both setups in the store with a system almost identical to mine. I am still curious about what others have experienced with the ND5XS. 

I could get rid of some USB cabling and the Intona as well. I gotta say, the ND5 is looking good! The discount is well over 30% off list price. Hmmm...

Thanks for everyone who offered advice. I did look at the Melco and the Aurender N100H. As silly as it may sound, both units at 14 inches deep, I cannot put them on my gear rack. I use large power cords (Shunyata, etc), and the component depth plus the power cords bend arc, would simply not fit. I would have to move my gear rack another few inches farther from the back wall. Not something I want to do, because the gear rack will be a little too forward and in the way. 

The ND5XS has recently been discontinued, so I dare say your dealer is keen to shift any remaining stock. If you want the functionality of a streamer, by all means go for it, but I think you’d get better sound quality by spending a similar sum on a standalone DAC as you had previously intended. You could buy a used NDAC for what the ND5 will cost, and that will blow it out of the water in sound quality terms. Alternatively, there are various Chord DACs or the V1. I would have a careful listen to a few options before you commit to anything. 

Is the ND5XS gone as well? It's still on the website... I use an XS2/ND5XS combo -- and think it is rather nice. Though I have been feeling an upgrade itch for a while...

A little late to the party but personally, the V1 will sound and function better than your Rega DAC, giving you the option to play DSD and super high sample rates not to mention giving you an amazing class A headphone amp in the process, with the added advantage of adding a nap of some sort to it the future, WAY more future proof in my eyes. I wouldn't by an ND5 if you have a mac mini, your basically doubling up on functions with the Mac mini arguable giving you a far better user experience (just to be clear the mac make no bones to the sound its all 1 & 0's until it's converted in the DAC). Not to mention that support in the future may be sketchy on the ND5, there's no real telling when Naim will decide to stop app support (I'm not saying support will end overnight but it will happen). Which in turn makes it more difficult to use in future and making some (most) of its functions nearly useless. Chrissu's Suggestion above of a Ndac is very solid and would basically never be obsolete and can be had on a well know auction site for the same price as a V1 second hand when they pop up. Ultimately you need to listen to the options not start striking things off because of someone telling you it's a little poop it might be just your cup of tea. My short list would be the V1 (possibly with a nap 200 if funds allow) or an Ndac but both options allow you to keep your current amp. I would leave the streamer TBH. Just my 2 cents

ChrisSU posted:

The ND5XS has recently been discontinued, so I dare say your dealer is keen to shift any remaining stock. If you want the functionality of a streamer, by all means go for it, but I think you’d get better sound quality by spending a similar sum on a standalone DAC as you had previously intended. You could buy a used NDAC for what the ND5 will cost, and that will blow it out of the water in sound quality terms. Alternatively, there are various Chord DACs or the V1. I would have a careful listen to a few options before you commit to anything. 

I don't think the ND5 XS has been discontinued (unlike the XP5 XS and NAC-N172 XS), and it's still on the Naim website.

Daniel H. posted:

Well, something came up! I found out today that there is a Naim special on streamers, until December 31st in my area. There is a huge discount on new ND5 XS streamers.

I spoke to my dealer about the product. It seems I can use my Mac Mini as a NAS to feed music files to the ND5 through the ethernet network connection. The Mac Mini would be like a NAS, and the ND5 XS would be the streamer and music player. This should provide better sound quality than the Mac Mini as server and player (using Audirvana+).

I was also told the internal DAC of the ND5XS was better than my Rega DAC R. So, Mac Mini as a NAS (or a real NAS) to store the music, and feed the ND5XS that acts as music player AND DAC. Simpler, and better sound quality than Mac Mini as server and player, feeding the Rega DAC R. Opinions anyone?

The internal DAC of the ND5 would need to be better than the Rega DAC R to seal the deal. I could then sell the Rega to lessen the expense of buying the ND5XS. I will probably audition both setups in the store with a system almost identical to mine. I am still curious about what others have experienced with the ND5XS. 

I could get rid of some USB cabling and the Intona as well. I gotta say, the ND5 is looking good! The discount is well over 30% off list price. Hmmm...

My setup includes a Synology DS716+II (NAS) with a ethernet connection to the ND5 XS connected to a NAIT XS 2.  The NAS makes it extremely convenient to access my music using my iPad or iPhone via the ND5 XS. Also use TIDAL quite a bit (HiFi subscription) to explore new music or albums I do not own prior to purchase. The ND5 XS is the paired streamer for the NAIT XS 2 and makes a very nice little system. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks for the opinions. I would prefer to upgrade my Nait 5i to the Nait XS2, rather than buy a better DAC like the Naim V1 or the nDAC to replace my Rega DAC R.

The appeal of the ND5 XS, is that it would be a better music player sound wise than the Mac Mini + Audirvana, and its internal DAC would sound better than my Rega DAC R. It's like 2 upgrades in one. I would keep my Mac Mini as network storage uniquely for the ND5 XS. 

Huge posted:

 

I don't think the ND5 XS has been discontinued (unlike the XP5 XS and NAC-N172 XS), and it's still on the Naim website.

Huge, I think you’re right, I was thinking of other XS range boxes. Apologies for the confusion! Can’t help thinking that its days are numbered, though. 

seakayaker posted:

Daniel H. posted:

Well, something came up! I found out today that there is a Naim special on streamers, until December 31st in my area. There is a huge discount on new ND5 XS streamers.

I spoke to my dealer about the product. It seems I can use my Mac Mini as a NAS to feed music files to the ND5 through the ethernet network connection. The Mac Mini would be like a NAS, and the ND5 XS would be the streamer and music player. This should provide better sound quality than the Mac Mini as server and player (using Audirvana+).

I was also told the internal DAC of the ND5XS was better than my Rega DAC R. So, Mac Mini as a NAS (or a real NAS) to store the music, and feed the ND5XS that acts as music player AND DAC. Simpler, and better sound quality than Mac Mini as server and player, feeding the Rega DAC R. Opinions anyone?

The internal DAC of the ND5 would need to be better than the Rega DAC R to seal the deal. I could then sell the Rega to lessen the expense of buying the ND5XS. I will probably audition both setups in the store with a system almost identical to mine. I am still curious about what others have experienced with the ND5XS. 

I could get rid of some USB cabling and the Intona as well. I gotta say, the ND5 is looking good! The discount is well over 30% off list price. Hmmm...

My setup includes a Synology DS716+II (NAS) with a ethernet connection to the ND5 XS connected to a NAIT XS 2.  The NAS makes it extremely convenient to access my music using my iPad or iPhone via the ND5 XS. Also use TIDAL quite a bit (HiFi subscription) to explore new music or albums I do not own prior to purchase. The ND5 XS is the paired streamer for the NAIT XS 2 and makes a very nice little system. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks! I put a deposit on an ND5 XS today, and my dealer ordered it from the distributor. I should have it in a few days. I can't wait!

My dealer verified with his Naim representative. The ND5 XS and the two other streamers on sale until December 31st (there is also a huge discount on the NDX and NDS) are not discontinued. Apparently, Naim plans on introducing new streamers sometime within the new year (as understood by my dealer). But, the three streamers on sale are not yet discontinued. They won't be until the new models are ready for production. And really, who cares? I don't see how being discontinued will make my new ND5 XS work or sound any worse. It has the same app as the new Uniti series. Last year, Naim developed DSD support for these streamers. Naim have clearly well supported these devices since their introduction in 2011. They will be great components for many years to come.

Congratulations -- enjoy your new piece of kit !!  

Timo posted:

Congratulations -- enjoy your new piece of kit !!  

Thank you! After the ND5 has settled in a bit, and I have had time to listen to it, I'll report on how it sounds VS the Mac Mini as music player and Rega DAC R.