Warning - Don't Start a Thread with the Word 'Blimey': Topic - The PS555DR

R.I.P.

Well Naim do say:

"Each power supply upgrade brings more musical detail, clarity and emotion from every digital audio source or network stream."

So not just marketing puff.

Timmo1341 posted:

R.I.P.

Timmo, you have just pushed this thread to the top. You never know, you may have inadvertently saved it!

It seems to be increasingly obvious that the 555dr is a masterful piece of kit. As Nigel B has very nicely described in this thread and the previous one.

At the moment I have the xpsdr, so I am considering the upgrade to the 555dr.

is it an upgrade that is going to be worth the deep hole in my pocket?

wenger2015 posted:

It seems to be increasingly obvious that the 555dr is a masterful piece of kit. As Nigel B has very nicely described in this thread and the previous one.

At the moment I have the xpsdr, so I am considering the upgrade to the 555dr.

is it an upgrade that is going to be worth the deep hole in my pocket?

 

It is

Both of my sources run off 555PS (one DR and one non-DR, recapped) - no compromises here

wenger2015 posted:

It seems to be increasingly obvious that the 555dr is a masterful piece of kit. As Nigel B has very nicely described in this thread and the previous one.

At the moment I have the xpsdr, so I am considering the upgrade to the 555dr.

is it an upgrade that is going to be worth the deep hole in my pocket?

 

Hi Wenger,

From what I have heard so far and in the context of my source (NDS) the 555DR offers good VFM, even with my modest speakers. In your system you have very capable pre/power amp combo and speakers but I am unfamiliar with the CDX2 and more importantly what the 555DR would bring above and beyond an XPSDR powering it. The only way to be sure is of course an old fashioned home demo over a decent period.

There are ex-demo and pre-loved 555DRs about, indeed the one I am trialling is pre loved. But yes, even so, the 555DR is a lot of money but what price do you put on such realism in your own home?

nigelb posted:

wenger2015 posted:

It seems to be increasingly obvious that the 555dr is a masterful piece of kit. As Nigel B has very nicely described in this thread and the previous one.

At the moment I have the xpsdr, so I am considering the upgrade to the 555dr.

is it an upgrade that is going to be worth the deep hole in my pocket?

 

Hi Wenger,

From what I have heard so far and in the context of my source (NDS) the 555DR offers good VFM, even with my modest speakers. In your system you have very capable pre/power amp combo and speakers but I am unfamiliar with the CDX2 and more importantly what the 555DR would bring above and beyond an XPSDR powering it. The only way to be sure is of course an old fashioned home demo over a decent period.

There are ex-demo and pre-loved 555DRs about, indeed the one I am trialling is pre loved. But yes, even so, the 555DR is a lot of money but what price do you put on such realism in your own home?

I fortunately have a very accommodating dealer so a home demo is no problem, interestingly the 555dr is not really the normal match for a 272 but as has been well documented on here with the HH thread, it seems to work incredibly well, so I would assume that would be the case with a cdx2....

I’d be careful. I’m sure I’ve read people’s views that the 555 can make the CDX2 sound somewhat OTT. That said, I really liked what the 555 does to the CDS3, which others are less keen on. It would definitely be wise to try it first, or even to swap the CDX2 for a CDS3. 

Jonn posted:

Well Naim do say:

"Each power supply upgrade brings more musical detail, clarity and emotion from every digital audio source or network stream."

So not just marketing puff.

Then the thread title should be blo... on second thoughts.

555ps on a CDX2 was really rather good, though I had the un doctored version. I picked it above putting a supercap on my 282 and I prefered that setup to anything containing a Naim DAD no matter with which power supply. They’re separated again however as the CDX2 is no longer in my main system as I need more record storeage so the CDs are moving abroad and the player’s already there. I’m waiting for the new year to get the DRing done on the 555ps in anticipation of a streamer that will need it in the not too distant...

Hungryhalibut posted:

I’d be careful. I’m sure I’ve read people’s views that the 555 can make the CDX2 sound somewhat OTT. That said, I really liked what the 555 does to the CDS3, which others are less keen on. It would definitely be wise to try it first, or even to swap the CDX2 for a CDS3. 

It’s certainly wise to try it on dem, interestingly I have asked many a dealer of the merits of a 555dr paired with a 272, it’s a question that is usually met with a negative response.......often the merits of high end cables the same.....best to trust ones own ears

I don’t know how good the 555dr really is. I’ve got one with my NDS but have never tried any other PS to hear the difference. Maybe I should get an XPS on home demo for a bit. 

Interesting what HH says - I have also seen people saying the 555 did odd things to the NDX

edited to add - I will have to test a 555dr before I decide whether or not to dr my 555 on the NDS 

I used to run CDX2 with a 555PS (non-DR) - was the best I’ve heard my CDX2. The CDX2 is no loger here - hardly used it anymore, so it’s now keeping company to a good friend of mine.

As to NDX and 555PS - I run my NDX with a 555PS (non-DR, but re-capped, on purpose). In my system and in my living room it’s a good mix.
I also tried the NDX with a 555PS DR and it was uncomfortable - too edgy. So my 555PSDR went back to my main system, powering the NDS.

So maybe it is the dr that causes a problem on the 555 when combined with some sources. To some ears. In some rooms!

It sounds like you are enjoying your demo Nigel. The NDS can make the most of the multiple power rails available from the 555PS so it's not surprising you are really enjoying your 'new' front end 

James

Yes, James listening to Chris Jones at the moment - Roadhouses & Autombiles. Hearing nuances I have never noticed before which just adds to the 'realness' (I know there is no such word but it is all I can come up with) I have been banging on about.

I too remember reading that that for some, the 555DR on the NDX resulted in an OTT presentation. I am not sure if that would be the 555 or the DR bit playing tricks but it does imply that the 555DR is not always better than an XPSDR on a particular source although I would bet that can't be said for the NDS. Adam seems to prefer the 555 non DR on his NDX so maybe it is the DR technology when added to a 555 that seems to divide opinion on the NDX and CDX2 sources.

So the usual advice of home demo first if you can seems very appropriate if considering a 555DR.

As I used to say on here, if it don't sound fantastic then don't flash yer plastic.

Good stuff Nigel - your 555PS adventure has been an interesting read so i'm glad to hear it's going well and you are enjoying what it does. 

James

PS - You've just reminded me to stick Chris Jones on my playlist 

nigelb posted:

The last (and only) two topics that started with the word 'Blimey' have been shut down by the Moderator for different (but valid) reasons.  Richard has suggested I start another thread so here goes.

 

 

Damn, I thought some very valid points were expressed, I hate to see it shut down, whatever happened to free speech? I think the original thread should be brought back for the reasons expressed.

badlands posted:

nigelb posted:

The last (and only) two topics that started with the word 'Blimey' have been shut down by the Moderator for different (but valid) reasons.  Richard has suggested I start another thread so here goes.

 

 

Damn, I thought some very valid points were expressed, I hate to see it shut down, whatever happened to free speech? I think the original thread should be brought back for the reasons expressed.

Me too especially the ones about paint drying or was it paint pots.

Well this serves to prove there are many ways to skin a cat (always good to get a feline connection in a thread).   

Different users, different preferences served by an Industry that provides options.

Enjoy the groove as they say  

I wonder if when Naim developed the 555PS as the PSU for the CD555 they had any idea how popular the 555PS would become, how widely it would be used within the Naim range, and that it would out-last the CD555 itself?

BTW it does a stellar job on my nDAC. 

Well they certainly saw it serving the CDX2 and CDS3 and no doubt then it development HDX.  

Listening this evening it seems the 555DR is having a slight wobble sounding a little less impressive than yesterday. Still way better than my alternative and so it should be but a slight tailing off nonetheless.

But I think I know why this is. I suspect the extra transparency the 555DR brings will highlight the difference in recording and mastering quality of source material, be that a CD rip or a hi res download. A Melody Gardot album I was looking forward to listening to with the 555DR was ever so slightly disappointing. Noticeably better than my previous impressions of this album but not the leap in SQ I was expecting.

Feeling a little dissapointed I have just stuck on a Diana Krall (Love Scenes) hi res download (96/24). Bl**dy hell! She's in the room with her band, singing just to me. OK, that is a bit on an exaggeration, but this is the biggest uplift I have noticed so far with the 555DR. I am working on the assumption that the quality of the material played has a greater relevance with the 555DR. This kind of makes sense as I have always been persuaded by the source first argument and the best source in the world cannot extract what is not there or will extract warts an' all, however you wish to look at things.

One lesson is that I might need to be a little more choosy of the version of albums I select to buy (to rip) or possibly seek out a hi res download version should one exist.

When I was finally in a financial position to add a power supply to my 272/250DR, I auditioned both the XPSDR and 555DR at home. Within 5 minutes I hadmade up my mind as the extra finesse of the 555DR was manifestly apparent.

Andrew Everard wrote that adding a 555DR gives about 90% the performance of a similarly powered NDS, and given the huge cost of the NDS I think I have a relative bargain.

Having lived with the 555DR the last few months I have noticed a lower noise floor, greater ease of musical flow, less graininess of sound and a greater sense of 3 dimensional space. The latter is particularly satisfying, it really gives a greater "live" feeling to the music.

In piscatorial terms my system is now a "Moki", a New Zealand sea fish with a relatively small head and tail but a large and strong body. So this skinned cat is happy!

Kiwi cat posted:

When I was finally in a financial position to add a power supply to my 272/250DR, I auditioned both the XPSDR and 555DR at home. Within 5 minutes I hadmade up my mind as the extra finesse of the 555DR was manifestly apparent.

Andrew Everard wrote that adding a 555DR gives about 90% the performance of a similarly powered NDS, and given the huge cost of the NDS I think I have a relative bargain.

Having lived with the 555DR the last few months I have noticed a lower noise floor, greater ease of musical flow, less graininess of sound and a greater sense of 3 dimensional space. The latter is particularly satisfying, it really gives a greater "live" feeling to the music.

In piscatorial terms my system is now a "Moki", a New Zealand sea fish with a relatively small head and tail but a large and strong body. So this skinned cat is happy!

Your description of what the 555 DR does is spot on IMO. The 'live' feel you have described, I have clumsily described as 'realness' but I am pretty sure we are describing the same effect.

BTW, how big is a Moki? Would it eat, or be eaten, by a Monkfish for example, should they come face to face?

Asks he at the risk of diverting his thread, leading to either death, oblivion or worse, the Padded Cell!