Where to go (if anywhere) from NAC52?

Curiouser and curiouser. Foot Tapper hears  the breaking glass loud and clear, but Hungryhalibut doesnt. The OP did, now doesm’t. More significantly, the OPs experiences are with the same CD. 

I’m a bit unclear as to what has changed when in the system: CDX/SPS to NDX, 135s/active SBLs to 500/S600. It might be helpful to detail the change process, including timescale. And when in that timescale did you first become aware that the glass didn’t break anymore (or other concerns about what you were hearing if Private Investigations isn’t aired frequently)? On reflection would you say it was a gradual deterioration, or something that suddenly became apparent, and if the latter was it after an upgrade or all by itself? Or is it so subtle that it could go for months without realising until you happen to notice in pne recording that something is missing that used to be there (e.g. the glass sound)?

I just spent £7.99 to buy the album, as I’ve never owned, though I actually really like the Private Investigations track. I’ve listened again, much louder this time, and still can’t hear it. There is the guitar meow sound, a gap, then the click of a door latch. For the life of me I can’t hear breaking glass. My album is a Qobuz download. 

I’m giving up and will listen to Nick Cave instead. 

Beachcomber posted:

Hmm - interesting.  Possibly my previous active SBL/135s emphasised it.  Or my memory is failing me, but while that may well be true to an extent, I distinctly remember that sound being very obvious, but now I have to listen fairly carefully for it.  Yet I can hear higher and lower frequencies perfectly well.  

Yes, it is well-recorded.  

Hi Beachcomber

With your guidance on where to find it, I have heard the break but not the aftermath both on TIDAL via NDX and iPad into the nDAC front socket. But hey, TIDAL is not quite as good as CDs. If anything the iPad TIDAL into nDAC + XPSDR sounds better (actually very good - maybe I don’t need NDX for TIDAL), but the NDX + XPSDR is warming up after only arrival for demo today. 

It must be worthwhile having the 52 serviced and upgraded 552 DR.

I’m sure your wife would notice if your hearing was bad. 

Phil

Alba1320 posted:

I don't have this album, but curiosity got the better of me, so just had a listen on YouTube, and skipping through the track, there seems to be breaking glass @ circa 05:41, apparent through the crappy speakers of my laptop - is that what's being referred to?

Yes, that's about where I heard it too, so I guess we're talking about the same sound. It's there on my CD rip, and streamed from Qobuz too.

Being the nerd I am I have just listened to two versions of Private Investigations as I definitely remembered the breaking glass bit. The first version is on my CD rip of Money for Nothing album and the second is a longer version of the Private Investigations on the Love Over Gold album via Tidal. The breaking glass is just audible on both versions though less so on the version of Love Over Gold, possibly because of Tidal.

The strange thing is that the breaking glass seems quieter than I remember, possibly because of failing ears. Otherwise this track seems as clear as I remember it. Maybe it is the higher frequencies that are the first to go.

Beachcomber posted:

my previous active SBL/135s...

Beachcomber,

Do you ever wish you'd upgraded the 52 to 552, and NDX to NDS instead of swopping out the four pack & sibbles?

Debs

Beachcomer, I have no idea of your age or state of your hearing, but maybe it is worth getting a teenager in to hear and describe how loud/prominent the glass spunds to them - and if not loud and clear to me I may do likewise this weekend? Otherwise measuring with REW will show up any significant holes in the response.

Beachcomber posted:

£269 each for pre and supercap.  But when I called him he said it was £225 each.  

No I didn't, I am sorry but you must have misheard. The cost has been the same for quite a while now.

Hungryhalibut posted:

I just spent £7.99 to buy the album, as I’ve never owned, though I actually really like the Private Investigations track. I’ve listened again, much louder this time, and still can’t hear it. There is the guitar meow sound, a gap, then the click of a door latch. For the life of me I can’t hear breaking glass. My album is a Qobuz download. 

I’m giving up and will listen to Nick Cave instead. 

Meow (which doesn’t sound real) then breaking glass quite clearly* followed by gate.

to fair it is recorded quite quietly on this CD version, probably so that track one can build up in volume as it progresses.

*nitrous 52 and 3/4’s years old.

re OP I would get things serviced and go from there with source first being my watch word ????

Ah - sorry, I must, as you say, have misheard.  The mobile signal was not great.

Cheers

Steve

The questions of whether and the extent of any real diminution of the glass sound, and the circumstances of it happening have still not been answered.

Whilst servicing of a 20 year old Naim preamp would seem to be overdue and worth doing anyway, there is also the question as to whether a preamp is even needed if the OP only plays digital and might consider reviewing his source. (That sad, of course, a recently serviced preamp may command a higher trade in value so not all the fairly modest cost of the service would be wasted if he were subsequently to move it on.)

Just had a listen myself on Tidal as for some daft reason I don’t own this album. Sounds absolutely lovely but the breaking glass isn’t exactly obvious. It’s there on my system but I had to listen for it. Bet some masters feature it better than others.

Drewy posted:

Bet some masters feature it better than others.

Possibly it does, but my vinyl version is pretty close as well and the glass breaking is pretty obvious, and comes across, like the cat meow, as slightly processed. I assume it was sampled in some early form back then?

Drewy posted:

Just had a listen myself on Tidal as for some daft reason I don’t own this album. Sounds absolutely lovely but the breaking glass isn’t exactly obvious. It’s there on my system but I had to listen for it. Bet some masters feature it better than others.

The TIDAL of Love Over Gold has been ok for some of us.

Phil

I could not hear the glass on myripor Tidal version thru Nova, could be lack of resolution, but I am not alone.

Filipe posted:

Drewy posted:

Just had a listen myself on Tidal as for some daft reason I don’t own this album. Sounds absolutely lovely but the breaking glass isn’t exactly obvious. It’s there on my system but I had to listen for it. Bet some masters feature it better than others.

The TIDAL of Love Over Gold has been ok for some of us.

Phil

??? 

It’s ok to me

There is something very strange happening here. I can clearly hear the breaking glass ( just after the cat) on the Spotify version when I play it through the speakers on my iPad Pro.

For those that hear it loud and clear, if any have a spectral analyser can you measure what the glass break sound covers? That may help rule in or out HF frequency ear degradation, and point to whether is is mid or top that might be the issue.

Otherwise all previous thoughts/questions remain.

I’ve tried to hear it on headphones, and still nothing. I haven’t listened to this much Dire Straits in 20 years. It’s a good thing there is no breaking glass on Bach’s sonatas. 

I've wondered why the breaking glass hasn't raised its head on the forum before.    I have Private Investigations on CD rip's from Love Over Gold & (I assume taken from the same master) on the compilation Sultans of Swing,  also had the vinyl.   I hear it (& heard the vinyl) at more or less the same level,  providing the volume is at a reasonable serious listening level, I hear it quite clearly.    But I was surprised the other day listening on my car radio DAB BBC-R2 & it was a lot more distinct !!!  that surprised me & I came to the conclusion my car audio/speaker output is a bit peaky at breaking glass bottle frequencies as I know my home system speakers are pretty flat at that point.

Through headphones off Qobuz can just hear breaking glass just before synthetic cat...it's quite subtle though...

sorry, I meant after the cat.

This is all amusing cobblers but you need to get the 52 serviced!

After reading the above I have played PI from vinyl and a CD rip of love over gold and PI from the greatest hits CD rip and I hear the breaking glass loud and clear on my system.

You need Proac Tab 10s I guess

A friend and I have used PI in hifi dems for years and years. I’ve never not been able to hear the breaking glass.

HiFiman posted:

After reading the above I have played PI from vinyl and a CD rip of love over gold and PI from the greatest hits CD rip and I hear the breaking glass loud and clear on my system.

You need Proac Tab 10s I guess

 

Or Fact.8’s ????