NDS v ND555

Point taken ......... Naim will get the ND555 right before releasing.... I think there will be 'improvements'  Naim are learning more and more re digital implementation .... however, I don't think it will make the NDS sound broken ...... the NDS was desperately in need of an update - at the front end. The one area I think needed improvement was DSD .... I have always been underwhelmed by the DSD files I have..... where as flac rips of CD's sound stunning.

why would NDS sound broken - even the UQ sounds amazing with compatible speakers.

audio1946 posted:

didn't think the fm module was a true analogue design anyway

You are right. It isn't. It's a software-defined radio implementation. So fully digital. There are mixed opinions on how good the FM SQ is. I have read both that it's perfectly fine, and hardly worth bothering with, on this forum.

My own impression from my SuperUniti is that it is OK and I prefer it to BBC HD, but the BBC flac trial on Radio 3 was a revelation, sound quality wise. I haven't compared it to a proper Naim FM tuner.

best

David

I have enough confidence in Naim that the ND555 will be a significant step up from the NDS. It’s logical. If it wouldn’t be a big step up it would be commercially difficult to attract current NDS users. And they would only attract newcomers. Also how they position it - calling it clearly a 500 series product means that it must be better. 

I expect a magical connection between an even more engaging presentation than the NDS, CD555 direction; even more microdetail than the NDS (difficult as NDS is very good already); even better tonal accuracy than the NDS (more analogue, more accurate). 

I can’t wait to hear the A to B comparison. And I already have a smile on my face thinking about how people will audition it. The usual things will pass.........

the NDS sounds broken....

it now also beats the Hugo, others will disagree....

it’s the new CD555

The new NDX sounds actually better.......

and we could go on for hours.....

I volunteer by the way if Naim need customer ears to validate the quality of the product....

Bert Schurink posted:

 

I volunteer by the way if Naim need customer ears to validate the quality of the product....

If they need someone to compare it with Dave, and at the same time to see if it can create a convert to Naim sound, I might be persuadable...

Bert Schurink posted:

I have enough confidence in Naim that the ND555 will be a significant step up from the NDS. It’s logical. If it wouldn’t be a big step up it would be commercially difficult to attract current NDS users. And they would only attract newcomers. Also how they position it - calling it clearly a 500 series product means that it must be better. 

I expect a magical connection between an even more engaging presentation than the NDS, CD555 direction; even more microdetail than the NDS (difficult as NDS is very good already); even better tonal accuracy than the NDS (more analogue, more accurate). 

I can’t wait to hear the A to B comparison. And I already have a smile on my face thinking about how people will audition it. The usual things will pass.........

the NDS sounds broken....

it now also beats the Hugo, others will disagree....

it’s the new CD555

The new NDX sounds actually better.......

 

and we could go on for hours.....

 

I volunteer by the way if Naim need customer ears to validate the quality of the product....

Bert, I agree with you completely. If the new CD555 doesn’t represent a significant improvement over the NDS, it will fail, but Naim would not release it if it wasn’t a leap forward. I also believe that there will be a strong market for used NDS, which will continue to be among the finest streamers available (cue the attacks!).

ND555 will be better than NDS that should not be a question. However it would be more interesting to hear if NDS against NDX2 which should be a low price point. 

J The Kop posted:

ND555 will be better than NDS that should not be a question. However it would be more interesting to hear if NDS against NDX2 which should be a low price point. 

Agree with you will also be an interesting development. Will Naim voice it more in the direction of presence, balls etc or will it become more refined towards the NDS. 

If it comes too close or even would exceed the NDS it might start canabilizing even the potential sales on the ND555