ND555 Roadshows

David Hendon posted:

No I meant six weeks time is the first week in September not August. I haven't decided to go for an NDX2 yet, although I am tempted. But I think I may wait to see what happens re a 272 successor.

best

David

Sorry David.......retirement and dates........you are very correct. September would be the most likely, which fits into the schedule floated of the ND5XS2 in October. Have a great evening, hoping for rain in Colchester.

David Hendon posted:

nbpf posted:

David Hendon posted:

No I meant six weeks time is the first week in September not August. I haven't decided to go for an NDX2 yet, although I am tempted. But I think I may wait to see what happens re a 272 successor.

best

David

Hopefully by that time Naim will have made available detailed user guides and specifications thus that we will be able to make informed choices on what to buy or not to buy!

Yes well good luck with that.

I don't need any of that frankly. The price, a look at the feature list, the back panel layout and a listen will do me.

best

David

A look at the feature list, the back panel and a demo are not enough for me: I am not going to buy a device that does not come with a decent user guide, no matter how good it is. I probably would not need a user guide, but I certainly would want to have it!   

nbpf posted:

David Hendon posted:

No I meant six weeks time is the first week in September not August. I haven't decided to go for an NDX2 yet, although I am tempted. But I think I may wait to see what happens re a 272 successor.

best

David

Hopefully by that time Naim will have made available detailed user guides and specifications thus that we will be able to make informed choices on what to buy or not to buy!

I gave up relying on hi-fi specifications about 50 years ago!

Has something emerged to make them meaningful ?

Specs would not really tell you how a streamer like the ND555 would sound like . I agree Don. Gotta listen to it . 

Naim kit has never stacked up well in the willy waving specification stakes. So I suspect most Naim owners wouldn't give a t**s about the numbers.

Don Atkinson posted:

 

1) I gave up relying on hi-fi specifications about 50 years ago!

2) Has something emerged to make them meaningful ?

1) That was perhaps a bit premature!

2) Sure: we meanwhile have internet streaming services, airplay, chromecast, gapless replay ... it would be useful to know which of these things actually do work before biting the bullet! 

nbpf posted:

Don Atkinson posted:

 

1) I gave up relying on hi-fi specifications about 50 years ago!

2) Has something emerged to make them meaningful ?

1) That was perhaps a bit premature!

2)Sure: we meanwhile have internet streaming services, airplay, chromecast, gapless replay ... it would be useful to know which of these things actually do work before biting the bullet! 

 

Oh ! I see now what you mean when you say "specification". A bit like, "two phono inputs; one tuner input; one tape input/output"

I thought you were talking about "THD, Cross-talk, 100 watts Power output at 1kHz into 4 ohms etc" that sort of rubbish.

Thanks for the clarification and apologies for my misunderstanding.

Cheers, Don

Don Atkinson posted:

nbpf posted:

Don Atkinson posted:

 

1) I gave up relying on hi-fi specifications about 50 years ago!

2) Has something emerged to make them meaningful ?

1) That was perhaps a bit premature!

2)Sure: we meanwhile have internet streaming services, airplay, chromecast, gapless replay ... it would be useful to know which of these things actually do work before biting the bullet! 

 

Oh ! I see now what you mean when you say "specification". A bit like, "two phono inputs; one tuner input; one tape input/output"

I thought you were talking about "THD, Cross-talk, 100 watts Power output at 1kHz into 4 ohms etc" that sort of rubbish.

Thanks for the clarification and apologies for my misunderstanding.

Cheers, Don

No need to apologize, I should probably have expressed myself more clearly! The point is that servers and streamers are in fact full fledged computers with crippled access and customizability, just like mobile phones and tablets. In order to avoid wrong choices and regret in retrospect, it is crucial to know which applications and services can actually be installed or turned on/off before ordering one such devices. There is actually no need for thick manuals, just detailed and precise documentation of features. Naim has been very sloppy in documenting its new Uniti platform and this has lead to unnecessary confusion and misunderstandings. I hoped that they had learned the lesson and that the new classic range streamers would come out with detailed documentation. Unfortunately this does not appear to be the case.

There still didn't end up a really convenient ND555 Roadshow near me, the one that's on nearest to me I'm going to struggle to get to.

However the main showroom of my usual dealer (which is in another town) is having an open day and a chance to listen to the NDX2 on a Saturday in September.

Much more convenient, and at least I'll get a chance to listen to/have a look at the new platform after all!

There is a review of Naim NDX2 in the new Hi Fi News magazine . I downloaded the magazine and read the review. He did compare the NDS/555DR to NDX2/555DR in the article . He said the NDS had a little more Boogie to it and a little more of the Naim sound quality . More real sounding . But they are close in SQ.  I would imagine the ND555 is quite incredible sounding if it is that much better than the NDX2 and NDS. 

I think the ND555 sets a new benchmark. It would be interesting to see a Naim, Linn, Chord, bring out your best bake off, but I suspect it would be more a matter of personal taste than absolute quality. I like music, whether raw and passionate or delicate and nuanced, so Naim every time for me...

DaveBk posted:

I think the ND555 sets a new benchmark. It would be interesting to see a Naim, Linn, Chord, bring out your best bake off, but I suspect it would be more a matter of personal taste than absolute quality. I like music, whether raw and passionate or delicate and nuanced, so Naim every time for me...

Yes on the high end it becomes a matter of taste. Love at $50,000 speakers and up. Or $30K and up . Everyone has their favorite sounding brand . Not everyone will agree on which speaker brand sounds best . I would think the new Naim ND555 can hold it’s own with any top end brand , and like you said DaveBK, it then becomes a matter of taste.