ND555 Roadshows

 Just jesting with you.....I am really looking forward to these demo,s and really hoping I can get away with an NDX2. I am currently Nova/ 300dr.....and have already done a preamp demo and tried a 282 but feel  will be buying a 252....so it’s a significant outlay coming. The Nova has been great but was always a stop gap until the new streamers came along. Happy, but expensive times.

nigelb posted:

Gazza posted:

It’s NDX2 with both power supplies vs ND555,thanks for that input  Nigel....I was not thinking about the XPSDR. Or is that cynical conundrum sharing????

I was following up from Trickydickie's and French Rooster's posts where they were speculating about NDX2 vs NDS, although I realise the thread is primarily about the ND555.

i responded to Alba who announced the next ndx2 roadshows to come.....Anyway, some here are probably hesitating between saving for nd555 or buying ndx2 instead.  I am among them.

French Rooster posted:

nigelb posted:

Gazza posted:

It’s NDX2 with both power supplies vs ND555,thanks for that input  Nigel....I was not thinking about the XPSDR. Or is that cynical conundrum sharing????

I was following up from Trickydickie's and French Rooster's posts where they were speculating about NDX2 vs NDS, although I realise the thread is primarily about the ND555.

i responded to Alba who announced the next ndx2 roadshows to come.....Anyway, some here are probably hesitating between saving for nd555 or buying ndx2 instead.  I am among them.

Or……….stick with your NDS/555DR.

Now there's an original thought.

nigelb posted:

French Rooster posted:

nigelb posted:

Gazza posted:

It’s NDX2 with both power supplies vs ND555,thanks for that input  Nigel....I was not thinking about the XPSDR. Or is that cynical conundrum sharing????

I was following up from Trickydickie's and French Rooster's posts where they were speculating about NDX2 vs NDS, although I realise the thread is primarily about the ND555.

i responded to Alba who announced the next ndx2 roadshows to come.....Anyway, some here are probably hesitating between saving for nd555 or buying ndx2 instead.  I am among them.

Or……….stick with your NDS/555DR.

Now there's an original thought.

yes, absolutely, it would be finally the best solution.  It is why i said that i hope the nds is still better than ndx2.  If not, i will be probably hesitating.  But without rush.   I know that nds is not  broken 

I think this is only about the price ladder. I expect that NDS will be better than any alternative, except for ND555. (I except those who are wedded to CD555, but we are in streaming here). So    what is the market value of an NDS?

The market value of a used NDS is going to become pretty clear pretty quickly. 

It won't be long now.

I listened to a demonstration of an NDS v NDS+555PS v ND555 through a decent, but not top-of-the-range passive Naim amp system into decent (ok pricey £28k) Focal speakers.

Did I enjoy the improved listening experience as the demonstration went up the range ? Yes !

On a scale of 1 to 10 (yes, I am quite happy putting numerical values onto enjoyment - think of it as "smiley faces")

NDS..............................2  

NDS + 555PS................3  

ND555.........................10 

The enjoyment leap from NDS + 555PS to ND555 was astonishing.

If streaming is your thing, and the funds are available, you owe it to yourself to arrange a demo.

And if you live in the Wild West of the USA, with the nearest "dealer" 1,500 miles away who won't demo unless you buy in advance....................just buy in advance !

So the winner is :bare  NDS 

Never heard of one defying the laws of physics.

Don Atkinson posted:

I listened to a demonstration of an NDS v NDS+555PS v ND555 through a decent, but not top-of-the-range passive Naim amp system into decent (ok pricey £28k) Focal speakers.

Did I enjoy the improved listening experience as the demonstration went up the range ? Yes !

On a scale of 1 to 10 (yes, I am quite happy putting numerical values onto enjoyment - think of it as "smiley faces")

NDS..............................2  

NDS + 555PS................3  

ND555.........................10 

The enjoyment leap from NDS + 555PS to ND555 was astonishing.

If streaming is your thing, and the funds are available, you owe it to yourself to arrange a demo.

And if you live in the Wild West of the USA, with the nearest "dealer" 1,500 miles away who won't demo unless you buy in advance....................just buy in advance !

not a bit exagerated ?    nds: 3/10.   nd555: 10/10.       so the difference between the two is like between cd5i and cd555?    

nds can’t work without ps.   so logically there was no sound with bare nds.  You should have rated :  nds: 0.   nd555:10

Don Atkinson posted:

I listened to a demonstration of an NDS v NDS+555PS v ND555 through a decent, but not top-of-the-range passive Naim amp system into decent (ok pricey £28k) Focal speakers.

Did I enjoy the improved listening experience as the demonstration went up the range ? Yes !

On a scale of 1 to 10 (yes, I am quite happy putting numerical values onto enjoyment - think of it as "smiley faces")

NDS..............................2  

NDS + 555PS................3  

ND555.........................10 

The enjoyment leap from NDS + 555PS to ND555 was astonishing.

If streaming is your thing, and the funds are available, you owe it to yourself to arrange a demo.

And if you live in the Wild West of the USA, with the nearest "dealer" 1,500 miles away who won't demo unless you buy in advance....................just buy in 

Demo booked at Ceritech, on the strength of that! It's been a while since I let the moths in my wallet out... 

French Rooster posted:

nds can’t work without ps.   so logically there was no sound with bare nds.  You should have rated :  nds: 0.   nd555:10

oops !

I think I should have typed NDX rather than NDS.

I will look for my notes (*) tomorrow ! But to my ears, the leap from Naim's No2 set-up to their No1 set-up was astonishing !

(*) unintentional pun in there somewhere

yes, thanks, would be curious which real stuff was compared.

Harry posted:

The market value of a used NDS is going to become pretty clear pretty quickly. 

It won't be long now.

Well, with my NDS up for sale, the price I was hoping for (based on the fact that used Naim kit keeps its value very well) doesn't look like being achieved.  I'm wondering why... it's not the dearth of NDS's being exchanged for ND555s because the ND555 isn't being shipped yet, so maybe it's the wrong time of year to sell NDS's.  It may be that NDS owners will have to hang on until the flood (do I mean flood?) of upgraded streamers has died down a bit.

Maybe I should sell my CD555 to fund my ND555 instead  

Probably not very helpful for NDS resale’s that the rumour of NDX2 might be as good or better for 5k new. I know I am waiting to have a demo of both ND555 and NDX2.

Gazza posted:

Alba1320 posted:

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned, but just in case it hasn't, it seems that NDX2 will be making an appearance at a forthcoming Roadshow event (early July):

"NDX 2 Also Here
We have also just found out that Naim will be bringing along the new NDX 2 which is reportedly sounding even better than the NDS..."

It is going to be on dem, apparently.

What a conundrum for NigelB, NDX2 or ND555 to replace his beloved NDS????

My ears might be wrong. But I don’t belief the statement. I have listened to the NDX2 at the show in Munich, and I liked very much the boogie factor which I recognize from the CDX2. But at the same time I was missing a lot of the refinement which I know from the NDS. Now I know people will argue and I have to agree, the other electronics have been less refined and missing a powersupply is also a major factor. So perhaps we do go get surprised.....

So let’s assume the statement is true -

1. Current owners who don’t want to change - the NDS is still as good as before.

2. One can always choose to upgrade to the NDX2, if it proofs to be better, should financially be an ok move.

3. People who want to upgrade to the ND555 might get less resale value for the NDS, unless they made the decision before as I did. That would then once mean a benefit for early adopters who normally pay the early premium price of products or are phased with initial issues with the product.

My feeling is that the NDS will still be slightly better given some of the design decisions made, however it will be an interesting comparison.

rjstaines posted:

Well, with my NDS up for sale, the price I was hoping for (based on the fact that used Naim kit keeps its value very well) doesn't look like being achieved. 

I might be perverse compared to the norm. For something like HiFi, any money I make if it sell it on is a bonus. I buy few things with resale value in mind. Come to think of it, I don't think I buy anything with resale value factoring in at time of purchase.

I suppose that if your CD555 is gathering dust it may as well go to a home who will appreciate it. But if, as I suspect is the case, you are still using it and loving it, I would keep both arms round it. 

Can you say what are you expecting to get (roughly) for your NDS head unit? Or would answering that on a forum tip the negotiations away from your favour?

rjstaines posted:

Harry posted:

The market value of a used NDS is going to become pretty clear pretty quickly. 

It won't be long now.

Well, with my NDS up for sale, the price I was hoping for (based on the fact that used Naim kit keeps its value very well) doesn't look like being achieved.  I'm wondering why... it's not the dearth of NDS's being exchanged for ND555s because the ND555 isn't being shipped yet, so maybe it's the wrong time of year to sell NDS's.  It may be that NDS owners will have to hang on until the flood (do I mean flood?) of upgraded streamers has died down a bit.

Maybe I should sell my CD555 to fund my ND555 instead  

The sun is shining, wait for Autumn and interest in HiFi will probably pick up. Shouldn't be more than a week of two now!

LOL! That long?

In the first year after discontinuation, what did good CDS3s fetch as a proportion of their original sales price? That might be a guide of sorts, given their S level positioningl and life cycle.

Harry posted:

rjstaines posted:

Well, with my NDS up for sale, the price I was hoping for (based on the fact that used Naim kit keeps its value very well) doesn't look like being achieved. 

I might be perverse compared to the norm. For something like HiFi, any money I make if it sell it on is a bonus. I buy few things with resale value in mind. Come to think of it, I don't think I buy anything with resale value factoring in at time of purchase.

I suppose that if your CD555 is gathering dust it may as well go to a home who will appreciate it. But if, as I suspect is the case, you are still using it and loving it, I would keep both arms round it. 

Can you say what are you expecting to get (roughly) for your NDS head unit? Or would answering that on a forum tip the negotiations away from your favour?

Well, I've just agreed a sale and I was right in my prediction about downgraded resale value.

I suspect I'd get pulled up if I mention specific sales of items, but if you're interested Harry, you can do what I did and look at the sales history of NDS's on that famous auction site. I figured it would be about half current retail price.  You'll probably see the detail of the transaction I entered in to just now... and maybe you'll wipe away a tear for me      But the guy who bought it is going to place it in a nice Naim / Spendor setup and it'll work beautifully for him, I'm certain. 

The one up for £3850 looks a bit ratty, but that might just be the photography. Lighting can make immaculate things look less immaculate than they actually are. I'd hope to get a bit more than that for mine. It will be interesting to see if it sells and for how much. The one for £5500 looks optimistic IMO. But I have no idea really.

I recall Jason from Naim saying, at the Bristol show, that the NDX2 will not be far off the NDS. I took that as an indication that the NDX2 will be very good and excellent value but not at the NDS’ level. That makes sense to me but it will be interesting to hear what people make of it.

Don Atkinson posted:

I listened to a demonstration of an NDS v NDS+555PS v ND555 through a decent, but not top-of-the-range passive Naim amp system into decent (ok pricey £28k) Focal speakers.

Did I enjoy the improved listening experience as the demonstration went up the range ? Yes !

On a scale of 1 to 10 (yes, I am quite happy putting numerical values onto enjoyment - think of it as "smiley faces")

NDS..............................2  

NDS + 555PS................3  

ND555.........................10 

The enjoyment leap from NDS + 555PS to ND555 was astonishing.

If streaming is your thing, and the funds are available, you owe it to yourself to arrange a demo.

And if you live in the Wild West of the USA, with the nearest "dealer" 1,500 miles away who won't demo unless you buy in advance....................just buy in advance !

A

All the more disappointing that there’s no NDS2 if the difference is so great. Would a second  burndy have made only a marginal improvement over NDX2 or be too close to ND555?

Keith

Harry posted:

The one up for £3850 looks a bit ratty, but that might just be the photography. Lighting can make immaculate things look less immaculate than they actually are. I'd hope to get a bit more than that for mine. It will be interesting to see if it sells and for how much. The one for £5500 looks optimistic IMO. But I have no idea really.

I paid less than £3500 for my NDS a year ago - bought from a well-respected dealer with three month warranty, in perfect condition. Still loving it despite hearing the improvement that ND555 brings - will be a while before I make that upgrade 

This robs the NDX2 of it's potential best value status by no small margin.