Is NDX2 + 555PS better than nDAC + 555PS?

Posted by: Consciousmess on 04 August 2018

Reading rave reviews of the ND555 does not interest me as streaming isn’t my goal. However, the DAC portion does interest me, so the NDX 2 appears to have this, with the streaming as a bonus.

So when it comes to D to A, will the NDX2 outperform the nDAC both powered by 555PS? (I notice well informed forum members who understand the electronics, and some who have chatted with Naim.)

Posted on: 04 August 2018 by Simon-in-Suffolk

That I suspect is impossible to answer as they will sound quite different... and preference will be almost entirely subjective. I think if we said ND555 I know that there are advancements that assist consistency and accuracy over the NDAC which was Naim’s first generation DAC. I don’t know how much trickled into the NDX2..I suspect sonic character (or what some on this forum call ‘voicing’) and system synergy will have a more significant effect..

Posted on: 04 August 2018 by Consciousmess

I suppose other factors aside from the isolated DAC portion benefit overall. I just figured the NDX2 had the same DAC portion and the ancillaries making the ND555 superior would be bypassed by powering it by the external 555PS.

Thus utilising an improved DAC with the option of steaming on top.

Posted on: 04 August 2018 by TOBYJUG

I would imagine the Ndac with 555psdr would be more neutral than an Ndac with 555ps, likewise more neutral than an NDX2 with either the 555psdr or the 555ps.

More Neutral or Naimtral could depend on the rest of the system and preferences.

Posted on: 05 August 2018 by jonnaim

Nobody outside naim hq has heard a ndx2 so who can anyone answer this question?

Posted on: 06 August 2018 by Bluebeard

TBH I can’t imagine a single BB1792A (NDX2) outperforming a pair of BB1704UKs (ndac). DSP and engineering hasn’t moved that far over the past decade. IMO of course.

regards,

Giles

Posted on: 06 August 2018 by Gazza

Another way of looking at is.......if you think a Nova sounds really good. Then strip out the amplification, spend another grand on better circuitry and isolation.......then perhaps it could be in the NDS/Ndac sound quality ballpark?

Posted on: 06 August 2018 by JP

jonnaim posted:
Nobody outside naim hq has heard a ndx2 so who can anyone answer this question?

At least one person has - see Andrew Everard's review in the latest issue of HiFi News. He doesn't compare the NDX2 + 555PS to NDAC + 555PS, but he does compare it to NDS + 555PS. By my reading of the review, he seems to judge the NDX2 + 555PS to be almost on a par with the NDS, revealing slightly more detail but a bit less in terms of 'boogie factor'. His positive review has certainly sparked my interest in the NDX2, particularly as I already have a 555PSDR. It's leading me to think that I'll probably opt for an NDX2 rather than a used NDS. Only question is whether it's worth forking out a further £8k for an ND555.