The ND555 remote handset... was someone having a laugh ?

Life must be hell as an ND555 owner.

rjstaines posted:

Here's an ND555 post that's not about the ND555...

So, all those lucky chaps (and chapesses) who's ND555 has arrived  (and there must be quite a few by now), have been happily talking to their new aquisition via the Naim app, right so far?   But has anyone noticed how horrible this brand new, impressive, metal bodied handset is to use?

Some clever, well intentioned designer, I suspect, has looked at the R-Com remote, with its posh metal body and its clever backlit buttons that light up when you pick it up, and thought "That's a nice idea, I'll copy that... they'll love it."   How wrong can you be?...

You can see the writing on the R-com buttons with or without the backlight, they're raised... not on the ND555 one, they're sunk.    You can only read them when the backlight is on !   And how long does the backlight stay on?  FIVE seconds, that's all.  ...same as the R-com as it happens, BUT there are lots more buttons  to spot on the new handset, it takes me more than 5 seconds to find the one I need to press.  So it's pick it up, backlight on, scan top buttons, backlight off... wobble handset, lights on, scan lower bottons, light off, wobble handset, find button, light off, wobble handset...  press button (maybe).    My point is this... a backlight that goes out after five seconds, on this handset, is about as useless as boobs on a bull.

Have I missed something in the setup, and is there actually a setting that allows us to have the backlight stay on for more than five seconds?

And while I'm having a comparative 'observation' of the new handset vs the R-com... the new one with its sleek, good looking, impressive even, straight lines... slips so easily out of your hand it's almost unbelievable.  However, I won't lobby for a change to curved lines because this new handset is actually improving the muscle strength in my grip...  and I'll accept, for the time being, the various benefits of that  

Roger

 

ill happily swap you one from my nova! its got buttons that are flush and you can see without the light....

Roger - I don't think you are being overly picky - I can tell you one thing - Naim will not fix it ......... maybe they will increase illumination to say around ten seconds. I think raised markers would be handy for those maybe with poor eye sight - so good point ........  Anyway, I will report back when I get my ND555 ...... as an aside I really like the cheapo NDS remote......I am not keen on the huge 552 metal billet........

I haven’t experienced it as a problem, as one needs only one button you focus on. And it will be found within five seconds....

I’ve noticed on the cheap shiny plastic version that comes with the Atom that the lights do indeed go off too soon. I suspect it matters less when you get used to it and know which buttons to hit. The previous version does sit much more neatly in your hand, though, and I much prefer it. Also, it allows you to control the UPnP input which for many is by far the most used one. I find it odd that Naim have designed a swanky new Zigbee remote that doesn’t do this. 

All Naim remotes are pretty hopeless. The R-Com, in particular, is a triumph of appearance over functionality. Makes a good paperweight I suppose...Sitting as I do with the stereo at right-angles and forward of me, the pathetically weak IR doesn't work the preamp anyway. Many years ago I gave up Naim remotes in favour of a Philips Pronto, which would work stuff from anywhere in the room, and latterly a Harmony Ultimate. The Naim ones are stuffed away in a drawer somewhere.

In that case, Tony, you might actually like this new one. Being big and square, it would make a very good paperweight, but also, not being IR, you don’t have to point it at anything to make it work. 

Oh Tony surely that's a little bit harsh, they're not all hopeless.  While I was never much of a fan of the R-Com, I can vouch that it does indeed make a very nice paperweight.

And I do have a soft spot for the somewhat maligned Flash. It feels good in the hand and seems built to last.  Things just get a bit tricky when its time to change the batteries...

Oh, and regarding the IR on the Flash, I have found that it's strong enough that I can bounce it off the speaker wall in front of me to the system which is on the opposite wall, the rear and side of where I'm sitting.  Which is pretty neat...

However, if you really want a hopeless Naim remote, how about the short-lived i-Com? I do wonder whether any are still out there, still working? Or have they all been binned? Maybe a rare Naim collectible of the future?  Er... no.

ChrisSU posted:

.... Also, it allows you to control the UPnP input which for many is by far the most used one. I find it odd that Naim have designed a swanky new Zigbee remote that doesn’t do this. 

 I think this is more of a player firmware issue than the remote, however I agree it would be good to be able to browse uPnP with the remote and the nice new colour screen. I raised this a while back on the ND555 Impressions thread.

Regarding the remote, I really like the form factor - it feels good in my hand. The backlights are a little quick to fade, but after a month or so's use, I know where most of the buttons are now.

Whilst I have a ND555 on order I've not looked at the remote ?

In the past I've had Marantz/Phillips Pronto and Logitech remotes and ended up giving them away to the local charity shop they were that good !!!!

I find he original Naim 252/NDX remote along with the app works fine for me.

My last TV purchase was a Samsung QLED TV which comes with a basic plastic remote and a rather superb sleek stainless steel remote this has no markings, it is an absolute doddle to use and makes any other remote I have had or used look feel like some steam driven device.

As most people who buy the 555 will be pensioners, it should have been designed with this age group in mind.

Perhaps zimmer will do an app

I’ve only used the remote to turn off the display, not sure what else it’s good for so it sits on a shelf out of the way.

Richard Dane posted:

Oh Tony surely that's a little bit harsh, they're not all hopeless.  

Well, from where I sit in our room Richard, they most certainly are hopeless because they don't work anything in my system. I did like the remote that came with the AV2 - at least it had a nice bright green button.

Tony, have you still got a Flash?  Try bouncing the IR off something reflective.

Flash went with the CD555 Richard. I did try bouncing off things - the windows on the other side of the room for instance, but it just didn't switch things reliably. Anyway, with the Harmony Ultimate I can run everything perfectly. No need to point, it's connected up via the network & bombards everything with strong IR from two remote emitters. Runs complex macros, works the lights, makes the tea, takes the dogs out for a walk...

I have to say remotes are not Naim's strong point having to have the remote to set up the old Uniti products but then it becoming useless thereafter and the old early black box/Olive one has a range of about 3 feet.

I loved my Flash until the screen started to bleed then I could no longer use it.☹️

Richard

Well I'll take comfort from the couple of folk who assure me that I'll become familiar with the button layout in a couple of months, although they take no account of my diminishing ability to remember even my wife's name, let alone the location of buttons on a new handset. 

And, of course, for those praising the plastic IR remotes of the 552/252/NDX and other boxes (with whom I agree completely), I have to warn you against buying an ND555, it's remote uses radio waves, not infra red light 

Richard Dane posted:

Tony, have you still got a Flash?  Try bouncing the IR off something reflective.

Richard - the downside to this, at most times positive aspect, is that when it misbehaves e.g. the volume up button sticks, it takes a few seconds to point it at something non-reflective/get the back open and strip a battery out. 

Crikey, HL, I don't think I've ever come across a Flash with a sticking volume button...

now look what you have done Roger -- put me off acquiring an ND555 !!! :-)

enjoy/ken

I use a Narcome 4 and it works well most of the time but now and again the 552 takes a command and runs with it and won’t be stopped. OK when turning the volume down but not much fun when it keeps going the other way and requires a leap across the room to hit mute botton on the amp.

Richard Dane posted:

Oh Tony surely that's a little bit harsh, they're not all hopeless.  While I was never much of a fan of the R-Com, I can vouch that it does indeed make a very nice paperweight.

And I do have a soft spot for the somewhat maligned Flash. It feels good in the hand and seems built to last.  Things just get a bit tricky when its time to change the batteries...

Oh, and regarding the IR on the Flash, I have found that it's strong enough that I can bounce it off the speaker wall in front of me to the system which is on the opposite wall, the rear and side of where I'm sitting.  Which is pretty neat...

However, if you really want a hopeless Naim remote, how about the short-lived i-Com? I do wonder whether any are still out there, still working? Or have they all been binned? Maybe a rare Naim collectible of the future?  Er... no.

Richard, I have always had a great regard for the Flash, and I’m still using it for 552 volume control, but sometimes it changes input selection instead. Is there a remote which deals correctly with 552?

David, check the batteries.