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

Richard Dane posted:

David, check the batteries.

Not sure what you mean here Richard. It operates the volume control most of the time, but sometimes changes the input instead. Do you mean that low battery power can affect the performance ? So, how do I ‘check the batteries’?

David O'Higgins posted:

Richard Dane posted:

David, check the batteries.

Not sure what you mean here Richard. It operates the volume control most of the time, but sometimes changes the input instead. Do you mean that low battery power can affect the performance ? So, how do I ‘check the batteries’?

 

 

 

 

I've found the most reliable way to check batteries is to remove them from the handset, consign them to the waste (or recycle*) bin, and install a brand new set.  IF the device now performs as expected, you know the batteries were at fault and if it still fails, you know the device is at fault.

If the device is found to be at fault there are various avenues open to you;  my preferred option is to remove and store the new batteries and then consign the device itself to the waste (or recycle*) bin.  You may have other ideas.

* note - I live in Cheshire, UK, where we can place anything up to the size of a toaster into our recycle bin.  Our waste disposal operatives (bin men) occasionally have differing views to my own about how big a toaster is and this has led, on occasion, to some altercation, however, I cannot forsee a problem with remote handset, not even the bulky flash model.  (But then of course not everyone lives in Cheshire.)

My 552 sometimes changes source (hops up one it seems) and I'm unsure if this is my Flash giving off an errant signal or my Sky remote interfering, or even my plasma TV generating something (located 10' or so from the 552).

My Flash has a 'moody' every now and again (e.g. plays dead), which is a prompt to remove the batteries and give it and hour or so/overnight of downtime (Richard has previously outlined there is a capacitor within which appreciates this). Sometimes the Low Battery indicator comes on and after such action it's OK and runs for another few weeks/months on the same batteries.

Latterly, the sticking Volume Up command has been a frightening issue - especially in poor light when I couldn't easily read the LCD screen (I initially thought the 522 was having a 'fit' of sorts). I'd like to open up the Flash and clean the keypad contacts but I cannot see how?

Richard - any tips?

David O'H - I would suggest removing the batteries and if the current set aren't new, installing a new set of Duracells - leaving the Flash unpowered overnight, noting my above comments about the Low Battery indicator.  

Roger - I wonder if you point the new radio-wave ND555 handset at a Superline whether it plays Naim Radio 

Sorry HL, I have difficulty enough just getting the batteries in and out of the Flash.  I've never dared open one up fully. There's quite an ESD risk too. Probably best to enquire with Naim service whether the Flash can still be serviced or not.

The R-Com breaks my heart. I want to get it out of its box and use it as it’s soooo nice but honestly can’t see the point of the thing. I only use a remote these days for volume adjustment and stopping the NDS.  Everything else is done from an i-pad.

I suspect the ND555 remote is actually modeled off the Statement pre remote, rather than the R-com.

Graham Clarke posted:

I suspect the ND555 remote is actually modeled off the Statement pre remote, rather than the R-com.

 

It's a shame the ND555 remote wasn't modelled a little more closely on this... white, printed, raised bottons in particular and a curved profile.  Both would have made the ND555 remote a user friendly device, especially as GHTOYOUT observed earlier in this thread, the majority of ND555 buyers will probably be approaching senior citizen status     (me included)

Roger

TBH, I haven't used the ND555's remote since the initial setup routine.  What do you folks like to use it for, vs. your iPhone / iPad?  I tend to 'do it all' with my phone or iPad.

(Caveat, I've not solved the volume control when using Roon.  Any Roon users with tips on that? Can't use the Naim App and Roon at the same time it seems, and the Naim App nicely controls volume on my 252.)

Roger that Alba. Retro/plastic is good. I'm still driving my 500 series rig with this.

Doesn't matter if it falls off the arm of the chair onto the floor.

Sorry about the size of the photo. Dunno what happened there. The r/c isn't that big.

John.

IMHO, the outgoing  NDX/Uniti remote takes the prize for utility and ergonomics.  The shapes of the buttons support use in the dark after some rehearsal.  Easy to hold, lightweight, perfect.

The NARCOM 4 gets honorable mention, with its circular array for Volume, Mute, and Balance.  (NARCOM 5 looks like a winner, too.)

Nick

Alba1320 posted:

Flash and R-Com are certainly 'fancy', but too heavy/cumbersome for regular use, IMO, so I'm still slumming it with one of these:

Not 'fancy', but works without issue; no need to point at the equipment, no sticking buttons etc., it just works!

BTW, is this a Narcom 2?

 

(credit to OP for pic.)

Absolutely agree with you on this. I have had two of these, one with a NAC82 and another with a NAC52 - both sold on now. These were, however, the best IMHO. I hated the Flash, which came with my CDS2, so that was used once then the batteries were removed and it was put away until it was sold. Curiously I find the R-com seems to offer more progressive control over volume than the other device which was supplied with the NAC552, but it is the lighter plastic remote which I prefer. I also use the device which came with the NDS, but only really to stop play. Otherwise it’s the iPad for me with the system integration facility to control preamp inputs and volume. 

I look forward to evaluating the ND555 remote for myself when it arrives, but suspect it’ll be used to turn the display off and that’s all. If that should prove to be the case then it’ll be a shame because it does look quite sleek.

I always thought the general rule for design was that form follows function. Maybe Naim Audio designers don’t adopt that mantra in the context of remote handset design. 

Blimey. 

Best Naim remote ever if you ask me. Not the best looking (552), but by a far margin best & great to use. 

Whatever the name of the hdx remote is, it is fantastic and can be used with hdx the  other old servers, the 252 and that also means controlling Ndac.

rjstaines posted:

Graham Clarke posted:

I suspect the ND555 remote is actually modeled off the Statement pre remote, rather than the R-com.

 

It's a shame the ND555 remote wasn't modelled a little more closely on this... white, printed, raised bottons in particular and a curved profile.  Both would have made the ND555 remote a user friendly device, especially as GHTOYOUT observed earlier in this thread, the majority of ND555 buyers will probably be approaching senior citizen status     (me included)

Roger

Try using this with a visual impairment. The text is too small. The surface reflective and doesn’t contrast with the buttons. The ciear message from this thread is that some of us aren’t enjoying our systems that much (set the volume, hit play) and that it’s lone overdue for Naim to reconsider their approach to remote controls. 

Mike Hughes posted:

...............  overdue for Naim to reconsider their approach to remote controls. 

While many are impressed with some aspects of the design & (in some respects) rightly so,  I was not happy with the 'sharp' corners considering its weight,  dropped on some expensive furniture could do damage.     

Richard Dane posted: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.

Yup, I still have and never used it (still in it's bag) i-Com in a box somewhere from an old CD5i player I used to have and guess what?, it doesn't work..

Mike-B posted:

Mike Hughes posted:

...............  overdue for Naim to reconsider their approach to remote controls. 

While many are impressed with some aspects of the design & (in some respects) rightly so,  I was not happy with the 'sharp' corners considering its weight,  dropped on some expensive furniture could do damage.     

Mike-B , I'm on the look out for a pair of slippers with steel toe caps just in case I drop the bloody thing on my foot !!!

During the hot spell I bought a Dyson fan (it’s comparitively quite) that came with a remote control. The Narcom 4 can turn the fan on when I adjust the 552’s volume, and off again. I’ve also seen the buttons light up on the 552 when using the Dyson remote. 

5 seconds is a luxury if that is what you get with the ND555. I have just timed it for the new NDX2 remote and it stays on for just 3 seconds. How is that supposed to be effective for anyone? Naim, you produce an amazing product that sounds fantastic then mess up with the worst remote I have ever used. The edges are sharp, which is just nasty, the front gets covered in finger prints which show up in the light and have to be cleaned off all the time, it just looks and feels like an afterthought. The old NDX remote was way better. You could program the input buttons, but now I have one input selector that comes up in the screen and you can’t read it from across the room. A quick firmware update to increase the backlight time or allow a user selection would at least be a start to addressing this. 

When I go over to ND555 I will miss the plastic NDS remote.......:-(