ND5 XS Future Support

It depends what you mean by support. I'm sure Naim will repair units for many years. The firmware is essentially similar for ND5XS, NDX, NDS, the 272/172 and the old Unitis.  There are so many of them out there that I expect Naim will continue to maintain the firmware but I doubt that we will see any new features introduced on the legacy units.

I don't think it's a risky move but the price would need to be well down from the ND5 XS2 for it to be a sensible one I think.

best

David

If you want a streamer primary for your own music collection stored on your network, the old generation of streamers will do a good job. For web based streaming such as Tidal, Spotify or iRadio, you might be better off with the new versions. 

The ability to keep the app compatible with both new iOS versions and old streamer firmware might be more tricky for Naim to sustain, although I’m sure Naim will try their best to keep things working. Paradoxically, there is an advantage with the old streamers here, in that you can control them with the remote, which you cannot do with the new ones. 

Worth noting, you will still get a 5 year warranty and Naim claim to be able to service almost anything they have ever made with the exception of some CD players where there are no longer spare mechs.

And new products aside, the existing streamers still do support UPnP, Tidal, Spotify, vTuner iRadio and can be used as DACs. Functionality-wise, the benefits of the new streamers is blown a bit out of proportion.

A ND5xs can also be upgraded with a PSU which (allegedly) raises it just above a bare NDX. The new ND5xs2 doesn't have that upgrade path.

I'd suggest the new model is a good leap ahead in sound quality but if the price is right on the old one and a budget is not flexible, the older model is a very compelling option.

Thanks  you for the advice and insight.

The ability of the old unit to be controlled via the remote and the presence of physical buttons on the ND5XS is a plus for me as I'm not overly keen on the unit being solely controlled by a web based app as my wireless connectivity can be a bit flaky as times!

I don't listen to any web based services purely my own CD rips and Hi Res downloads. I do use Roon however and while it would nice to have that capability it's certainly not a deal breaker.

Tricky one really as my head says wait for the new iteration while my heart says just go for the ND5XS and have done with it!

I would be replacing my current set up of a Mac mini with the ND5 XS which presumably would offer a step up in SQ?

Mr Bungle posted:

......my wireless connectivity can be a bit flaky as times!

Naim streamers really need a rock solid network to perform reliably, including a network cable running to the ND5. Despite some of the network discussions on this forum, it need not be complicated or expensive, but it does need to be done right. 

ChrisSU posted:

Mr Bungle posted:

......my wireless connectivity can be a bit flaky as times!

Naim streamers really need a rock solid network to perform reliably, including a network cable running to the ND5. Despite some of the network discussions on this forum, it need not be complicated or expensive, but it does need to be done right. 

Then you may want to just put a WiFi range extender in a strategic location. 

I had an ND5XS for a couple of years a really, really nice and very underated player imo never skipped a beat. As was mentioned above the price does need to be right I've seen three and four year old models go for close to a £1,000 lately so work out what you think a new model with 5 year warranty is worth you paying over that and if it's very close to what the dealer is asking then snap it up.

Mr Bungle posted:

 

I would be replacing my current set up of a Mac mini with the ND5 XS which presumably would offer a step up in SQ?

Not necessarily - it will depend on what you’re currently using for a DAC, and what software is doing the rendering, and how it is all connected etc...   But if the MM’s inbuilt player software and inbuilt DAC, just feeding the audio output to an amplifier, then undoubtedly yes and I think very much so. Meanwhile if you get the ND5XS the MM can continue duties as a NAS if you want (I happily used just the free Serviio when I did that with an ND5XS, and it worked well).

The ND5XS is a nice player, simple to use and pleasant enough sounding. However, I would observe that my streaming experience started with the ND5XS, after which I upgraded it by adding a Chord Hugo external DAC, using the ND5XS just as a player/renderer, with quite a marked improvement, and at less cost than adding the XP5XS power supply which I found made only a very marginal change. And then I installed Audirvana on the Mac Mini replacing the ND5XS as a renderer (player), and feeding the Hugo via a Gustard U12 (an inexpensive isolator to remove the detrimental RF from the MM, to which Hugo is especially prone). That change saved a lot of money and yet yielded a further though only slight improvement, and still serves me now with an evenbetter DAC. The Mac Mini with Audirvana is capable of pretty good sound, so for someone already having a MM another option is there, with the low cost of Audirvana meaning more money could be put into a decent DAC (but remembering RF isolation if the DAC’s isn’t exemplary). However that route is more ‘DIY’ in setup and optimisation,and though quite simple, is less so than a plug and play unit like the ND5XS.

Innocent Bystander posted:

Mr Bungle posted:

 

I would be replacing my current set up of a Mac mini with the ND5 XS which presumably would offer a step up in SQ?

Not necessarily - it will depend on what you’re currently using for a DAC, and what software is doing the rendering, and how it is all connected etc...   But if the MM’s inbuilt player software and inbuilt DAC, just feeding the audio output to an amplifier, then undoubtedly yes and I think very much so. Meanwhile if you get the ND5XS the MM can continue duties as a NAS if you want (I happily used just the free Serviio when I did that with an ND5XS, and it worked well).

The ND5XS is a nice player, simple to use and pleasant enough sounding. However, I would observe that my streaming experience started with the ND5XS, after which I upgraded it by adding a Chord Hugo external DAC, using the ND5XS just as a player/renderer, with quite a marked improvement, and at less cost than adding the XP5XS power supply which I found made only a very marginal change. And then I installed Audirvana on the Mac Mini replacing the ND5XS as a renderer (player), and feeding the Hugo via a Gustard U12 (an inexpensive isolator to remove the detrimental RF from the MM, to which Hugo is especially prone). That change saved a lot of money and yet yielded a further though only slight improvement, and still serves me now with an evenbetter DAC. The Mac Mini with Audirvana is capable of pretty good sound, so for someone already having a MM another option is there, with the low cost of Audirvana meaning more money could be put into a decent DAC (but remembering RF isolation if the DAC’s isn’t exemplary). However that route is more ‘DIY’ in setup and optimisation,and though quite simple, is less so than a plug and play unit like the ND5XS.

Currently MacMini is connected to Chord 2Qute DAC via USB with Roon software handling the rendering and to be honest sounds quite good to my ears.

My natural assumption would be that the ND5XS would (and should) demonstrate an improvement over my current gear, although that is only an assumption.

Mr Bungle posted:

Currently MacMini is connected to Chord 2Qute DAC via USB with Roon software handling the rendering and to be honest sounds quite good to my ears.

My natural assumption would be that the ND5XS would (and should) demonstrate an improvement over my current gear, although that is only an assumption.

You’ll need to try for yourself -  it is not necessarily a good assumption, at least based on my parallel experience, where I achieved a marked improvement changing the other way. The most significant thing to me was the overwhelming naturalness of Hugo’s presentation, or some say more analogue-sounding.

Sonically Roon was reputed to be not quite as good as Audirvana (fully optimised) as renderer, though at last count was said to be improving. And 2-Qute has been suggested by some people to be not quite as good as Hugo, presimably because of its different output stage (though others have said no difference)  - but conversely with galvanic isolation of the electrical inputs it is far less susceptible to RF from the MM  (though maybe not totally immune). On that basis your setup is possibly not quite as good sounding ad was mine, but I only say possibly as I haven’t compared directly, and because of the uncertainties ascribed to the differences.

You certainly must listen and be wary of taking a punt - but I’d suggest waiting to hear the  ND5XS-2 which might possibly do things sufficiently differently, to give it more of a lift in sound quality.

Thank you for your comments Innocent Bystander, much appreciated. 

I’m starting to consider that the XS2 may be the way forward after all but will arrange a listen before I make a final purchase.

Is the ND5XS2 slated for an October release? 

IF the funds are there for the new player I suggest you get the latest iteration. However if you can score a bargain, the ND5XS is a mighty fine network player. And it can be upgraded with a power supply which I have heard on one and it does bring another level of refinement.

I wouldn't buy blindly here; you need to compare it to your current set-up.

I ran my old ND5XS through a 2Qute, and I reckon the external DAC gave it a bit of a lift. Unless you need any of the particular features of a Naim streamer (multiroom?), you might be better off with your current implementation of Roon. The implementation with the ND5XS will be a little messy.