volume variances
Posted by: cedars on 22 October 2018
I am new to this site. I recently installed a 552. I use spotify and am testing Tidal. What I have noticed with Tidal is that the volume needs to be about 20 per cent up and the sound is fairly loud. Whereas with Spotify I have to turn the volume up to about 45 per cent and then adjust the volume on the PC or iPhone. Is this right?
How are you running Spotify and Tidal to feed them into your 552?
From my PC its hardwired to the ndx. I also have them on my iPhone and ipad.
Both Spotify and Tidal can be accessed directly on your NDX (using the iphone or ipad to control it). Have a try with this - it might solve your issue.
I'm afraid I only use Tidal so can't help further.
Are you using Tidal and Spotify from a computer or iOS device? You can use Tidal from the Naim app, with no other device running, and use Spotify Connect. Maybe this would give more consistent volume?
Good point. I will set the ndx to either Tidal or Spotify and then see the results. Will keep you informed. I must say I do like the quality of music from Tidal, but will test both side by side.
Thanks for your help.
Your NDX needs to have firmware 4.4 or 4.6 in order to run Tidal and Spotify natively.
best
David
cedars posted:Good point. I will set the ndx to either Tidal or Spotify and then see the results. Will keep you informed. I must say I do like the quality of music from Tidal, but will test both side by side.
Thanks for your help.
I found Spotify to be very good as a streming service, and if only they had a lossless service, I would stick with them, but Tidal win on sound quality.
Have to agree with Chris, we did ask Naim when the forum visited about Spotify lossless, they could offer no timing, if it will even ever happen.
I was happy with Spotify and am still happy with it. After adding the 552 an upgrade from the 272, the difference in sound quality is day and night. Slowly adding components. I have put in clean mains power cables and the sound has improved as well. So for now will enjoy my ndx with 552 and nap 300. I think I have a good system, so I need to have good quality music going through which is why I am testing Tidal. My last upgrade will be speakers. I currently have kef reference series two. I have never heard them sing as they do now. Happy for now.
If you really want to get the best out of your system, I would suggest you give BubbleUPnP server a try, and run either Tidal or Qobuz through it. If you have a suitable NAS or computer that will run it, it costs nothing to try. There are a couple of recent threads on this if you’re interested.
cedars posted:I was happy with Spotify and am still happy with it. After adding the 552 an upgrade from the 272, the difference in sound quality is day and night. Slowly adding components. I have put in clean mains power cables and the sound has improved as well. So for now will enjoy my ndx with 552 and nap 300. I think I have a good system, so I need to have good quality music going through which is why I am testing Tidal. My last upgrade will be speakers. I currently have kef reference series two. I have never heard them sing as they do now. Happy for now.
Spotify does not sound great imo although its music curation is excellent, running FLAC Tidal natively on the 552 will be a significant improvement sq wise
Cedars,
When you upgraded from 272 to the 552/NDX did you find any difference in volume gain/sensitivity such that it now required less on the volume control for the same sound level with the 552.
yes, certainly the volume has to be turned down, except when using Spotify. Not sure why, but will find out. The Tidal sound is excellent