NDX2

The support page only discussed XPSdr or 555ps, so I think that’s a no.

Maybe a bare NDX2 could be better than ND5XS/XP5XS ...

So, selling both your current equipments you would have less money to put in the purchase of a new NDX2.

M.

There is no reason it won’t work, as all the supplies use the SXPS Burndy when powering an NDX2. Whether it makes a worthwhile difference is another question. I’d be inclined to sell the ND5XS and XP5XS as a pair and get the NDX2. You can always add a better power supply later. 

Well, assuming the fit with the burndy works, it's probably only the own ears judging weather it's better with or without the XP5XS. If this combo doesn't bring more - personal - sound quality, your advice to sell both seems the preferrable option. Buy now the NDX2 and upgrade after my employer surprises me with an unexpected bonus or so :-).

Thanks!

By the way, I've tested and listened to the NDX2 last week at my favourable hifi store and was very impressed. So for me it's better than the ND5XS/XP5XS combo! 

Meanwhile Latham confirmed that the XP5XS could power the NDX2. Next test and listening session planned for end this week! I'll keep U posted!

My guess is that Naim don't think it's an "upgrade" to add an XP5XS.  They are in the business of selling black boxes after all. By all means listen yourself!

I believe an XP5XS can, indeed, be used.

The quick start guide suggest so, anyhow.

I use an XPS with mine so I can offer no insights as to how it would sound compared to running bare.

I have demoed the NDX 2 twice, at two different dealers. Neither used a power supply, and I thought the NDX 2 sounded fantastic, so did the dealers.

Meerkat posted:

I have demoed the NDX 2 twice, at two different dealers. Neither used a power supply, and I thought the NDX 2 sounded fantastic, so did the dealers.

Not forgetting that using a PSU means the NDX2 cannot be put into standby - if that is important to you.  (not)

surely at £5k the internal  psu.  .should be designed to supply the low current of a streamer /dac

audio1946 posted:

surely at £5k the internal  psu.  .should be designed to supply the low current of a streamer /dac

I’m sure it will be, but that doesn’t mean a better one can’t be used to improve the sound, by providing more dedicated power rails, greater decoupling etc. 

I am using an NX2 with xps and standby works fine.

Yes,  but Mike I suspect is referring to the matter that the external PSU is not put to standby by the NDX2 therefore mitigating the effect of standby on the NDX2 overall. The large toroidal transformer based PSUs consume energy whether they are being used or not.

Bart posted:

My guess is that Naim don't think it's an "upgrade" to add an XP5XS.  They are in the business of selling black boxes after all. By all means listen yourself!

Probably not listed as the XP5XS ceased production and Naim are only listing the current line of power supplies.

I have tried all PSUs XP5XS, XPS DR and 555DR on my 272 it took the 555DR for me to move on from the XP5XS.

I’m using the NDX2 now with 555PSDR with very good results. The standby works fine. I’m not too fussed about the PSU being always on as I was using it with nDAC before anyway. Now I just need to decide whether to finally let go of my much loved nDAC (whether or not to trade it in to help fund SL interconnects)

Have you tried the SPDIF into the nDAC/555ps ?

Guinnless posted:

Have you tried the SPDIF into the nDAC/555ps ?

Yes, the SQ is also very good with SPDIF from NDX2 into nDAC/555PSDR. I realise though this a waste of the NDX2 by using it as a transport. Over the weekend I swapped out the nDAC with the NDX2 now powered by the 555PS DR. I added some SL interconnects too on loan by my dealer (DIN to DIN and 4 pin to XLR). I have to say I haven’t missed the nDAC at all! I wouldn’t say that one configuration is better than the other, they’re just different. I’ll be doing some further listening this week  to decide whether to finally let go of the nDAC.

Thanks for responding Bongoman.  I use a ND5XS/nDAC/XPS and so the NDX2 is likely to be the future for me. How did the X2 sound as standalone ? ☺

Guinnless posted:

Thanks for responding Bongoman.  I use a ND5XS/nDAC/XPS and so the NDX2 is likely to be the future for me. How did the X2 sound as standalone ? ☺

I haven’t tried the NDX2 self powered via DIN into the pre, only with SPDIF out into nDAC/555PSDR. I could live with either tbh, with nDAC/PSU or with PSU. It’s a fine streamer, sources sound best from ripped CDs from my Core, but SQ on Flac recordings on Tidal also very good. I would recommend it if you’re thinking of swapping out your ND5XS. Can you arrange a home demo from your dealer?

bongoman posted:

Guinnless posted:

Thanks for responding Bongoman.  I use a ND5XS/nDAC/XPS and so the NDX2 is likely to be the future for me. How did the X2 sound as standalone ? ☺

I haven’t tried the NDX2 self powered via DIN into the pre, only with SPDIF out into nDAC/555PSDR. I could live with either tbh, with nDAC/PSU or with PSU. It’s a fine streamer, sources sound best from ripped CDs from my Core, but SQ on Flac recordings on Tidal also very good. I would recommend it if you’re thinking of swapping out your ND5XS. Can you arrange a home demo from your dealer?

There would be no problem with a demo but I've just bought Spendor A7s ???? And I've got some updates to do on my LP12, its last upgrade was Lingo 1, so it is due. ????

Guinnless posted:

bongoman posted:

Guinnless posted:

Thanks for responding Bongoman.  I use a ND5XS/nDAC/XPS and so the NDX2 is likely to be the future for me. How did the X2 sound as standalone ? ☺

I haven’t tried the NDX2 self powered via DIN into the pre, only with SPDIF out into nDAC/555PSDR. I could live with either tbh, with nDAC/PSU or with PSU. It’s a fine streamer, sources sound best from ripped CDs from my Core, but SQ on Flac recordings on Tidal also very good. I would recommend it if you’re thinking of swapping out your ND5XS. Can you arrange a home demo from your dealer?

There would be no problem with a demo but I've just bought Spendor A7s ???? And I've got some updates to do on my LP12, its last upgrade was Lingo 1, so it is due. ????

Ok, fair do’s. Sounds like a plan.

RobDr posted:

Meanwhile Latham confirmed that the XP5XS could power the NDX2. Next test and listening session planned for end this week! I'll keep U posted!

Hi all interested in the NDX2/XP5XS combo.

I listened to the NDX2 at my naim store with my favourable music (e.g. Bach Cantate 78 part 2, Masaaki Suzuki) and was very impressed. More dynamics, clearness, and sound filled the room rather more instead of coming from 2 speakers. I preferred it far above my combo ND5XS/XP5XS. So I decided to upgrade by buying the NDX2. Meanwhile I tried the combo XP5XS/NDX2 compared to NDX2 without PSU. Hardly any noticable difference!! 

Since last week Thursday I'm running the NDX2 in my naim configuration (Supernait2, CD5XS, XP5XS, NDX2). The NDX2 of course still needs a "warming up time" but sounds already marvellous. However I decided to power it with the XP5XS until a later upgrade to an XPS2. By the way: the "Quick Start Guide" refers to the XP5XS as an upgrade, but again, till now for my ears hardly noticable sound difference.  There's not yet a Reference Manual available.

Referring to some earlier member posts: the stand-by of the NDX2 is not controlling the power switch from the XP5XS. If switching the XP5XS to "power off", the NDX2 will be powered off was well. So the stand-by of the NDX2 only works if the power of the XP5XS is is not switched off. 

When we visited the factory we were shown the innards of all three streamers. The nd555 has no psu, but the NDX2 has quite a substantial transformer/ power supply in its own right. I have tried the NDX2 with XPSdr and 555ps, both give a noticeable uplift in sound quality. Perhaps the power supply of the NDX2 is just as capable as the psu that you tried?

Hi RobDr,  I would not classify the XP5xs as an upgrade,  it's regulators are very basic.     It will still give you the change from the simple 15v, 10v & 22v rails that you get with the NDX2 internal power supply.  The 10v & 22v rails become asymmetric,  that means dual polarity - positive and negative - on either side of a common 0v.  This is a betterment but if you don't hear it, why bother,  or maybe a dealer demo/loan of a full fat XPS-DR will be audible to you.   

Re the standby operation:  with an XPS connected,  the NDX2 is not be connected to mains power & its internal SMPS that powers the standby functions is not live,  so you wont get network standby mode (2W) or the deep sleep (0.5W).     

when I got my NDX a few years back I tried it with and without an XP5PS. To our ears (it was not me alone) it had a positive impact. As I could not stretch to an XPS at the time I went for it.

Most likely the NDX2 is better than NDX and that's why you don't perceive any difference