Heard a Naim NDS

[Polarbear]

Interesting, I don't rate the CD 555 as particularly good. It's appalling value at the rrp although I could make a case for it at the knock down price you see them 2nd hand. I would have assumed that Naim actually putting some effort into the NDS, as opposed to making it fit among a range of other products (like the NDX) would have produced a better player. Where did you compare them Nigel?

Lets just say, you and I are never going to agree on the 555 Steve, I bought one of the originals, still own it and can still sell it for a fair price, thats dam good value to me. Even without considering the thousands of hours of enjoyment I have had out of it. As for other products, nothing has tempted me into slightly considering changing my CDP.

Regards

PB

[SteveS1]

Agree to disagree Nigel is fine, I don't have a dog in this race. But I am surprised to hear you say Naim can't equal or better their top CD player with their top streamer. I assume that the digital files were the same, of course.

There is certainly no magic in storing those files on an optical disc so we have to assume the DAC and analogue outputs on the NDS are somehow not as good. Very odd move, unless there is an even more expensive streamer to come.


In which case, well played Naim someone has to keep the economy moving.

[Polarbear]

Let me think, if the NDS tops the classic range..... ? hmmmm!

Appart from that I know nothing and still prefer the sound of the black stuff, streaming has its place for those that want it and like the convenience, ultimate sound quality lies elsewhere and if all you want is cheap then Naim will never be for you.

[Setting Son]

Good post, Nigel

[SteveS1]

Good post, Nigel

Good post? Let's see - "if all you want is cheap" what sort of nonsense is that? Paying through the nose is no guarantee of quality in anything, let alone Hi Fi. I don't see many people here wanting cheap, but they may differ in their analysis of value.

[Setting Son]

Ooh, sorry. Need any help down from that high horse?


Edit: sorry, Steve, that was a bit harsh (fingers before brain). My main agreement was Nigel's 'ultimate sound quality lies elsewhere' comment. However, I also think he's right about the 'cheap' thing and Nigel can attest that I'm not a fan of Naims products. I believe you can get better sound for the same money hence........

[SteveS1]

I'm happy that a lot of (particularly older) vinyl consists of very good mastering. Whether folk balk at the kind of outlay necessary to get the best from it or whether they can tolerate it's storage and more cumbersome handling characteristics are personal choices. What isn't is the massive amount of music that isnt available in that format, even when produced well.

But digital file playback is just that and if a player (CDP or Streamer or whatever) by the same company sounds better or worse, it will have been built to be that way. That's the bit that interests me. I can think of no reason why Naim's top streamer should not perform as well as their top CDP.

[MrSammy]

The DAC sections of the CD555 and the NDS are completely and totalyl different. If they sounded the same it would more of a surprise. As to which one is actually more accurate who knows but it doesn't come as shock that some people will prefer one over the other. The NDS is not a CD555 with the transport mech removed and replaced by an ethernet CARD. If it was you could compare the two idioms more easily.

[Chumpy]

It is possible to believe one likes Naim, but I advise if you are so susceptible only to buy/enjoy their cheapest items. At times, their expensive stuff IMO is absolute shite. So save your money for something else/enjoy the music.

[rich]

Because streaming is in it infancy and no one has yet worked out how to make it sound engaging and soulful rather than mechanical and souless.

[belloire]

I was listening to an nds through a naim dac yesterday and was pleasantly surprised at how good it sounded. Switched to a cd5x and lost lots of soundstage (the nds had some fancy psu on, no idea what though)

[Polarbear]

Because streaming is in it infancy and no one has yet worked out how to make it sound engaging and soulful rather than mechanical and souless.

I would agree with that.

[rich]

Are you certain on the details Belloire ? The point of the new NDS is that it has its own intergral reference Burr brown dac, similar to the one employed in the CD555. Plugging the NDS into the mid-level naim nDAC (if it actually has a digital out) would in all likelihood reduce the sound quality quite drastically. Maybe it was the NDX + nDAC you were hearing ?

[SteveS1]

Because streaming is in it infancy and no one has yet worked out how to make it sound engaging and soulful rather than mechanical and souless.

Maybe in your imagination. Fortunately, the music files themselves don't know whether they are being streamed, spun on an optical disc reader or played from a hard drive (probably like the one they were recorded on).

[SteveS1]

Are you certain on the details Belloire ? The point of the new NDS is that it has its own intergral reference Burr brown dac, similar to the one employed in the CD555. Plugging the NDS into the mid-level naim nDAC (if it actually has a digital out) would in all likelihood reduce the sound quality quite drastically. Maybe it was the NDX + nDAC you were hearing ?

That makes much more sense as the DAC/analogue stages of either the DAC or the NDS will be what influences the results.

[rich]

I had the Weiss 202 at home for a week or so. I can assure you that I didn't imagine anything. My advice is to give up the science theory crud and trust your ears instead ... oh, and try some music that elicits emotions rather than 'audiophile checklisting'.

[SteveS1]

I had the Weiss 202 at home for a week or so. I can assure you that I didn't imagine anything. My advice is to give up the science theory crud and trust your ears instead ... oh, and try some music that elicits emotions rather than 'audiophile checklisting'.

Lol. Go look at your post 30 again, it really was a silly thing to say and no amount of getting childishly personal alters that. I made no reference to your choice of kit and the fact that you have tried different options doesn't alter anything either. Other than that, well played.

[The Strat]

Because streaming is in it infancy and no one has yet worked out how to make it sound engaging and soulful rather than mechanical and souless.

I've never compared my CDP with a streamer or PC DAC configuration so couldn't agree or otherwise with that statement, but it does seem that the CDP is now vitually written off by some. I imagine I might move on one day but i'm in no hurry. Strat

[Purite Audio]

The data is the same, ( as long as you are ripping to an uncompressed codec) if you use an optical transport or a computer through the same dac the results will be identical.
There could be a difference if the dac is not properly designed and implemented.
Keith.

[The Strat]

The data is the same, ( as long as you are ripping to an uncompressed codec) if you use an optical transport or a computer through the same dac the results will be identical.Keith.

Keith - I'm no expert (in fact the complete opposite!) but wonder if that is actually the case in practice. I say that because Rabski had some musician mates over a while ago and tried a couple of different transports into a DAC and his assembled gang all heard a clear difference. Evn James the arch sceptic recognised this as interesting. But I've no axe to grind either way. Lindsay