Naim NDX DAC/Streamer
R90,000.00 Original price was: R90,000.00.R25,000.00Current price is: R25,000.00.
Specifications
Type: Network audio player
Audio Inputs | |
Sample Rates Supported | S/PDIF up to 192kHz |
USB Inputs | Front panel socket |
UPnP | Hi-Res UPnP playback up to 24bit/96kHz (WAV and FLAC) |
Antenna Inputs | DAB/FM, WiFi |
Tuning Range | DAB (Band lll and L Band), FM 87.5-108MHz |
Other Inputs | Ethernet |
Audio Outputs | |
Analogue Outputs | DIN and RCA |
Line Outputs Fixed (level) | 2.1V rms at 1kHz |
Output Impedance | 10Ω maximum |
Minimum Load Impedance | 10kΩ |
Other Specifications | |
Frequency Response | 10Hz – 20kHz, +0.1/-0.5dB |
THD+N | <0.1%, 10Hz -18kHz at full level |
Phase Response | Linear phase, absolute phase correct |
Digital Outputs (type) | S/PDIF, 75Ω BNC |
Upgrades | |
Power Supply | XPS, 555 PS |
Other | DAC digital to analogue converter, Hi-Line, Power-Line |
Connectivity | |
Infra Red | RC5 |
Remote Input | 3.5mm jack on rear (RC5) |
Remote Output | 3.5mm jack on rear (RC5) x2 |
RS232 | DE9 female (For software upgrade only) |
Ethernet | Cat5, WiFi |
USB | 1 x front panel |
Formats | |
Audio Formats Supported | Internet radio (Windows Media-formatted content, MP3 streams, MMS), Playlists (M3U, PLS), MP3, AAC (up to 320kbit/s, CBR/VBR) Apple Lossless (from iPod), Windows Media-formatted content-9 (up to 320kbit/s), WAV and FLAC (up to 24bit/96kHz via UPnP or USB only), AIFF, Ogg Vorbis |
User Control Interfaces | |
Front Panel | Yes |
Handheld | User interface app for iPhone and iPod Touch devices |
Power | |
Supply Voltage | 100V, 115V, 230V; 50 or 60Hz |
Power Supply Options | Internal Integrated or External |
Power Consumption (maximum) | 60VA |
Certifications And Licenses | |
Certifications | Apple (made for iPod), vTuner Premium |
Licenses | MP3, AAC, DAB |
Dimensions And Weight | |
Dimensions | 87 x 432 x 314mm (H x W x D) |
Weight | 22 lbs. |
Price: £2995 |
Description
Naim NDX review
Can Naim’s new high-performance streamer improve on the standard of its own CD players?
TechRadar Verdict
Pros
- Vivid performance
- Understated styling
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Sample was rather finicky about making a network connection
This truly versatile machine provides network music replay, internet radio, digital iPod/iPhone connectivity and USB playback straight out of the box.
The player follows Naim tradition in being performance-upgradeable through the addition of an XPS or 555PS power supply, along with the external Naim DAC.
You should probably regard adding the DAC as an icing-on-the-cake move, because the integral DAC in the NDX is based on the same technology and its performance does not lag too far behind. It uses the same innovative, SHARC DSP-based buffering with fixed clocks, along with Naim’s proprietary 16 times oversampling and low generated noise, digital filtering algorithms.
The three S/PDIF inputs – two transformer-isolated coaxial and one buffered optical – will all accept signals at up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution.
To stream music from computers and NAS (Network Attached Storage) units, the NDX uses the well-established UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) protocol. Naim has also written its own version of this for its sources, the HDX and UnitiServe, which can also act as UPnP servers.
We tested the NDX using these and the more widespread Asset and Twonky servers installed on two NAS drives. The NDX will operate wirelessly ‘for convenience’ but offers its finest and most reliable performances when connected by wire.
As Naim says: “Delivering music over a network is not difficult, but doing it well requires an attention to detail that is still surprisingly rare in today’s market.”
If you are prepared to pay for a player that boasts numerous features including extensive isolation to ensure the pristine transfer of data, along with Naim’s legendary exacting retentiveness about the smallest of details, why should attaching it by a length of Cat5 or Cat6 cable pose any problems? Using wireless with an NDX seems on a par with fitting remould tyres to a Lamborghini.
The player will stream WAV, FLAC, AIFF, AAC, Windows Media formatted content, ALAC (from iPod), Ogg Vorbis and MP3 files from any appropriate UPnP server or USB-connected storage device.
The iPod connection is especially noteworthy: it is Apple-authenticated and it bypasses the DAC in the device and feeds a digital signal directly to the NDX and its rather more sophisticated and painstakingly optimised Burr-Brown PCM1791A DAC circuitry. This, for example, uses very similar RAM buffer and master-clock jitter-removal techniques as the ‘big’ Naim DAC.
The NDX, like other digital components in Naim’s range features a Ground Selector switch that needs setting according to the rest of the components in your system to avoid earth loops that can, in the worst case, cause audible humming or, in less severe instances downgrade the sound. It has two options: to connect the earth to the chassis or to leave it ‘floating’.
If you have a Naim CD player in your system, the floating selection is correct for all other Naim components where a choice is offered. If you are including the NDX in a predominantly non-Naim system, you’ll need to take you dealer’s advice or trust your ears.
Classic build and value
The NDX is housed in a ‘Classic’ range, non-magnetic aluminium case, like the HDX hard-disk player, XPS power supply and the Naim DAC: so it is a substantial piece of gear and requires placing on its own shelf on an equipment rack. Whether that shelf is at the top or bottom really depends upon your aesthetic sensibilities.
If you like black minimalism, perch it on the top shelf. If you do not, lower down will be fine but, either way you’ll find it easiest to control with the n-Stream iPhone app. The internal construction is as impressive and neat as we have come to expect from the Salisbury factory.
The attention to detail is painstaking, especially the way in which the wiring is so tidily dressed and precisely routed. Those tiny details might add little to the performance individually, but in combination with the rest their contribution is remarkable. Its value for money might seem questionable when compared to streaming devices from other manufacturers and, indeed, Naim’s own products such as the UnitiQute, but one has to remember that the NDX is more than just a streamer.
Its high-quality DAC can be shared with other devices that can exploit its outstanding performance. Naturally, the NDX offers several control options, including front panel buttons, a remote control handset and (the slickest as far as we are concerned) app for the iPhone/iPod Touch or iPad.
High-end performance
An industry visitor sat and auditioned a few rips on the NDX and admitted: that although he had “never understood all that pace, rhythm and timing stuff” it now made perfect sense.
In essence, he walked into the room as a hard-core hi-fi nut, but left as a toe-tapping music lover, with a far more fulfilling appreciation of what makes music so captivating when it is sympathetically reproduced.
The NDX is certainly sympathetic and is so right across the board: it seems completely musically agnostic, even to the point of relishing high-quality examples of the country genre; the likes of Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Caitlin Rose.
A major appeal of the NDX is that it manages to combine the traditional Naim temporal fluency, with the cosmetic depth and richness that one normally associates with predominantly American high-end equipment. We were surprised to find ourselves concentrating on the timbral qualities of instruments and voices while listening.
It effortlessly brings out the single-coil pick-up sting of a raw Telecaster guitar, while being equally effusive about the complex harmonic texture of rosin-coated bows on violins and cello in a string quartet and vividly contrasts the differing tonalities of modern and ancient horns in orchestral ensembles.
Despite the straightforwardness with which the NDX reveals all these fine distinctions and nuances, there is never any impression of the sound being at all disjointed or chromium-plated, a problem that befalls much hi-fi equipment in its attempts to convey detail.
The NDX manages to sound natural and unforced at all times and this makes it easy to listen to music that could never be described as ‘easy listening’. Helping it in this respect is a very well-balanced frequency response with an explicit, but controlled performance, particularly at the extremes of the spectrum.
The Telecaster ‘sting’ is truly apparent, but never offensive or grating; it simply has the realistic incisive tone and resonance of a cranked Tele’ over-driving a small valve amplifier head.
Meanwhile the bottom end displays quite awe-inspiring power through the Naim DAC, which is itself no shrinking violet in this respect. This pays dividends with bass lines like that on Money for all on the David Sylvian album Sleepwalkers and less overtly so on works such as José Carreras’ Misa Criolla, where it creates a truly atmospheric and dramatic impression of the recording space. Its portrayal of vocal harmonies is sublime.
The voices of Caitlin Rose and backing singer, Rayland Baxter gel magically on Shanghai Cigarettes and add a genuine frisson to the song. And that, after all, is what great hi-fi is about: delivering emotional buzzes that make you feel rewarded.
The NDX manages that none-too-easy task with alacrity. In truth, it is vividly revealing of the quality and character of voices, which readily enhances its portrayal of all vocal music. It is a genuinely expressive piece of machinery that not only articulates the words a singer uses, but also communicates the emotions behind them.
It is an amazingly plausible and persuasive audio player with all manner of vocal music. It makes listening an experience filled with soul. The question that remains on everyone’s lips, however, is ‘is it significantly better than a comparably priced Naim CD player?’
All things considered The NDX is a classic Naim Classic product that retains all that range’s traditional communicative musical personality traits augmented by strong leanings toward the cosmetic presentation favoured by the high-end scene.
It’s an interesting, rather than schizophrenic mix that might well attract new buyers to the Naim fold. It also has a respectable amount of life style appeal thanks to its slick operation with an iPhone/iPad app and its meaningful integration with iPod products.
Ultimately, though, it is the superlative and supremely communicative performance that makes certain it stands out from the crowd.
Naim NDX review
Easy to upgrade, use and with an incredible sound, Naim’s futuristic NDX media client is the high-end media player of choice right now Tested at £2995
published
What Hi-Fi? Verdict
Best streamer £2500+ Awards 2011. If sound quality is your priority the NDX has to be the high-end media player of choice
Pros
- A rhythmic, dynamic and entertaining sound
- easy to upgrade
- quick-witted control system
- well specified and easy to use
Cons
- Upgrades don’t come cheaply
- no 24-bit/192kHz compatibility at the moment
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
Traditionally, Naim has never liked to be first at anything – and rather than a negative, this strategy has always been something of a point of pride for the company.
It likes to wait for the market and technology to settle down before wading in with what invariably turns out to be a well thought-out product.
The company’s approach has been a little different when it comes to computer audio and streaming, however.
The massive investment in NaimNet – the brand’s high-performance multiroom audio systems – has given the company a running start when it comes to such products.
What exactly does the NDX do?
The term ‘media player’ sounds vague at best, so what exactly does it do?
A media player can draw music from multiple sources. If it’s connected to a home network it can stream music files from any UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) server or hard-drive.
While a wireless connection is possible, we suggest the robustness of a wired link would make it the network connection of choice.
The NDX will stream most file types up to a resolution of 24-bit/192kHz, and will also handle Apple Lossless; it’s a file format usually ignored by most non-Apple products.
Connection is swift and the Naim navigates menus and folders with impressive speed.
Provided the network is connected to the internet, the NDX can access internet radio. That opens up a world of music (albeit one usually made up of low-quality streams). But this player makes the best of things and remains listenable even with poor-quality stations.
Connect your portable, too
Connect an Apple iPod or iPhone to the front panel USB input and the NDX will stream data digitally from the portable, including lossless files.
The digital-to-analogue circuitry in the NDX bears more than a passing relationship to that used on the company’s Award-winning standalone DAC, so it’s no surprise the sonic results far surpass those possible using the Apple device’s internal conversion and analogue circuitry.
The NDX’s high-quality internal DAC also means that connecting digital sources to one of its three inputs – BNC, RCA and optical – will improve on the performance achieved by all but the priciest of digital equipment.
So, how does the NDX sound? In a word, excellent. It’s arguably the best sounding media player we’ve come across to date. Remember that this is a relatively new product category and we fully expect performance to improve and prices to drop as time passes.
There’s something refreshingly familiar about the NDX’s sound. It’s fast and tuneful in the manner of Naim’s best products.
Energetic, informative and cohesive
Fed uncompressed files of music as diverse as Cat Stevens’ Father and Son to Rihanna’s Loud and Mahler’s Symphony No.2 the Naim invariably delivers an energetic, informative and cohesive sound.
Uniquely among the media players we’ve heard to date, this product reproduces the nuances of timing extremely well. It latches on to the rhythm track of something like Seven Nation Army from the White Stripes and doesn’t let go until it’s squeezed the last degree of entertainment from it.
Strong dynamics and a top-class sonic stability go hand in hand with this excellent timing, which all keep everything in place even when the music gets demanding.
Excellent with high-res material
Switch to higher-resolution recordings such as Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.5 by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra – a 24-bit/96kHz recording – and the increase in subtlety is readily apparent.
Dynamic swings are more fluid and low-level information such as the venue’s acoustic character is easily heard. Spend this much money on a media player and it’s recordings like this that really let you feel their true value.
Like most Naim products, the NDX is easy to upgrade. You can add outboard power supplies and standalone DACs, should you wish.
We tried the range-topping 555PS power supply and the NDX’s already impressive sound takes a giant stride forward.
The NDX/555PS combination sounds massively more authoritative than the NDX alone. The soundstage becomes significantly wider and dynamics take on a far larger scale, while the resolution of subtleties gets even better.
Adding an outboard DAC makes sense only if they’re at the same quality level as the likes of Naim’s own unit or Cyrus’s DAC X+ with PSX-R. Either of these will add another £2000 to the bottom line.
Exceptionally fine on its own
Even after hearing the improvements, though, we think the NDX remains an exceptionally fine listen on its own. We certainly wouldn’t be inclined to rush into any upgrades if we owned one.
Media players such as this live or die by their ease of operation. The NDX is relatively quick-witted and has a well-thought-out remote handset.
Our preferred option, though, is to use the free n-Stream remote app on an iPad or iPod Touch/iPhone. It makes operation far slicker.
We’re convinced that media players such as the NDX will ultimately replace the CD player for many people.
Along with the Bryston BDP-1 and Meridian Control 15, the Naim NDX shows it’s a change hi-fi buffs should relish, not fear.
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