Posted on Fri, 25 May, 2018
Posted by Bob

Naim releases an exciting trio of brand new, next generation, Naim streamers in the form of the Naim ND5 XS2, Naim ND X2, and Naim ND555.

Naim: one of the great, British Hi-Fi brands and a brand which instils great devotion amongst its fans. It’s not every day we’re treated to a brand new product from Naim, so to have not one, not two, but three new Naim products launched together, is quite an event!

Let’s take a look at the all-new range of Naim streamers…

New Naim Streamers

New Naim Streamers

Launched ahead of the Sound & Vision Bristol Hi-Fi Show, Naim’s latest network players have been engineered on the basis of a completely new streaming system. By all accounts, these are completely new products, as opposed to a simple update on a previous model; exciting stuff!

Naim state that their new Naim streamers have been three years in the making:

Innovative, Naim-designed digital technology surpasses anything we’ve done before. Combining state-of-the-art DSP with a rich, analogue soul, our network players deliver engaging, immersive sound quality to get the very best out of your music.

The new range is made up of three new network streamers: Starting out with the entry level ND5 XS2 streamer, moving through to the mid-level NDX2 and finally the flagship ND555. The ND555 represents not only the pinnacle of Naim network streaming technology but also represents a few significant milestones for Naim themselves.

The Naim ND555 is Naim’s first ever 500 Series network player; The ND 555 also marks the first 500 Series launch since the CD555 twelve years ago. The ND555 is the heart of Naim’s new streamer line-up and embodies all that Naim know about network streaming technology.

Naim ND5 XS2

The Naim ND5 XS2 is Naim’s entry-level network player and is the perfect introduction to music streaming. It uses Naim’s innovative new streaming platform with an expanded feature set. Enjoy high-res UPnPTM streaming, AirPlay, Chromecast built-in, Bluetooth (aptX HD), Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Roon compatibility, vTuner internet radio, multiroom streaming as well as digital and USB inputs.

The Naim ND5 XS2 is an excellent route into high-end audio streaming and network playback at a price point which makes it more accessible than its more rarified streaming brethren.

Naim ND5XS2-front

Naim ND X2

The Naim ND X2 network player represents Naim’s mid-range network player; the ND X2 incorporates a range of upgrades to enhance the performance of this high-end network streamer. Based on Naim’s bespoke streaming platform, Naim implemented an upgraded DAC and discrete analogue stages.

Featuring the Burr-Brown PCM1792A digital-to-analogue converter Naim improved performance even further by implementing their own digital filters and adding a discrete current-to-voltage converter immediately after the DAC. The streaming section of the ND X2 uses the latest Naim network card featuring low-noise, high-speed low-voltage differential signalling (LVDS) to route the digital audio signal.

Naim NDX-2

Naim ND555

In the pecking order of Naim Streamers, the Naim ND555 Network Player represents the very best money can buy. The Naim ND555 is a true reference model and quite simply the best source component Naim has ever developed.

The Naim ND555 pairs their innovative new streaming platform with the classic Naim analogue technology we know and love. Featuring a powerful, 40-bit SHARC processor with advanced signal processing, Naim equips the ND555 with a suspended brass sub-chassis to isolate sound-critical circuits from vibrations.

Finally, Naim’s finest external power supply is employed to guarantee truly world-class performance. If you’re looking for the very best network streamer available, regardless of price, then the Naim ND555 could very well be it.

Naim ND555

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