Naim N-DAC Digital to Analogue Converter (2010)

A nice example of the fantastic Naim N-DAC from 2010. It is in very good condition with just a couple of minor blemishes – please see photographs. It is supplied with Naim factory packaging, mains cable, SNAIC cable, Burndy plug and as we (Hi-Fi Sound) are an authorised Naim dealer it will have a three month warranty.
Naim Say…
Capable of partnering and upgrading a wide range of Naim Audio products, the DAC has more in common with our CD players than with any conventional DAC. Its Burr-Brown converter chips, for instance, are also found in our flagship CD555 CD player. The DAC overcomes the jitter inherent in standard digital connections by reading data independent of its timing signal. Its digital filtering, based on a 40bit floating-point SHARC DSP chip running unique Naim Audio code, sets new standards in its class. Our DAC is now DSD compatible and able to play 64 (2.8MHz sample rate) and 128 (5.6MHz sample rate) files; the upgrade required significant optimisation of the core DSP code which has also improved its sound quality.
If the DAC’s music performance is extreme, its flexibility is just as remarkable. With eight S/PDIF and two USB inputs, it’s adaptable to any system configuration and can grow to meet any need.
The Naim Audio DAC is the end result of several years of research. It introduced several original digital music technologies that have since gone on to help inform the development of an entire range of streaming products.
The DAC overcomes the jitter issues of S/PDIF by reading the music into a “rotating” data RAM buffer independently of its timing signal and reading it out again clocked by one of ten extremely low noise, fixed frequency crystal sine-wave oscillators. The data entering the downstream digital filtering and DAC chips is then completely isolated from the incoming S/PDIF jitter. The Naim Audio DAC also suppresses RF noise from S/PDIF through electrical isolation of its DSP front end from the digital to analogue converter and analogue circuits. Each element is also run from separate power supplies.
The Naim Audio DAC’s digital filtering is handled by a powerful SHARC DSP chip running unique Naim Audio authored code to create an ultra-high precision 40-bit floating point filter. The filter over-samples by 16 times on 44.1kHz data and provides stop-band attenuation of 180dB on all data. Following the digital filter are the two mono Burr-Brown digital to analogue converter chips, as used in the CD555 CD player. Finally the Naim Audio DAC features a very high performance, low noise, and low distortion fully discrete analogue output stage.
Features:
Eight S/PDIF inputs for digital sources like games consoles, set top boxes and hard disk servers
Two USB inputs (one front, one rear)
40bit SHARC DSP chip handling filtering and oversampling
Plays audio files at up to 24bit/768kHz resolution
Front-panel input controls adapt to become playback controls when iOS or USB devices are connected
Use to upgrade the onboard DAC of the CD5 XS and CDX2 CD players and the HDX hard disk player/server
Specifications:
Audio Inputs
Digital: 8 x S/PDIF: – 2 x coaxial BNC; – 2 x coaxial phono; – 4 x optical TOSLINK; USB: Front and rear panel – the front overrides the rear. Type-A
Audio Outputs
Line Output: 2.2 V RMS
Load Impedance: 10 kΩ (min.)
Output Impedance: 20 Ω
Analogue: DIN, RCA
THD: < 0.002%
Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 20 kHz, + 0.1 / – 0.5 dB
Remote Output: 1 x rear panel 3.5 mm jack (RC5)
Remote Input: 1 x 3.5 mm jack on rear (RC5)
Power Consumption: < 30 VA (max. inc. iPod charging)
Supply Voltage: 100 V, 115 V, 230 V; 50 or 60 Hz
Sample Rates Supported
iPod, iPhone: 48 kHz (max.); USB: Added support for DSD 64 and DSD 128, 32 kHz – 768 kHz, 32-bit; S/PDIF: Added support for DSD 64, 32 kHz -192 kHz, 32-bit
Dimensions: 432 (W) x 301 (D) x 70 (H) mm
Weight: 5.6 kg

For a review from What Hi-Fi? magazine please click here

For a second opinion from Hi-Fi News magazine please click here