Naim ND5 XS Network Music Player (2012)

Highly respected British Hi-Fi manufacturer, Naim Audio, were normally rather reserved when new technology came to market, but they “bucked” that trend when it came to computer audio and music streaming by investing early, and the fruits are of that really show here in the excellent ND5 XS. This unit dates from 2012 – not that you’d know it – and is in excellent condition. It comes in original packaging, with remote control, mains cable, Wi-Fi Antenna, Burndy plug, reprinted manual and it of course our standard three month warranty.
Naim Say….
Naim has always been associated with firsts. The first high-end CD player – the CDS. The first high-end hard disk music player – the HDX. The first high-end BMR speaker – the Ovator. The first performance upgradable high-end audio streamer – the NDX. And now the NDX has its first offspring – the ND5 XS. The ND5 XS takes the DNA of the NDX and concentrates it in the slimline XS style package. With an ND5 XS you can stream audio from a UPnP™ server, discover internet radio, connect your iPod, iPhone, iPad, or USB storage, and even listen to conventional digital audio sources. Simply connect the ND5 XS to your home network, plug it in to a spare amplifier input, and the new world of streamed audio is yours.
The ND5 XS is a condensed NDX, but while for the rest of the world that term might imply something missing, there’s no functionality cut from the ND5 XS. It incorporates most of the digital and analogue audio hardware and the same signal path as the NDX and features the same connectivity. It offers the same variety of control interfaces too – front panel buttons, remote handset or iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch app – and the same complement of inputs, outputs and network capabilities. And it goes without saying that the ND5 XS can offer the same potential for extraordinary music from every one of its inputs and sources.
Streamed audio is a hi-fi revolution and the ND5 XS unlocks its potential. It provides easy access to all the audio delivery formats that have suddenly made music in the home exciting once again. Through its wired or wireless network connection the ND5 XS can play literally thousands of internet radio stations. The ND5 XS is also fully Apple authenticated meaning it can play iPod, iPad, or iPhone-stored music, digitally for optimised sound quality, via its front panel USB socket. And via the same socket, the ND5 XS can play audio files stored on USB memory sticks. The ND5 XS can play audio files, including iTunes libraries, stored on a computer or on network storage over UPnP™. It can play the full range of audio file and stream formats at up to 24bit/192kHz resolution: WAV, FLAC, Apple Lossless, AIFF, Windows Media-formatted fi les, MP3, M4A, MMS, AAC and Ogg Vorbis. The ND5 XS will also handle M3U and PLS playlists formats and it supports gapless playback.
For more conventional external audio sources the ND5 XS provides three independently selectable digital inputs to enable S/PDIF audio from CD players, computers, and other digital audio sources at up to 24 bit/192kHz resolution to be played. The three digital inputs offer a different connection socket option; optical TOSlink, coaxial phono and coaxial BNC, to provide both versatility and optimised sound quality.
Like the NDX, the ND5 XS is one of the most technically advanced and accomplished of all Naim products. The use of numerous innovative techniques for electronic signal processing and isolation ensure that each digital audio data stream is delivered to the ND5 XS outputs with maximum fidelity. The ND5 XS uses the same RAM buffer and master-clock jitter removal technique of the Naim DAC. It employs the same Burr Brown digital to analogue converter chip as fitted to the HDX hard disk player, and all the oversampling, filtering and signal management techniques that have brought Naim to the forefront of digital music in the home. Component selection and layout is entirely optimised for sound quality and the XS style case construction helps minimise microphony by providing a rigid non-resonant foundation for the electronics. Like every Naim product, fastidious attention to power supply noise and regulation is a fundamental element of ND5 XS performance. A custom-wound mains transformer, oversize smoothing capacitors, independent power supplies and multiple regulators, along with painstakingly meticulous PCB layout and earthing topology, ensure minimal power supply noise.
And the result of all this extraordinary technology is extraordinary music reproduction. Connect an ND5 XS to your existing audio system and the world of high resolution audio downloads, UPnP™ streaming, and the vast resource of internet radio are yours for the listening. And it’s a world where music from any source will live, breath and satisfy – completely.
The ND5 XS is as versatile in use as it is in its applications. Its three user interfaces provide alternative methods of control – each one appropriate for different situations and personal preferences. It can be operated from its front panel buttons, from its remote control handset or by using the free Naim n-Stream iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch app. In each case, control is simple, intuitive, and satisfying. System automation also features allowing the ND5 XS to integrate with Naim’s DAC or any connected Naim preamplifier or CD player, offering centralised control via the n-Stream app.
For even better performance the ND5 XS can be upgraded by the substitution of an outboard Classic Series XPS or 555 PS power supply, and, or the addition of the separate DAC digital to analogue.
Features:
UPnP-enabled to allow streaming of audio files at up to 24bit/192kHz resolution from Naim Audio hard disk servers, network-attached storage (NAS) devices or any home computer
Supports a broad range of music formats: WAV, FLAC, DSD (single rate), Apple Lossless, AIFF, AAC, Windows Media-formatted files, Ogg Vorbis and MP3. Gapless playback on all lossless file formats and on most compressed music
Three 24bit/192kHz capable digital inputs (S/PDIF) to support optimum connection to external sources
Spotify Connect built-in to stream millions of songs from the world’s most popular streaming service
Native support for TIDAL streaming service
Front-panel USB port for replay of MP3 player and USB-stored audio
vTuner 5* full-service internet radio
Multiroom & Party Mode compatible
iOS and Android Naim Audio app for intuitive control
Bluetooth connectivity with aptX codec for quality audio playback
Specifications:
Audio Inputs:
Antenna: Wi-Fi (802.11 g or n at 2.4GHz)
UPnP: Wired Ethernet (RJ45) or Wi-Fi
USB: 1 x front panel Type A socket
Digital (S/PDIF): 3 x S/PDIF – 1 x coaxial BNC – up to 24bits/192kHz – 1 x coaxial RCA – up to 24bits/192kHz – 1 x optical TOSLINK – up to 24bits/96kHz
Audio Outputs:
THD + N: <0.02%, 10Hz – 20kHz at full level
Load Impedance: 10kΩ (min.)
Output Impedance: 22Ω (max.)
Analogue: 1 x DIN and 1 x RCA, 2.1V RMS at 1 kHz
Digital (S/PDIF): 1 x BNC (75Ω)
Frequency Response: 10Hz – 20kHz, +0.1/−0.5dB
Connectivity:
Updates: 1 x USB Type Mini-B
Remote Output: 2 x rear panel 3.5mm jack (RC5 modulated or unmodulated)
Remote Input: 1 x rear panel 3.5mm jack (RC5 modulated and unmodulated)
Formats:
Multiroom: Master: Will stream WAV, FLAC and AIFF (up to 24bit/48kHz), ALAC (up to 16bit/44.1kHz), AAC and MP3 (up to 16bit/48kHz) files only as MP3 320kbps quality.
Internet Radio Provider: vTuner 5* full service
Audio Formats: WAV (up to 24bit/192kHz); AIFF (up to 24bit/192kHz); FLAC (up to 24bit/192kHz); DSD (single rate DSF64 & DFF64 only); ALAC (up to 24bit/96kHz); WMA (up to 16bit/48kHz) must be WMA 9.2; Ogg Vorbis (up to 16bit/48kHz); M4a (CBR and VBR up to 320kbit/s); MP3 (CBR and VBR up to 320kbit/s); Playlists (M3U, PLS)
Dimensions: 432 (W) x 301 (D) x 70 (H) mm
Weight: 6.5 kg

For a full review from Hi-Fi Choice please click here
For a full review from Hi-Fi Critic please click here