Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Impressive clarity and dynamics
- Exceptional rhythmic coherence
- Offers compatibility with a vast range of digital sources, including Chromecast, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, internet radio, and Roon
- Built around Naim's 'platform for the future,' enhancing performance and functionality
- Convincingly full-bodied sound that studiously avoids sounding soft or polite
- Ability to convey momentum brilliantly—with a confident handling of timing
- Capable of outperforming most other players on the market, including CD players
Product Considerations
- Requires a separate power supply (555 PS DR) to operate
- The variable output is primarily intended for multiroom AirPlay functionality, and is not recommended for direct connection to a power amplifier
- Setting up the ND555 requires careful attention to the quick start guide, especially regarding the transit screws
- Initial power-up may result in harsh sound, requiring a burn-in period
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs dCS Vivaldi, the Naim ND 555 offers more inner detail and dynamic contrast, while the dCS Vivaldi has more weight and a smoother top end
- Vs Naim NDS, the ND 555 moves things along significantly, both in terms of flexibility and performance
Takeaway: The Naim ND 555 is a digital streaming source offering a direct, punchy, and organized sound. It is a flexible player, able to stream from various sources and to deliver impressive audio quality.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
ND 555
reviews
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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Audio Format: WAV up to 32bits/384kHz, FLAC and AIFF up to 24bit/384kHz, ALAC up to 24bit/384kHz, MP3 up to 48kHz 320kbit, AAC up to 48kHz 320kbit, OGG and WMA up to 48kHz, DSD 64 and 128Fs, M4A up to 48kHz 320kbit
- Analogue outputs: 1 x RCA pair, 1 x 5-pin DIN
- Digital inputs: 2 x optical TOSLink (up to 24bit/96kHz), 1 x coaxial RCA (up to 24bit/192kHz, DoP 64Fs), 1 x coaxial BNC (up to 24bit 192kHz, DoP 64Fs)
- Digital outputs: 1 x coaxial BNC (up to 24bit 192kHz)
- USB ports: 2 x USB Type A socket (front and rear - 1.6A charge)
- Network: Ethernet (10/100Mbps), Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac)
- Power Consumption: 15 W
Description
The ND 555 is a state-of-the-art streaming device that merges Naim's digital and analogue engineering expertise. It features a powerful 40-bit SHARC processor, a suspended brass sub-chassis, and Naim's best external power supply. The device is designed to deliver an unparalleled listening experience for music enthusiasts.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Naim devices, such as the Uniti Atom HE and Mu-So 2nd Generation, employ a fully-featured streaming platform that extends from their entry-level products to their flagship ND 555 player.
- The brand uses oversized, beautifully lit volume knobs as a central design element across various product lines, contributing to a tactile user experience.
- Their products are designed to be aesthetically flexible and to be easily incorporated into both high-end and real world listening environments.
- Naim designs components with the potential for future upgrades, such as adding external power supplies, enabling long-term use.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Uniti Atom
- Positioning: The entry-level all-in-one streaming amplifier in the Naim lineup.
- Description: Features a compact design and high-quality sound, making it ideal for small rooms or as a secondary system. It features a 40W per channel amplifier and supports a wide range of streaming services, offering versatility similar to the Uniti Star but at a lower power output and without CD playback capabilities. This makes it a great choice for those with a moderate budget who prioritize streaming and connectivity over physical media.
Uniti Star
- Positioning: Sits in the middle of the Uniti range, offering more features than the Atom but less than the Nova.
- Description: Combines streaming capabilities with CD playback and ripping, which the Atom lacks. It delivers 70W per channel, providing a more powerful sound suitable for larger rooms or those seeking a more dynamic audio experience.
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Avg. Product Price
$20,001-$30,000
Used For Sale
318
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
8
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
28
Founding Year
1973
Our take on the brand
Naim Audio is renowned for its distinctive "Naim sound," which focuses on timing accuracy and a unique harmonic distortion profile that creates a musical flow. The brand's meticulous approach involves extensive R&D and proprietary components like custom transistors and power supplies, as seen in their Uniti range which combines streaming capabilities with their signature sound characteristics.
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Brand Page
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Naim
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What if you spend more?
No items found.
What competes at this price?
Totaldac
d1-triunity
23089
/
Released
2023
The d1-triunity benefits from the new Totaldac "unity" DAC architecture, with about 290 components upgraded or added to the electronic boards. The d1-triunity is a d1-unity but with 3 R2R ladders per channel instead of one, giving a lower noise and the real scale of each instrument.
Totaldac is known for using R-2R ladder DAC technology with discrete resistors and high-precision Vishay metal foil resistors, aiming to provide a more natural, analog-like sound without oversampling or digital filters. The brand appeals to audiophiles who prioritize listening experience over measurements, with their products delivering a rich, dense tone that many compare to live performances.
Expand Details
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The d1-triunity DAC is praised for its ability to reflect the core characteristics of music with purism and vibrancy
- The 'unity' architecture provides more presence, more contrast between the timbres and sizes of each instrument, more clarity, and at the same time more body and more dynamics—making the sound more realistic and natural
- Offers a richer, sweeter, fuller sound and a more spacious presentation compared to the d1-unity
- Achieves dynamic power, low-frequency depth, and punch with a skillfully engineered Class-A output stage providing double the voltage
- Transmits detail and nuance without sounding etched or bright, and provides great tonality, especially with acoustic instruments
Product Considerations
- The chassis is constructed from folded steel and the rear panel is of a thin gauge, which makes the external construction less substantial than some rivals
- Maximum resolution of 24-bit/192 kHz without the optional DSD module might be a limitation
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The d1-triunity brings improvements that make music sound more vibrant and alive, while offering a finer-grained view compared to the Totaldac d1-unity
- The d1-triunity provides universal compatibility in terms of voltage output, and advances the sonic performance aspect compared to the Totaldac d1-direct
Takeaway: The d1-triunity is an impressive DAC that effortlessly handles music and makes it emotion-tugging with crystallizing quality. It offers remarkable musical insight without sacrificing speed and clarity, making it a worthwhile addition to any high-end audio system.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Totaldac is known for using R-2R ladder DAC technology with discrete resistors and high-precision Vishay metal foil resistors, aiming to provide a more natural, analog-like sound without oversampling or digital filters. The brand appeals to audiophiles who prioritize listening experience over measurements, with their products delivering a rich, dense tone that many compare to live performances.
Product Page
Product Page
SW1X
DAC IV
25275
/
Released
2024
DAC IV is a further development in musical scale & refinement of the already magical sounding DAC III Balanced powered by Power Output Valves and Directly Heated Diodes (DHD) in the power supply. The DHD Valve power supplies are 2 x choke filtered and quasi dual mono in design. Accomodating everything in one chassis without interference of magnetic fields proved to be a real challenge but having everything housed in one chassis with much shorter signal paths turned out to be very rewarding in the end.
SW1X Audio Design creates DACs that use a non-oversampling approach and vintage TDA1541 chips with tube output stages, avoiding digital filtering to maintain a more natural, analog-like sound. Their products feature separate power supply chassis designs and harmonically matched vintage components, including directly heated triode tubes and AB resistors, which are carefully selected for their distinctive sonic qualities.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Notable focus and density to the midrange that is unparalleled compared to other DACs
- Exceeding naturalness and deep detail
- Top end is smooth, and the low end is present and provides a substantial foundation
- More precise, revealing, and dynamic presentation
Product Considerations
- The review unit lacked a USB input, only offering AES/EBU and S/PDIF over Coax as inputs
- Might not suit audiophiles who prize dry, bright, or hard-sounding digital audio
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to solid-state DACs, the SW1X DAC IV Special has unparalleled focus and immediacy of dynamics, especially in the midrange
- Compared to the SW1X DAC V—the DAC IV has a more precise, revealing, and dynamic presentation
Takeaway: The SW1X DAC IV Special could be the answer if one wants to feel more emotionally connected to their music and escape the constant analysis of typical audiophile listening. It's designed to provide a musically engaging experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
SW1X Audio Design creates DACs that use a non-oversampling approach and vintage TDA1541 chips with tube output stages, avoiding digital filtering to maintain a more natural, analog-like sound. Their products feature separate power supply chassis designs and harmonically matched vintage components, including directly heated triode tubes and AB resistors, which are carefully selected for their distinctive sonic qualities.
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Product Page
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