NAIM ND5 XS 2
When Naim describes its ND5 XS 2 network streamer as entry level, it actually means that it’s the cheapest dedicated component the company makes in the range. But if this is the best your system ever sounds you’ll be doing your ears mightily proud.
This streamer isn’t boastful. Its black chassis is punctuated only by the company logo and power button, both tastefully illuminated in Naim’s iconic green, and a USB Type-a input subtly located front and left.
There is no full-colour screen, something that has been a feature of Naim’s recent products. Given that your streamer will be controlled via the app, it’s not really an issue and we’re great fans of the ND5 XS 2’s understated, brushed-metal façade regardless.
Even the rear remains tidy, despite the array of connections housed here. There are four digital inputs – a pair of optical TOSLINK, one coaxial RCA and a coaxial BNC – and RCA and five-pin DIN analogue audio outputs, alongside another USB Type-a socket and terminals for ethernet cable, Bluetooth and dual-band wi-fi aerials.
Meeting your streaming needs
There is plenty else built-in for your streaming needs, including Chromecast and Apple Airplay, Spotify Connect and native support for Tidal, while the streamer can also be used as part of a Naim multi-room network.
Being UPNP enabled, the ND5 XS 2 can stream files up to 32-bit/384khz from any outboard NAS device or home computer, and it features Naim’s latest network card, which uses low-noise, low-voltage differential signalling to route the digital audio signal.
The Naim app plays an integral part in the streamer’s functionality, which is a huge positive – it’s as straightforward a piece of software as you could hope for.
Once connected to our network, the ND5 XS 2 shows up immediately within the app, and has no issues communicating with the rest of the gear on the same network. Enabling each input and output is simple – head to the settings icon – and all sources are present on the home screen.
Naim products often take a while before sounding their best, and though a day or two of running in will iron out any creases in the ND5 XS 2, the sound continues improving over a few months, with subtle enhancements eventually leading to noticeable sonic gains.
You’re unlikely to be disappointed with this streamer even straight from the box, but be aware you might not experience its full potential for some time after its purchase. Even if that turns out not to be so much the case with the ND5 XS 2, there is nothing sonically to fault its performance. It is unmistakably a Naim product – the company’s musical understanding is brought to the fore, even at this entry level.
Tonally it is even, with the ability to dig deep into bass frequencies with ease and tempering that with rich and insightful mids and treble. It has the neutrality required to paint an honest picture of a track, refusing to force its own presentation simply to catch the ear.
And let’s not ignore the impressive detail on offer here. The ND5 XS 2 is as masterful at conveying timbre as anything you could hope to find for this kind of money. The quality of input is, of course, a major factor in what comes out, and this Naim unabashedly highlights the value of a decent file. But its insightful nature is present even when streaming from Spotify via Bluetooth.
An exciting listen
If that makes it sound a bit dour, do not be fooled. It remains a pleasant surprise when a streamer displays any kind of aptitude for timing, but the clock here is admirably precise, while an abundance of punch and terrific dynamic range make for an entertaining, exciting listen.
It is clear in the way the ND5 XS 2 handles rhythmic patterns, conveying intensity as a track ebbs and flows, and also in the subtleties of a performance that bestow upon it an element of humanity. Naim has proven again its ability to provide truly great sound irrespective of genre. We experiment with this streamer’s range of connections, and prefer the five-pin DIN output over RCA. It opens up the sound marginally, offering a cleaner presentation with more defined edges.
The Naim ND5 XS 2 is a sterling piece of hi-fi kit. It sounds like a five-star product almost immediately, and our admiration only grows as it mellows and settles into its role. This is the kind of network streamer for which it’s seriously worth extending your budget.