ND5 XS 2

Our entry-level network player is the perfect introduction to music streaming.

OVERVIEW

The ND5 XS 2 uses our innovative new streaming platform with an expanded feature set. High-res UPnP™ streaming, AirPlay, AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Bluetooth (apt X HD), Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Qobuz, Roon compatibility, internet radio and multiroom streaming – alongside digital and USB inputs for conventional connections – make this versatile player the ideal partner for one of our integrated amplifiers.

Carefully selected and matched parts, an oversized toroidal transformer, decoupled PCB boards: the ND5 XS 2 benefits from classic Naim engineering and fastidious attention to detail to ensure that it delivers natural, engaging sound quality from all sources.

Features

Technology & Craft

The streaming section of the ND5 XS 2 uses the latest Naim network card featuring low-noise, high-speed low-voltage differential signalling (LVDS) to route the digital audio signal. The higher speed is capable of decoding all HD audio formats at up to 32 bits/384 kHz or DSD128. Rather than the source acting as the digital timing master, our new streaming board turns things around and allows our DAC clock to control the flow of audio data. The data is integer-over-sampled in a SHARC DSP to an incredible 40-bit accuracy before it’s fed to the PCM1791A Burr-Brown digital-toanalogue converter.

Developing a new streaming platform was one of the biggest projects we have ever taken on. Naim engineers across all disciplines – electronic, industrial, acoustic and mechanical – worked for three years to create a system that could make the most of online services such as TIDAL and Spotify while adding future-proof flexibility through Chromecast built-in. Supporting faster data rates with dual-band Wi-Fi and the latest 802.11ac protocol, this robust platform was designed for the highest performance on every level.

REVIEW & AWARDS

A grey wolf in sheep's clothing - Read More 

"You can’t go wrong with an ND5 XS 2. If you can live without a screen and buttons on the front, you get one of the most well played and engaging music streamers in this class. It’s far from being the most advanced or best-equipped player out there, and the design seems minimalist at best in all its brushed grey-black appearance. But tap the accomplished Naim app and put some music on, and all the rainbow colours fall into place." - Lasse Svendsen

 
Naim ND5 XS 2 review- Read More 

"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." - What Hi-Fi?

Naim ND5 XS 2 media player - Read More 

"At the end of the day, the ND5 XS 2 impresses me as a good-sounding, pleasant-to-use player that offers very good value for the money. And when Qobuz compatibility comes aboard—at which time I hope Naim will let me revisit this model for a Follow-Up—it should be all the more appealing, especially if the price stays where it is. Glowingly recommended." - Art Dudley

Naim ND5 XS 2 - Read More 

"If I was in the market for a new system that wasn’t eye-wateringly expensive, I would put a Naim XS3 amplifier and this ND5 XS 2 streamer at the top of my short list to audition. Add a pair of appropriate loudspeakers, some decent cables and you will have a system that will give you many years of musical joy." - Chris Kelly

SPECIFICATIONS