Naim ND5 XS 2 Network Music Streamer

No Screen, No Knobs, No Compromise

The front of the Naim ND5 XS 2 holds a power switch, a USB port and a lit logo. That is the whole of it. Naim spent the money inside instead, and left the controls to the app on your phone.

That app reaches Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, internet radio and any UPnP server on your network. The unit is Roon Ready as well. Files play up to 32-bit and 384kHz, and DSD128, with no gap between tracks on any format.

Naim launched it in 2018 as the way into its ND range, below the NDX 2 and the ND 555. Entry level here still buys an oversized toroidal transformer, circuit boards on their own mounts, and a case milled from solid aluminum.

Letting the DAC Clock Run the Show

Most streamers let the source set the timing. Naim turned that around, so the clock in the converter sets the pace and the data waits for it. Jitter is one of the few things a designer can really do something about, and this is how Naim does it.

Getting the data there cleanly is the other half of the job. The streaming board runs at a fraction of normal logic voltage, which drops the noise it throws off in step. Matched terminations at both ends cut the reflections that cause radio interference.

A Chain, Not a Chipset

The data is then oversampled in a SHARC processor to 40-bit accuracy before it reaches a Burr-Brown PCM1791A converter. Every stage was picked for a reason. That is the difference between a designed chain and a chipset dropped in a box.

The back panel is generous. Two optical inputs take 24-bit and 96kHz, while the coaxial RCA and BNC inputs take 24-bit and 192kHz plus DSD over PCM. Analog output is on RCA or five-pin DIN, and networking runs over Ethernet or dual-band Wi-Fi.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Art Dudley reviewed the ND5 XS 2 for Stereophile in March 2019. At the end of it, he wrote, the player "impresses me as a good-sounding, pleasant-to-use player that offers very good value for the money."

Gordon Brockhouse, writing for SoundStage! Simplifi, enjoyed its "wonderfully open, spacious sound and its excellent dynamics, the latter simultaneously fast and rounded." It sounded, he added, "articulate but never etched."

Who Is This Network Streamer Best For?

• You already own a good integrated amplifier — Naim built this as a source to sit beside one, so the money goes into the sound rather than a second amplifier you do not need.
• You keep a large library at home — UPnP playback and two USB ports reach a network drive or a plugged-in disk, so the collection stays yours and works offline.
• You subscribe to Roon — full Roon Ready certification, not a workaround, so it appears as a proper endpoint the moment you switch it on.
• You want fewer boxes — four digital inputs let a CD transport or a television borrow this converter, so one good DAC serves the whole rack.
• The ND5 XS 2 is a source with a fixed output and no volume control — it needs an amplifier or preamp in front of the speakers, and will not drive a powered pair on its own. Pair it with one of our integrated amplifiers.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run an interconnect from the RCA or DIN output to a line input on your amplifier, then open the app and select the matching output. Skipping that step is the most common first-night problem. Wire the Ethernet port to your router if you can, or fit the antennas and join your Wi-Fi.

Digital sources go into the optical or coaxial inputs, and storage plugs into either USB port. Then let the app find the unit on the network.

Pairs Well With

Building your system? Here are some great companions:

• Integrated Amplifiers: Naim designed this player around that partnership — see our Integrated Amplifiers.
• Interconnects: An RCA or DIN run between player and amplifier — browse our Interconnect Cables.
• Power Cables: The supplied Power-Line Lite is a starting point, not a ceiling — see our Power Cables.
• Audio Rack: Naim gear responds to solid, isolated support — see our Audio Racks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I control it?

Through the Focal and Naim app. The ND5 XS 2 has no display and no controls of its own, and Naim offers no handset for it.

Which streaming services are built in?

Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Chromecast and internet radio, plus Roon Ready and UPnP playback.

Does it decode MQA?

It plays MQA files without unfolding them, so you hear the underlying resolution.

Can I connect a CD player or television?

Yes. The optical inputs accept up to 24-bit/96kHz, and the coaxial RCA and BNC inputs accept up to 24-bit/192kHz.

Can it play music from a hard drive?

Yes, using either USB port for a drive, or streaming from a NAS or computer over UPnP.

Which outputs does it have?

A fixed-level analog output on RCA and on five-pin DIN. Select the one you are using in the app, or you will get silence.

See It in Action

2ndhandhifi walks around the ND5 XS 2:

And hxos plus opens up the ND range to see how the boards differ:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about network streamers, DAC design, or matching a source to your amplifier? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.