Pardon my ignorance but what's mqa?
Have just had a look on the MQA website and after a quick look, I'm not really any wiser!
Has to be a Beresford Caiman SEG delivers staggering performance for not a lot
If I can go off left field as it were... the NDX has an extremely capable DAC but as a stand alone unit one hampered by an underengineered power-supply. I have only heard it with Naim's own power-supplies, but have very little doubt that a Teddy XPS (which seems an obvious choice in the context of your system) would be similarly transformative.
I would certainly ask Teddy what his thoughts are on this vs his DAC, he is a very straightforward guy.
I wouldn't consider hanging a DAC off the back of the NDX, it would be a poor use of the amount of money tied up in it; if you do go down the DAC route the digital feed from the UnitiServe. Through a properly engineered DAC it should sound identical!
I emailed Teddy
He said that he’d received several customer reports who said that the TeddyDAC sounds better than an NDX with a TeddyXPS.
Funny that
Very funny, a hi-fi manufacturer suggesting to a customer that the cheaper of two options he has enquired about might be the better one... Has the world gone mad?
if the choice is borderpatrol, i would suggest checking the Metrum Amethyst. Great price and even better quality. Order directly through the webshop, if you do not like it send it back, no restocking fees.
Interesting thread. It is noticeable that both the recommendations of the Border Patrol and Metrum Amethyst, that they are both NOS.
R.
Have to disagree with this, external PSU does improve the NDX but using something like a Chord Hugo on it makes it a far more capable player. I ended up selling my PSX once i had Hugo installed.I wouldn't consider hanging a DAC off the back of the NDX, it would be a poor use of the amount of money tied up in it; if you do go down the DAC route the digital feed from the UnitiServe. Through a properly engineered DAC it should sound identical!