Buying a used Bartok

dCS Products
1

Hi All, I’m new here and looking for some advice. I’m considering buying a second‑hand dCS Bartók (non‑APEX) and wanted to ask how it compares to Naim NDX2 and ND555.

I’ve heard the Bartók has a more neutral, spacious and “studio‑grade” presentation, while Naim leans more toward PRaT, drive and warmth. Curious how big the gap really is, especially vs ND555, and whether the older Bartók still holds up well today

Also anything I should watch out for when buying a used Bartók? Firmware versions, early production quirks, serial number ranges, common issues, or anything specific to check would be super helpful.

Thanks in advance - looking forward to learning from the community.

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Hi @Skidoc and welcome to the forum.

Luckily you will find plenty of former Naimees here who can offer their perspectives.

@Merlot52 @Dunc and @glevethan for starters.

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I will just add that dCS is a wonderful company that others could emulate. One thing that it offers is providing the known history of second hand units once you find something you are thinking of purchasing ( you need the serial number).

[email protected]

4

First off hello.

You are right in thinking the bartok and any dCS dac will be different to the naim dac’s you mentioned.

You will certainly get a much clearer and detailed sound. You will also get upsampling built in, DSD, many filters and different maps to choose from.

Plus very shortly new maps, and filters, plus 4 x upsampling. You also get to keep the old maps, filters, etc. They don’t disappear like how naim works.

But one of the biggest bonus is the built in volume control and different output voltages, this means you can run directly to Amp if you want. It works exceptionally well doing this as long as you match things to how you like it to sound.

I found that running directly into a 500dr from my vivaldi dac, sounded much better than with the naim 552dr pre amp. This brings me to something that might or might not bother you, if you run a naim pre amp it will hold the dCS back, lots on here have tried it and all found the same out vone to be true. The naim pre amps are very colourful you could say and its this that gives the naim sound, but it will certainly strangle the dCS dac and stop it showing what it can really do.

Getting back to the bartok, I know you will be buying into a fantastic British company like naim, but one that specialises in dac’s and this certainly shows. You also get great support going forward, and with the latest inpovements about to come out, you get free upgrades.

I haven’t looked back for a second since I first heard a dCS dac, I went to upgrade from my NDS with 2 x power supplies to the ND555, and luckily I got to experience the dCS range, I soon forgot all about the ND555.

But only you can decide, plus if you have a complete naim system at the moment? I would be prepared to say that it won’t last long once the bartok joins it, as you will start to see what you have been missing for years and in turn that will bring changes to full enjoy what the bartok can do. This is the biggest mistake other naim owners do, they use it in a naim system and that doesn’t really work.

Enjoy the ride what ever you decide.

Cheers dunc

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Thanks Dunc — we’ve chatted before on the Naim forum :face_with_hand_over_mouth:.
I’ve now moved away from Naim completely and switched to the Vitus SIA‑025. Part of the reason was actually your comparison of the 500 series with the SIA‑025, which pushed me to try it.

I’m wondering how the Bartók (non‑Apex) compares to the ND555. Would you say it’s on par with the ND555 with one PS?

Also, are all pre‑Apex units essentially the same apart from the headphone stage?

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I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.

The vitus and bartok will sound fantastic together. I personally don’t rate any of the naim dac’s much at all these days. They haven’t moved on since the ndac really, its like they don’t know how to and now stuck.

Having 2 power supplies doesn’t really change it much at all, infact I would say a fairly pointless thing to do, but it looks good on the forum.

Yes all the bartok’s are the same with the Apex upgrade being the only difference. If you rule out the headphones stage.

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Former? :laughing: :joy:

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They certainly don’t like me on the naim forum :laughing:

I find it funny that some go out there way to try and get most of my posts deleted, I only speak as I find, but some are obviously not very sure off themselves on there and the purchases they had made. It’s like a cult, but a strange one lol.

I must have a few marks above my name as I have made a few move away from naim. But naim only have themselves to blame as they have sat back for many years rather than move forward. Even the 500 kit is so old these days and it was only really a re vamp in the first place as far as the nd555 is over the nds, and the 552 over the 52. It’s only the 500dr amp that’s any good these days really and that’s not worth anywhere near the asking price for something that’s hissing away making so much unwanted noise, masking details, etc.

Once you see the light it does make you wounder why you didn’t see it earlier?

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Yeah, it’s a strange place these days. I barely visit anymore because the atmosphere has become pretty aggressive, and a lot of people really don’t like it when someone has a different opinion. Everyone should be able to share their own experience without it turning into a fight. As to the Naim equipment, I like it a lot but it’s just not worth the money, I have moved from 252/300dr → sia 025 practically an even swap!

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Plus much better

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What’s the best voltage set up for sia and bartok?

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6 volts and set the vitus to 8 on the input you use.

I use this and the balanced in/outputs.

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What do you use for you phono with Vitus?

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I have an allnic h7000 phono stage and thales compact mk2 turntable with statement arm

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What’s your sensitivity setting on Vitus for your phono?

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I think its 2, but can’t remember exactly, but it’s certainly not 8 or 6. It also makes a big difference if you set it high, it certainly sounded much worse

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Me too! I could hear my 300DR buzzing 5 metres away!
My Vitus is silent​:ok_hand:

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I was a Naim addict for a long long time - so long ago I had an original CDS player which back in the day was pretty much as close as you could get to vinyl with CD.

I have a Bartok (non Apex) and it sounds great and buying that quickly led to me swapping out my Naim pre and power amps for a Soulution integrated amplifier. The new set up is night and day c/w with my previous set up.

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I owned NDX-2 for a couple of years.

I originally was planning to move to the ND555 in the Naim chain. But after I listened to dCS, I abandoned that plan. I moved to dCS Rossini Apex.

Regards,
Sourav