All,
I just posted this on the "Streaming Audio" side a few mins ago. Hoping to cast the net as wide a possible.
I have never been on this branch of the forum before. And before anyone says I should use the search option - I'm hoping to get simple advice on my query. The newer Niam product details for this e-music sphere are as easy to read as the current Naim manuals are on connections.
I have a decent system (see profile) but all my music is on CD and vinyl. I would like to store all my CDs digitally and be available to play through my main system. Multi-room is not necessary but might be a nice to have. We have good internet and strong wifi throughout the house. I do not want to buy things I already own - DAC, pre, amp etc. I don't mind purchasing dedicated NAS to store the data if required.
The question is: which box will allow me to play ripped CD files through the main system without adding a DAC, pre, amp etc? There are now a plethora of new black boxes from Salisbury, so which one fits my needs. My CDS has a decent DAc, my NAC 252 a decent pre, my NAP300 a decent amp etc.
Additionally, as I have 2 desktops, 1 laptop, various i-devices, should I rip on existing harware or trust Naim to do it better? I have never downloaded a track in my life.
My desire is to buy ONE new box for my Fraim and sit back and enjoy.
As you can tell, it is the missus who is the techno-literate one in our house, not me.
Thanks for the advice.
Dave
Posted on: 08 January 2012 by hungryhalibut
I have no idea how to do the ripping and storing, but the box you want is the NDX.
Posted on: 08 January 2012 by Richard Dane
HDX. No muss or fuss. Just pop your discs in the tray and a minute or two later it spits it out having ripped the music as well as possible, added metadata and album artwork and stored the file on its internal hard drive. It can do all sorts of other stuff too (internet radio now, hi-res files via network, separate USB drive, NAS or USB stick) but if you want to keep it simple - or as simple as it's possible to keep it - then the HDX has a lot to recommend it. Oh, and it sounds rather good too - and even better with an added CDPS (Naim modded Burndy required), XPS, XPS2, 555PS, or XP5XS.
If you would rather do the ripping and storage via your computer and are willing to put up with a bit more hassle, then the NDX is an alternative. However, a dedicated server is much better for the NDX and that's another box...
Posted on: 08 January 2012 by hungryhalibut
Surely the HDX will quickly fill up, so you have to add extra storage. So doesn't it make sense to just go for the NDX in the first place, particularly when a willingness to do this is expressed in the question? The NDX is a lot cheaper too.
Posted on: 08 January 2012 by DaveBk
There are many options - personally I'd go for the Naim DAC and a cheap streamer like the Logitech Squeezebox Touch as step 1, but this is 2 boxes on the rack... This in my mind offers maximum flexibility so you can add a 555PS to the DAC in future and have the best possible Naim digital source ( I still remain to be convinced that the NDX or ND5 XS offer more than other brand streamers). Add to this a NAS with a uPnP or Logitech streaming server, and a decent PC or Mac ripper and you're good to go. I use a QNAP NAS and dBPoweramp as a ripper for reference.
Alternatively, if one box is a 'must have' and you want Naim to do all the work an HDX is a good option.
Happy ventures into the world of streamed music!
Posted on: 09 January 2012 by Bodger
Thanks to one and all.
My main concern has been addressed in the negative. That is, I can't use my CDS3 to replay other digital sources meaning that I would have to buy another DAC in some form to go server based. So the stand alone DAC plus a new NAS becomes an option too. Throw in a better PS for an upgrade and it's groundhog day again.
As there is no one perfect box for me, I'll probably keep on lifting the lid and playing disks as before. Save money and get some exercise all in one. Perhaps those savings could be better used on a NAC552.........
Dave
Posted on: 09 January 2012 by Frank Abela
Correct. The CDS3 is a closed system. It only provides an analogue output. Therefore whatever streaming solution you inserted would have to have a DAC section in it, whether it was an NDX, ND5XS, separate DAC, whatever.
The standalone DAC allows you to attach digital sources to it, but it doesn't 'stream' information from music repositories. For that bit of functionality you need a streamer. The streamer understands networking and how to talk to music repositories through uPnP (Universal Plug'n'Play). The DAC just knows how to receive a digital signal from a S/PDIF connection which is quite another thing entirely.
So...you can do this using:
* HDX which is a uPnP server and streamer in one box
* UnitiServe (uPnPServer) and a streaming box such as NDX, ND5XS
* Your own PC/Mac where you rip your CDs to (typically) a NAS which (again typically) runs a uPnP server such as Twonkly media, with the aforementioned streamers
Note: Ripping CDs is easy. Ripping them as best as possible is another thing entirely.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Posted on: 09 January 2012 by Focalist
posted over on the other thread but if dipping toe in try a vortexbox and squeezebox touch, depending on which box you buy, total about £600, if it floats your boat get a Naim streamer and use the vortexbox as a server to it. Very simple, rock solid, and cost effective way to try it out.
