How to use NDX for optimum sound quality

Posted by: pz on 14 January 2012

Hi Mates!

Currently I have a Naim DAC and XPS2 into NAIM pre/power amp combo.

I am using USB sticks to playback music files which is rather uncomfortable.

I have just ordered an NDX.

My question is that how should I use them for best sound:

1. NDX+XPS2 into DAC then into preamp

2. NDX into DAC/XPS2 then into preamp

Which alternative could give better sound ?

If anyone could recommend me a NAS brand/model which works

particularly well with NDX it would also be highly appreciated.

Thanks.

Posted on: 14 January 2012 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Hi, I would recommend Asset running on a small WHS machine. That way you are decoupled from your NAS unless you have it on the WHS machine. By having the NAS separate from the upnp streamer server you can have whatever NAS you like and it has no impact on the NDX.
Asset is made by a company called Illustrate, and works well with Nstream.
Simon

Posted on: 14 January 2012 by pz

Dear Simon,

Thanks for your post.

What does "WHS" mean ?

Thx.

Posted on: 14 January 2012 by Nagoya

WHS = Windows Home Server. Asset is very good. Thanks!

Posted on: 14 January 2012 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Nagoya - thanks. Yes Windows Home Server is a small foot print OS developed by Microsoft (very much cut down from thier full blown server OS) that is ideally suited to running small home servers. I use a little Asus box running WHS and- and the server is the size of a large technical manual and never even gets warm - and just sits there quietly running Asset streaming and transcoding for me and detecting when to update its database when I have downloaded or created a new CD rip into my seperate NAS.

Simon