Is the Naim Unitiserve a better option than a ND5 XS?

Mark,

Putting SQ differences to one side as you will have to decide which you prefer yourself but some things to consider:

ND5 XS

- can be upgraded with additional power supply

- may be possible to upgrade with AirPlay in future (unlikely to happen for US)

- you need a separate server function to serve up the music to the ND5

- you need to set up a separate ripping mechanism

- you need to play around with the ripped files metadata so music appears the way you want it

- can be used without external DAC

- can be used to connect additional digital/analogue inputs

- music more portable to other devices e.g. iTunes (because metadata in tact)

US

- complete ripping and server solution in one box

- provides all the metadata for the ripped music without too much adjustment

- easier creation of playlists

- ripped music not as portable to other platforms unless using UPnP

- can playback CDs if so desired

- can stream music to other UPnP clients

The Naim server solutions are particularly good if you don't want to be messing around setting up your own ripping mechanisms, UPnP server, or fine tuning the files metadata etc

I'm sure there are other pros and cons to be added. There are so many options, I guess that's a good thing.

From a sound quality point of view I'd expect the ND5 XS to outperform the UnitiServe/Rega DAC combo.  The ND5 XS has an asynchronous DAC and AFAIK the Rega is synchronous, so will pick up any jitter from the US digital output. 

Once again I'll speak up for VortexBox as a ripper/UPNP server. Pop in a CD, it rips it, gets metadata and pops it out. Very cheap - you can convert an old computer or buy a preconfigured one. Its not much more expensive than a decent NAS drive and has a lot more functionality.

VortexBox via ethernet > ND5  is the upgrade I'm saving up for, so you could say I'm personally biased 

If you are going via Ethernet to an ND5, I can't think of how there would be any possible SQ differences between VortexBox, US or a decent NAS for that matter. Though, I can't say I've tested it.

VortexBox runs SqueezeBox server which can do Spotify, MOG and internet radio as well as a huge range of plug ins people are developing. 

>> Has anyone tested SqueezeBox server (on vortexbox or otherwise) to the ND5 or NDX via ethernet? Is this a way to get Spotify, MOG, etc via the ND5/NDX? Not sure that would work unless you plugged it in directly via SPDIF, etc. <<

+1 Vortexbox + Naim UQ, SuperUniti, NDX, ND5 is a great way to play music. 

I use VB > UQ > TD 150s in my office

I can stream via a W4S ZP90 from VB to my Naim DAC in my main system too. 

Though I have gone over to new Mac Mini > Naim DAC recently to play 24 bit recordings. 

VB can serve 24 bit, but ZP90 can't play them - ND5 could play them no problem. 

Guido, 

What motivated the move from VortexBox to Mac Mini? 

I'm now rethinking (redreaming up) my plan to go VortexBox > ND5, the nDac is about the same cost as the ND5. What do you use to connect the mac mini to the Dac?

The Uniti and ND5 XS are in different product categories really, the Uniti uses n-serve app and ND5 XS uses n-stream app.

If you are happy with your present ripping engine, then go for the streamer. I would say our rega DAC in not in the same league as the ND5 XS or the N-DAC. But it sounds like an excellent product for it's price.

If you want a brilliant all-in-one device go for the Unitserv.

I have a Unitserv with HDD and N-DAC. It is a brilliant combination, why anyone would buy an HDX I do not know. I do have a NAS, but prefer to rip to the internal HDD, as there are packet loses over ethernet. I do not know this for sure, but I assume it must use UDP to stream, which does not perform error checking and resending of packets. TCP does this, but is not suitable for streaming media.

I think Naim did not realise at the time just how fantastic the Unitserv was gonig to be!

David

It is indeed a very intelligent design, but one that feels like an evolutionary step to the streamers, completed while Naim was sorting out their digital lineup. I really love mine because it gives me a CD transport, ripper, hard-disk player, streaming server and client (not officially of course ), internet radio, and a choice of digital outputs. Then there's the nServe app which lets me create compilations, though I do miss the TDK-SA90 option. To those who claim that you can't upgrade the UnitiServe, I will merely point to the ethernet connection.

Jan

David, 'streaming' via Web Radio or uPNP uses TCP and not UDP. Therefore there are no packet losses unless the connection is abandoned and closed down because of a complete failure.  TCP is absolutely fine for peer to peer streaming using RTP where two way latency is not an issue, and indeed this is why it is used, and is optimum for varialbe network quality such as the internet or consumer LANs and thier equipment where no QoS (Quality of Service) considerations are required.

Where extremely low latency or multicasting  is required, such as truly multicast  video/audio and IP Telephony then UDP is indeed used, which is a connectionless protocol as you say. With UDP packet loss and RTD and jitter become key perfromance indicators and drive the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) of audio quality. Using UDP QoS need to be managed.

Simon

I use the Vortexbox upstairs where I have a wired network and a UQ to play music.

Downstairs there is no wired network and so I switched to the new Mac Mini. This lets me play music through the Naim DAC without a network. I couldn't play music from the Vortexbox directly through the Naim DAC in any case as the DAC has no network connection so I needed an intermediate box. The Mac Mini still has a wireless connection so I can use my iPad to control it. 

If I had a wired network downstairs then I could just connect the ND5 or NDX and play through the DAC. 

So the Mac Mini is a pragmatic solution that works really well. 

As Tog says the VB is a great solution as you get a central store and it can feed lots of players at the same time. However, 24 bit over wireless still is an issue in my house at least, hence the new Mac Mini. 

Hi David, yes 'fraid so. Data network and voice system design engineer for my sins, and before that in the Digital TV broadcast industry... but if i am honest i had made similar assumptions as you about UPNP streaming transport protocol when i had first came across it some time back, until i had researched the specifications/standards and subsequently analysed implementations with Wireshark. 

Simon

Simon,

The reason why I ask is that I Head up an engineering dept in broadcast TV and I'm looking for a systems specialist!! A hybrid Broadcast/IT role; Cisco certified preferrably and excellent knowledge of network protocols, file transfer protocols and video formats/wrappers. I'm an old baseband video engineer, having to catch-up with the rapidly changing technologies in the industry!

David