Are Naim streamers competitive

Please delete

Thank you.  I was considering the nDAC.  But Steve Hopkins tells me the USB input is only for flash drives. I assume that means it is not a device enabled USB, but an Apple compliant one that will only accept Apple bitstream in one form or another.  A great pity, if true.  Anyone tried inputting computer sourced USB into an nDAC?  And if so, what was the result?

Has anyone compared the optical out on a MacBook against an USB to Sp/Dif convertor, such as the HiFace EVO into the nDAC?  I am against proliferating boxes, so this is not a good idea to me, but I would like to know if the differences are significant.

I have given up trying to get uPNP from a server into my MacBook.  Like J.N. (above) I now avoid servers as sources.

I have my iTunes library on my Macbook and synched with my iMac upstairs which is connected via FireWire to my Raid 5 server (not uPNP!) and backed up to my Time Capsule and into the Cloud.

I wear two pairs of braces and three belts.

The server is used only because it is there.  Its main purpose is to serve my DVD collection to the iPad.

Richard

Hi Richard,

The front panel USB port accepts not only Apple devices, but also usb sticks (flash drives as you wrote) that contain music files in a variety of formats, including hi-res formats.  The sonic results are excellent with using that usb stick source.  However, functionality is limited, as there is no display to identify the files, and you are limited to just selecting 'next file' or 'previous file' from the nDAC front panel controls.  The nDAC is not a "USB dac" as that term is commonly used.

+1 

Dear Richard,

I feel the Wireworld Supernova 6 Optical Cable from a new Mac Mini is more effective than the USB/Firewire interfaces I have tried (MF, hiFace and INT202). This is because of the improvements Apple has made with it digital out on this model. I hope this carries over to all its domestic computers (if it hasn't already done so).

I would not say that the convertors and USB is redundant, as few computers have this level of performance. Indeed the new CJ DAC sports USB as well as S/PDIF and CJ are no mugs. The best non-Naim DAC I've heard the BAD Alpha now has a companion USB-to-S/PDIF. So there are numerous ways to achieve great results. My background says you shouldn't put a USB interface in a DAC because the USB cable will shove noise into a sensitive part of the system, but in practice there are some well regarded designs that do this. And the Chordette Gem, which I know well, breaks all the rules (adaptive USB) and still manages to sound far better than any DAC I've heard at anywhere near the price - in fact Chord is probably has the best way I have heard to get music from an iPod to a Naim system through its use of APT-X over BT. 

The Mac Mini/WWS6/Naim DAC/555PS is a cracking source and is a dream to use because iTunes/Bit-Perfect just works so well. Its limitation is cannot play above 24/96, but with my current music collection that is no issue. 

I use nStream in my office system and it is fine. The odd album seems to miss its artwork, but to be honest I don't care, it plays everything on my Vortexbox through my Naim UQ. 

I know you went a slightly different route with a DAC that I remember you liked, but not one I have heard and I think it uses USB too. If you were using a new Mac Mini then I'd suggest if you can trying a good quality optical connection (the Wireworld SN6 is the only Glass Optical I know of that works without an adapter, but Patrick explained to me that it was the polishing rather than simply using Glass that really counted and so non-Glass cables could work as well).

However, if you are using a different computer then I'd stay with your DAC's USB. 

I think the Naim DAC is the jewel in its current digital range, but perhaps if the NDS is a total solution then I might have to revise that view

All the best, Guy

> Has anyone compared the optical out on a MacBook against an USB to Sp/Dif convertor, such as the HiFace EVO into the nDAC?  I am against proliferating boxes, so this is not a good idea to me, but I would like to know if the differences are significant.

Not against a HiFace Evo, but against the MF V-Link which I think is at least as good as the original hiFace. This is a 6 year old MacBook running Snow Leopard. I can't quote its jitter figures I'm afraid.

Result: no contest

MacBook 1 - 5 V-Link (using hifi-comic style ratings and that most unscientific of measuring devices: my ears)

(I used iTunes and Decibel to play AIFF and FLAC respectively and it made no difference). 

So assuming the HiFace EVO is at least as good as the hiFace then I'd expect the EVO version to be worth the while on a MacBook. 

However, if you have a new MB AIR then I don't know ... haven't been able to try one of those. 

Rather than hiFAce why not use a Halide Bridge - which is one single cable from any Mac to any S/PDIF enabled DAC. No extra boxes and no drivers required - it just works. 

Richard,

You are the first I have read making the Optical vs USB comparison on a MacBook.  I have not seen any measurements of jitter for the MB (any iteration); maybe the latest ones are as good as the new Mini. 

I'll bet one reason they both sound good is that the Optichord is a decent cable.  This should not be taken for granted.  Rare as hens' teeth around here.

Cheers.

Nick

Hi Nock

Thanks for that.  I had forgotten I had it. I have so many spare and unused interconnects collected over the years.  I gave several to a charity shop, but doubtful if they would know their value.  There was a time when manufacturers used to push them on me, but those days are long gone - laugh.  But I always found Chord nice people anyway.

> Is the wireworldsn6 a minijack into the headphone socket or is there an optical output on the mini (latest version ofc) or do I need some kind of jack to optical adaptor? 

THe Wireworld SuperNova 6 that I have comes with a mini Toslink at the computer end (Mac Mini) and standard Toslink at the DAC end. You do not need an adapter in the same way you would if you used the wonderful TCI Kukri (but that is no longer available in any case). 

You can search for a nearby Wireworld Stockist on the wireworldcables dot co dot uk web site

As I say, my MacBook is quite old, but it still works very well - so results I get from it will not help anybody using a new one. The Mac Mini is certainly a lot lot better than my old MacBook. 

The cables I like are glass, the Chord is plastic. I prefer both the TCI and WW, but that's me. 

Excellent

Many thanks for the prompt reply Guido, I know that stuff was out there but been having the devil of a job tracking it down.

Off to Ye olde apple shoppe today