Unitiserve and Macbook pro connectivity

I don't want to depress you, but I gave up trying.  I had to return it.  Thankfully the dealer was extremely helpful.  

I would love to have a Naim nDAC, but I have had no help from Naim on how I can connect into my MB Pro! So I have to assume that it will not connect directly either.

I forget if the US has an optical input.  If it does, you might try using an optical connection from the MB.  Chord make the appropriate interconnect, called Optichord, which simply plugs into the headphone outlet, which very cleverly doubles as a digital out with that lead.

Other than that, I am sorry, I have no further ideas. Maybe there is someone with more knowledge who can help.

Richard

Your Macbook Pro will connect directly to a nDAC via optical SPDIF. If you want wireless, you could use an Airport Express which also has an optical SPDIF feed for the nDAC.

https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...85#13393020368103585

Thank you, Winky. That is a lot more help than I received from Naim. Just a one liner that the USB is for flash drives.  

I am considering upgrading my Northstar DAC to the Naim. I want to avoid an expensive mistake. My Naim dealer is a fair distance away.

Richard

I am not sure what point you are making. . . 

But thank you for the link, anyway.

Richard

The best way (IMO) is to get a Mac Mini and hardwire that (using optical SPDIF) to the nDAC. It's kind of like a poor man's UnitiServe. Use your Macbook as a controller using the VNC screen-sharing function (built into the Mac OS). You only need a monitor, keyboard and mouse for initial setup. Use a TV as the monitor for setup. After setup, provided you have iTunes set to automatically import and reject CDs when inserted, and not to "sleep" you have a bullet-proof setup.

That's the way I do it, at least. All my music is on the Mini and backed up (using TimeMachine) to a 2TB USB harddrive drive attached directly to the Mini. No twonky, complex UPnP for me.

Bonus is the ability to use the FREE Remote App on either iPhone or iPad to control everything. Leaves the Naim UPnP controller apps for dead, in my opinion.

On you mac goto system prefs then sharing.

Turn on file sharing then there is a button for advanced or options on the right hand side. Click this and turn on smb sharing.

Back in the file sharing section in the middle is a plus button, click this and navigate to the folder you want to share and click add.

This will now be available to thr serve, but it might take five mins to get picked up.

Thanks for the input guys-- Ive tried the file sharing advice from garyi, but still no joy!!

The Userve can see music from a connected pc on my network , but cant see the MBP at all!!!

I can control the US from my MBP so i know Ive got connectivity to it-- but the US cant see music files Ive marked for sharing!!

Do i maybe need some UPnP software??

Ive heard that XBMC might help?

Or is there some way of resetting everything and starting again!!!??

Thanks  in anticipation!!

That thread has discussions re connecting a Mac to an nDAC via toslink. I think that answers your issue raised in this thread.  If not, I'm confused (happens a lot).

Thank you, Winky.  The OP needs help connecting his US to his MB. I feel for him. I wonder why Naim turned their back on USB.  This is ubiquitous.  Every computer sold has one.  Of course many hate the idea of a computer in their listening room, which I can understand.  But there are also many who dislike networking.  

Richard

Hi Bart, of course.  I had forgotten that part of the thread.

Hi Rich.  What do Naim have to say?  Have you spoken to them?  The image is too blurred on the Nam site to read what the connections are, but the USB inputs shown presumably are not Linear PCM or there would be no problem. How have you connected it? I presume via Ethernet, is that correct?

Richard

Hi Richard-- I am waiting for a reply from Naim and yes-- it is connected via ethernet (using my mains wiring!) and I can control the hard drive play facility on the US from my MBP using the ethernet.

The US can even see a connected pc which has shared music, but for some reason wont see the shares on the MBP despite having all the settings per the advice from garyi-- very frustrating!!!

Any other thoughts welcomed!!

Rich

Me too. I was answering in response to his thoughts on getting an nDAC and connection to that. I may have misunderstood that part of his query.

I can't get my uServe to see the files on my Macbook Pro either despite turning on filing sharing as described by Gary.  I thought I'd try it this morning, but alas no luck.

Richard,

The point he is making is that we have gone over all of this with you over and over.

You have been given many suggestions for getting digital from your Mac to the Naim DAC.

That you are still claiming ignorance on the subject is a bit frustrating.

You can safely buy the nDAC and connect DIRECTLY to your Mac with the exact cable you mention above.  No networking required.

Otherwise if you want to network, the best scenario for you is an Airport or Apple TV running on Airtunes from your iTunes player.  Both devices have a digital output for use with the DAC.

You have been told this dozens of times in many threads.

-Patrick

Rich,

With respect to your OP, I had what sounds like an analogous experience where iTunes worked fine, but Squeezebox server only saw about 33% of those songs.  It turned out that different music had different file permissions, depending on how it arrived on the computer.  iTunes apparently gets through security barriers others respect.

The more we go off the beaten path, the more these anomalies crop up.

Good luck.

Nick

Reference the guys with no luck, you did add your share folders to the sharing list yes?

Yes and set "read and write" access for "everyone"

I might be wrong here, but I thought you needed a NAS to be able to see your files....I have a US and Macbook also, and even with the remote apps on my iPhone i couldn't see anything till I installed a NAS....now everything is wonderful....

I was told last year by Steve Hopkins that presently Naim do not support Apple products.  With the market acceptance of Apple, not jut for the iPhone and the iPad, but the MacBook and especially the Mac Mini, surely it is time to re-think strategy.  

Richard

This is the primary reason that I did not buy a unitiserve.

It's not been a deal-killer for me, as my Macbook clearly is not the best thing for me to use as a music repository. I don't leave it running all of the time, and don't want to have to go up to the third floor to turn it on, if I'm on the first floor wanting to listen to music.  For me, a dedicated NAS would be much more desirable, and I'm slowly working towards that. 

I suppose that the other alternative would be to turn this Macbook into a dedicated music repository and buy a much newer Macbook to replace it -- really not a bad idea either   But it still doesn't make this lack of functionality a deal-killer for me, but I can understand that it does for some.

(And I have no desire to connect my Macbook directly to my nDAC; I plan on keeping my livingroom "computer-free.")

This really doesn't make sense.  They might not have Airplay (yet), but that is it.  Otherwise Apple is VERY well supported.  It isn't like you cant use upnp on a Mac.  You can.  And the lack of good options is simply the fault of the market, not Naim's.  If Apple implemented UPNP into iTunes you would all have NDXs and Qutes coming out your arses instead of Hifaces and Mini Toslink adapters.

It isn't Naim's fault that Apple doesn't support upnp as EVERY other player in the game does.  This will always be the case for Apple.  Firewire, Thunderbolt, ALAC, Airplay etc...  Complain to them.

Naim on the other hand HAS bought and licensed Apple technology for at least the nDAC (maybe for the other network players).  And they developed iOS apps for use with their network players. 

Airplay is coming soon enough.  I am sure it is not simple or cheap to implement, and with ALL of Naim's pursuit you know they are going to spend some time making sure it delivers great sound.

What more do you want?  How much more "support" do you require?

-Patrick