HDX 1.5a software update

Posted by: Paul Stephenson on 17 February 2010

We would like to inform you that the Version 1.5a update for the HDX hard disk player and NS0x music servers is now due for release to retailers and distributors at 6pm today as a download.

So how do you obtain Version 1.5a?
Version 1.5a is available free of charge from your Naim retailer and we would advise, where possible, that your retailer installs the update for you. Discs, a set of 4 containing the update are currently in production and will be sent out to your Naim retailer Wednesday of next week, shipping times will vary according to markets. There will be a full set of discs for every HDX sold

We had hoped some of the functionality available through Version 1.5a would have been available sooner. Key to the work we have undertaken has been the preservation of the integrity of the music currently stored on your HDX. If you have been waiting for this update, then we would like to apologise for the delay, however we are also pleased to inform you that as part of this development we have been able to include some extra features, which previously we had not planned to offer.

The new update will enable you to:

Nominate Network Attached Storage (NAS) drives as a location for your ripped music
Assign and prioritise the storage locations on your network where you wish your HDX to store music, be it the HDX’s internal storage or a NAS drive. Then, when you rip a disc it will be automatically stored in bit-perfect quality in the location of your choice. HDX will also know when your chosen location is full and default, in order of priority, to the next location with available storage.

Listen to music stored on your HDX elsewhere in your home
Perhaps one of the most significant functionality changes gained through Version 1.5a is UPnP™ support enabling the HDX to serve audio files to network attached UPnP™ compatible playback devices. If you are in another room and want to listen to the music on your HDX you can, simply access the HDX’s stored music through a second UPnP™ network-connected HiFi system, such as the NaimUniti or UnitiQute. Likewise, music stored on your PC, Mac or other network storage device can be scanned and categorised by the HDX and made playable via UPnP™.

Have more control over how your music is stored and catalogued
As well as choosing where you store your ripped music, now you can choose how your store your music. Version 1.5a gives you the option to reclassify your music, so you can amend genres and track names if you so wish. You can also move your music between storage locations much more easily.

Control your HDX via an iPhone or iPod Touch
If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, we have written an App which offers you full control of your HDX. The App will only work with HDX models that are running the Version 1.5a update.
Available from the itunes app store on or around 26th Feb 2010.

Important: it is recommended that your is HDX upgraded to Version 1.5 even if you do not plan to use the new features immediately, as we have taken the opportunity to make other revisions to the software which will enhance long-term stability and reliability.


If you have any questions about Version 1.5 or your HDX, in the first instance please speak with your retailer or contact the Naim customer helpline on 01722 426600 or email support@naimaudio.com
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by Asenna04
Great!

Can we now please have a Naim box with all the features of the HDX but without the CD drive and the Hard Discs. This will complement the Naim DAC very well.

ASenna04
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by Paul Stephenson
But the cd drive is part of the secret to great ripping .
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by Asenna04
Paul,

I know Naim has invested a lot of R&D to get the ripping right in the HDX. And I think it is great, but I think the ripping is a task best left to a computer. Naim can provide the software to do the ripping on a PC or Mac and we can still get the same ripping results. But keep the Hi-Fi simple. The spinning Hard Discs are also noisy and should be as far away from the Hi-Fi as possible. So I am very glad to see that the storing the music on a NAS has been enabled on the HDX. This makes the Hard Discs redundant on the HDX and an unnecessary cost.

Now, some people might want the HDX as it is and that is fine. But please give the consumers the choice of getting the HDX without the CD Drive and the Hard Discs as well and let them decide what they want. I know they can get it as it is and not use the internal Hard Discs and the Drive, but if I am then using it with the DAC then I am effectively paying for something that has components that I am not using.

I guess what I am saying is give us a Naim Streamer which can play network stored music through the Naim DAC.

And, by the way, adding the iPhone App control is a huge huge feature. Well done!

ASenna04
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by Paul Stephenson
"on a PC or Mac and we can still get the same ripping"

Just cannot agree on this, really you are wrongSmileaccording to the tests and listening sessions we have done here,check out the EAC site on the difference transports alone can make to cd ripping integrity, but I understand your points and those of you who only want a streaming device.As you can imagine we are listening but I cannot report anything today for you.
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by Asenna04
quote:
Originally posted by Paul Stephenson:
but I understand your points and those of you who only want a streaming device.As you can imagine we are listening but I cannot report anything today for you.


Great! I read "WIP" between your lines. Winker

And I agree that a standard ripping software is no match for a high end ripping software.

ASenna04
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by rich46
quote:
Originally posted by Paul Stephenson:
"on a PC or Mac and we can still get the same ripping"

Just cannot agree on this, really you are wrongSmileaccording to the tests and listening sessions we have done here,check out the EAC site on the difference transports alone can make to cd ripping integrity, but I understand your points and those of you who only want a streaming device.As you can imagine we are listening but I cannot report anything today for you.


ive ripped cds on several pcs. flac/ wav ripped the same cds .cant afford the naim but used the ripnas which as a teac drive.

listening like for like i was convinced that the ripnas was better than the pc version. i compared flac and wav which seemed to give the same results ,i settled for flac. i do keep the ripnas away from system, although the ripnas is silent.

point is a well built platform must give less errors than a cheap pc transport allan
anyway the nas drive feed into the naimdac is top drawer goodbye inferior cd playback
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by Klout10
Hi Paul,

I wonder if a new version of the desktop client (DTC) will be included as well?

Regards,
Michel
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by gone
quote:
Originally posted by Klout10:
Hi Paul,

I wonder if a new version of the desktop client (DTC) will be included as well?

Regards,
Michel

The new DTC will be required with v1.5, so relax Michel, you'll be able to add your cover art Winker
Allen - I'm not sure what the benefit of extra real-estate would be to the iPhone app? Are you thinking lyrics, etc? The existing app seems to cover most of what is necessary?
Cheers
John
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by Paul Stephenson
Yes new DTC and yes when we have the details we will re-skin also for ipad.
This will also be done for the Unity family.
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by Lemming
What about the following:
1. Rip 2 NAS (rips to local hard drive then transfers to NAS once rip complete)
2. manual setup of share lcoation possible
3. playlist increased to 500 items
4. ability to move albums from local to NAS and back again
5. various improvement to Front Panel/TV/Web interface User Interface - manage music, assign genre, rename artist, search by letter, etc
6. Native 192KHz playback
7. FLAC decoder updated
8. music on local hard drive now exposed as a shared folder (read only)
9. ability to force a re-scan of drives
10. update of Desk Top Client

Are all these features also included?
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by Ultramanzero
I have just phoned up Hong Kong retailer 'Radar Audio' this afternoon, it seems they know nothing about this 1.5a software update issue.
Posted on: 17 February 2010 by Bruce Woodhouse
Great news

Two questions

1) Why dealer install? Surely I can stick the discs in the tray just as easily-or is it a bit more complex?

2) Now I can rip to an NAS and my HDX s getting full, will Naim shortly publish a list of 'recomended drives' as was mentioned somewhere?

Bruce
Posted on: 18 February 2010 by David Dever
quote:
Originally posted by Lemming:
What about the following:
1. Rip 2 NAS (rips to local hard drive then transfers to NAS once rip complete)
2. manual setup of share lcoation possible
3. playlist increased to 500 items
4. ability to move albums from local to NAS and back again
5. various improvement to Front Panel/TV/Web interface User Interface - manage music, assign genre, rename artist, search by letter, etc
6. Native 192KHz playback
7. FLAC decoder updated
8. music on local hard drive now exposed as a shared folder (read only)
9. ability to force a re-scan of drives
10. update of Desk Top Client

Are all these features also included?


Yes-right off the sheet!
Posted on: 18 February 2010 by gone
quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
1) Why dealer install? Surely I can stick the discs in the tray just as easily-or is it a bit more complex?

I am sure your dealer will send out the disks on request - I think Naim are just trying to control the process, and not in a negative way. However, older HDX's can have a hardware update to enable 24/192 support, and this has to be done at a dealer. As it's not a factory job, it smells like a firmware update on the PCI board, but that's just speculation. My HDX works fine without it, and the world is a little short of 24/192 files anyway

quote:
2) Now I can rip to an NAS and my HDX s getting full, will Naim shortly publish a list of 'recomended drives' as was mentioned somewhere?

Good question.....
Posted on: 18 February 2010 by SteveH
And I guess we could post the details of NAS drives with which we have had good results.

I use a QNAP TS-409 Pro with four WD Caviar Green 750GBs. Other than the fact that it's full it works well. I like the fact it emails me if there is a problem.
Posted on: 18 February 2010 by gary1 (US)
AFA NAS drives, I really won'y be able to tell for sure until I re-rip a few CDs or transfer to the NAS to compare to the same file stored on the HDX.

I'm using the D-link DNS 323 as a stand-alone for music, but only have 24/96 files stored there so not a fair comp.
Posted on: 18 February 2010 by Paul Stephenson
ALL Pass the NAIM test, included in the upgrade is a NAS TEST TOOL.
– Netgear ReadyNas Duo (FW 4.1.6)
– D-Link DNS-323 (FW 1.07)
– Patriot Corza PCZ35SNAS2 (FW 1.471B)
– Buffalo linkstation pro (FW 1.15)
– Thecus N5200 (FW 2.00.15)
– Thecus N5500 (FW 3.00.04)
– Iomega ix2 NAS (FW 2 0 15 43099)
– QNAP TS-409 Pro (FW 3.1.0 Build 0708T)
– LACIE 2BIG (Linux 2.6.22.7, System version 2.2.0)
Posted on: 18 February 2010 by Bruce Woodhouse
quote:
Originally posted by Paul Stephenson:
ALL Pass the NAIM test, included in the upgrade is a NAS TEST TOOL.
– Netgear ReadyNas Duo (FW 4.1.6)
– D-Link DNS-323 (FW 1.07)
– Patriot Corza PCZ35SNAS2 (FW 1.471B)
– Buffalo linkstation pro (FW 1.15)
– Thecus N5200 (FW 2.00.15)
– Thecus N5500 (FW 3.00.04)
– Iomega ix2 NAS (FW 2 0 15 43099)
– QNAP TS-409 Pro (FW 3.1.0 Build 0708T)
– LACIE 2BIG (Linux 2.6.22.7, System version 2.2.0)


Thanks Paul. The 'test tool' is a great idea.
Posted on: 18 February 2010 by Aleg
quote:
Originally posted by Paul Stephenson:
ALL Pass the NAIM test, included in the upgrade is a NAS TEST TOOL.
– Netgear ReadyNas Duo (FW 4.1.6)
– D-Link DNS-323 (FW 1.07)
– Patriot Corza PCZ35SNAS2 (FW 1.471B)
– Buffalo linkstation pro (FW 1.15)
– Thecus N5200 (FW 2.00.15)
– Thecus N5500 (FW 3.00.04)
– Iomega ix2 NAS (FW 2 0 15 43099)
– QNAP TS-409 Pro (FW 3.1.0 Build 0708T)
– LACIE 2BIG (Linux 2.6.22.7, System version 2.2.0)


Paul

Could you tell us what technology is being used to connect to the NAS?

Is it SMB or NFS or some other way?

I can understand you cannot test every NAS "out there" and it would give people the opportunity to judge for themselves if their solution should be OK with the HDX.

Thank you

-
aleg
Posted on: 19 February 2010 by nocker
quote:
Originally posted by Nero:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
1) Why dealer install? Surely I can stick the discs in the tray just as easily-or is it a bit more complex?

I am sure your dealer will send out the disks on request - I think Naim are just trying to control the process, and not in a negative way. However, older HDX's can have a hardware update to enable 24/192 support, and this has to be done at a dealer. As it's not a factory job, it smells like a firmware update on the PCI board, but that's just speculation. My HDX works fine without it, and the world is a little short of 24/192 files anyway

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nero, I have an older HDX, will this set of 4 disks install everything for me or will the unit need to go back to a dealer? My dealer is 2 hours away so I would prefer to do it myself if possible.
Also is it just a case of put the disks into the HDX in the correct order and 'Hey Presto'? because I am not very IT minded!
Posted on: 19 February 2010 by Paul Stephenson
aleg
From one of my s/ware guys,I am more of a tracking weight kinda bloke Winker
We will make availbale our nas test tool soon this will give anyone a chance to test various nas drives.

The HDX firmware at a high level just opens files and lets Windows XP decide the physical protocol to use.

In practise this boils down to what the device it is talking to:

Protocol Application Protocol Comment
=================================================
TCP/IP SMB / CIFS Primarily used by Windows on a windows network.
NetBios can be used to resolve network names if need be.
SPX over IPX SAP Novell networks
Posted on: 19 February 2010 by Paul Stephenson
Nocker, the 4 discs will cover everything, just NEVER SWITCH OFF or Re-boot during update, in doubt ask your retailer to do it.
Disc 1 is full instructions, nas test tool and dtc update (I think).
Posted on: 19 February 2010 by gmischol
I have a second hand HDX. Has my dealer to do this without any costs for me or can he charge for this update?
Posted on: 19 February 2010 by Paul Stephenson
the s/ware is free, but like all things the retailer must charge his time,so this depends on your relationship with him.
Posted on: 19 February 2010 by Paul Stephenson
updated list


• Pass
– Netgear ReadyNas Duo (FW 4.1.6)
– D-Link DNS-323 (FW 1.07)
– Patriot Corza PCZ35SNAS2 (FW 1.471B)
– Buffalo linkstation pro (FW 1.15)
– Thecus N5200 (FW 2.00.15)
– Thecus N5500 (FW 3.00.04)
– Iomega ix2 NAS (FW 2 0 15 43099)
– QNAP TS-409 Pro (FW 3.1.0 Build 0708T)
– LACIE 2BIG (Linux 2.6.22.7, System version 2.2.0)
– RIPNAS 1TB (2*500GB)
• (Intel Atom processor at 1.6GHz with 2Gb of RAM ,Windows Home Server software 6.0.243.0 with power pack3, and Asset UPnP Version 2.0)

FW = firmware

Notes
• Naim NAS Simulation test tool was used to assess suitability of each NAS.
• Hard disc drive used in the NAS can effect results.
• Seagate Barracuda or Western Digital Caviar Green Drives were used in tests at Naim.
• Different hard drives might result in different results
• A wired Ethernet connection was used for all tests.