System upgrade advice please.

Posted by: adymcd on 09 January 2010

What’s the best way forward for me?

I really like the convenience of having my music stored on a hard disk and streamed into a dac, however, the wife is somewhat reluctant to give up the cd player! I have outlined a couple of options below and would welcome people’s thoughts.

I have a budget in mind of around 4-5k.

Current system is

NAC 202
NAP 200
NAPSC
HiCap
CD5x
Apple tv
Lavry DA10

For the time being I am proposing to keep my pre power unchanged and just concentrate on my sources.

Option 1

Buy a HDX this would then replace the CD5x, apple tv and the Lavry. This gives me a cd player in the system and I think if my knowledge of the HDX is correct streams my music too. In time I could then add a dac and power supply. My concerns here are buying into something as a one box solution that is ok today but maybe not in 12 months time as streamed music evolves. Also once you have filled the HD can you still use the built in drive as a ripper and store it on a nas? Can the HDX be accessed by a SB for instance for music in another room?

Option 2

Buy a Ndac and feed a lossless file into it via a Mac Mini / Amarra / Hiface setup. Spend rest of the budget on a CD5xs

Option 3

Buy a Ndac and a SB duet and feed a lossless file into it via my existing nas drive. Spend rest of the budget on a CDX2-2. I can’t really decide if a CDX2-2 is a little extravagant given that a lot of my listening now is via dac, but by the same token from what I have been told it is probably good enough to get me back into cds.
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by Graham Russell
It depends on whether you plan to use CD or "digital music" as your main source. Invest in the one that you feel is more important.

Mac / Amarra / HiFace / DAC should easily out perform a CD player all the way up to CD555.

CD playback on the HDX is pretty poor compared to rips from the same machine.

I use a CD555 and streamed music really gives it a close run. I won't give up a CD player for the same reasons - I need something wife friendly. However, it is clear (to me) that streaming is the way forward. Much more flexibility in library management and the ability to play high-res material.

Graham
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by adymcd
quote:
Originally posted by Graham Russell:
It depends on whether you plan to use CD or "digital music" as your main source. Invest in the one that you feel is more important.

Mac / Amarra / HiFace / DAC should easily out perform a CD player all the way up to CD555.

CD playback on the HDX is pretty poor compared to rips from the same machine.

I use a CD555 and streamed music really gives it a close run. I won't give up a CD player for the same reasons - I need something wife friendly. However, it is clear (to me) that streaming is the way forward. Much more flexibility in library management and the ability to play high-res material.

Graham


My experience is the same regarding the streamimg side of things, my Lavry / apple tv setup far out performs a CD5x FC2x combination.

For me personally streaming is the future for the simple reason that all of my music can be controlled and accessed without moving from the chair! I don't want to sound lazy but in the last 12 month I have listen to a lot more music just because it so accessable.
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by Graham Russell
quote:
Originally posted by adymcd:
quote:
Originally posted by Graham Russell:
It depends on whether you plan to use CD or "digital music" as your main source. Invest in the one that you feel is more important.

Mac / Amarra / HiFace / DAC should easily out perform a CD player all the way up to CD555.

CD playback on the HDX is pretty poor compared to rips from the same machine.

I use a CD555 and streamed music really gives it a close run. I won't give up a CD player for the same reasons - I need something wife friendly. However, it is clear (to me) that streaming is the way forward. Much more flexibility in library management and the ability to play high-res material.

Graham


My experience is the same regarding the streamimg side of things, my Lavry / apple tv setup far out performs a CD5x FC2x combination.

For me personally streaming is the future for the simple reason that all of my music can be controlled and accessed without moving from the chair! I don't want to sound lazy but in the last 12 month I have listen to a lot more music just because it so accessable.


I think this answers the question about should be the main source in your upgrade plans Smile

Do you need to upgrade the CD5X? I'd use the money elsewhere and stick with it.
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by adymcd
quote:
Originally posted by Graham Russell:
quote:
Originally posted by adymcd:
quote:
Originally posted by Graham Russell:
It depends on whether you plan to use CD or "digital music" as your main source. Invest in the one that you feel is more important.

Mac / Amarra / HiFace / DAC should easily out perform a CD player all the way up to CD555.

CD playback on the HDX is pretty poor compared to rips from the same machine.

I use a CD555 and streamed music really gives it a close run. I won't give up a CD player for the same reasons - I need something wife friendly. However, it is clear (to me) that streaming is the way forward. Much more flexibility in library management and the ability to play high-res material.

Graham


My experience is the same regarding the streamimg side of things, my Lavry / apple tv setup far out performs a CD5x FC2x combination.

For me personally streaming is the future for the simple reason that all of my music can be controlled and accessed without moving from the chair! I don't want to sound lazy but in the last 12 month I have listen to a lot more music just because it so accessable.


I think this answers the question about should be the main source in your upgrade plans Smile

Do you need to upgrade the CD5X? I'd use the money elsewhere and stick with it.


I had thought this too but the px deal that has been offered only requires me to put £600 into the deal, which seems like a really good offer.
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by Graham Russell
£600 will get you well on the way to a Powerline and Hiline for the new DAC!!! Big Grin
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by DHT
I use a mac and dac and Amarra ,and the ipod touch controls it all, it could hardly be more convenient, pick up the ipod scroll through my album covers select and press play.
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by james n
If you are going the Mini route then its worth listening to the Weiss DAC2 as well as the Naim DAC. Its a good step up on the DA10 and with Amarra it really shines. Why is your wife reluctant to give up the CD player - if all your discs are ripped the iTouch / iPhone makes a great remote.

quote:
I don't want to sound lazy but in the last 12 month I have listen to a lot more music just because it so accessable.


I quite agree.

James
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by adymcd
OK I have been giving this some more thought and it makes sense to upgrade the dac first, so I will listen to the Ndac and the Weiss DAC2 and compare them to the Lavry DA10.

Out of interest what format are you guys using AIFF, FLAC or Apple lossless? Am I right in saying Amarra can't play flac?
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by james n
AIFF. Amarra may support FLAC in the future but for now its AIFF and ALAC.

James
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by adymcd
quote:
Originally posted by james n:
AIFF. Amarra may support FLAC in the future but for now its AIFF and ALAC.

James


At the risk of starting probably the worlds biggest debate is AIFF better than ALAC?

Adrian
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by adymcd
quote:
Originally posted by james n:
AIFF. Amarra may support FLAC in the future but for now its AIFF and ALAC.

James


James

Do you rip with itunes?

Adrian
Posted on: 09 January 2010 by CharlieP
adymcd,

I will cast one more vote for spending your upgrade money (and possibly the proceeds from sale of CD player) on streaming solutions = such as Naim DAC + XPS, and or perhaps a 282.

Your choice, of course, but think it through and listen at your dealer's. The "convenience" of streamed music is going to continue to unfold, and hi-res titles will proliferate. I sold my CD player while it was still worth something.

Cheers,

Charlie
Posted on: 10 January 2010 by james n
quote:
At the risk of starting probably the worlds biggest debate is AIFF better than ALAC?


The resulting file once unpacked is identical so there is no difference between them. Processor loading 'may' make a difference to how the files sound when played but bit for bit the final result will be identical. Storage is cheap so i dont bother with lossless.

I rip with XLD as i've found some rips to be better than some original iTunes rips i did. Whether this is down to differences in drives in the two different machines i used when first ripping i dont know as i've been too busy enjoying my system to find out.

James
Posted on: 10 January 2010 by Klout10
quote:
Originally posted by CharlieP:
I sold my CD player while it was still worth something.

I changed from CD5X to HDX and have never looked back Big Grin

To answer one of your questions: with the forthcoming software upgrade for the HDX (this month?) it will be possible to rip to a NAS drive...

Furthermore, UPnP™ Support will be included. This enables the HDX to serve audio files to network attached UPnP™ compatible playback devices. I do not know if the SB is compatible though...

Regards,
Michel
Posted on: 11 January 2010 by Bruce Woodhouse
Since when is the HDX not 'wife friendly'? My wife is a huge technophobe but has no problems with it. She likes using the interface.

Bruce
Posted on: 11 January 2010 by Klout10
I couldn't agree more Bruce. When owning the CD5X, my girlfriend hardly touched a CD. Now owning the HDX she listens so much more to music and I didn't have to explain how the HDX works! Wonderful user interface...

Regards,
Michel