Naim HDX vs Naim DAC + Squzzebox Touch

Whoooooooooops...exactly what i was looking for....Squeezebox Touch....I was also considering buying a "streamer"...but I wanted one with direct USB-streaming.

I have like 1 TB music on a hard disk and I was thinking how to use those many GBs...

The Squeezebox Duet and the classic are very very good, so the new Touch-model should not be worse...

And my goodness...through the new NAIM DAC...great!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by luxen2:
Whoooooooooops...exactly what i was looking for....Squeezebox Touch....I was also considering buying a "streamer"...but I wanted one with direct USB-streaming.

I have like 1 TB music on a hard disk and I was thinking how to use those many GBs...

The Squeezebox Duet and the classic are very very good, so the new Touch-model should not be worse...

And my goodness...through the new NAIM DAC...great!!!!

If you aim for Naim DAC, USB-Streaming is not suitable as Naim DAC provides buffer to bit perfect in Coxial and Toslink input only. And there have not many good audio grade USB cable in the World. Further, I choose Touch because it supports 24/96 since Classic and Duet can't !

Any HDX user has an answer about this?

1) For ripping CD function, can I pull out those ripped files out to my NAS for storage purpose?
2) Can I just use HDX as streamer which reading files from NAS rather than activate the internal Hard Disc( Make them be Sleep mode)?

I don't think the Touch streams out of it's USB port in any case - it is described as a "USB host connector for accessing music and photos via USB drive or USB key", so it sounds like you can just plug a USB drive into it and avoid using wireless or ethernet.

quote:

Originally posted by jim329:
Any HDX user has an answer about this?

1) For ripping CD function, can I pull out those ripped files out to my NAS for storage purpose?
2) Can I just use HDX as streamer which reading files from NAS rather than activate the internal Hard Disc( Make them be Sleep mode)?

Jim, basically yes to both. I believe that ripping to external storage will be available with imminent update to software. HDX can play back any compatible music files it finds on an attached network or via the local USB ports.

quote:

Originally posted by Richard Dane:

quote:

Originally posted by jim329:
Any HDX user has an answer about this?

1) For ripping CD function, can I pull out those ripped files out to my NAS for storage purpose?
2) Can I just use HDX as streamer which reading files from NAS rather than activate the internal Hard Disc( Make them be Sleep mode)?

Jim, basically yes to both. I believe that ripping to external storage will be available with imminent update to software. HDX can play back any compatible music files it finds on an attached network or via the local USB ports.

Any method to switch off the hard disc or make them as in sleep mode to avolid the noise during streaming thr internet?

hi,
you can - with next version of HDX SW- move data from internal disk to NAS
you can not (as far as i know) switch off the internal disks or set them in sleep mode!
btw i sold my HDX and running now linn ds in front of a NAIM DAC

quote:

Originally posted by T38.45:
hi,
you can - with next version of HDX SW- move data from internal disk to NAS
you can not (as far as i know) switch off the internal disks or set them in sleep mode!
btw i sold my HDX and running now linn ds in front of a NAIM DAC

Sounds like an interesting solution. Could please elaborate which DS you are using and your impressions when you compare only a DS with a DS+Naim DAC.
Thanks

Hi, right now Linn Majik DS, end of October the NAIM DAC with DS :-)
HDX has more punch, more colour, more bass.
Linn pictures "finer lines" (sorry, english is not my native language...)
I can control Linn with ipod, it has now blower, no internal disks- that's the reason why i changed from HDX to DS.
Set up for HDX is much easier:-)))
edit: hope to see a pure streamer from NAIM soon:-)

I am also considering the DS option and if anyone is interested both the Sneaky and Majik have the same digital output stage.

quote:

Originally posted by jim329:
And there have not many good audio grade USB cable in the World.

True, but I have "upgraded" to Kimber USB. The difference re a normal usb cable is like a PL re the standrad mains cable. Now they have a Silver version too.

quote:

so it sounds like you can just plug a USB drive into it and avoid using wireless or ethernet.

Exactly what I need!!!

quote:

Originally posted by luxen2:

quote:

so it sounds like you can just plug a USB drive into it and avoid using wireless or ethernet.

Exactly what I need!!!

yep, my exact needs as well !!!

quote:

Originally posted by sbilotta:

quote:

Originally posted by jim329:
And there have not many good audio grade USB cable in the World.

True, but I have "upgraded" to Kimber USB. The difference re a normal usb cable is like a PL re the standrad mains cable. Now they have a Silver version too.

Kimber is good enough? How about Wireworld Starlight6 USB?

quote:

Originally posted by jim329:

quote:

Originally posted by sbilotta:

quote:

Originally posted by jim329:
And there have not many good audio grade USB cable in the World.

True, but I have "upgraded" to Kimber USB. The difference re a normal usb cable is like a PL re the standrad mains cable. Now they have a Silver version too.

Kimber is good enough? How about Wireworld Starlight6 USB?

well, I tried the 3 m. Wireworld Ultraviolet™ 5 USB (same as the Starlight but with less silver on the clads) and there was no sonic difference with regards to mine, therefore much better than the normal USB cables but at par with Kimber USB. Again Kinber has now a Silver version (that I have not tried), but I believe that it's not only the clads but the also the wires that contain silver, and that therefore could compete with the Starlight.

Be interested if anybody has tried them.

quote:

USB-Streaming is not suitable as Naim DAC provides buffer to bit perfect in Coxial and Toslink input only
For example you can connect an ext. HD via USB to the Touch, then via Coax or Toslink to the Naim DAC and then to your Naim Amp.
Voila, perfect System.
And when you sit in your Listening Chair you can use an Ipod Touch or the SB Duet Controller to control the Touch an d have a nice grapic interface.

quote:

Originally posted by themrock:

For example you can connect an ext. HD via USB to the Touch, then via Coax or Toslink to the Naim DAC and then to your Naim Amp.
Voila, perfect System.
And when you sit in your Listening Chair you can use an Ipod Touch or the SB Duet Controller to control the Touch an d have a nice grapic interface.

An even more perfect system would be if you didnt need the Touch - just a straight connection between the HD and the DAC. And an ipod touch to control it would be nice.

quote:

just a straight connection between the HD and the DAC

Shure, but i didnt think it will happen in the next time.

Not sure how good the S/PDIF output is from the Touch. It is not aimed for the high end market and is mainly developed after the departure of guru slash founder Sean Adams

In any case I would think that the Transporter is a much better match for a DAC of that class.

I have tried my Squeezebox with various DACs including Benchmark, Lavry and now a Weiss DAC. None of those combinations sounded as good as the Transporter.

Playing via Firewire from the Macbook to the Weiss DAC is another class altogether.

According to the white paper NAIM reject FireWire and USB on the grounds that they "entail an electrical connection to a noisy electrical environment making all inputs sound worse".

All DACs are designed around various theories, the proof is in the pudding.

I am very satisfied with my Weiss DAC, better than any SPDIF DACs I have previously used.

There are also many complaints about SPDIF being jittery, but of course there are world class DACs out there like dCS and Berkeley that use SPDIF.

And by the way, almost all SPDIF DACs claim some scheme of immunity to jitter, and they don't all sound the same.

With all in ones the grounds will be commoned at some point but in an external USB or Firewire interface, the grounds and supply can be isolated via tos or transformer coupled coax connection. With the Weiss for instance, Dice II is only viable via it's firewire input where Naims jitter correction will work with everthing though a moderatly priced compugter interface may or may not be required. Of course this is also true of firewire as not everything has that either. Weiss may also have a ground solution. That's not to say every stream source has to be electrically noisey but basically all computers are. A transformer decoupled streamer like the transporter may work very well. Naim has some very moderate recommendations for usb etc. in the white paper. I suspect I'll still like the K8/PSC with a BNC added for a computer source but we'll see on audition. The part that makes the Weiss better than other things is the DICE II cicuit that's also in the K8.

Funny how these things come around. Computers with standard players were argued to be perfect and quiet but now special players and interfacing are the way and spell checkers are enough of an influence to be evil. Members are reripping their libraries. I guess the messanger is more important than the message. I'm glad to see some open minds.

quote:

Originally posted by JYOW:
In any case I would think that the Transporter is a much better match for a DAC of that class.

I have tried my Squeezebox with various DACs including Benchmark, Lavry and now a Weiss DAC. None of those combinations sounded as good as the Transporter.

Playing via Firewire from the Macbook to the Weiss DAC is another class altogether.

Sorry but I'm not sure if I'm reading you correctly JYOW: did you find that a Mac->Firewire->Weiss Minerva is better to your ears than a Transporter->S/PDIF->Weiss Minerva ?

Sounds right. The Weiss losses it's special clocking via S/Pdif. It's still better than the others mentioned IMO but best via firewire. It's also not the firewire that makes the difference as much as the JET tech of the DICE II that requires firewire. Something like a Nagra LB via a TC will do the same and is currently my fav at this price point but the Naim DAC which I haven't yet heard is also in this price range so worth a wait and a listen. Transporter vs TC with Naim DAC should give less difference than Transporter vs firewire with the Weiss. Again, which interface gives better results with the Nain DAC may be more dependant on noise and grounding than anything else. In this case the difference could be neglegable or noticable.

Speaking of transporters, a friend has one and we compared his NAS/transporter with the mac/weiss, there was quite a dramatic differnce, when we used the weiss with the transporter it was much better, but to my ears still not as good as the mac/dac.