Unity / network connection

Posted by: Juanis on 02 May 2010

Hi All,

I've bought a Uniti last October / November. I am still having issues with the setup of my Uniti. It seems a nightmare impossible to solve, and I came back when I have time to do some research on Internet.
I wanted to share my experiences as I feel quite frustrated with UPNP settings of NAIM Audio.

I would be grateful if you could help me or give me any hints in the issues above:

1 - I am using now mainly the MyWorld II Western Digital NAD to stream my music to the Uniti. It is working fine, but WAV files are not supported by the NAD driver when I try to navigate through the artist index. Only I can find my WAV files navigating through the folders one by one in my NAD through the Unity - which is an infinitely long task.

2 - I have changed iTunes music folder to the NAD. Unfortunately, the NAD sometimes looses connection (usually if I use wireless) and all the links to my songs are broker. Also the music folder changes automatically to the preset one in my laptop HD. Then problems with iphone synch and so on...

4 - Is there any possibility to control Unity via iTunes ? This would be helpful for the simplicity of finding songs in the NAD instead of browsing endlessly through Uniti display.

5 - Would you recommend changing the router in my Network ? Not sure if this will help at all...

6 - I 've read there is a software update for Uniti. Will it be helpful to solve any of this issues ? Would you recommend the update for other purposes ?


My Settings: MacBook, NETGEAR network adapter, BT Home Hub (black one), MyWorld II Western Digital NAD, EyeConnect UPNP.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions...
Posted on: 02 May 2010 by Stoik
quote:
Originally posted by Juanis:
4 - Is there any possibility to control Unity via iTunes ? This would be helpful for the simplicity of finding songs in the NAD instead of browsing endlessly through Uniti display.


I recently bought an Apple TV, that I used as an experimental musical server last month.

Hook it up to your Uniti with an optical Toslink cable, set in on your home network, and get ready to control your computer music from iTunes. Smile

As a bonus, you could hook it to your HDTV and enjoy HD movies and videos.

Have an iPhone or iPod Touch? Install the remote software on it, and control the Apple TV from it.

The only downer is that it could read about any music files, but will downsample your hi-res files to meet the SPDIF protocol standards (that's audio CD resolution). So if you have hi-res music files (let's say 96Khz/24bits), keep using the UPNP of the Uniti for them.

Bye.
Posted on: 02 May 2010 by Aleg
quote:
Originally posted by Stoik:
... will downsample your hi-res files to meet the SPDIF protocol standards (that's audio CD resolution)....

Bye.


Stoik

I hapily play my 192/24 over coax SPDIF, so this downsampling is not required to be able to use SPDIF as protocol.

If they say so than I think it is marketing bull.

-
aleg
Posted on: 03 May 2010 by fathings cat
It's an interesting problem as the Unity needs non naim hardware to stream music and Naim haven't been very forth coming in making or recommending appropriate products.

I have had a few problems with my network and my dealer has gone more than the extra mile supporting me, however, it seems a little unfair that dealers, who are not network experts are left to support customers.

A public thanks to the gents at Basically Sound in Norfolk who as I said have been more than supportive.

I guess as distributed audio develops the skill set of dealers will need to develop so they can support this new demand - maybe Naim should consider being more on the front foot with this issue. In my opinion they will need to be to capitalise on this new technology / market.

In terms of your specific issues I can't really help but as we move from putting discs in and pressing play to networks and back ups and flac etc (spend some time on the distributed forum and it's like a foreign language Confused) we will need a different kind of support to what we have today.

I am a fan of the Unity but as yet have not fully got into the UPNP capability so more guidance from Naim would be helpful?

Gary
Posted on: 03 May 2010 by garyi
The OPs primary problem appears to be either 'NAD" by which I assume he means 'NAS', or the BT homehub.

So:

1. Its the NAS, its not very good.
2. Its the NAS, its not very good.
3. Now where did that go?
4. No
5. BT homehubs are the work of the devil and should be removed not only from your house but from your country immediately, anyone using one of these deserves all the hassle they no doubt will encounter. Purchase a draytek 2820 with built in wireless if you need it. Its expensive, don't moan you spent 2k on a piece of hifi that relies on a router, make it a good one. Do this step before smashing up the NAS it may be the issue.
6. Speak with naim, I am not sure if network issues were addressed.
Posted on: 04 May 2010 by 0rangutan
Juanis,

Garyi is right about the router - many problems identified on the forum have been resolved swapping out the (typically free) router supplied by the ISP.

In your case, as you are running a Mac, you could consider buying an Airport Extreme Basestation or a TimeCapsule and using this to run your local wired and wireless network. You can carry on using your BT device just for the Internet connection, limiting its ability to abuse your Uniti. You should also get much improved wirelesss range and bandwidth this way.

I use an iMac, a Time Capsule and a combination of EyeConnect and Playback UPNP servers with no drop outs at all. EyeConnect works for most iTunes audio and I use Playback for FLACs, including HiRes.

If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch you can use PlugPlayer to select songs and control the Uniti. If you can wait another few weeks/months/years, Naim will be releasing an iPhone app of their own which should be much better. I imagine this will be timed to coincide with release of the Unitiqute.

You can't control the Uniti from iTunes, however if you want to do somethign similar, try a trial of Songbook. Alternatively, if you have a Windows device, Windows Media Player 11 under Windows 7 incldues "Play To" functionality and can send music directly to the Uniti.

Good luck,
John
Posted on: 04 May 2010 by Juanis
Thanks for all your replies. I will start with a new router (Airport Extreme / TV ) ... if the problem continues will think about changing the NAS to an apple Time Capsule... - i will post the crap in ebay then - Winker

Juan
Posted on: 04 May 2010 by Stoik
quote:
Originally posted by Aleg:
quote:
Originally posted by Stoik:
... will downsample your hi-res files to meet the SPDIF protocol standards (that's audio CD resolution)....

Bye.


Stoik

I hapily play my 192/24 over coax SPDIF, so this downsampling is not required to be able to use SPDIF as protocol.

If they say so than I think it is marketing bull.

-
aleg


Digital coax, that's the magic word here.

Apple TV has optical Toslink only, so it's limited for two channels at a 48 Khz samples rate.

Juanis, good idea to MAC up completely your world --> Only one guy to blame for all your possible problems. Big Grin

Bye.
Posted on: 04 May 2010 by garyi
I would not recommend a time capsule as a NAS. For one thing you have no back up.

Get a proper NAS, such as a QNAP TS410 or similar. Rock solid with built in Twonky and itunes server.

If you do decide to get a time capsule, then don't get an airport extreme. They are the same thing.

I would still suggest for your money ditch the homehub entirely and get a draytek 2820 with wireless.
Posted on: 04 May 2010 by Aleg
quote:
Originally posted by Stoik:

Digital coax, that's the magic word here.

Apple TV has optical Toslink only, so it's limited for two channels at a 48 Khz samples rate.

...
Bye.


Stoik

Don't want to keep splitting hairs Winker,

but I read a post from David Dever in which he said he used a Mac with Toslink to the nDAC running 96kHz SPDIF.

I seem to recall that Toslink isn't capable of playing 192 kHz, but it seems 96 kHz/24 bit is at least possible. I can confirm that several websites refer to 96/24 as the maximum sample rate possible within the limitations of the optical cable as transport medium.

The 48 kHz limitation you mention are built-in limitations of the Apple device, not of SPDIF as protocol or TOSLink-optical cables.

-
aleg