Upgrade of 2nd hand HDX to latest version
Posted by: Volker on 27 May 2012
Hi!
I am thinking about buying a HDX. At the moment I see several good 2nd hand offers. Can every HDX be upgraded to the latest version (with download folder on internal hard disc e.g. for high resolution downloads)? Or has it to be newer than serial XXXXXX? How much is such an upgrade?
Thanks in advance and best wishes from Germany,
Volker
Hi Volker,
Only the 1TB versions can be upgraded, the 400GB and 2x500GB versions can't be modified as the drives are of a different size and mounted differently to the new 2TB drives. Not sure about the SSD model but I see little point in doing this, the SSD version serves a different purpose, i.e. storing your music on a NAS. Musicline mentioned to me that it would cost around €500 to replace the 1TB drive with one of the new 2TB ones.
tp
Thank you for the helpful information!
Only the 1TB versions can be upgraded, the 400GB and 2x500GB versions can't be modified as the drives are of a different size and mounted differently to the new 2TB drives.
Are you sure? That would be a pity...
Regards,
Michel
All HDX of whatever vintage can store hi res files on the internal hard drive. All can also be up-dated to the latest spec re: software upgrade which includes digital radio (free download from Naim), latest RAM/soundcard dealer fit for about £250.
Whatever the internal hard drive size it will get full at some stage so easy enough to connect a NAS for extra storage as your HDX will need an internet connection in any case for album look-up.
Volker,
I'd suggest you have a chat with the guys at Musicline to get an idea of your options and any possible costs you may be facing. Then you can make a much more informed decision as to whether a second-hand HDX of whatever vintage is right for you.
Thanks for all your replies!
@Richard: I think you are right, I should contact them 
Only the 1TB versions can be upgraded, the 400GB and 2x500GB versions can't be modified as the drives are of a different size and mounted differently to the new 2TB drives.
Are you sure? That would be a pity...
Regards,
Michel
There was a thread on this subject (seems to have disappeared now??!!) where Phil Harris said that the 400 and 500 GB HDXs couldn't be upgraded with the new 2TB drives cause they are of a different size and couldn't be fitted. Also, only the new 2TB drives will enable partitioning of the drive to allow storage of files other that those ripped by the HDX in a separate Downloads folder. It's a hardware requirement so you cannot upgrade to that functionality by simply installing the new software on your 400, 500 or 1TB HDX.
Maybe Naim have decided to revisit this issue, hence the disappearance of the thread??
Dunno
tp
the thread has not disappeared? it is still here.
All HDX of whatever vintage can store hi res files on the internal hard drive. All can also be up-dated to the latest spec re: software upgrade which includes digital radio (free download from Naim), latest RAM/soundcard dealer fit for about £250.
Whatever the internal hard drive size it will get full at some stage so easy enough to connect a NAS for extra storage as your HDX will need an internet connection in any case for album look-up.
Just checked and realised that my hires downloads were actually stored on a NAS- so my mistake re storing hi res on 400/500 GB versions.
Hi friends,
I got reply from music-line (German Naim distributor) that every HDX is upgradeable to the latest version.
Best regards, Volker
Hi Volker,
That's really good news! Is this upgrade available already?
Regards,
Michel
I find myself a bit suprised at this in view of the fact we have been consistently told the drives would not physically fit. I'd like to see this confirmed by Naim.
Bruce
I don't know about the update to the 2TB version, but they wrote that the upgrade from 2x 400 GB to 1 TB was about 400€.
And they wrote two times, that every HDX can be upgraded to the latest version.
More I don't know, sorry!
Best wishes, Volker
I don't know about the update to the 2TB version, but they wrote that the upgrade from 2x 400 GB to 1 TB was about 400€.
And they wrote two times, that every HDX can be upgraded to the latest version.
More I don't know, sorry!
Best wishes, Volker
Could be 'software version'? G
If you're thinking of getting a 2nd hand HDX, make sure it can be upgraded to the new 2TB drives, anything else wouldn't make any sense today, it would be a pretty bad investment IMHO, now that the 2TB option is available. Only the 2TB drives will allow you to store hires downloads or files other than those ripped from CD using the HDX. Don't underestimate the benefit of being able to store non HDX rips on your local drive! Unless of course you want to go down the NAS route...
Only the 1TB versions can be upgraded, the 400GB and 2x500GB versions can't be modified as the drives are of a different size and mounted differently to the new 2TB drives.
Are you sure? That would be a pity...
Regards,
Michel
There was a thread on this subject (seems to have disappeared now??!!) where Phil Harris said that the 400 and 500 GB HDXs couldn't be upgraded with the new 2TB drives cause they are of a different size and couldn't be fitted. Also, only the new 2TB drives will enable partitioning of the drive to allow storage of files other that those ripped by the HDX in a separate Downloads folder. It's a hardware requirement so you cannot upgrade to that functionality by simply installing the new software on your 400, 500 or 1TB HDX.
Maybe Naim have decided to revisit this issue, hence the disappearance of the thread??
Dunno
tp
Hi Totemphile,
I believe that you have misunderstood whatever post that you are referring to...
Dual drive HDXs have always been upgradable (by us or selected distributors) to *SINGLE DRIVE* 1Tb units however they cannot be upgraded to *DUAL DRIVE* 1Tb (or 2Tb) as the mountings used for those drives are different and the software for the 1Tb and 2Tb builds no longer supports dual drive operation...
Dual Drive units *CANNOT* support the new "Downloads" folder feature as they do not have the correct partitioning and structure for that (neither do the 1Tb versions - this is a feature that has been added to the 2Tb units).
Cheers
Phil
Could be 'software version'? G
No, software upgrade is for free, they wrote.
I find myself a bit suprised at this in view of the fact we have been consistently told the drives would not physically fit. I'd like to see this confirmed by Naim.
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
I have repeatedly said that the mounting used for the 1Tb and 2Tb drives is different to that used by the 2 x 400Gb and 2 x 500Gb units.
When the 1Tb single drive HDX was created the mounting frame was revised and the revised mounting frame does not have the space for two drives. We do however produce a dual drive 1Tb version of the NS0x servers (which are intended for the custom install market).
Cheers
Phil
Hi Phil,
Just to be clear on the position regarding changing out the drives on my 2 x 400Gb HDX.
Can I swap the twin drives for a single 1Tb or 2 Tb drive, and use my NAS drive, 2 x 2Tb, mirrored, as back up.
If so, any rough estimate as to the cost of doing this?
Many thanks,
Dave.
Upgrades are good news for people who already own a HDX
If your buying a HDX and you are thinking of getting it upgraded then surely your better off buying a newer spec one .
Only buy a HDX that you are happy with otherwise its a false economy.
Just my opinion
I don't know about the update to the 2TB version, but they wrote that the upgrade from 2x 400 GB to 1 TB was about 400€.
And they wrote two times, that every HDX can be upgraded to the latest version.
More I don't know, sorry!
Best wishes, Volker
Could be 'software version'? G
Trying to be clear here as there seems to be a lot of confusion...
*SOFTWARE* updates are (at this time) *FREE* - older units can be updated to latest software to take advantage of functionality added throughout the development of the servers - so the UPnP server and network stores handling that was added in 1.5, the internet radio in 1.6 etc.
Units prior to 2 x 400Gb, 2x500Gb and 1Tb units *CANNOT* support the "Download" folder functionality - this is only supported in the 2Tb drive software build.
*HARDWARE* updates (such as upgrading drives to larger capacity and the early 24/96 PCI cards) are *CHARGEABLE*.
Cheers
Phil
Hi Phil,
Just to be clear on the position regarding changing out the drives on my 2 x 400Gb HDX.
Can I swap the twin drives for a single 1Tb or 2 Tb drive, and use my NAS drive, 2 x 2Tb, mirrored, as back up.
If so, any rough estimate as to the cost of doing this?
Many thanks,
Dave.
Yes - that can be done - however why not get your unit converted to an SSD instead as your NAS is already mirrored and therefore backs itself up?
For pricing please contact your dealer as I do not have that information.
Cheers
Phil
Thanks for the clarification, but could you possibly explain Naim's strategy behind all this. I am coming at this as a NS01 (1TB) owner and presume that this equates to the (non-) options outline above for the earlier HDX & US models.
By "1Tb" do you mean dual drive 1Tb or dual drive 500Gb? I'm not sure what you want me to explain to you here - perhaps you could clarify?
What perplexes me is that we have always had HQ, MQ & LQ folders by default on the servers but only MQ seems to get used.
This is correct - we rip CDs at 44.1kHz/16bit to the MQ folder. The HQ and LQ folders are for our own use as and when appropriate.
I always imagined (or maybe hoped) that the facility to incorporate 'downloads' or non-server ripped music would eventually come, maybe adding another folder to the default set by way of a firmware upgrade. But you seem to be saying this is not going to be possible unless you have a 2TB unit? What is the reason that such a folder cannot be added to earlier units? Does this require the smaller drives to be re-imaged and is that not possible with a package of software running from a laptop?
It would contravene our licensing to produce kits of "re-image" software and - as I have stated before - would mean that we have far too many variations of software builds to support.
Cheers
Phil
Only the 1TB versions can be upgraded, the 400GB and 2x500GB versions can't be modified as the drives are of a different size and mounted differently to the new 2TB drives.
Are you sure? That would be a pity...
Regards,
Michel
There was a thread on this subject (seems to have disappeared now??!!) where Phil Harris said that the 400 and 500 GB HDXs couldn't be upgraded with the new 2TB drives cause they are of a different size and couldn't be fitted. Also, only the new 2TB drives will enable partitioning of the drive to allow storage of files other that those ripped by the HDX in a separate Downloads folder. It's a hardware requirement so you cannot upgrade to that functionality by simply installing the new software on your 400, 500 or 1TB HDX.
Maybe Naim have decided to revisit this issue, hence the disappearance of the thread??
Dunno
tp
Hi Totemphile,
I believe that you have misunderstood whatever post that you are referring to...
Dual drive HDXs have always been upgradable (by us or selected distributors) to *SINGLE DRIVE* 1Tb units however they cannot be upgraded to *DUAL DRIVE* 1Tb (or 2Tb) as the mountings used for those drives are different and the software for the 1Tb and 2Tb builds no longer supports dual drive operation...
Dual Drive units *CANNOT* support the new "Downloads" folder feature as they do not have the correct partitioning and structure for that (neither do the 1Tb versions - this is a feature that has been added to the 2Tb units).
Cheers
Phil
Hi Phil,
That was exactly my understanding, only the most recent 1TB (single drive) HDX can be fitted with the new 2TB HDD. And only on the new 2TB drives can the latest software release partition a section for external downloads. Hence IMHO there is little point in buying any other HDX second hand now - unless of course you're going to have a NAS set up as your primary location for music storage. But why then the HDX, you might as well go for an NDX or NDS instead. Again, just MHO.
Br
tp