Nac-N

Posted by: Tog on 29 June 2012

Looks good -a digital pre-amp isn't that what we've been waiting for - well those of us who aren't about to splurge on an NDS that is ...
Posted on: 29 June 2012 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Originally Posted by Tog:
Looks good -a digital pre-amp isn't that what we've been waiting for -

Not quite a digital preamp, but a preamp with a DAC. So that it accepts digital and analogue inputs.

 

If you have no need for analog inputs, then volume control in the digital domain works quite nicely. Now if only this were to be implemented on the nDAC (firmware upgrade?) ... Somehow I doubt it will happen. 

 

***

 

Update time for the Naim *Digital product quick reference guide*. I've added the NDS and NAC-N. Also posted in the HiFi Corner, since the NAC-N straddles both domains.

 

 

 

Posted on: 29 June 2012 by Guido Fawkes

They don't mention how you do upgrade - has it got an RS232 port? 

Posted on: 30 June 2012 by Eloise
It's a SuperUnity without a power amp?
Posted on: 30 June 2012 by jfritzen
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Originally Posted by Tog:
Looks good -a digital pre-amp isn't that what we've been waiting for -
Not quite a digital preamp, but a preamp with a DAC. So that it accepts digital and analogue inputs.

If you have no need for analog inputs, then volume control in the digital domain works quite nicely. Now if only this were to be implemented on the nDAC (firmware upgrade?) ... Somehow I doubt it will happen.

***

Update time for the Naim *Digital product quick reference guide*. I've added the NDS and NAC-N. Also posted in the HiFi Corner, since the NAC-N straddles both domains.



If you then also add the NaimNet products and the differing streaming rates (24/96 -> 32/192), Naim's digital product range becomes hardly comprehensible. Perhaps it's time to discontinue some products.

Posted on: 30 June 2012 by Hook
Originally Posted by Guido Fawkes:

They don't mention how you do upgrade - has it got an RS232 port? 

 

The specifications page lists USB mini-B for updates.

Posted on: 30 June 2012 by King Size
Originally Posted by Eloise:
It's a SuperUnity without a power amp?

That's my take on it too.

Posted on: 30 June 2012 by Hook
Originally Posted by jfritzen:
...


If you then also add the NaimNet products and the differing streaming rates (24/96 -> 32/192), Naim's digital product range becomes hardly comprehensible. Perhaps it's time to discontinue some products.

 

Hi Jfritzen -

 

It is not that complicated IMO.  Or, better put, one person's "hardly comprehensible" is another person's "fully featured".

 

FYI, the only 32-bit support is for USB flash drives.  It's been that way since the Naim DAC was introduced.

 

For streaming via ethernet, or for S/PDIF connectivity, all products are now 24/192 (but some of the first generation products may still require a board upgrade to get from 24/96 to 24/192).

 

Just out of curiosity, which products do you think should to be discontinued?  The oldest one?  That would be the Naim DAC...

 

Hook

 

Posted on: 30 June 2012 by jfritzen
Originally Posted by Hook:
Originally Posted by jfritzen:
...


If you then also add the NaimNet products and the differing streaming rates (24/96 -> 32/192), Naim's digital product range becomes hardly comprehensible. Perhaps it's time to discontinue some products.

 

Hi Jfritzen -

 

It is not that complicated IMO.  Or, better put, one person's "hardly comprehensible" is another person's "fully featured".

 

FYI, the only 32-bit support is for USB flash drives.  It's been that way since the Naim DAC was introduced.

 

For streaming via ethernet, or for S/PDIF connectivity, all products are now 24/192 (but some of the first generation products may still require a board upgrade to get from 24/96 to 24/192).

 

Just out of curiosity, which products do you think should to be discontinued?  The oldest one?  That would be the Naim DAC...

 

Hook

 

Well, that's a tough one, but I'd discontinue DAC, HDX and most of the NaimNet products. I'd integrate the multi room capability from NaimNet into all remaining streaming products, which are missing such a feature (whereas Songcast is part of every Linn DS).

 

I'd keep the UnitiServe, ND5, NDX, NDS, Qute, 172XS. Later on the 172XS might be replaced with a 282 or 252 with N-functionality.

 

Regarding Uniti and SuperUniti I'm still undecided. One of them would have to go, probably the Uniti.

 

So this would keep 7 products and discontinue 3 plus most of the NaimNet products.

Posted on: 30 June 2012 by Jon Myles
Originally Posted by jfritzen:
Originally Posted by Hook:
Originally Posted by jfritzen:
...


If you then also add the NaimNet products and the differing streaming rates (24/96 -> 32/192), Naim's digital product range becomes hardly comprehensible. Perhaps it's time to discontinue some products.

 

Hi Jfritzen -

 

It is not that complicated IMO.  Or, better put, one person's "hardly comprehensible" is another person's "fully featured".

 

FYI, the only 32-bit support is for USB flash drives.  It's been that way since the Naim DAC was introduced.

 

For streaming via ethernet, or for S/PDIF connectivity, all products are now 24/192 (but some of the first generation products may still require a board upgrade to get from 24/96 to 24/192).

 

Just out of curiosity, which products do you think should to be discontinued?  The oldest one?  That would be the Naim DAC...

 

Hook

 

Well, that's a tough one, but I'd discontinue DAC, HDX and most of the NaimNet products. I'd integrate the multi room capability from NaimNet into all remaining streaming products, which are missing such a feature (whereas Songcast is part of every Linn DS).

 

I'd keep the UnitiServe, ND5, NDX, NDS, Qute, 172XS. Later on the 172XS might be replaced with a 282 or 252 with N-functionality.

 

Regarding Uniti and SuperUniti I'm still undecided. One of them would have to go, probably the Uniti.

 

So this would keep 7 products and discontinue 3 plus most of the NaimNet products.

 

Cannot see the Uniti going after the upgrade to Uniti2.

I'd have a bet the next to go will be the CD players from CD5i upwards. Entry level will be a Uniti for CD. May keep the CD555 but I'd bet not many are being sold nowadays.

It's obvious all R&D is going into streamers - and the CD line will die gradually.

Linn did the same - but in one grand statement.

Posted on: 01 July 2012 by GerryMcg
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Originally Posted by Tog:
Looks good -a digital pre-amp isn't that what we've been waiting for -

Not quite a digital preamp, but a preamp with a DAC. So that it accepts digital and analogue inputs.

 

If you have no need for analog inputs, then volume control in the digital domain works quite nicely. Now if only this were to be implemented on the nDAC (firmware upgrade?) ... Somehow I doubt it will happen. 

 

***

 

Update time for the Naim *Digital product quick reference guide*. I've added the NDS and NAC-N. Also posted in the HiFi Corner, since the NAC-N straddles both domains.

 

 

 

Great piece of work Jan-Erik, just one point the NDS does not have a DAB/FM option - "omitted from the NDS offering to reduce noise and jitter for optimised performance".

 

This was at the time of the launch.

 

Gerry

Posted on: 02 July 2012 by Stefan Vogt
Originally Posted by Hook:
Originally Posted by jfritzen:

Just out of curiosity, which products do you think should to be discontinued?  The oldest one?  That would be the Naim DAC...

 Hook

 

Hello Hook,

I would like to see an updated DAC with display (for iPod) and async. USB.

And looong may the 282 live!

Stefan

Posted on: 04 July 2012 by Peter W
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Originally Posted by Tog:
Looks good -a digital pre-amp isn't that what we've been waiting for -

Not quite a digital preamp, but a preamp with a DAC. So that it accepts digital and analogue inputs.

 

If you have no need for analog inputs, then volume control in the digital domain works quite nicely. Now if only this were to be implemented on the nDAC (firmware upgrade?) ... Somehow I doubt it will happen. 

 

***

 

Update time for the Naim *Digital product quick reference guide*. I've added the NDS and NAC-N. Also posted in the HiFi Corner, since the NAC-N straddles both domains.

 

 

 

Excellent work! This table should have been prepared by Naim and be in their website. I am familiar with Naim digital products because I am a long time Naim customer, but for most people who are not, they can quickly understand what each product does by looking at this table.

Posted on: 04 July 2012 by ken c

so, is this guide available anywhere at all? seems very useful to me...

 

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 04 July 2012 by alainbil

I guess that with any decent browser you can download an image from a Web site  like this

'Digital product quick reference guide'

 

You will get a file named

 

Naimdigitallineup2012-06-29.png

 

Posted on: 04 July 2012 by ken c
Originally Posted by alainbil:

I guess that with any decent browser you can download an image from a Web site  like this

'Digital product quick reference guide'

 

You will get a file named

 

Naimdigitallineup2012-06-29.png

 

alainbil, many thanks

 

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 05 July 2012 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

Digital products quick reference guide

 

Thanks for the positive comments, but the credit is due to Aysil who came up with the idea of classifying by function. I just built the table.

 

Think of this as a work in progress, open to all useful suggestions. I've reworked the chart to group products by row according to their type. I thought there would be a certain sense to ordering them from simplest (DAC) to most complex (All-in-one). I've rearranged the functions in a more logical sense, from source (CD, file) to D-A conversion, preamp, then amp.

 

Also, I would like to include more detail on the number and type of digital inputs, and the specifications for the USB inputs. This is not stated on the main website for the NDS ; does anyone know ?

 

Richard : may I post the link here ?

 

Jan