Cambridge Stream Magic 6

People will no doubt turn their noses up at the Stream Magic but SQ aside it has one major advantage over Naim in that is pretty simple to use and update. Weaknesses are undoubtedly the lack of true hires files over ethernet and lack of bragging potential down the pub.

However, look at this way if it sounds half decent (which it appears to if reviews are to be believed) Naim can't endlessly justify their rather arcane updating process indefinitely. If the competition both high and medium end can produce streamers with online firmware updates expect Naim to be rethinking future streaming platforms for their products.

Imagine what a Stream Magic would be with a sexy nomenclature and higher grade power supplies with Naim DAC/DSP modules. 

Or perhaps Naim will give in and call their next streamer the Naim Super Alchemy ?

Tog

That is dreadful, what did he do with the laptop PC or the RS232 cable or the drivers for it .... what does he use the Stream Magic for if you can just update it automatically ... I bet he wastes his time listening to music, when he could be loading up the latest USB to RS232 driver .... ot trying to find a copy of Windows to run in VMWare on a MacBook .... I do hope this consumer friendly ease of use thing does not catch on ... 

Perhaps he needs to buy a laptop PC, Windows and a funny cable 

I'm surprised he won't though ... not the greatest approach if he expects repeat custom

Then I would find a new dealer, that is just taking the p*ss!

naim are wrong with updates and it will lose customers, and im sure they know it.

enough guido. we ALLLLLLL get it.

Think about this.  How will you feel/respond when they do offer MacOS AND Windows update-ability.  Whether it is reticence or gloating, it will taste badly.  They know what their product can do and not do.  They certainly have heard your voice and others on it, ad nauseum.

In all honesty, I doubt there will be any gloating if Naim improves its update process.

The argument (well, mine anyway) is driven by a desire to see the company do well and enjoy the security of having more customers.

As software updates become prevalent then the manner of delivery will be an issue for many buyers. Naim has put itself firmly in the media streaming fold with its latest (very good) products.

That necessarily involves software and updates. Therefore the method of delivering those updates becomes a factor in people's purchasing decisions.

This will only become more important as personal computing moves away from PCs/laptops etc and onto mobile phones, tablets etc.

Nam obviously know what their products can and cannot do: I think Guido's point is what they should be able to do the entice a new audience.

Just out of curiosity and in a vain hope of not seeing a new why cann't we update streamers daily thread, have anybody asked Naim why they chose this update procedure? And if you do not like it why then buy a Naim streamer.

Claus

Claus

Yes - the question has been asked. Phil Harris from Naim replied. In short the answer was: It best suits our products. (See other threads)

As an aside: I myself have questioned four Naim dealerships regarding software updates. Only one was able to supply the information that a Windows PC (note PC) was needed for software upgrades.

You are correct: Absolutely no need to buy a Naim streamer if you do not like the update process.

But unfortunately Naim dealers do not make this clear.

I think the issue is fairly fundamental and relates to the hardware platform Naim started with as a base for its streamers.

Tog

As I have said before, IMO Naim made a big mistake by not releasing the firmware update capability for both Windows and Macs on day one.  They have promised the latter, and hopefully we will see it soon.

But I totally agree with Phil that the most important thing is to be able to restart after an interruption.  Google "firmware update brick" to read countless stories of cell phones, AVR's, game systems and yes, audio components, that had to be returned to the manufacturer because their update process did not complete successfully.   This has not happened to owners of Naim network players, and for that, I think Phil and team deserves some credit. 

Is there a push-button, network-based method that also prevents bricking 100% of the time?  Don't know, and perhaps Phil will comment further on the other methods they looked at.  But given the trade-offs, I can not blame Naim for adopting the method they did.  How many of us would be eager to press the update button if we knew that 1 out of 25 (or 250 or whatever) updates resulted in a bricked player?

I have been through a couple of NDX firmware updates in my year and half of ownership.  I downloaded the code to a PC laptop, hooked up a cable, selected the PC port to which the cable was connected, and pressed go.  The whole process took maybe a half hour at most, and it wasn't exactly rocket science.

ATB.

Hook

Agree with the point on a mistake regarding update capability for both Windows/Mac.

However, have to disagree with the assertion that Naim have promised a Mac solution. They have actually made it very clear that this will not happen.

Phil Harris's posts say it cannot be done on the current hardware - even if they wanted to.

Unless I'm misreading something somewhere on this forum. 

@Hook +1

BTW, I am on Linux, except for the AssetNAS. Till now, I have always been able to organize a PC. Ok, I almost went bankrupt because of the outlay for the USB-RS232-cable.

adca 

Exactly that Jon, this the 21st century and Naim has shown what it can do with Naim DAC ... you can even update that from a USB stick. I liked the sound of the NDS, but I'm never going to buy one because I can't keep it up to date. 

My system is Naim from DAC to speakers. I hope Patrick has noticed that I do continually pay the Naim DAC compliments. I also recommend Naim amplifiers and speakers to lots of people. I've recommended their CDPs as well. The hi-Lines, power-lines, NACA5 .... the only products I cannot recommended are their streamers: because of two issues a) software upgrade and b) I still don't understand why it can't play FLAC as well as WAV. The second issue is not a show stopper, but the first is and always will be for me. 

So Patrick, are you saying to me go away, Naim don't want you as a customer any more. 

If that is the case and Naim would prefer me to keep quiet, never complain and trade my kit for something that is easier to use and never darken their doorstep again then ... but Naim has never said that to me. I think they'd prefer me to upgrade to 552 (something I'm contemplating) and remain a loyal customer. 

I have a UQ and I can't update it ... so I'm sorry if you don't agree, but I won't get fooled again. 

The software update process for the ND series and my UQ is awful. I'm not asking for a Mac update process, just for one that does not require Windows or me to fiddle around at the rear of the machine. I don't really want a Mac upgrade process that requires me to take my fraim apart and disconnect everything (though I'd suffer that if were the only way) or if you could just plug a Mac into the port at the front and click update I'd be very happy. 

However as Jon says people won't even buy MacBooks soon, nobody wants a PC at home these days. It's iPads, iPods, iPhones and whatever else is coming that starts with an 'i'.  

A USB stick and hold down two buttons at one would do me fine. I'd be on hear saying ... great fantastic wonderful .... 

Microsoft has had its day and thank God, it is fading away

(hey I'm a poet and I didn't even know it, hope I don't blow it)

Guido

Totally agree. I love the Naim sound and the SQ from their streamers, but I won't touch them until the user interface and other usability equals my Sonos. 

Hi Jon -

See Trevor's post:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...66#18461704834161266

But Phil did say that the architecture did not support a network-based approach.

ATB.

Hook

Hi Hook

Thanks.

Clarity here would be nice from Naim. Trevor says there is a Mac update availability in the pipeline.

Phil's previous posts specifically ruled this out.

As per the posts on https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...66#18461704834161266 regarding running Windows on a Mac. Well, obviously I can. But I have to buy the damn thing in the first place and then never use it again. (Well, apart from the next update!)

If the architecture of the existing streamers will not support auto firmware update over the web maybe they could do something over a UPNP connection.

For example, download the firmware to you NAS then browse to it as though you were going to play a music file then install the upgrade.

An idea, but who knows.