Too many options- help!

Posted by: jamesw on 08 October 2012

Hi, wonder if you guys can help me narrow down options before a dem, please?

I'm new to streaming and so I have a great number of options open to me! SQ needs to be very high as the system is very revealing, BUT my preference is for musicality, PRAT, and musical involvement (the toe-tap factor) rather than out and out detail. Just a nice clean, dynamic sound which grabs attention without making your ears bleed

My other preference is for a nice clean, tight bass, I can't stand any wooliness or undue fullness.

With that out of the way-

My budget is between £4-5000, so the way I see it I could get either-
- HDX
- NDX + uServe (or a NAS)
- ND5 XS + nDAC (and a NAS)
- uServe + nDAC

Ouch, my head hurts just thinking of the combinations!

I've read a lot of reviews and threads, and learned quite a bit! The two options which appeal from a 'set up and forget' POV (very appealing as I'd rather listen to music than play around with networks too much) are HDX or uServe+nDAC, but am I disadvantaging myself in any way with either? As I understand it, the HDX was Naim's first foray into this area and I'm afraid it may have been superseded in SQ by later developments (NDX, etc, seem to all use nDAC derived circuits, which came after the HDX), etc.

Can anyone comment on how these options compare SQ wise currently, as I know the HDX underwent some revisions after early reviews. Similarly I've seen claims the NDX is better than nDAC+uServe because of the spdif out of the uServe being a weak point.

All of these would be PSU upgraded in the future...

Many thanks!

Posted on: 16 October 2012 by Guido Fawkes

> I don't *think* you can just hook the NAS to the NDX via a switch

You should be able to if you set the IP addresses manually.

For example make the NAS 10.10.10.1 and set its subnet mask to 255.255.255.0

Make the NDX 10.10.10.2 and set its subnet mask to 255.255.255.0

The subnet mask has to be the same the 255 means this in the network and the 0 means this is the host. In this case you have two hosts NAS and NDX.

You now have a network with identity 10.10.10 and two host #1 and #2.

If you used an Ethernet crossover cable then you should be able to do away with the switch.

I haven't tried this with those specific devices, but it is general networking so I think it should work.

All the best, Guy

Posted on: 16 October 2012 by Bart

James, I think that your proposal would work. But you've reached the end of my home networking knowledge.

Assuming Guy's suggestion works too, I don't think you'll be very satisfied with a setup that does not include internet access for the nas or NDX. In a pinch, yes, but not 24/7 just because there is so much you cannot take advantage of.

Posted on: 17 October 2012 by jamesw

Thanks guys, appreciated! I'll try those and get back if I get stuck!

I totally understand about connecting to the Internet full time and if the NDX became a permanent resident I'd run some network cable round the outside of the house. What would I be getting, Internet radio or some such?

Any known good NAS's or ripping software (particularly on Mac OS) please?

Posted on: 17 October 2012 by Bart

James, take the networking in steps. You have internet access in your home, and need the computer that does the ripping to be able to get online to download album art. You need that computer networked to the nas to copy the files over. You need the nas networked to the ndx. Given that, you may as well network it all together; it doesn't make sense to do it any other way imho.

For ripping with a Mac, XLD and Max are both very popular, and free.

Lots written here on the forums about NAS's. I'm rather happy with my Synology 212j. If you end up getting a NAS and a uServe let me know, as there are a few tricks (such as changing the workgroup name to Naim).

Posted on: 18 October 2012 by jamesw

Thanks Bart, all good advice! I'll check out the NAS you mention and will definitely let you know if I get that and a uServe