Connecting ipad to naim nait (mkii)

Posted by: Oxela on 28 October 2012

Hi All, new to the forum after recently purchasing a naim nait 5i (mkii) which is a considerable improvement to its predecessor. I have found the forum interesting and already very helpful in deciding my amp, speaker cable etc to those who've shared their experiences. i hope ive picked the right forum.

 

In the near future, I plan to add a 'streamer' ( im looking at naim but also the new OPPO 105) to allow access to flac files but, as temporary measure, aim to use my ipad  meantime. I would appreciate any recommendations on how to best manage adding the ipad to naim amp above.

 

In particular, what is best port (din or rca at the back) and what is the best 'out' from the ipad? I'd also like to hear of any interconnects others think has worked well with this connection?

 

Thanks

 

Alex

Posted on: 28 October 2012 by Bart

Hi Alex,

 

My daughter sometimes connected her iPhone to my Nait XS simply by using the headphone output of the phone into the mini phono (3.5mm) input on the front of the Nait. You've got one of those too.  Absent any other hardware (a dac especially) I don't think you'll get any better sound out of the iPad any other way, until you start spending money.  And I'd not spend money on a "better" way to use your iPad until you really decide what you want as a streamer/player; something you buy for the iPad would then probably be redundant.

 

The playback will be FAR from what's possible with digital music properly sourced into your 5i, but at least you can listen to what's on your iPad.

 

The issues are: (1) you will be using the digital-to-analog converter (dac) built into the iPad, as well as the amplifier meant to drive earphones. That circuitry is far from worthy of being a source for your 5i; it's a toy in comparison.  But it will work.  (2)  You will likely be listening to "lossy" music files -- mp3's or aac's that, to keep the file size small, have been stripped of much of the data needed to really shine on a nice home hi fi. 

 

But again, this will definitely work until you sort out your first steps into the streaming world.

Posted on: 28 October 2012 by Oxela

Hey Bart

 

Thanks for your reply.

 

I've stuck with flac only and tried your suggestion of headphone out to the nait. which, for the reasons you explain above, is harsh .

 

I may try and get a cable to connect the ipad from the bottom (digital/charger) to a din socket to see if its sounds any better?

 

Given I'm looking at December time to introduce a streamer, it seems ill have to nurse things along  while in limbo (having recently returned naim cd5i mkii) but look forward to a new addition.

 

 

A

 

 

Posted on: 28 October 2012 by Bart

A, how do you play .flac files on your iPad? Did you install 3rd party software and/or jailbreak it?

 

I look forward to hearing whether going from the dock connector to RCA sounds any better than just from the headphone out.

 

Cheers!

Posted on: 28 October 2012 by Guido Fawkes

> I may try and get a cable to connect the ipad from the bottom (digital/charger) to a din socket to see if its sounds any better?

 

You need an iPad Dock ... you cannot send digital output to a 5i as it doesn't have an digital inputs.

 

 

 

Posted on: 28 October 2012 by Guido Fawkes
Originally Posted by Bart:

A, how do you play .flac files on your iPad? Did you install 3rd party software and/or jailbreak it?

 

I look forward to hearing whether going from the dock connector to RCA sounds any better than just from the headphone out.

 

Cheers!

FLAC Player is an iPad app (£7) - I'd be inclined to use 256 AAC though. 

Posted on: 28 October 2012 by Oxela
Originally Posted by Bart:

A, how do you play .flac files on your iPad? Did you install 3rd party software and/or jailbreak it?

 

I look forward to hearing whether going from the dock connector to RCA sounds any better than just from the headphone out.

 

Cheers!

 

OOPs sorry I am havering Bart as I convert my flac to AIFF using dB poweramp when using my ipad although I appreciate GF's input as i was unaware of such an app. 

 

Also thanks for steering me in the right direction GF regarding the docking solution. this may suffice for just now.

 

Thank you both for your comments.

 

A

 

Posted on: 28 October 2012 by Dungassin
Originally Posted by Guido Fawkes:
Originally Posted by Bart:

A, how do you play .flac files on your iPad? Did you install 3rd party software and/or jailbreak it?

 

I look forward to hearing whether going from the dock connector to RCA sounds any better than just from the headphone out.

 

Cheers!

FLAC Player is an iPad app (£7) - I'd be inclined to use 256 AAC though. 

FLAC player seems to need you to have the music files actually on your iPad.  If you have your files on a NAS drive, then PlugPlayer is a better option IMO.

Posted on: 28 October 2012 by Bart
Originally Posted by Guido Fawkes:

> I may try and get a cable to connect the ipad from the bottom (digital/charger) to a din socket to see if its sounds any better?

 

You need an iPad Dock ... you cannot send digital output to a 5i as it doesn't have an digital inputs.

 


 

There also are some cables -- 30-pin Apple connector to stereo out.  (They actually provide component video + stereo out.) Kinda like a dock without the dock.

 

Given that it's still analog coming out of the iPad, I'm not sure if it's any better than out of the headphone jack, but it's cheap and worth a try.