NDS CONNECTION TO NAC 552

CD Here. I use 6 for the HDX. No I don't listen to the HDX but it's hooked up should I need CD replay.

Thank you Harry.

Manual somehow does not tell how to connect NDS

to a naim preamp which is pity.

Got the "official" answer from Salisbury:

"use CD (socket 2) but if this is already in use then use socket 1 or socket 3"

Hello,

I have an HDX connected to the 552 via a Hi-line.

I am waiting for my NDS/555ps DR, which should be delivered soon. Yippeee

Just realized I haven't quite figured out if I need another hi-line.

I had planned to removing the hi-line from the HDX to 552, and shifting it from the NDS to the 552.

The question then is how do I connect the HDX to the NDS.

Can someone help?

Best,

Shankar

You can use the dig out of the HDX to NDS. I prefer to run them separately into the 552 - no particular reason, I just like this arrangement. I have the HDX into the Aux input via the standard Snaik. I personally can't justify a second Hiline for the HDX, considering it's there primarily for ripping and serving which is done via Cat cable. Plus occasional CD playing (not via Ethernet), although as yet I haven't used it for this.

Interesting!  I'm getting a Qute, and have a few options as to how I connect it to my uServe which will sit on a shelf next to it.  Primary connection will be via ethernet, through the little switch I have in the location.  But for playing cd's, will use a DC-1 from the uServe to the Qute.

Might be something to do with the line gain.

On a completely sideways note, we are running a 152XS/Flatcap here with a 500 while the 552 is back at base. I like it more than I like the 202. Smashing little thing. Unpretentious. Although in fairness I haven't heard a 202 into a 500.

Confirms my belief (more of a belief than real evidence-based) that up and down the line, the sound quality is fantastic and the differences are rather subtle.

Well spotted, Jason.  On that thread I did not mention that I override the default mapping and set AUX1 to Input1 for nDAC to reserve the tape loop for other future uses.  I did not feel compelled to A/B the alternatives.  552 option only.

ATB,

Nick

Shanks the HDX can provide both digital and analog output as well as functioning as a UPnP server.  I strongly suspect that Harry is using it as a UPnP server into his NDS, and would only use the analog output of the HDX when he's using it in cd player mode.

I'm pretty sure he, alternatively, could use the 75 ohm digital output of the HDX into the NDS when he's playing a cd.  Many options!  His solution lets him use the input selector on the preamp.

Correct. the NDS uses the HDX only for serving duties via Ethernet. This makes the HDX a very over priced server. If I want to use the HDX for iRadio, to play CDs or for streaming I can do so via the 552. The only reason I would use the HDX for streaming or iRadio would be in the event of NDS removal and/or failure. The HDX is just a back up. And as it happens this is exactly what I'm doing at present while the NDS is back at Salisbury for a display fix.

HDX transfer to NAS is fairly straightforward (once you know how!). G

We love our HDX too. And it's playing very acceptably at present with the NDS away. If I was starting from scratch and building around the NDS, no way would the HDX figure in the plan. But we have had ours for a few years throughout which it has performed faultlessly and brought us many hundreds of hours of enjoyment. We didn't see a need of have a burning desire to throw it out and set up another server. And it plays CDs - should we ever want to.

I started ripping CDs onto the internal HDD of the HDX (this was years pre NDS) but in a matter of minutes I became concerned about the possible consequences of an internal HDD failure. Bad enough that it would need to go back to base, even worse if the music could not be recovered fully from the internal back up. Putting in a NAS seemed more logical. Not necessarily bomb proof but more manageable for me, both on a day to day basis and in the event of....

Having established that I could not hear a difference (actually I preferred playback from NAS but put this down to mild insanity and dismissed it) I set the HDX to rip to NAS and subsequently had it converted to SSD. This set up has worked very well for me and when the NDS arrived it was playing beautiful music in seconds. So I won't be fixing nuffink wot ain't broke.

Jeremy can you transfer the files to a computer or usb stick, and from there to the nas? 

I can't quite tell from your post if the problem is the transferring process, or the files themselves. 

I see in the manual for the 552, input one is not assigned, 2 is for CD, 3 is for tuner and 4 is the first for tape loop [and Headline ] I wonder if Naim do this config because they believe it is best. As has been mentioned above, CD [2] should be the optimal input, three or one being 2nd division? I can understand why 3 [tuner] is not as good as 2 because it is nearer the tape loop but why is 1 not better still? Is it because it is near the edge of the case?

Or an I over-thinking all of this.., LOL

Julian

ps - I use NDX, LP12 and Headline, all connected by DIN

Hi Julian -

I can see how the 552's inputs 1-2-3 might sound a bit better because they only have input circuitry.

1 is slightly less convenient because, by default, it is not assigned to a front panel button.

So 2 might be the recommendation because...it's already assigned to CD and...it's furthest away from the the 552PS Burndy input?

i'll try to compare to 1 and 3 later, and i'll also try to keep an open mind (my gut says they sound the same).  The experiment won't cost me anything except time (and not even very much of that)!

Hook

PS - Since I have, on occasion, connected my Oppo BDP-83SE to the CD input, I've always had my Naim network player (now an NDS/555PS DR) connected to the Tuner input.  No complaints -- it sounds great to my ears!

Julian, poor yourself a glass of water, it is time for your tablets !  ATB Peter

Jeremy can you transfer the files to a computer or usb stick, and from there to the nas? 

I can't quite tell from your post if the problem is the transferring process, or the files themselves. 

Bart

The problem is getting the last dozen files off the HDX HDD to the NAS. I have transferred over 750 CDs worth but these refuse to go.  I still rip direct to the HDD and then transfer to the NAS rather than direct rip. 

Wondering if I should just delete these files and re-rip to NAS. Next challenge is how to delete rips from the HDX - never tried it.

J

If you are using n-stream deleting is very easy.  Navigate to 'Album' - 'Edit' and a red button 'Delete' gives you that option.  G