NDS and stored music

That's cool - I don't have a unit to check it on and the report I had from a customer was (coincidentally) on the day that What HiFi did their NAS roundup and rated the Synology best for streaming (so it was a few months ago) ... he was complaining that all he could get from his NAS were MP3s.

15th Nov is a very recent update!

Phil 

LOL - there's also a lot more there than just "our" UPnP server too!

Phil

I want a simple, 2 disc, stable NAS.

Synology DS212J

QNAP TS-212

Netgear ReadyNAS Ultra 2

All of these mentioned in several Forums, but are they all for Naim?

Do I miss something here?

Thanks S

The servers platform is originally from DigiFi (Digital Fidelity, a then London-based company), as is stated in the servers manual. The information on Internet seems obsolete. No idea if the UPnP server in the Naim servers is from them, but there most probably was a lot of customisation done internally by Naim as well.

So, Phil, how about this FLAC transcoding ?

What FLAC transcoding?

Phil

NetGear ReadyNAS Duo v2 (no need for the Ultra).

Had a customer on last night saying that Twonky on the QNAP that he bought yesterday doesn't support AIFF files and an initial Google round seems to show that support for AIFF files under Twonky is quite limited ... this is one of the many reasons why we did our own UPnP server because support for different file formats is so damn patchy.

Phil

Hi Simon,

Unfortunately the UPnP software is *VERY* tightly tied in with the databasing and several other services that make up the servers - for example the lookup engine has to populate the databases for the UPnP server to pull data from and the ripping engine has to prime the lookup engine...

Separating them out just wouldn't be practical.

Phil

Still scheduled for release with v1.7 of the server software...

Phil

If any interest. Done more research and have found that Sonology DS212J or 213 will be for me. Insert two 2TB discs from WD Red.

Your replies was very helpful.

This is the 64,000 question for me....with streamers reading UPnP straight from an available NAS...after one has ripped all of their CD collection....what function does a US or NSO1 serve (no pun) in the music reproduction after the ripping has been accomplished?  Am I correct in understanding that once one has ripped their music collection, one could put away the server and just attach an NDS to the NAS via ethernet and it would sonically be the same result?

Any insight is appreciated.

I (as a capital letter) say, this is exactly right. The server has no influence on the SQ. There may be differences in how libraries are built up, so usability is also an issue, but this does not have any sonic influences.

When Hi-Fi Magazines conduct their tests on streamers, where do you think they get their streams from? I would guess from their studio server or any NAS, but definetively not from a UServe.

The uServe shines from the time you open the cd's jewel case to rip it, to the time you press 'play' on your iPhone to play it on your Naim device.  Put the cd in the slot, it's ripped, meta data is obtained, album art is obtained, and it's added to a database that integrates very logically with the Naim streamers and apps. Oh and it's ejected from the slot Oh and its backup function works very well.

I accept that it does not sound "better" than my (or your) nas, but its function and 'flavor' of upnp server work REALLY well with Naim players.  Whether that does "it" for you or anyone else is a matter of individual taste and budget and view of "value." 

Using it to rip, but not as a server, definitely would deprive the owner of a lot of value.  But yes, I believe that the music served from the nas would sound the same so long as the nas was working properly.

I have an HDX, so query for me is------ an the usrevenue not work as a cd player as well ( in the same way as a HDX) ?

uServe can work as a cd player as well as a cd ripper, yes.  Player mode vs. ripper mode can be selected from the nServe app.

oh, thanks for this information which i actually wasnt aware of. :-)

enjoy

ken

Well, if any interest.

I have now ordered a Synology NAS, DS212J and two 3TB WD Red discs.

Further I try to get my fingers on a s/h 2010 US ssd, close to half price of new. I'll wait and see.

Guess for those that find US expensive, that will make it a better buy.

I run a headless Mac Mini and a NAS. The NAS is used to store my library. I use iTunes for music management as its a nice flexible way of managing my music across my various iDevices. Playback works perfectly as a UPnP server and integrates with the iTunes database so all playlists and artwork is handled correctly. Much easier (for me) than having to run seperate libraries etc. messing about with UPnP severs on a NAS.and all the attendant problems. 

I just want to listen to my stored music with the minimum of hassle and this works. 

Stover (or any other helpful sole)

Did you eventually get a UnitiServe as well as a Nas? I can see the benefits of using a 'Serve for ripping but if the music is then stored on a Nas drive what further part, if any, does the 'Serve play in the streaming from Nas to NDS?

I assume that when one uses an SSD 'Serve it can play no part in the playback process or am I wrong and one can still use the 'Serve UPnP software to playback from the Nas drive. I have had different answers from Naim retailers.

I have a Supernait 2 and Naim Dac andwant to move on to streaming with an NDX or, preferably, an NDS. 

Thanks

Bob

Not being a sole, but a halibut, I hope I can still assist.

I have the 2tb serve, with a NAS as backup. Most of the time the NAS is turned off. All the music lives on the Serve and streams from there. With the SSD version, the Serve picks up the music from the NAS, and serves it to the streamer.

A good thing about the Serve is the nServe app, which makes changing album art and metadata really easy.

It can sit in the living room ready for you to pop in a cd for ripping, without having to go upstairs to the study to find the PC.

I'm clearly biased, but I'd say go for the Serve.

In the end I purchased a Unitiserve 2T. It solved almost all my issues with formats and ripping. I simply put in the cd, after some 3-6 minutes it comes out again, ripped in wav. By saying almost, I mean it's not perfect. Some cd's won't be rip'ed so it has to be done from a computer. Tried it on another serve also.

As HH says, using n-serve from iPad as ripping administration is just a dream. It don't spend time on this issue anymore 

Thanks both for 2 very helpful quick replies there. I can see the ripping merits of a 'Serve, although I can probably get the same result with a bit more effort using dbpoweramp, but my question was more about the benefits, if any, that a Naim server can play in streaming from Nas to NDX/NDS. Nigel  your helpful reply suggests that it does play an important part which is what Naim and some of their dealers maintain.  I am also considering a secondhand  ns01 as an alternative for a 'Serve but that is a matter for a new thread 

Since this thread started, with the new firmware, it's possible to rip to FLAC, which takes about half the space. The serve still rips in WAV, then converts the files. You can then set it to transcode to WAV on playback, which sounds exactly the same as if they were actually WAV files. It also means that the backup is in FLAC, which could be played direct from the backup NAS should the Serve break down.

It's well worthwhile getting an alternative power supply for the Serve, which raises its performance significantly. With an NDS, this would be very worthwhile - it's really noticeable on my much more modest SuperUniti.

Edit. HH got into it before me, and with a very good input 

A lot of people use other alternatives to Naim servers. If the ripping and metadata administration is solved I see no problems with that route either. As you say, it may generate more job. My main point here is, I don't wan't to use time on this and US solved that perfectly. Not sure if that was an answer to your question?

As for the US or NS01 thing I would definately consider them both as a source/ ripper/ disc into your current setup.