Demo tomorrow

Not sure what you mean by an 'iTunes library from WD NAS'. Is iTunes running on your NAS? 

Anyhow, your NAS should rather be running a UPnP server software like Asset or Twonky.

The file format is of secondary importance with regard to functionality, as long as your server software and the Naim streamer supports them. And if any of the two do not, then you can always convert to another codec like Flac, Wav, Aiff ... . No need to re-rip one single CD, even if you decide to change your whole setup. You have your music in a lossless format, this is all that counts. You can go anywhere from here.

Sorry I am a complete novice with all this..  Currently I have Itunes on my PC and it is set to rip all my cd's to my network drive (western Digital) into apple lossless.  From there I currently use Sonos to play the music. 

If sonos picks it up and plays it, does this mean that the NDX will as well?

No, it doesn't. Sonos is running its own server software within the device itself. Naim streamers require a UPnP server software to be run externally. This can be done on the NAS itself (then you will not need a PC or MAC to be turned on) or on a PC/Mac.

Even more confused now?  The drive says it has twonky on??????  Will I need to do anything to get the NDX to stream the music

Seems like you're on the winning road. If twonky is aleady on, you should be all set to go.

Right, back from a very pleasant morning with the chaps in Audio T in Portsmouth, head is spinning mind you, so Ill try and keep this short.

First up was the demo setup, I took along my REGA Saturn and Chord signiture digital cable and the base kit was 202/200/non dr hicap / PMC 23's with Nac A5 all standard mains leads and interconnects, all on fraim.  System pretty similar to mine so that is good.  Streamed from Unitiserve.

Test kit ND5XS and NDX

Had a coffee and chat whilst trhe Saturn was warming up through the ND5XS and we were ripping music onto the unitiserve for the demo.

Took along three CD's. Cara Emerald - deleted scenes / Dixie Chicks - Taking the long way and Guns and Roses greatest hits - nice mix with some dubious recording.

First up was the Saturn fed into the DAc of the ND5XS.  Clearly a step up on the REGA dac I use in terms of detail, but lost some of the warmth I am used to.  However bass was excellent.  Only problem I found really was with cymbals and female vocals which tended to sound a bit harsh not a bad soundstage.

Moved onto the DAC input of the NDX with the Saturn still acting as transport , now we were talking, sublime open sound very very detailed and warm the speakers dissapeared and I felt like I had walked at least ten rows fowrards in the audience.  Only slight niggle was there was still a slight "graining" to the vocals.

So back to the ND5XS on streaming, picked up on the network straight away, no problems with finding the newly ripped tracks.  Initially very very impressive and the streaming quite clearly was superior to the DAc which I was struggling to understand. But the difference was there, there was a lot less harshness and the sound was fuller, however there was still a slight problem with the female vocals.

Alone this is a fantastic piece of equipment for the money however never ever demo one next to an NDX..............

Moved onto the NDX for streaming and again oh my!! Now we were talking no harshness, nothing just a velvety detailed sound with soooo much detail.  Way way way superior to any CDP I have heard.

Next was the NDX with and XPS 2 DR version.  Ahem,  never listen to one ever period because whilst the bare NDX is stunning and a massive step up in SQ for me, the addition of the XPS2 changed everything in a positive way.

Only downside to the day was that the NDX kept losing its internet connection (it was hard wired as well), and when I switched between i radio and upnp the NDX had to be rebooted every time.

So, the next step is to organise a decent home demo of the NDX alone, would love to be able to afford the power supply as well but not at the moment.

You can try a PL first and add on a XPS at later stage.

Excellent write up and more support to the view that ripped and streamed cds sound better than the same cds played on a transport. 

Have been lucky to have had a NDX his year, and absolutely loving it! Fantastic sound - and as you say be careful in hearing it with additional PS! I went to a recent future of hi fi Naim event and heard what a difference the PS (dr) makes ...........the next upgrade! 

I have heard the streamer range with various power supplies. With all the permutations possible it's impossible to nail down all the angles. But according to my ears, whilst the NDS rules the roost, the step change from the ND5 to the NDX is the big one for musical enjoyment and communication and makes the NDX excellent VFM.

As to why rips sound better, pick your reason. There are equal amounts of myths and logic and it's polarized. How it was put to me was that with a bit perfect stream there is no mechanical and electrical noise acting on the signal from motor and servo(s) as would be found on a CD transport as it constantly speeds up, slows down, swings the laser and corrects the errors on the fly. This seems logical to me. Whatever the reason, I prefer rips. Each to our own.

Another thing to try:

use the unitiqute as a streamer into the Naim Dac. :-)

Both available 'cheap' s/h. And the Naim Dac is supposed to be an upgrade even on top of the NDX.

XPS/2 later.

I found a bigger difference on the XPS2 on the naim dac compared to the xps2 on the ndx.