Let me start by saying I am new to the forum so I apologize in advance if I don't handle this post correctly. I am at an impasse with my ND5 XS and I am hoping someone can give me some real world guidance based on personal experience.
I purchased the ND5 XS to handle two main tasks. First, I am using it as a DAC for my Oppo BDP-95 and for that it works great. Second, I wanted it to stream music from a NAS drive. In this regard I had a couple of goals. First, I wanted the Naim/NAS communication to take place independent of my computer. Second, I wanted the Naim to be able to access not only hi-res files purchased form HDTracks (for example) but also my iTunes library and any other music files contained therein. I have now experimented with two different NAS drives with less than acceptable results. Here is what I have done so far:
1. Drobo FS: I used the Drobo FS successfully last year with a Logitech Squeezebox Touch to stream all sorts of music to my system. The Logitech of course ran some sort of media server software and in doing so, it easily found all of my music on my Drobo FS and played it all back just fine. There were a couple of formats it could not handle but overall, it worked consistently. When trying to use the Naim and the Drobo, I am stuck needing some sort of software interface to facilitate the discussion between the two units. Drobo has "DroboApps" and I have installed both Fuppes and Firefly. I was unable to access Firefly to do any configuration and while I can access Fuppes, the best I could get was the Naim seeing one of the three music folders I added - although it was unable to play any tracks contained in that folder. The connection is stable to the Drobo FS but the software seems lacking. I have been trying to post on the Drobo forum to see if something like Twonky could run on the Drobo but I have not gotten anywhere.
2. WD MyBook Live Duo: On a recommendation from my local Naim dealer, I recently purchased a WD MyBook Live Duo. It runs some sort of DLNA software and it appeared that my problems may have been solved. Unfortunately, despite multiple calls to WD, I cannot figure out why the connection to the WD drive keeps disappearing. To fix that I have to re-boot everything. That in turns causes the WD to re-build the database...it's all very inelegant and VERY inconsistent. So, while this drive worked at times, I am not convinced it is the answer.
The US importer of Naim (Sound Organization) has been remarkably patient with me and has tried to be very helpful. I certainly realize that they cannot be asked to support every possibly Naim/NAS drive combo. They have indicated that they have had good results pairing the Naim units with NAS drives from NetGear, Q-NAP and Certon (with the first two running Twonky). They also of course pointed out that I could invest in a UnitiServe which would handle the communication between the ND5 XS and just about any NAS drive - that of course is a $3,500-4,000 solution...I am hoping that someone has dealt with this situation already and has maybe come up with some stable, cost-effective solutions that I could incorporate using most/all of my current hardware. I welcome any thoughts anyone has on this issue.
Posted on: 10 December 2012 by dzambolaja
Originally Posted by DQ:
Hey The western dig drive will only work if you point a pc or Mac running a good server software at it. Many here use asset upnp. The other alternative is to buy a server that can handle the task. In addition to solutions already listed would add assetnas from ricaster.co.uk. Makes life simple and rock steady.
???
The WD has it's own Twonky server built in that works very well and any Mac or PC, or Naim streamer (for that matter) can be a client with no additional software required.
However, it is rather slow if your library is, say, 100GB or larger.
Bobby
Posted on: 10 December 2012 by dkrause
Thanks guys...as I think I indicated, I was able to get the WD MyBook Live Duo to work with the Naim direct - without any use of a PC or Mac. The issue with the WD in my experience is that the connection keeps dropping off. I assigned a Static IP, set the WD drives to not hibernate, etc. but after a few hours to a day, the Naim no longer sees the WD. That requires me to re-boot the WD which typically means it has to re-build the directory. Since my directory is large, it's all very slow and clunky.
Posted on: 10 December 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by dkrause:
Thanks guys...as I think I indicated, I was able to get the WD MyBook Live Duo to work with the Naim direct - without any use of a PC or Mac. The issue with the WD in my experience is that the connection keeps dropping off. I assigned a Static IP, set the WD drives to not hibernate, etc. but after a few hours to a day, the Naim no longer sees the WD. That requires me to re-boot the WD which typically means it has to re-build the directory. Since my directory is large, it's all very slow and clunky.
I have to say that I've always found the WD NASs to be rather under powered and flaky when I've used them here - however can we just confirm that your network is hard wired and isn't using those awful Ethernet over mains devices that people seem to love so much?
We have had so many issues with those going to sleep and losing comms between UPnP devices - they should be banned. :-D
Phil
Posted on: 10 December 2012 by dzambolaja
Originally Posted by dkrause:
Thanks guys...as I think I indicated, I was able to get the WD MyBook Live Duo to work with the Naim direct - without any use of a PC or Mac. The issue with the WD in my experience is that the connection keeps dropping off. I assigned a Static IP, set the WD drives to not hibernate, etc. but after a few hours to a day, the Naim no longer sees the WD. That requires me to re-boot the WD which typically means it has to re-build the directory. Since my directory is large, it's all very slow and clunky.
is your WD connected to a modem or a router first? if so, the intermediate device may time-out the DHCP service after a few hours or a day.
make sure the DHCP is off in the modem/router settings, too. the static IPs must be specified both on Uniti and WD , and, reserved in the modem/router (if you use one...)
Bobby
Posted on: 10 December 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by dzambolaja:
is your WD connected to a modem or a router first? if so, the intermediate device may time-out the DHCP service after a few hours or a day.
make sure the DHCP is off in the modem/router settings, too. the static IPs must be specified both on Uniti and WD , and, reserved in the modem/router (if you use one...)
Bobby
Hi Bobby,
I'm not quite sure what you're meaning here but for the sake of avoidance of confusion then as long as there is only one DHCP server on the network then there shouldn't be any problems - not quite sure what you mean about intermediate devices timing out DHCP after a while.
Also if you set a static address on any network device then it should be set to a value which is *OUTSIDE* the DHCP range of the router (but still within the scope of the range defined by the routers subnet mask) *OR* you can reserve an IP address within the routers DHCP range by using address reservation if your router supports that functionality (most do) however you should in that case use one or the other - you should not reserve an address for a device on your router *AND* set a static address on that same device directly.
Cheers
Phil
Posted on: 10 December 2012 by dzambolaja
Hi Phil
yes my post is confusing (blame it on iPad 
)
I have both my Uniti and WD NAS on static IPs which are reserved inside the modem's DHCP and router's DHCP (the Uniti feeds from the router and the router feeds from the modem, the NAS is plugged into modem). And this combination works very well indeed.
by an intermediate device i meant a modem or a router
cheers
bobby
Posted on: 12 December 2012 by dkrause
Well I bit the bullet and purchased and installed a Synology DS412+. The install went well but all is not perfect...I can see the folder and files in my nStream app but when I click on a file it cannot play it....these are files I have played on the Naim before. I was able to play files from the DS on my iPhone using their DS Audio app but my understanding is that the Media Streamer in the DS and the DS Audio app cannot run at the same time...Anyway, I have to think I have a setting wrong so I am hoping someone with a DiskStation can give me some pointers.
Posted on: 15 December 2012 by Idris Roberts
I am using an asset nas unit installed with 2tb seagate hard drive and it works flawlessly.
Cd's ripped using dbpoweramp into uncompressed flac format.
All info and album art working correctly.
Together with iPad and naim app, everything works as it should, no problems.
Posted on: 16 December 2012 by dzambolaja
Originally Posted by Idris Roberts:
...Together with iPad and naim app, everything works as it should, no problems.
Which iPad app do you use to feed Naim by FLAC files from the NAS?
Thanks
Bobby
