new owner of xs amp and n-dac

Posted by: prolle on 05 January 2013

Hi all

I'm a new owner of xs amp and n-dac having previously owned a unitilite. I'm happy with the increased sound quality from my new setup and now want to add to it an easy and high quality method of playing my flac files (by the way, i can't get my ndac to play direct from a usb stick for some reason).

What is the my options given my setup and what is the most popular way of doing this?

thanks!

Posted on: 05 January 2013 by MDS

profile

I'll leave other members who are expert in the mysterious art of streaming to advise you on your main question. But on your USB problem, I have found that my nDAC is a bit fussy on reading USB sticks. I've a got some it just ignores. I'd suggested copying your FLAC files to a few USBs and trying each one of them. That worked for me.

MDS

Posted on: 05 January 2013 by Bart

The dac SHOULD play from a usb stick, but not every usb stick is compatible. If you've tried several sticks and none work, it needs repair.

What's your budget, and how comfortable are/aren't you with computery type stuff?

A Mac Mini via an optical cable to your dac would work (with software that allows iTunes to play flacs). That's a popular, relatively low-cost solution. At greater cost, you can use a UnitiServe to rip, store and play to the dac; you can put your flac files on it and it will play those too. Or you can buy one of the Naim streamers, such as the ND5XS to play them, and a nas to store them. All of those options are popular here. If you read this forum, you'll see plenty of discussion of each

Do you already have a nas that you were using to store files to play on the Unitilite?

Posted on: 05 January 2013 by prolle

Thanks guys. I've a wd tv live hub but i think i need to have tv turned on to operate it, not sure. Not sure if you would call this a Nas? What's cheaper between nd5 and unitiserve? Maybe i could pick these up second hand but don't see many around.

Posted on: 05 January 2013 by naimUnT

prolle, congrats on your new system! The nDAC is a very competent DAC that will surely be the centrepiece of your system! Yes, there are many roads that you can take and the Naim streamer route is clearly one. I've only recently tried the Mac route & consider myself a novice. But, I am liking what I'm hearing in my system and thought I would share with you my new 'revelation'. You might know from my other posts that I absolutely love the convenience of a one box amp and streamer, thus my investment in a SU. As you know, Naim uses the UPnP interface to stream ripped files and this sounds good and has the advantage on nStream remote with album artwork and seamless integration with Naim gear. In my case, the SU iRadio is without problems, probably unique to me & my system! I hear howling squelching sounds with some of the SU's iRadio stations and the UPnp stutters with 192 files unless hard wired! I began experimenting with my office Mac Book Pro and free trial Pure Music & Amarra, through USB cable into a USB-spdif converter and finally into the SU's digital coaxial input. The sound is sublime, easily surpassing the Su's UPnP and iRadio by a considerable margin!! I preferred Pure Music to Amarra because it gave a wide and spacious soundstage and it has a feature which allows iTunes iRadio to pass through the Pure Music software. Thought you might be interested in this other option!

Posted on: 06 January 2013 by HiFiman

Is the nDac new? Old firmware version will not play flac via USB, the latest firmware allows this. Also as other posters have mentioned some USB sticks don't work.

I use unitiqute as a streamer into nDac/xps2, you can pick up xdemo UQ 24/96 models for around £900.00 24/192 for around £1200. You will also require a NAS box to hold your music, start price £200 for a none raid version.

The above setup sounds amazing!

Posted on: 06 January 2013 by prolle

The dac is Feb 2011 made. Maybe it does need firmware update. Can i do this myself and if dealer must do it, how much does it cost?
So from suggestions made by Sean and NaimUnt i can either-
a) buy unitiserve and nas (what is difference between a nas and your typical external hdd? And doesn't the userve have internal storage?
or
B) buy mac mini and usb to spdiff cable. I'd also need ipod touch for remote control

it looks like there would be very little cost difference for me between option a and b, and i assume sq would be close also. am i right or am i missing something?

Would a third option be
c) buy nd5 xs streamer and nas and how would this compare to a and b?

thanks

Posted on: 06 January 2013 by Cbr600

If you look on Naim web site You can check latest firmware available,and download and install yourself, all foc

Posted on: 06 January 2013 by Guido Fawkes

You need an iPad to control Naim streamer or US ...

You can get the Naim DAC firmware update from http://www.naimaudio.com/updates for free. You need to put it on a USB stick. It is the best concieved firmware update process for any Naim product, as it requires no funny cables or PCs With mysterious drivers.

if you buy the US then you won't lose anything significant from using the Mac Mini in terms of SQ. However, it is not as versatile. I prefer the Mac Mini because not only is the SQ superb, but you can play anything ... bbc iPlayer, DSD and all manner of PCM files (it sends PCM to the DAC and doesn't care what format the file was) ... i'm also looking at parametric equalisation as a way to neutralise any pecularities of my listening room. Software update is also just a click.

Downside of Mac Mini is it is white rather than black and .... I can't think of any others.

OK using it optically restricts it to 24/96, but you can use an external sound card like the hiFace or Stello U3 if you really want to play 24/192. Otherwise Supernova 6 is ideal.

You can use a Thunderbolt drive to keep everything else off the other buses.

However, the US has Naim build and support and there are lots of happy users.

Posted on: 06 January 2013 by aht

Originally Posted by Guido Fawkes:

You can use a Thunderbolt drive to keep everything else off the other buses.

Guido,

Do you still have an internal HDD in your Mac Mini, or is it SSD only?

Posted on: 06 January 2013 by prolle

Thanks guys - I would need to pick up a mac mini, maybe second hand.

Just wondering what are the important specs, and the not so important specs if using the mac soley for the purpose of streaming? I would assume the most important is storage space.

Secondly, I haven't seen anybody mention the ND05 XS streamer?

Posted on: 06 January 2013 by Bart

Originally Posted by prolle:

Secondly, I haven't seen anybody mention the ND05 XS streamer?

Re-read my response from yesterday There is some redundancy in this approach, as you'll be bypassing the internal dac of the ND5XS. Thus, paying for something you don't need. But it's certainly a fine product. Whether you'll hear any difference between it and a properly set up Mac Mini -- no idea. But with the ND5 you'll control it with an iPad, or iPhone, or iPod Touch, using nStream. With the mac, you'll need to use something like Apple Remote on an iPad to run iTunes on the Mac. Both work well.

Posted on: 07 January 2013 by HiFiman

Prolle

If you want to stick with Naim throughout why don’t you audition a UnitiQute into your nDac, this will save money and will give you the nstream application.

Personally I don’t see the point in buying an ND5xs if you are plugging this into the nDac, as the UQ setup as a streamer into nDac will give you the same results.

Posted on: 07 January 2013 by prolle

Thanks Sean, that actually makes perfect sense! Would you recommend the higher rated version over the 96? Thanks again

Posted on: 07 January 2013 by Bart

Originally Posted by prolle:

Thanks Sean, that actually makes perfect sense! Would you recommend the higher rated version over the 96? Thanks again

Get the version that can play up to 192 if you want to be able to play all of the modern-day "hi res" files that are available. 192 is 'newer technology' and you may want to purchase such music.

Posted on: 07 January 2013 by HiFiman

I am with Bart, go with the 192 version. I currently use the 96 version but in the next couple of weeks I am buying the 192 version. My current 96 version is to go in the study.

You will not be disappointed with the UQ(any version) going into the nDac, it's that GOOD !!

Posted on: 07 January 2013 by Sloop John B

A Uniqute into a dac into an naïf xs?

2 power amps in the equation?

would a NAC N 172 not be a better option allowing much more leeway in upgrades?

Posted on: 07 January 2013 by prolle

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out second hand. The only problem about adding a unitiqute to my setup is that it's internal dac and amp will be unused! Seems like such a waste..

Posted on: 07 January 2013 by HiFiman

I give up

Posted on: 07 January 2013 by MangoMonkey

+1 for UnitiQute into nDac.

Posted on: 07 January 2013 by Bart

Originally Posted by Sloop John B:

A Uniqute into a dac into an naïf xs?

2 power amps in the equation?

would a NAC N 172 not be a better option allowing much more leeway in upgrades?

That's a reasonable suggestion too, but it will give him 2 pre-amps in the equation instead of two power amps.

My personal experience is that planning "upgrades" two or more steps ahead leads to gridlock and making purchases that at the time don't really fit together. If the OP owns and likes the Nait XS (as I do), then something that'll let him do the streaming should suffice. He owns the dac, so his needs are quite finite -- a streamer (UQ, Sonos, ND5) or a player (Mac Mini, uServe).

If he wants to move away from the Nait XS, I'd advise him to make that decision and just go with it, and not buy something that will get him only 1/2 way there with an uncertain next step. Being in a perpetual state of upgrading is bad imho!

Posted on: 10 January 2013 by MangoMonkey

Originally Posted by Sloop John B:

A Uniqute into a dac into an naïf xs?

2 power amps in the equation?

would a NAC N 172 not be a better option allowing much more leeway in upgrades?

With the UnitiQute, you're only using it's digital out into the nDac.

Not sure what you would do with a Nac-N172. It's a preamp, with no digital out. what are you going to do with your dac?

Posted on: 10 January 2013 by engjoo

Originally Posted by prolle:

Check that your USB stick is formatted to fat32. It will not play if it is formatted to NTFS.

Posted on: 11 January 2013 by dzambolaja

Originally Posted by prolle:

an easy and high quality method of playing my flac files

Get a high capacity and high quality USB stick

Make sure it is formatted to FAT32 (!)

Check your nDAC firmware for the latest version

Enjoy!

Bobby

Posted on: 12 January 2013 by prolle

Ok, when you say high quality usb do you mean in terms of speed, durability, size?
and i assume the major issue with this method is lack of ability to browse through your music and secondly limited storage space?

Posted on: 14 January 2013 by dzambolaja

Check the read/write speeds because some are painfully slow (eg. the Cruiser Blade), make sure you get the fast one. Newer Sony's are not bad. Some have capacities of up to 128GB which is aplenty. I personally select a few dozen songs that I am gouing to listen to on a particuler day then transfer them over to a USB stick. This takes a few minutes only. You can get USB 3 sticks as well and their transfer rates from/to computer are great.

Bobby