About to 'dive-in' to Naim - where to start ?

Posted by: rpnylon on 11 January 2013

All

 

So I have moved back to the UK after 6 years abroad. Massive music fan. 1000+ CDs in storage and I want to go as high-end digital, clutter-free and wireless as possible. I have just purchased Dynaudio Xeo 3 (active wireless speakers) - these should be with me in 2 weeks.

 

I want to be able to rip all my CDs and then play back all my itunes and CDs.

 

Option:

 

1. Naim UnitiLite?+ Zen 2TB Ripper / NAS

2. Naim UnitiServe

3. Naim Qute + Zen 2 TB CD Ripper / NAS

 

Can anyone point me in the 'right direction' in terms of value vs. convenience vs. sound ?

 

Also will I be able to store all music including iTunes + CD on UnitiServe and playback CD as needed on the UnitiServe?

 

Many thanks in advance.

Posted on: 11 January 2013 by 0rangutan

Synology NAS + SuperUniti.

Rip your CDs on any old laptop/PC.

Cancel the speakers order and buy something non-wireless for the same money and you should get better sound.

Posted on: 11 January 2013 by Claus-Thoegersen

If you read around the forum you will see a lot more problems with the streamers than the servers, especially upnp can create problems, so consider one of the servers, Userve or ns01.

Posted on: 11 January 2013 by caftan
You might want to check out the latest Naim Dac-V1 since your speakers are active. You can use your existing computer/Mac as your source or a Unitiserve if you are willing to fork out more.
Posted on: 11 January 2013 by Andy Too

I Don't think you need anything from Naim. You can plug a PC digital output straight into the Dynaudio transmitter. It won't support streams more than 24/48 anyway and downsamples that to 16/48 for transmission to the speakers.

 

Andy

Posted on: 16 January 2013 by rpnylon
Thank you for your reply. Appreciate your input
 
Originally Posted by Andy Too:

I Don't think you need anything from Naim. You can plug a PC digital output straight into the Dynaudio transmitter. It won't support streams more than 24/48 anyway and downsamples that to 16/48 for transmission to the speakers.

 

Andy

Posted on: 16 January 2013 by rpnylon
Thank you for your reply. Appreciate your input
 
Originally Posted by caftan:
You might want to check out the latest Naim Dac-V1 since your speakers are active. You can use your existing computer/Mac as your source or a Unitiserve if you are willing to fork out more.
Posted on: 16 January 2013 by rpnylon
Thank you for your reply. Appreciate your input
 
Originally Posted by Andy Too:

I Don't think you need anything from Naim. You can plug a PC digital output straight into the Dynaudio transmitter. It won't support streams more than 24/48 anyway and downsamples that to 16/48 for transmission to the speakers.

 

Andy

 

Originally Posted by Claus-Thoegersen:

If you read around the forum you will see a lot more problems with the streamers than the servers, especially upnp can create problems, so consider one of the servers, Userve or ns01.

Posted on: 16 January 2013 by rpnylon
Thank you for your reply. Appreciate your input
 
Originally Posted by 0rangutan:

Synology NAS + SuperUniti.

Rip your CDs on any old laptop/PC.

Cancel the speakers order and buy something non-wireless for the same money and you should get better sound.

Posted on: 16 January 2013 by Andy Too

No problem.

 

It just occurred to me that a Sonos Connect (and probably Bridge) might be a good streaming solution with the Dynaudios if you do choose to store all your rips on a NAS. Gives you Spotify too...

 

In any case - please tell us what you finally decide!

 

 

Andy

Posted on: 16 January 2013 by Iver van de Zand

The new Dac-V1 might be the ultimate solution for you. It also has a volume control to control your active Xeo's 

 

iver

Posted on: 16 January 2013 by Andy Too

... but why would you want to convert to the analogue domain?  The Xeo control box converts back to digital for transmission to the speakers. Probably best kept in the digital domain given the likely quality of the adc.

 

Andy

Posted on: 16 January 2013 by Iver van de Zand

You are correct Andy

Posted on: 20 January 2013 by S_Belgium

Hello everyone,

 

This is my first post on this forum.

 

I am reviving this thread being more or less in the same situation as the OP, i.e. I recently ordered Dynaudio Xeo 5 floorstanders and am looking to complete my new hifi set with appropriate CD ripper / music streamer and player capabilities.

 

Usability is the main criterion in my search and I would like to have control over music contents via e.g. iPad or a nice remote with screen and not have to rip CDs on my macbook (which, with iTunes, is my current streamer / player).

 

I have so far thought about the following alternatives:

 

- Unitiserve, iPad and N-Serve app. The only obvious drawback here seems to be cost (i.e. around €3,200 all included). I would rather spend much less if not detrimental on quality.

 

- Rip-n-play, Sonos connect, iPad, Sonos app (around €1,750).

 

- Liv Zen, used SqueezeBox (they don't seem to sell them new anymore), iPad, SB app (around €1,200).

 

Any other ideas? In particular, are there any cd rippers other than Unitiserve which can stream music at the same time?

 

Thanks to all!

 

S.

 

Posted on: 21 January 2013 by dzambolaja

Mac Mini + SuperNait + any newer Sonus Faber speakers

 

Cheers

 

Bobby

 

Posted on: 21 January 2013 by S_Belgium

But what if the OP and I want to stick with the Xeo speakers? They do not need any additional amp/dac.

Posted on: 21 January 2013 by Alamanka
Based on the Xeo brochure, you simply need a source.
from Naim, Unitiserve (or Hdx) seems the most adapted to complement the Xeo.
Posted on: 21 January 2013 by likesmusic
Originally Posted by S_Belgium:

But what if the OP and I want to stick with the Xeo speakers? They do not need any additional amp/dac.

A mac-mini on it's own should do fine. Nice simple solution.  Connect it to the Xeo transmitter via USB or s/pdif. They even look similar! iTunes for ripping, playing and tagging. Nice remote control options. Will give you video streaming too, with sound from your XEOs, spotify ..a Cheap streaming to other bits of your house with an Airport Express. A Unitiserve could be an alternative. Quite a lot more money.

Posted on: 21 January 2013 by spartacus
Originally Posted by likesmusic:
Originally Posted by S_Belgium:

But what if the OP and I want to stick with the Xeo speakers? They do not need any additional amp/dac.

A mac-mini on it's own should do fine. Nice simple solution.  Connect it to the Xeo transmitter via USB or s/pdif. They even look similar! iTunes for ripping, playing and tagging. Nice remote control options. Will give you video streaming too, with sound from your XEOs, spotify ..a Cheap streaming to other bits of your house with an Airport Express. A Unitiserve could be an alternative. Quite a lot more money.

+1 on that, it looks quite straightforward to me.

Posted on: 21 January 2013 by Andy Too

+1

 

... and keeps storage options open if you want to use a NAS rather than local storage.

Posted on: 21 January 2013 by likesmusic

One possible issue issue with a NAS in the future might be two lots of wireless - wireless from the NAS to the macmini, then wireless from the Xeo transmitter to the speakers. I'd just want to make sure that there wasn't too much latency or other wireless related issues. Depends how the Xeo does wireless I suppose. But  if you can get the  either macmini or the NAS or both on ethernet then I can't see why there would be problems. Apple do nice NASs too.

Posted on: 22 January 2013 by S_Belgium

Thanks to all, I will look into this. I guess I will need to add a cd drive to the Mac mini and would need to find a proper way to control it remotely. It would not do automated ripping though...

 

Also, it would need to be on 24/7 if I want the setup to be convenient and I am wondering if that may cause any issue.

 

Regarding the last post, I would connect the drive / NAS to the network via ethernet.

 

Posted on: 24 January 2013 by S_Belgium

The more I think about it the more the Mac Mini solution appears appealing. Is there any issue with using an older model rather than a newer one? They seem to have a built in cd drive.