Should I replace my Unitiserve with an NDX?

NDX most definitely.

Are hires files important to you? If not, I would get the nDAC and stick with your Sonos. Otherwise a Mac Mini via SPDIF or optical into nDAC. The DAC tops the NDX for sound and you won't have to deal with the headache, which is UPnP. As for Naim's operating software, nStream, AFAIK it still doesn't offer in-track navigation, i.e. rewinding and fast forwarding. The Sonos app and desktop GUI is hard to beat, seems Naim still have some way to go. JRiver is working on a Mac version too. 

Good luck!

Then the advice is quite simple.

As totempile said, stay with your Sonos into the nDAC.

For ripping things can also be sooo easy. Just use your PC/Mac. Rip and convert to whichever format makes you happy, fill the tags with the support of one of the many data bases available on the internet and correct manually what you feel is wrong, should be added or omitted.

Simply replace the Unitiserve with a NAS and become the master of your own files again.

Heihei, if your frustration is because of the lack media file tagging, then indeed the Unitiserve is not for you, as the media data metadata is sepereately stored in a database and is never stored inn the file itself.

So an NDX or equiv might be sensible and use an alternate ripper and upnp server from Illustrate such as dbpoweramp and Asset. Dbpoweramp will allow you to create mp3s from your tagged wave files.

The NDX will need that upnp server.

Simon

How would the sound quality compare?

Also, can Naim's streamers recognise the U/S ripped files in the correct way, i.e. with the correct tagging?

Yes Naim's servers and streamers talk to each other quite well.  But remember any implementation of the UPnP server will carry through to the tagging available on nStream when you are running a Naim streamer, no matter which server you use.  To the extent some UPnP servers offer more tagging options, this will result in differences in tags seen in nStream.

Since I have only used the servers, this is not observations but more question. With the way Naim stores meta data they will not be available for other upnp servers, and few programs can add data to wave files, so all files must be converted. I would be sure that the upnp server you are going to use can give you the metadata you want in the way you want it, since you for sure wil lose money on selling the Userv.

Claus

I am totally new to streaming, and this doesn't sount too promising, having just ordered a UnitiServe, NDS and 555PS. One frustration I find currently using iTunes on my iPhone is that the metadata which it finds from Gracenote is occasionally wrong. This is particularly frustrating for opera sets where sometimes it is filed with the composer as the artist and other times with one of the singers as the artist. Are you suggesting that if there is a similar problem on the UnitiServe that this cannot be corrected manually?

I have also ordered a NAS drive to back up the UnitiServe, but it sounds from what you're saying that the UnitiServe might well be redundant owing to its lack of flexibility. Is that so?

Interestingly, at the Bristol Sound and Vision show, Jason Gould demonstrated one song recorded on a USB stick in both WAV and AAIF (?) format, and the AAIF version did sound marginally better. Can the UnitiServe not copy to this format?

Thanks for any advice. 

Don't worry mate, all metadata and album art can be corrected manually with a few taps on a iPad / iPhone using the NServe app. In fact the UServe is excellent for tagging classical music and will allow you to tag performers, composers and conductors if thats your thang. I personally find ripping a hassle  free process when using the US compared to the days when I used my PC

WAV is Naim's preferred file format and the UnitiServe therefore rips to this format - many owners of the NDS report to this file format being optimal vs FLAC for example. 

Just  be cognisant that there are a few members of this forum who like to criticise Naim servers without ever even having heard them or used them. These people also are likely to dispute the point I raise above about WAV being optimal for Naim streamers (again without ever having listened for themselves).

I have no doubt you will greatly enjoy all your new purchases -enjoy!

A server is nothing one listens to. I is just something running in the background.

Thanks, Prubast. I have noticed a degree(!!) of criticism on here and a lot of personal preference (bias?) for one approach over another. I have to say that the demo I had was not with a UnitiServe, but given my usual frustration when things don't work, I thought it might be safer to go for an integrated all Naim Audio solution.

CB

Really - so one doesnt listen to a US or HDX into a DAC for example? Or people have never reported subtle sonic differences when using different servers or NAS drives?

Hi Clive,

I also own a UnitiServe (2tb), NDS, 555PS and a nas.

First, yes you can edit metadata on the UnitiServe.  What some folks have pointed out is that the UnitiServe does not offer all of the different tags and customization of meta data that some other UPnP servers offer.  Each company seems to have their own flavor of server software.

The nas is only redundant if you're happy ripping your cd's on a computer, doing metadata/tags there, transferring the files to the nas, and using the nas's built-in UPnP server (be it a good one or a bad one).  I use my nas mostly for backup too.  I have used its UPnP server just to play with it.  It works.  But I have owned a UnitiServe since day 1 of my hi fi journey and am happy to still own it.  Could it be redundant? Sure.  But not for "lack of flexibility," but simply that as a UPnP server and ripper, both of those functions can be performed by other hardware.

For the music you rip onto the uServe, you can only rip to .wav  But if you have the hard-drive based uServe, you can store a wide variety of music format files in its Downloads folder and serve them to the NDS as well. 

Let me know if you have more questions,

Bart

When the uServe or HDX is connected to a dac, we aren't using it as a UPnP server, or as any form of TCP/IP network server.  I think of it more as a "player" in that mode, but "server" might still be accurate.  But it's not being used as a UPnP server in a way that 'competes' with what a nas can do.

Bart - my point is that Naim "Servers" are flexible and that you can "listen" to them. I.e they are cd rippers / players / servers.

it really does become a little boring when people on this forum are compelled to start throwing in terminology just for the sake of it 

Thanks, Bart. You might be a useful source of advice when all the kit is delivered!

Regards,

CB

In the setup that Clive has described the Userve will not act a player, eventhough it could. Then it would even make sense to buy one. But combining it with a streamer can only be the result of very special personal preferences or of clever marketing aimed at people who do not feel comfortable with compoters as is. Fair enough. But it should be allowed to point out that there is a certain waste of money involved plus a restriction regarding data sovereignty without being put into a corner.

Probably best not to state that anyone that has purchased a US or HDX has "wasted their money" or been the victim of evil Naim marketing because they don't understand computers if you want a balanced discussion.

Hi

I run a UServe, into a NDac, and a Qute as a streamer..

I also back up the NServe to a NAS..

Works great for me, and I am happy with the investment...and I am computer literate...

not a waste of money..good VFM....however, there are other options....

whatever floats your boat...

Interesting debate.

I love my U/S + NAS when used in isolation thru my nDac / 202 / 200 / HiCap / S600 (although it's not without it's foibles). But now I've come to add more music around the house I'm beginning to question whether this was the right route given how incompatible WAV files are due to lack of tagging etc.

I guess one answer would be to use all-Naim equipment around the house, but this is outside my budget, hence turning to Sonos. That said, for the cost of moving over to an NDX, it probably wouldn't cost that much more!

I do find it somewhat frustrating, however, how complex this ends up all becoming. I can't help feeling that in a few years' time this will have all been simplified!

I'm sorry if I've contributed to the boring-ness   Yes a great advantage to the uServe is that it can be a player as well as a server -- or even both at the same time. 

Heihei, if you use the UnitiServe as a UPnP server, it still sends out the metadata to the player -- Naim players and non-Naim players can see the metadata.  While the uServe technically doesn't embed the data in the file, it does serve the data. 

No need to apologise Bart - I normally love it when you get technical... But sometimes you can have too much of a good thing