UPS with Naim HiFi

I've been using an APC to protect my NAS and wouldn't consider running the kit without it. I'd also highly recommend APC.

Power conditioning is usually frowned upon for Naim components as it is said to kill the music. I'm not so sure that will be the case for the US, unless you are connecting it directly to a player maybe? If used as a server across a network I wouldn't expect there to be any detrimental influence.

Happy to be corrected. 

Steve

Paul,

   i second the view of using APC, i have an 8 socket UPS installed to protect the HDX and a few other Naim bits (and the NAS), as we have been known to have power spikes and fear losing the system.

I specifically bought a UPS that is NOT intended to condition the power, just project from power loss.

Will check out details this evening and post info for you

Definitely recommend APC as they are the market leaders in this stuff

Paul

Paul, Steve,

Many many thanks for the prompt replies.  Seems like APC is the way to go. My US is connected to nDAC, not sure if that may affect the sound, but I don't really have a choice.  Had some huge (unseasonal) storms over the past week and really need some protection. Will search for the "unconditioned" versions of the UPS.

Cheers, 

Paul

Paul,

         Can you clarify what you are using the APC for : Loss of power or spikes. I thought a UPS was for protection from loss of power rather than spikes; or are you concerned about spikes occurring on resumption of the normal power supply.

What model do you have?

My recent experience with an RS 800 UPS may be of interest here. It has been installed for 2yrs and protected(?) my 2 NAS drives router and switch. My main NAS as well as its own internal monitor monitored the UPS and all was showing it was in perfect health.

Suddenly whilst using the Internet I was unable to call up a new page, checking the computer router & switch all appeared well so I decided to re-boot the system (something I never need to do). I killed the power to the UPS and yes, you guessed, the system shut down immediately and the UPS decided at that point to sound the battery failure alarm. A little late I felt.

My point is really to warn that these things are not exactly fit and forget. They do require regular checking and 2yrs seem to be the limit for a set of batteries.

Although these units vary in what they offer, mine has both surge protected and UPS only outlets.

Peter

Graham,

   Sorry for confusion, i am of course protecting from loss of power, and the electric supply often has a blip of spike / surge / dip that can effect the supply.

I use a unit called the APC 700 ES ( model BE700G) which looks like a 4x4 gang extension lead, but the unit has an internal battery, like out of a fire alarm system or motorbike size.

The unit continuously senses the power and any failure issues triggers an alarm and also can be set to carry out an automatic safe shutdown of the connected units to protect against data loss. Etc

The unit comes with software and rj45 cable connection to provide data reports and info to a Connected computer

Paul

Hi Paul, I use APS UPS on my NAS but I wouldn't use on my hifi. When the UPS is active the AC waveform has lots of steps rather than be smooth, and I am  not entirely sure that  this is not healthy going into the Naim as these steps will pass through the transformer and will appear has high frequency noise on the powerlines that the regulators are going to have to work extremely hard to remove/reduce.

But if you use for the unitiserve perhaps the impact of these will be less.. But might still affect the transport clock which may be audible. You may wish to try and listen with and without the APS.

Perhaps a better setup would be to use the US with an external NAS with that being on the UPS. That way things are nicely decoupled.

As an aside I am impressed at Naim's power cut protection on their classic series preamps. Power interruption safely instantly mutes the sound to elimate any dangerous click or thud.

Simon

I concur Simon, but i have this great fear of power loss to the HDX, so that is on the ups

We use one on the NAS. It's convention for us. It can protect from the spiking that can happen if the power goes off and suddenly comes on again, sometimes doing this repeatedly for a few seconds. Doesn't happen here very often but this type of flutter killed a PC HDD and on another occasion a power supply before we thought to get a UPS. Never thought of one in terms of the HiFi system. It seems pretty good at shutting down and restarting normally without issue, although we will leave it unplugged if the power goes off (to avoid a possible fluttering restart) or when there are very high winds or storms. A pain when it happens but it doesn't happen often here.

HDX and UServe would be powered on only manually after a power outage, like computers. So, I don't understand what the worry is, here.