Streaming Upgrade

Get a ND5XS or a NDX. Nice synergy with the 202/200. The ND5XS sounds more fun and bouncy. The NDX might or might not be to your liking - it does not sound the same as the CDX2 - even though you might expect it to.

For me Naim Dac is a great value for money. You can use whatever pc or laptop lays in the house to connect (wireless or ethernet) to your modem and make use of whatever NAS you fancy. Then connect the computer using some external sound card that has coaxial or optical digital out (I use an M2Tech Evo usb>coaxial converter) to the Dac. Even bare the Dac is a great product, and you have the choice to upgrade with external PSU if you wish in the future, making it on par with the best digital source there is.

Alternatively, you can use Dac V1 connect with usb and forget about upgrading. 

I went about it by getting the NAS up & running first whilst I still had a CD player. Once I'd got the NAS up & running & my collection of disks ripped, I used a Sonos Connect as a stepping stone to a Naim streamer. Best bet is to buy a dedicated network switch to connect your NAS, Streamer & router. Finally I have ND5 XS and Sonos & CD player are gone. CD's now get ripped & live in my loft. It's a fun trip & I doubt you'll regret it, whichever (Naim) streamer you decide on...

Good luck

Hi Luis,

Dont let them nay-sayers put you off streaming, it can be very simple as Singlespeed suggests above.

If you want to go streaming, the simplest method is to go down the Naim proprietary streaming route if funds allow. That would be the U-Serve into a Naim streamer (say ND5) via ethernet then your pre/power combo. For your particular concerns you should demo two different options for streaming, or the different ways technology is used to transport the digital signal from the U-Serve or pc to the DAC.

The NDAC is undoubtly a better DAC itself but the streamer technology employed is a more sophisticated way to transport the digital signal. That’s why I demoed the NDac (S/PDif) v the ND5 (ethernet) twice to get a hang on the two different methods of delivering the signal. On both demos, I preferred the ND5 as it produced more clarity in the mids-highs, the NDac was slightly warmer in the bass, which I preferred, but overall the ND5 just sounded leaner to my ears. It is always the whole package and the sum of the components which gives us the result we listen to in any given price range. The reason why the streamers do not use a S/PDIF is that it then would be used against its own technical strengths. And I don't know why this is and I don't care, it's how the sound comes out that is important. Someone else may be able to explain why a difference should/could be heard.

The streamers are optimised, by Naim, to use ethernet, the NDac is not, and in that respect and in my experience, the NDac showed its age in my demo.

Put simply, the U-Serve + ND5/NDX/NDS is the easiest and most optimised method for streaming.

So be careful, it's never straightforward. Regardless of whether the ND5 had more clarity overall, some people would still prefer the sound 'character' of the NDac in my demo situation.  So you must hear for yourself because the advice from the Forum will differ quite a lot...and depending on personal favourites.

Jason. 

Thks for your inputs, I concluded there are several different ways of getting there depending of budget, utilization and sound quality.

I look for streaming as a way to access new content and experiment new formats, not for replacing my CD player and existent cd´s. My CDX2 is first generation, no use as a transport.

I don´t want direct conections from PCs ( I have several at home) to NAIMs/DACs. Prefer to build a (organized) audio library in a NAS and streaming it via the local ethernet, hoping sound quality be CDX2 like .

My budget for a streamer is  around 1,000€ (even if I always finish to spend more than anticipated... ).

So,I´m thinking of following Singlespeed (thks!) route... looking for a entry-level streamer and will trying to listen to the NAIM ones.

Just bear in mind that something like a Sonos connected directly to your pre will not sound anything like as good as your CDX2. It will however give you access to Iradio & other music based services it thats your thing.

Maybe if it goes well for you then you may decide to trade the CD player for the right sounding Streamer? (I won't be going back to playing CD's )

Keep us posted on your journey!

cheers