Streaming, where to start?

Good point. Thank you 

The Pioneer is £500, and an exdem Qute about £800. The Pioneer will lose a lot of value if you later sell it, whereas the Qute won't. I'd go for that, and if you subsequently move to streaming completely, you can simply swap the CDS3 for an NDS. The steamers are delightfully easy to use via an iPad. If you don't want the big one, the mini is a bit cheaper. Buy a good NAS, such as Synology, and rip to it in WAV or FLAC. If you really want simple, a UnitiServe is just the job. If I can use it, anyone can!

Thank you HH been looking all day at different options and guess the Qute will hold its value or could be used in another room. What would be the best way of connecting to 282 rca to din or just rca-rca? Im also a little concerned about volume control, ive read some posts saying you cannot fix the volume on qute and it will work with the 282's remote, this wouldnt work for me as it will be on the top of the "brawn" stack and will be right next to 282.

Should i just hold out and spend a bit more on a used/exdemo ND5XS?

Thanks Nick

It's not my money of course, but I'd say yes, get the dedicated streamer. It will sound better than the Qute and you won't be wasting half of it. Hmmm, exdem ND5 for £1600 or used NDX for £2,000?

I'd try to get to see the Naim streamers and nStream in action, to ensure you like the interface.

I see chatting with you is expensive 

Thank you ill arrange a demo and see what the difference is between nd5xs and ndx.

keen to know your views. was not lucky enough to be able to test them side by side

Sorry! I'm very happy with my SuperUniti/UnitiServe. It's amazing how good the sound is, so I can save you money too. Ditch the lot and just have two boxes, control from an iPad and all those pesky CDs in the loft. The house has never been tidier.

Tempting, would clear a lot of space and would be a nice neat system, yours looks very nice in the system pics, not sure i'm ready to ditch the CDS3 just yet though.

Thanks Nick

I know, the CDS3 is lovely; I had one for a few years. Prior to getting the SuperUniti, I had a CDS2. I thought I'd miss it, but I don't, not one bit. I'll be interested to hear how you get on.

I will report back when a decision has been made.

Thanks Nick

A simple solution might be the NAIM streamer of your choice with or without CD reader (Qute or Unity) paired with a Sonos connect and a subscription to Qobuz for high definition streaming. No need for a NAS then. This is probably the simplest way to start with instant access to an incredible amount of music without having to rip CDs. If you feel that streaming is the way, you have then the possibility of setting up a NAS which can be pain but will give a slight enhancement in sound quality.

Best,

Michel

Hi

I think the advice you have been given regarding choosing Naim is good advice. However if you want to dip your toe into streaming more cheaply I can vouch for the Pioneer N50. For the money it is excellent and you can obtain a new one much cheaper than the £500 mentioned. I use one in a second room system. It is not in the same league as the NDX  I have,but it only cost me about 15%

of the NDX price.

Philip

A slight word of warning - I have recently replaced my cds2 with nd5xs.  The latter does not sound as good as the former (555ps was powering the cds2 and is now powering the nd5xs), though that might be partly due to streaming wirelessly (CDs ripped onto qnap nas and replayed using qnap's twonky).

for me, that is a bit irritating but was not unexpected and will be redeemed in due course - I am aiming for nds (and probably unitiserve) and an nd5xs at a very good price made it a good step on the way

Anyway, just beware expecting the same sound quality as you cds3 from nd5xs - albeit I would expect unitiserve wired direct into nd5xs and playing tracks ripped from the unitiserve to be better than what I have now

Forgot to say - despite lower quality sound, I am listening to albums I haven't listened to for many years - the ease of access is remarkably helpful in getting me to widen my listening range.  I no longer have to rummage round a stack of CDs 

Hi thank you all for your advice. I managed to hear a N50 and was amazed at how good it sounded especially as it was only £400 new as mentioned by Philip, I've purchased a black one. Build quality is excellent and i have to say looks really smart too (wish the blue lights were green though) the control app on android is usable but could do with some work, hopefully in the not so distant future. 

I can see the appeal in this streaming as its just so easy to listen to more music, as mentioned finding myself listening to stuff i haven't thought of playing for years.

Don't get me wrong load the same album in the CDS3 and it does show the Pioneer who's boss but then again you would expect that wouldn't you?? I also have no doubt any Naim streamer would out perform it too but at over 3x the cost, as background music or for when your just  too lazy to get off the sofa to load a CD its perfect. Serious listening will still be handled by the CDS.

I've currently connected it to the 282 with a rather naff looking QED RCA lead but have purchased a Chord Chrysalis RCA to Din lead so may get an improvement there too.

Right back to ripping CD's.

Regards Nick