NDS owners please
Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 05 December 2014
Just kicking around buying an NDS to replace my HDX. This was one of the original models, it was 'full' ages ago and writes to a NAS now. it is also an HDD model and my wife and I think the discs are getting a bit noisy too which was always a bit of a bugbear with it anyway.
I just want to know how current NDS users feel about the sound of the NDS vs an HDX or vs a CDS3 perhaps. Note it will have the 555PS that currently serves the HDX-and makes it sound pretty fine!
I don't really want a lot of extra functionality as I'll still be buying CDs and ripping them to the music store on my NAS the majority of the time but I do want it to sound great.
Bruce
This is a purchase I'd make with a home dem but I thought I'd get a few users views first.
Well if I switch off my HDX then the N Serve app does not see any server at all-so maybe Asset is not installed on this NAS after all. It is on my PC and also on my other NAS that I just use for PC back up.
Maybe that makes life easy as I can install it 'as new' on my music NAS.
I feel like a half blind man wandering around in the fog.
SJB's idea was to use the nStream / Naim app (not the nServe app) on your Unitiqute and see if it picks up the Asset server software on your NAS ( or PC). This test will mimic what the NDS would do.
Well if I switch off my HDX then the N Serve app does not see any server at all-so maybe Asset is not installed on this NAS after all. It is on my PC and also on my other NAS that I just use for PC back up.
Maybe that makes life easy as I can install it 'as new' on my music NAS.
I feel like a half blind man wandering around in the fog.
SJB's idea was to use the nStream / Naim app (not the nServe app) on your Unitiqute and see if it picks up the Asset server software on your NAS ( or PC). This test will mimic what the NDS would do.
You usually have to 'switch on' the media (UpnP) server on a NAS within the settings, and also tell it where your music is stored (some use the 'Music' folder as a default).
How would i 'switch it on' and point it in the right direction.?
Do not convert your collection to FLAC without testing a few files to see if you can hear a difference and if so, if you like it. Some do, some don't. WAVs can be tagged just fine.
Sure you can transcode on the fly, but it doesn't sound any good to me. Why convert the whole collection without checking? Of course it's reversible but why would you go to the trouble without checking first?
Well if I switch off my HDX then the N Serve app does not see any server at all-so maybe Asset is not installed on this NAS after all. It is on my PC and also on my other NAS that I just use for PC back up.
Maybe that makes life easy as I can install it 'as new' on my music NAS.
I feel like a half blind man wandering around in the fog.
SJB's idea was to use the nStream / Naim app (not the nServe app) on your Unitiqute and see if it picks up the Asset server software on your NAS ( or PC). This test will mimic what the NDS would do.
You usually have to 'switch on' the media (UpnP) server on a NAS within the settings, and also tell it where your music is stored (some use the 'Music' folder as a default).
How would i 'switch it on' and point it in the right direction.?
It will be either within the settings of the software when on a computer or within the control panel of settings within a NAS. In both cases, the settings should allow you to point to the folder where the music is stored.
Which NAS do you have Bruce?
Netgear ReadyNas.
Bruce
I have got a lot to get on with now when I get time. Thanks a lot for the tips. It would be a lot simpler if Naim just released an 'HDS' though.
Bruce
Happy Birthday to me...have bitten the bullet on an ex-dem NDS. Decent saving over list too. I may DR the 555PS later.
Couple more queries. If I do the HDX .flac conversion tool thing does this change all the files on the HDX plus the active music store on the NAS? I assume the HDX back up folder also gets changed, not least when it all backs up for the first time after the change.
Any rough idea how long about 800 albums are going to take to convert on the HDX? Days?
I shall copy and keep a version of the current HDX backup file on my other NAS before doing the switch to preserve the .wav versions I think. Can never have too many copies of the files either-although I still have 90% of the music as CDs packed away somewhere.
Bruce
I hope you get years of pleasurable listening.
You seem to have a very balanced realtionship to your hifi. It's purely there for you to enjoy your music, and enjoy it I hope you do.
SJB
SJB
Yep, the boxes are just tools. The real fun iis in the music. The HDX has done us great service (I was an early adopter) and although not quite up to the CDS3 it was not so far off and the app interface opened up my collection more for my wife who found it a lot easier to find something she might want to listen to, and also to enjoy iRadio. The NDS will do us just fine.
Allen
I shall be waving goodbye to the HDX so I do not think your suggestion of on-the-fly conversion applies. Thanks anyway. The DR option may well be good, but last I looked it was not too cheap. One step at a time!
Bruce
I converted 890 WAV to FLAC on the HDX 24/7 and it took about four days.
Everything tagged perfectly in the conversion and all the WAV files were also retained.
G
Graeme, I thought the files were converted not duplicated as new versions?
Bruce
Graeme, I thought the files were converted not duplicated as new versions?
Bruce
So did I. I was quite surprised to still find all the WAV files intact.
G
I presume you get them organised in different folders or streaming will be awkward; two copies of every track!
I presume you get them organised in different folders or streaming will be awkward; two copies of every track!
Yes and not by me. Nstream sorted it somehow such that the NAS Twonky only shows the FLAC files under 'Albums' but under 'Artist/Album' I get the 'old' WAV files - the latter with some missing tagging info but nothing to upset the listening experience.
For the record - The WAV & FLAC files sound identical to me.
G
I like "it would be easier if Naim just released an HDS" ;-) So true, but won't happen.
Actually I'd like to see them release just a 'player' (ideally 2 models, with and without DAC), ie a unit that can also play off a USB hard drive and doesn't need a network or inbuilt hard drive at all. Networks nearly always seem to spell hassle, of some sort or another. Whilst inbuilt hard drives can fail or fill up.
I know Naim streamers work with thumb drives, but those don't have enough capacity.....