UnitiServe Benefits?

I have a second hand UnitiServe (dealer trade in) that was rebuilt and on the way back to me. Drive failed, power supply replaced etc… Originally, the USA Naim distributor advised this was the best bang for the buck to feed the NDAC save for using a Naim streamer with ability to easily catalog CD’s and I’ve been very satisfied until it started crashing then died. Since I mostly stream outside of spinning LP’s was wondering if I should keep it to augment NDX or sell it using the cash to off the cost of NDX. I have ripped via Mac XLD in WAV, AIFF, FLAC and all sound equal to me. I would appreciate experiences from those on the forum including dealers for facts and general opinions. My local Naim dealer supports me very well and I’ll ask him the same but value the knowledgebase within the forum.

1. Since I don’t have any other Naim streamer products would the US provide a tangible performance enhancement to the NDX?
2. Would I have to set up a different database of the US ripped files since I would now move to Mac based XLD?
3. Anything else for advisement?

Thanks in advance.

Mack

Hi Mack,  as a UnitiServe owner I can offer the following.

First and foremost it's a very reliable cd ripper and UPnP server, all in one.  And in its current configuration you my add to its hard drive files that the uServe has not ripped, and serve them right alongside those it has ripped.

When used with a Naim Dac, you're really using it as a player, not a server.  It has a high quality digital output for direct connection to the Dac.  It sounds pretty good in this use!

If you are going to get an NDX, the uServe will be relegated to ripping and UPnP server duties.  At that point I cannot conclude that, sonically, it sounds "better" than a good nas running a UPnP server software.  And as you noted, you can rip cd's using a computer.  BUT, this forum is full of questions and issues raised by people running all sorts of UPnP servers on all sorts of nas's; some with more joy than others.  One thing I can say is that the uServe as a UPnP server to a Naim player -- it's quite bullet-proof.  Another benefit is that it is THE easiest to use; no real set-up, no dealing with nas control panels, adding third-party software, etc etc.   

So, will it provide a "tangible performance enhancement to the NDX?"  My opinion is that you could pick nas/UPnP server combos that would be MUCH less satisfying than the uServe.

Your question (2):  You can use XLD to rip cd's and add them to the uServe.  If you give up the uServe, you need to do something with the library you've already created.  As discussed here a lot, the best thing to do with it is to let the uServe convert it to flac (if you've been ripping to wav, that is), at which point you can merely copy it over to whatever substitute you select . . . unless it's a Mac which cannot play flac files using iTunes without additional software / plug-ins. 

Hope this helps,

Bart

I have ripped via Mac XLD in WAV, AIFF, FLAC and all sound equal to me.

That is because they are equal - I cannot tell one from the other. I tend to use AIFF because it is Apple friendly and supports the tags I like to use. If you are not using a Naim streamer then I see no advantage in the UnitiServe.  

I use a Mac Mini with an attached thunderbolt disk drive (WD DUO) and feed my Hugo DAC from that (previously I had a Naim DAC with 555PS). It avoids the complexity of UPnP and sounds wonderful to me. 

If a DUO disk should ever fail then I just insert a replacement and everything syncs - hasn't happen so far and hope my luck holds. 

I think the US comes in to its own when you have Naim streamers around the house (I haven't got this).