Tidal - best option to integrate into main system

If you want an easy life, pick up a Sonos Connect or Bluesound Node. The Bluesound is better imo, but the Sonos is cheaper. Depending on when Naim integrate Tidal or Qobuz cost might be a relevant factor if either device is an interim solution. The Auralic Aries is better still but significantly more expensive.

A number of people have made positive comments about adding a DAC like the Hugo or DAC V1 to the chain. There is a very good discussion here: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...dx-digital-in?page=1

This thread discusses it to some extent

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...-first-impressions-1

I'm using Sonos Connect and I am happy with that for now. It is better than the AE route. Just feed the NDS with the digital outlet from the Sonos. Tidal is integrated in the Sonos App, and works well. 

There needs to be a high quality solution where Tidal is integrated. Linn DS streamers do offer that, but I am hoping Naim will come up with something in their own good time. 

I don't see why you connect the synology to the US and then to the NDS. Shouldn't all three be wired to a switch, and the switch to the router?

Martin I have found re clocking the Sonos before it goes to the ND player really really improves the sound... Textures and details start to appear, really  noticeable with brass, drums, voices, strings, and a real sense of depth to the sound (with FLAC lossless) . Without it the Sonos can sound a little monochromatic into the ND player, totally acceptable but not what we are used to with our Naim equipment.

I use an old Monarchy Audio DIP reclocker which I found lurking in my hifi bits and bobs cupboard... Fibre from the Sonos to the DIP and then phono to BNC from the DIP to ND player.

Simon

A very good and affordable modern reclocker is the Mutec MC-3.1

And they do work wonders on 'sloppy' spdif sources.

cheers

aleg

One option could be to use Asset UPnP server on a Windows machine and configure the WASAPI plugin to serve out the Tidal feed to the 252. I use this with Qobuz and it works well, unless others know better I don't see why this wouldn't work for Tidal.  The other advantage of this is that it is cheap and probably provides acceptable sound quality until Naim's plans become clearer.

Claus

Affordable is always relative.

The 'only' decent reclocker in existence before the Mutec, was the Apogee Big Ben which goes for 2 - 2.5 times that amount (And isn't as good as the Mutec).

And how much effect a Sonos upgrade or Auralic streamers brings also remains to be seen.

Cheers

What's interesting about these (welcome) suggestions about reclockers is that they imply that the nDAC and Naim streamers are not able to fully eliminate SPDIF jitter, like I thought it did.   When the nDAC came out, most of us could hear differences between different digital sources and I certainly assumed that was for reasons other than jitter given the nDAC dealt with that.  But adding an additional reclocking component into the chain is certainly not going to lessen the effects of any possible 'other reasons'. It's 'just' going to reduce jitter going into the DAC.  I'm struggling to understand why the Naim buffering and reclocking wouldn't always work - but this whole area is a black art.

Anyone got any comments on Synchro-Mesh (reclocker), by the way?

Martin, most DACs can remove jitter very effectively. However by doing so they can re introduce new jitter and artefacts.. It's called cross talk, it's not really a black art in concept, it's a rather well established concept in system design .. And so cascaded re clockers or a reclocker connected to a DAC with de jitter circuitry can be often a recommended solution where one is diluting the effects of crosstalk. Crosstalk or lack of it is why some system components can sound better seperated out, or great effects are made to decouple it within a component.

However, benefit can also be gained by having a precision stable clock to start with..

Ended up with an interim solution for the moment, connected an digital optical cable from my AppleTV into the NDS. Improvement on the Airport Express using RCA cables into the 252!! No surprise there.

Here is to hoping that NAIM integrate TIDAL into their products directly sometime soon...if not forth coming anytime soon then I will integrate the Bluesound Node into the system.

Now back to my main focus...getting a new set of speakers!

Thanks for all the ideas and comments.

It's a shame! Selling >10000€ Equipment and no Integration of loss less Music services.