HDX file conversion

The fairly universal consensus here is that letting the HDX transcode stored flac files to wav is as good as storing them as wav files.

I have converted all of my Naim rips to flac, and new rips are as flac.  I have my UnitiServe set to transcode those files to wav for playback by my Naim players.

(Insert smarta$$ comment here.)

It's worth pointing out that as this is a UK based forum, you are more likely to receive smartarse comments. There, that's mine out of the way.

I have all my files in FLAC, and transcode to WAV on playback. The sound is the same. You also need to back up your files to a NAS. The good thing about having the backup in FLAC is that when the HDX hard drive breaks down, which it inevitably will, you'll still be able to play the albums by running a media server on the NAS. If you put HDX WAV rips on the NAS, they won't play as whole albums, just individual tracks, because of the way the HDX deals with the metadata. 

So stick with FLAC. 

+1, it's worth mentioning that the amount of saved space is dependent on the compression used when creating/storing the flac (I'm assuming the HDX allows you to choose compression level)

WAV does not provide higher sound quality per se, it just so happens that Naim is optimised for WAV so there is an avoidable processor 'load' for flac (not much load as it happens) which might cause a difference in sq, but that's more down to the hardware than anything inherent in the digital format.

Thanks for the advice. Does anyone know if the HDX if conversions from Flac to WAV are identical to CD to WAV rips? i.e. does the conversion process introduce any errors (or potential errors)?

I compared FLAC and WAV back to back when I ran an HDX and preferred WAV. It's something best tried for yourself before committing to a format. Something like dBpoweramp will convert a WAV to a FLAC (keeping the original) and it's then possible to let your own ears decide.

Harry, just to be clear, were you comparing WAV to FLAC playback, or were you comparing it to FLAC transcoded to WAV on playback?

I was comparing WAV to FLAC as handled by the HDX. As I more recently compared WAV and FLAC handled by Minimserver and Asset. I have no idea if any or all transcode or play native. Foe my needs this is irrelevant. Same result throughout for me.

I found them to be different but in the end WMV preferred. Interestingly comparing the databases through my NDS when I bought that I struggled to tell them apart.

if you search you will see plenty of discussion on this-including my longish thread

I recall Paul Stephenson (aka The Boss) contributing with the comment wmv every time for quality. One of the issues is about transferring metadata tags on wmv, FLAC does this far better

Is it possible to convert existing .wav rips on the HDX internal drive to FLAC? Since I own one of the older versions with the 400GB drives, it might be an idea because the drives are getting fuller and fuller ...

Regards,

Michel

Michel, I am guessing that you need newer software on the HDX than might be supported by yours.  Someone from Naim can tell you for sure, but that's my guess -- as it was a feature introduced relatively recently (past 2 years).  I think that version 1.7 is required, but not positive.

But the new software will convert the wav library to a flac library on the internal drive.

Our HDX has been gone some time now. I do remember that later versions of HDX FW allowed all sorts of nice conversion and backup related things via the DTC. I'm sure it will be possible to convert your WAVs to FLACs, although I would personally be more inclines to get them off the HDX for better potential future disaster recovery. Although with back ups you can pretty much please yourself how you do it.

The software conversion tools works really well. it takes a while if you have a big library-mine probably took about 72hrs but if you switch it to 'standby' mode it will pick up where it left off when it spools up again.

I'd agree about a NAS back up..

Thank you for your replies, my HDX runs the latest software (1.7b IIRC) but has the 2x400GB drives. Any opinions if converting the existing wav files to flac would be a good idea? FWIW: I do not own a seperate NAS because of the internal backup drive in the HDX...

Regards,

Michel

Are the files stored on the HDX? - You can just let the HDX convert them back to WAV.

FWIW WAV & FLAC on HDX (& NDX) sounded no different to me.

G

You can set the HDX to convert to WAV on the fly as it plays. Some would say that is the best way-have the metadata advantages of FLAC in your database and the sound quality of WAV as it plays

Bruce

The internal backup drive of the HDX will fail at some point, as will the primary drive. It may be years from now, it may be tomorrow. Or an internal component or board may fail and spike the disks. Or it may not.

What it comes down to is when the HDX fails, will you be reliant on Naim to rescue your music, or do you have it all backed up somewhere else, ready to be poured back into the HDX if Naim can't rescue your data?

If the former, I respectfully suggest that you really should take steps to back up right now. 

+1

Okay, I've told the HDX via its front panel to convert to FLAC. It will take 3 days :-)

Now I wonder: I've been reading that the HDX should be set to " Transcode to WAV" where can I do that?

Many regards,

Michel

Hi Michel,

How are you using your HDX?

My understanding is that IF you are streaming the files to another device to render THEN transcoding will assist.

If you are connecting the HDX direct to a DAC or into an amplifier then the HDX will process the files locally and output, that is the conversion of flac will happen directly in the HDX with the required overhead.

As I use my NS01 direct into my DAC transcoding isn't of any use to me.

For info, the transcoding setting is:

System > UPnP Settings > Compatibility > Stream Format

M

Thank you for your quick reply. I'm using the analogue outputs of the HDX connected to a Naim SuperNait. So in my case transcoding will be done in the HDX...

Regards,

Michel

Michel,

I would advise that you do a test before taking action. Historically I have used a variety of hardware where I found NO difference between flac and WAV, with Naim I found that I could consistently pick between flac and WAV, and the latter was better .......to me.

M

Since the on the fly convertion is in the upnp settings my logic is that it Works for files that are stored on nas'es or computers and played over the Network. The hdx can convert files stored internally from wav to flac and back to wav if you find any sq degradation. I had my ns01 sent to Naim and that made my decition to convert to flac, so  if that happens Again I can play my nas backup files from another source, or more accurately I can see meta information about the files no matter witch alternativ server I use.

Hi Claus,

My thinking is that the HDX/NS01 processes the file locally and then streams it, it can stream it as the native flac, for handling at the renderer, or it can transcribe it to WAV.

If the file is going to be directly output by the NS01/HDX then it needs to be processed locally regardless, in the case of flac this will include inflating the file. When I tested this with my NS01 the WAV sounded better. When I tested this with a CMP(2) PC that I built I detected no difference.

I would have much preferred to have kept the flac as the meta-data was far better, and I had devoted some time to getting it right; sound quality won.

M

Just out of curiousity: once you've converted files from wav to flac, is it possible to reverse this action? So convert back from flac to the original wav file?

Regards,

Michel