Need help with ND5 XS

Regarding your question on how to get Music from your iMac to a NAS.

I am familiar with Synology, but I suspect it works the same way for other NAS manufacturers:

The software of the NAS can offer itself as a remote file share. It can show up as a Mac AFP file share. On your iMac you can connect to that share and in Finder drag en drop music files to the share.

Most NASes have a dedicated folder which is used by the media server to scan for files. If you share that folder, you will be able to connect to it.

there are a lot of steps to be taken, but most NAS manufacturers publish help files to guide you through that process.

Regarding the first question, something very similar was asked on another thread just the other day: see https://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/naim-xd5-xs.

As for the question on comparison with Cyrus streamer, I can't answer for that as I haven't heard the Cyrus, however I bought an ND5XS to replace a CD player that had reached end of life (decided not to play all my CDs, or all the way through!). ThatCD player was Shearne Audio, and I can say I found the ND5XS to be very similar sound quality. That said, some time after getting the ND5XS I was tempted by things I read on this forum to try a Chord Hugo DAC, and that gave an improvement with the ND5XS, using the latter just as a renderer (=the device that converts the music file into digital audio), so there are some options for upgrading the ND5XS sound further without necessarily replacing it.

However, when I needed to get a better NAS (Network Attached Storage device - an always-on file repository where I stored my music collection instead of having to have a computer on to play music), I simultaneously found information in this forum that lead me to try a Mac Mini as a NAS device because it apparently was capable of acting as the rendering part of a streamer with as good a sound quality as the more upmarket Naim streamers if a separate DAC was available, so I thought the Mac Mini acting as a NAS was the way to go because it opened that door.  And, indeed, I ended up going down that route and replacing the ND5XS in my system, so mine is now Mac Mini running Audirvana streamer software, into Hugo DAC, with a USB to SPDIF convertor/isolator (Gustard U12) in between to remove RF interference that otherwise you get as a consequence of the power supplies in computers (latter only relevant to using the Mac Mini for streaming - a convertor/isolator isn't relevant when using as a NAS). And I use my Hugo  straight into the power amp without a preamp, which I found beneficial compared to when I had first used through my preamp, however benefit or otherwise of that, other than loss of other inputs conveniently switchable, would very much depend on the characteristics of the power amp and probably only able to determine by trying.

What Iam having trouble understanding is if i don't have a laptop but a home wireless router which could be connected hard wired to the ND5XS could I stream that way or do I need a physical nas sitting right beside the network player.  All I want to know is how to get music from my imac which is in another room to the ND5XS.  My internet speed is very high there never would be lagging.  I was thinking I could send all of my itunes over the home internet into a back up drive from that back up drive hard wired into my home router into the ND5.  Or am I way off.  The back up drive would be wireless from my imac but hard wired into the nd5.  Iam sorry if this seems confusing because thats what Iam confused.

Just put all the music on the nas, and forget about the computer. 

How do I get it to a NAS from my desktop as I add music or rip more cd's afterwards.  I do apologize for not being able to grasp this. 

Connect the NAS to the router, connect the streamer to the router, connect the Mac/pc to the router. They are then connected to each other through the router. Connections wired if possible.

If you run out of ports on the router, connect a switch to the router and connect the above components to the switch.

I cannot move my imac desktop to where my stereo is housed and I do not have a lap top.  this is where Im hitting a road block I know there has to be a solution.  unplugging the NAS and taking it to the imac would work wouldnt it.

Once the nas is set up, you just move the files using windows explorer or the Mac equivalent. You rip CDs to the computer, make sure the metadata is as you want it, and then copy them to the nas. 

The standard best practice way to set up the network is to run a wire from your router to a switch, and then run wires to the streamer and the nas. When you rip to the computer, you can copy the files wirelessly to the Nas. 

In in my system the router is in the dining room, along with the switch and the nas. There is then a long wire from the switch to the streamer, which lives in the sitting room. 

Don't worry, it all sounds a bit complex, and I had absolutely no clue when I set it all up, but you learn quickly. I suspect your next question will be 'what is a switch?'  Have a look on Amazon for a Netgear GS105. That is what you need. 

you read my mind haha.  But this does really help and its starting to sink in.  For terms of sound quality is this on par with a CD5 XS?

Yes, it will be as good or better. 

If you have loads of music on the Mac, it will take a long time to copy it to the nas. You will need a wired connection for that. Once it's all copied, you can add new albums wirelessly. To get good solid performance especially of hires files (96k and 192k 24 bit) you need a wired connection between the nas and streamer. Internet radio and tidal will be much better too. But once eveything is up an running, the Mac won't need to be wired to the router or switch. 

Thank you to all on this fourn you have been very helpful.  Im looking for a front end that i wont have to replace in two years and a one stop shop for everything sound quality being key.  I was torn between the cyrus signature X and this but long term I believe this is the way to go adding a power supply down the road.

Everything will be hard wired.  My router Nas and pre amp are within 1M of each other its just my imac in another room.

One thing you might want to think about is the 272 preamp/streamer rather than the nd5xs and your Cyrus preamp. It sounds better than the nd5xs and you'd have fewer boxes. You could connect your existing amps to it, and later move to a Naim power amp. Just a thought. A used NDX is another option, for the same cost as a new nd5xs, but giving better sound quality. 

Just reading the replies, HH has explained most if it, but in case it's not obvious, by "wire" he means "Ethernet cable" which you can buy on eBay at whatever length you want.  And once you have your music on the NAS, you stream it to the Naim streamer using a bit of software that runs in your NAS. The software is a upnp server and there are lots of different ones which will do the job.  If your NAS doesn't already gave a upnp server on it, you can get lots of help on what to get and how to set it up from the forum here.  The best was to control your ND5 XS is with an app running on an iPhone or iPad, although Naim also have an app that runs on Android devices, but it's a bit behind the IOS app in development.

Sorry I can't comment on the sound quality question.  But the ND5 XS is generally reckoned to be very good for the money and you can upgrade it with an external Naim power supply if you want at some later date.

best

David

That makes it easy. You should still get a switch though. It isolates the system from the other network traffic. Switches are better at doing switchy stuff than the switch included in your router. 

Cyrus is really hard to sell here in Canada Im stuck with it for a loooooong time.  But thanks for the suggestion.  

Yes, Ethernet cables are what you need. Another thing to be aware of is that you will get better sound if you transcode to WAV on playback. If you have a Synology, MinimServer is the server of choice. You can use the built in synology media server, but if you set it to transcode to WAV, it won't play gapless albums properly. If you get a QNAP nas, Asset is probably the best choice of upnp server. 

I never understood why a nas is needed but iI get it now its the software on it that the streamer reads for files to play.  I could never understand why a regular hard drive wouldnt work.  

Yes. The upnp server software 'serves' the files so that the streamer can stream them. The streamer doesn't go and grab the files, it can only see what the server sends. That is why getting the right server software is so important. 

When in doubt draw them a picture but you know it helps.  You folks here have been absolutely amazing in helping me.

Sorry folks,  better drawing .....

..... I'm a bit OCD & don't sleep well when its not rght 

All the above is 100% spot on advise, & even if you had stayed with Cyrus,  all this advise would be exactly the same.  I would add that as this is a new venture it would be a shame to not get it right from the start & all wired is the best by far. 

I would add a switch no matter what as some routers are not good at being a switch - sending/receiving & addressing to the correct devices etc..  

...... See the drawing ....... 

And as HungryHalibut sez,  once its all up & running the Mac is only wireless connected,  but personally when I'm ripping or transferring albums I do prefer to temporally wire it in just for that - dunno but I'm a bit wary of wireless & an ethernet is faster anyway.

You can rip straight to the NAS - I use dBpoweramp & they have versions for both Mac & PC - or (as I do) I rip or download from www into PC, check or edit metadata & then drag'n'drop into NAS.

And in that setup, with all the same consideration re cabling and switch, a Mac Mini can perform the same function as a NAS, using a uPNP server software (like Serviio, as I mentioned earlier) - which may be worth considering if any of its other possibilities are of interest, although it sounds as if you're 'sold' on the ND5.

However, if I understand correctly your Cyrus amp has a built-in DAC? iF so, is that what you used as the DAC for CD replay? If so, using Audirvana software on a Mac Mini and a USB-SPDIF converter/isolator, you could play music through the same DAC that you're familiar with, and given that the Mac Mini - Audirvana combination is capable of outperforming the ND5XS (in my and some others' experience, while others have reported that it say higher spec Naim streamers), you could be up and running with streaming relatively cheaply with at least the same sound quality as your Cyrus CD. you would then have scope to consider (if possible audition) other DACs including Naim, or Hugo as a number of people here have found better than some Naim DACs.

that is a option as well and would be cheaper as well.  Im not sold on the ND5 by any means.  The idea though of access for all of my music with my iphone and same sound quality as a transport or CD player defiantly has my attention.  

You can use your Mac as a UPNP server (ie like a NAS) by downloading software such as Asset on to your Mac. It can then run over wired or wireless connection and will be seen as a NAS by a streamer.  If you go wireless it will have to be a reliable network, but the SQ will be as good as a dedicated NAS. Ultimately I think a dedicated NAS is a simpler and more elegant solution, but it's not essential to get you going.