NDX improvements

Posted by: Neil Bennett on 19 February 2016

After some initial teething issues with an NDX I got as upgrade to a UQ 2, solved after a post on this forum, I'm addressing some other suggestions made at the time. This has generated a few questions, probably rather basic/apologies for that. As suggested on the forum, I am moving the US into the same room as the NDX, as well as the router so that hard wire connections are possible. I've got a new router/modem as recommended (a Linksys XAC1900), an 8 - port Netgear Gigaswitch and 3 Chord C-stream cables (I had one decent Melco one connecting the US to the old router). I've got a Hutter rack/chips to put the NDX on (rather than a sideboard!), with 2 spare levels for future component additions (perhaps a PS &/or an NDAC) and am about to install it al this weekend. In a way unfortunately it coincides with having sent my 500 off for DR-ing and I have a 250 on loan, so comparisons with previous sound will be difficult/memory based but can assess using the 250.

Questions:

Is there any benefit in putting the router/switch on a level of the rack, or on the floor nearby is OK?
Is there any merit/is it possible to install the new router just for the audio and keep the old one for the TVs/Sky, I guess the PC would need to be on the new one to interface with the US?
Is there a benefit in a certain arrangement of NDX, potential NDAC and PS in terms of levels on the Hutter rack (e.g. PS best on the bottom/separated from the others)? There are a Sky box and an Arcam DVD to accommodate too, thinking to get the levels/gaps right from the start.
Any other tips/things to be wary of in changing the gear in this way?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Neil

Posted on: 19 February 2016 by Mike-B

Hi Neil ...........

Is there any benefit in putting the router/switch on a level of the rack, or on the floor nearby is OK?

My advice is to hide the Netgear away as the flashing LEDs will drive you nuts !!! I have my Netgear inside a closed door cabinet along with NAS & UPS.

The Linksys is the wireless hub & it ideally should be mounted at a reasonable height in the room & not obstructed as it needs to transmit/receive. I have my BT unit on top of the NAS & UPS cabinet.

Is there any merit/is it possible to install the new router just for the audio and keep the old one for the TVs/Sky, I guess the PC would need to be on the new one to interface with the US?

No. The switch handles the heavy streaming traffic. The Linksys will link to the switch for iRadio & Tidal streaming which is fairly light, & IME my BT unit stream's iRadio unhindered even when 4 other PC & tablets working on www.

Is there a benefit in a certain arrangement of NDX, potential NDAC and PS in terms of levels on the Hutter rack (e.g. PS best on the bottom/separated from the others)? There are a Sky box and an Arcam DVD to accommodate too, thinking to get the levels/gaps right from the start.

Separate brains & brawn - NDX on top & the big traffo's such in PSU's as far apart as possible in the rack.

Any other tips/things to be wary of in changing the gear in this way?

Keep C-Streams away (within reason) from running parallel with mains power.

Good luck & hope you enjoy it - if its as good as mine, you will.

Posted on: 20 February 2016 by Adam Zielinski

Fully agree with Mike.

Two more points:

Keep the network gear on a completely separate power supply spur if possible and as far away from your audio gear
Quality of cabeling is important. Please see this recent thread

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...namon-ethernet-cable

Posted on: 22 February 2016 by Neil Bennett

Thanks for those suggestions, most can be implemented. Have everything in place now ready to switch over/install the Linksys, waiting for my wife to be away (from today) in case there's an interruption to the Internet connection! Will try tonight...

Can't have the NDX on a different spur to the Linksys at the moment. I have a separate circuit /consumer unit for the other audio gear but it feeds the other side of the room. I will need some more sockets on the NDX side at some stage and will see what the electrician can do then. Cables are 2 C streams and a Melco; the modem to wall is the smaller size plugs ADSL socket on the modem to ADSL filter; does anyone make a 'quality' cable for this (couldn't find one)? Or I have only the one which came with the Linksys.

Neil

Posted on: 22 February 2016 by David Hendon

I really don't think you need to worry about the cable between the Linksys modem and the ADSL filter, and the one that came with your Linksys will be just fine.

best

David

Posted on: 22 February 2016 by james n

I'd keep the Sky box off the rack if possible. You'd be surprised how much mechanical noise they put into the rack from fans and twittering hard drives.