NDX 52 and iTunes
Posted by: SJS on 01 April 2016
I have just bought an NDX to go with my CDS2/olive XPS/HiLine/52/Supercap/250-2/SBLs. There is also a Rega Planar 2/FlatCap 2x/Stageline connected.
Everything is ripped to iTunes (mainly Lossless and I'm re ripping the AAC files).
I was surprised at how close the CDS2 and NDX are.
But to my questions.
1. Can I control iTunes from the NDX? - I can get to file copies on a NAS but not iTunes on my PC.
2. Using iTunes on the PC I can't output to the NDX (but will try USB/optical out this evening). Am I missing a trick.
3. I presume system automation doesn't work with the 52.
4. We all like an upgrade path - PX the 52 for a s/h 252, service the 52/Scap or something else?
Cheers.
Hi SJS.
"iTunes" is a program that runs on a Mac or a PC as in your case. Your music files, on your PC, are in what we call an "iTunes Library."
You can use iTunes running on a computer as a music player, with digital output directly to a digital input of your NDX. This does not take advantage of the networking features of the NDX, and really only uses its internal dac. You cannot control a PC or Mac with your NDX or with the Naim App when they are connected this way.
When you decided to purchase the NDX, did you have in mind how you were going to play your music? Did you consult with a dealer? Because while I described above something that will work, the NDX was not the optimal choice for this. The Naim Dac or another stand-alone dac would have been my first choice, as the NDX is a networked "streamer" product designed primarily to work as a "client" on your home network. This requires some sort of music "server" also to be on your network. iTunes on a PC or Mac will not function this way; it has no server abilities built in.
If your NDX is seeing music files on your home nas, then the nas must be running a music server program. This is really how the NDX was designed to work! My first recommendation would be to move all of your music to the nas, and control playback from it, to the NDX, with the Naim App.
All the best,
Bart
I think if you want get the best out of the NDX you may need to abandon iTunes and use a uPNP player to 'serve' them on the network from your computer (I used the free Serviio player on a Mac Mini, which did teh job admirably, though I don't know if it is available for PC). You may want to consider a NAS or other always-on and quite device if you dont want your PC on, or its noise, all the time youre listening to music. tHere's another current forum discussing this.
If you want to get the best out of your NDX I would abandon iTunes - period. The best audio these days is 24-bit PCM & DSD & for this you need a NAS with a full wired network. Try a USB as you planned this evening but please get yourself 24-bit PCM and/or DSD album or tracks to listen/compare.
SJS
I have all my music on iTunes (now ripped to ALAC). Just install a upnp server such as Minimserver on your PC, point it at the Itunes music folder and the Naim App will see your files. You can also set Minim to transcode your ALAC files to WAV on the fly. This is how I am set up. Works great. Any high res downloads that I buy I just save them into the ITunes folder so that Minimserver can pick them up.
Nick
Borders Nick posted:SJS
I have all my music on iTunes (now ripped to ALAC). Just install a upnp server such as Minimserver on your PC, point it at the Itunes music folder and the Naim App will see your files. You can also set Minim to transcode your ALAC files to WAV on the fly. This is how I am set up. Works great. Any high res downloads that I buy I just save them into the ITunes folder so that Minimserver can pick them up.
Nick
+1. I've always used iTunes as i find it an easy way to manage the library. I don't use it for ripping though as there are better programs for this, particularly if your discs are not in pristine condition.
As Nick says, no need to stop using iTunes just install a UPnP server on the PC, point it to your iTunes library location and it will serve them to the NDX. Once you are up and running with this approach then look at the NAS solution so your PC isn't tied up.
James
Borders Nick posted:SJS
I have all my music on iTunes (now ripped to ALAC). Just install a upnp server such as Minimserver on your PC, point it at the Itunes music folder and the Naim App will see your files. You can also set Minim to transcode your ALAC files to WAV on the fly. This is how I am set up. Works great. Any high res downloads that I buy I just save them into the ITunes folder so that Minimserver can pick them up.
Nick
This is a fine idea. The original poster already owns a pc with his music files on it, and MinimServer is free (donate if you keep it). He can then use the Naim App.
He ideally will need to be able to connect his NDX to his home network via an ethernet cable. Wi fi will not be satisfying.
He also already owns a nas, and running MinimServer on the nas may be preferable to running it on the pc if he doesn't keep the pc running all the time. The nas probably is ON all of the time.
Many thanks guys for the feedback.
I'll try the MinimServer on the NAS.
Everything is wired ethernet.
All this started when I bought a Muso which was easy to stream iTunes and Spotify to. Spotify was so easy (not tried Tidal yet) I decided that was the way to go and get rid of all the vinyl/tapes/CDs (well that was the theory but with no start date attached).
As I tried different combinations I found sometimes I wanted to use iTunes/Spotify (when sitting at the PC), sometimes access the music from the NDX if I was just listening/reading.
Then the CDS2 / Rega / tape were connected to compare the difference between formats - then I discovered all sorts of "lost" music hidden around the house.
I suspect I'll end up just with Spotify and a NAS at some stage as I've not bought a CD for 18 months and not downloaded from iTunes for 2 months . . .
Then I'll be looking put a streamer on my 102/180/B&W SE1s and the 3.5 will go.
It turns out I had Twonky on the NAS. Changing the settings has made it easier to view the files. Looks like if I tidy up iTunes and copy it to the NAS I should be on my way.
Forgot to mention that you will probably need to add artwork manually in ITunes as the automatically embedded artwork doesn't normally show up via Upnp servers (I believe it's the weird way that ITunes embeds its artwork).
The other advantage of ITunes is that if you are synchronising Apple mobile devices eg IPod , IPad etc then you have an option to synchronise to them at lower bit rate eg 128 or 256 , thus saving a lot of memory on your mobile devices. I have around 600 CDs on ITunes all ripped as ALAC but all synched at lower bit rate to an IPod (for the car) & an IPad (for trips or for playing via AirPlay / Bluetooth etc.)
You're right in that I also sync to an ipod/s for when travelling and I'll need this going forwards.