Rhapsody and Pandora on Unitqute?

Posted by: guitardave on 15 July 2011

Hi all.  I have an nDac, and would like to switch to the NDX to eliminate my Squeezebox from the system.  Unfortunately I listen to Rhapsody and Pandora quite a bit, and it is my understanding that I cannot access these on the NDX.  I also have a Unitiqute and cannot get them on that, so a Squeezebox is required there also, or I need a computer on and running.  Any thoughts on this?  Am I missing something?  With the huge following Rhapsody has I would think Naim streaming devices would access it directly on my network just as the Squeezebox does... 

Posted on: 15 July 2011 by DavidDever

The same could be said for Spotify, Sirius XM, or any variety of premium streaming services–problem is, at the volumes in which Naim network player products are made, can one justify development and licensing for any of these if, for example, a particular service is only available in North America? Or Europe? (In some cases, one cannot develop for a region-specific service without a cloaked IP, absent being a resident of the supported region.)

 

Last I checked, none of these services offered audiophile-grade streaming, maxing out typically at about 320 kbps–this is fairly easy to manage over a good Wi-Fi connection, which would be suitable for wireless streaming from, say, an iPod touch, iPad or iPhone.

 

IF the Naim streaming players were to add Apple's AirPlay technology, for example, most of the services catered to above could be accessed by streaming from the AirPlay-enabled apps to the Naim player.

 

This same arrangement would also work, in the short term, with an AirPort Express (now dual-band wireless capable), which is clearly AirPlay compatible.

Posted on: 16 July 2011 by realhifi
Originally Posted by DavidDever:

 

Last I checked, none of these services offered audiophile-grade streaming, maxing out typically at about 320 kbps–this is fairly easy to manage over a good Wi-Fi connection, which would be suitable for wireless streaming from, say, an iPod touch, iPad or iPhone.

 

IF the Naim streaming players were to add Apple's AirPlay technology, for example, most of the services catered to above could be accessed by streaming from the AirPlay-enabled apps to the Naim player.

 

This reminds me a bit of how the whole house automation world is being turned upside down by the Apple juggernaut.  I have seen threads lately predicting the eventual entrance of Apple into these waters and I keep looking back at the iPad and seeing that it's already there.  Lutron, April Air, Lockset, etc, etc.  They make terrific products that are addressed by apps from those companies which in turn can be easily integrated into the slick and easy control of the by now amazingly successful iPhone and iPad.  Apple does not need to be there and the companies that are can simply take advantage of the access to this whole new audience that is adopting the iPad, iPhone interface.  Once you have that device in your hands it really doesn't matter who's app you are using, just so it works.

 

In Naims case a simple tie in with Airplay and voila!  Instant access to many apps that drive various services from around the world.  Instead of dealing with all the disparate codes, device emulations,

company policies of all the many services why not let Apple and the services do the heavy lifting and have something that can easily tag on for the ride.  From all indications it's going to be not only a wild one but a long one.

 

Here's one vote for Airplay functionality in the Naim streaming universe.

 

PS. Yep, both the Apple Airport Express and the new Apple TV work dandy at gathering anything you want to stream from iPad, iPhone, MacBook simply and easily.

 

PPS.  Short term?  *s*

Posted on: 17 July 2011 by DavidDever

"Short term" meant to imply that one can purchase an AirPort Express right now–no further meaning ascribed to this remark.