Streaming options

An NDS would not be out of place in your system. If you consider that to be a king's ransom, an NDX would still work, as would an ND5XS, and any number of significantly cheaper non-Naim alternatives.

ChrisSU posted:

An NDS would not be out of place in your system. If you consider that to be a king's ransom, an NDX would still work, as would an ND5XS, and any number of significantly cheaper non-Naim alternatives.

Not much more can be added, except I'd recommend s/h or ex-dem NDX as it is quite likely to be replaced with a unit that has the functionality of the new uniti series. 

Roon's Tidal integration is second to none and the new series will most likely have this. 

I would strongly recommend you look at Roon before purchasing any streamer solution. 

SJB

How important is sound quality to the rest of your family members? If quality is not a priority, and you have to have a Naim streamer / Dac, then the ND5XS could work well in your system. A NDX is obviously better, but also considerably more expensive. 

As others have pointed out, Naim's steamer / Dacs are getting long in the tooth (e.g. the NDX was released around 6 years ago), and are increasingly behind the curve when compared to newer offerings from other manufacturers. So if you want something that is more cutting edge and still offering reasonable value, have a look at Chord Hugo (Dac) and perhaps Aurender or Auralic as source (both have very good Tidal integration). 

Might be worth noting that if you love vinyl, the NDX might make sense for a couple reasons.

• As others have mentioned, you can pick one up for very reasonable money second hand.
• It has been noted both in the forum and in the trades that the NDX is one of the most analog sounding digital sources around. Even more so with an XPS. While, the NDS and some non Naim streamers may be ultimately more resolving, accurate and detailed than the NDX, many have found it the ideal source for those who are not partial to digital sources. That doesn't mean it sounds like an LP12 (only vinyl will ever sound like vinyl). But the NDX doesn't sound anything like a CD player or most DACs either. Depending on how you feel about it, that can either be a very good thing or a very bad thing.

Without the need to jump onto the latest thing, I suggest giving one a listen.

feeling_zen posted:

Might be worth noting that if you love vinyl, the NDX might make sense for a couple reasons.

• As others have mentioned, you can pick one up for very reasonable money second hand.
• It has been noted both in the forum and in the trades that the NDX is one of the most analog sounding digital sources around. Even more so with an XPS. While, the NDS and some non Naim streamers may be ultimately more resolving, accurate and detailed than the NDX, many have found it the ideal source for those who are not partial to digital sources. That doesn't mean it sounds like an LP12 (only vinyl will ever sound like vinyl). But the NDX doesn't sound anything like a CD player or most DACs either. Depending on how you feel about it, that can either be a very good thing or a very bad thing.

Without the need to jump onto the latest thing, I suggest giving one a listen.

Entirely agree  I was using a third party Streamer in a much lesser system than yours (82,Supercap,250 and CDI) changing to a NDX was a revelation in terms of sound quality adding a power supply improves it further still well worth a listen.

Thanks guys. Right now I'm thinking that absolute sound quality is a secondary consideration compared to convenience and integration with the rest of the system. But I have a feeling that that will change if I get something that ultimately frustrates me because it doesn't sound great and I'll live to regret not getting something better  

Sounds like (pending reading up on Roon) a s/h NDX would fit the bill. I have room for a single box unit at the top of one of my fraim stacks, so it'll blend in aesthetically and do as much as I need and I guess I can sell it on a buy something better if the streaming bug really bites. I have no CDs to rip so I'll be 100% reliant on Tidal. 

Thanks again 

Elbow - if you have no CDs to rip, that's not really a sumbling block. All Naim streamers can handle high-resolution audio files (up to 192 kHz/24 bit). There is a plethora of downloads now available. Of course storage is required - NAS is the most common way.

I've tested pretty much all Naim streamers and there is a reason why I settled on NDS as my main digital play-back source. I found it to be the most resolving and analogue-like sounding. Playing back the same album in high-resolution audio from NDS or vinyl on LP12 makes for an interesting comparison. The difference is not of 'better or worse' type. It's more: Coke vs Pepsi type debate.

Now of course it would be a waste of a fine player such as NDS on internet radio or Tidal only. 

My advice is as follows:  if you could imagine owning digital albums, with an ease of access via a remote control or a tablet, that can be played back in high-end quality at a moments notice? If the answer is YES - NDS may be worth getting. If however you decide that NO is an aswer: just get a cheap streamer with Tidal integration.

Adam

NDS was a little out of my thinking in terms of price. But maybe the best thing to do is talk to my dealer to see if they have any ex-dem or trade in units I could listen to. I'm having a new Kandid fitted in the New Year, so that'll be a good time to review some options (and the cartridge purchase will soften the blow if I end up buying the streamer elsewhere)

Thanks again for the advice. 

Elbow,  you say you have one shelf spare the NDS requires an external power supply ?

Yes, if I bought an NDS I'd need another Fraim shelf. With the NDX I'd be fine - one (small) additional thing it has going for it. 

An NDS and power supply are a heck of a lot of money to spend just to listen to Tidal. Tidal sound quality is nothing to write home about, and if you like jazz and classical the choice is pathetic. If you just want casual listening something like an Auralic Aries Mini for £500 should be more than adequate. If you want Naim, a used UnitiQute used as a source would be fine. 

That said, if you want to start downloading CD quality albums or high definition stuff, as well as using Tidal, that's a different matter and it's worth spending more in order to get something up to the standard of the rest of your stuff. That's when a used NDX for £2,000 or so comes into play. 

NDX has another advntage here - it can come wtih an optional FM/DAB module.

I have a Superuniti with Spotify premium.

I'd like to try Tidal but it does'nt work. The idea to compare Tidal HIFI with my CD reader.

Any suggestions to solve this ??

You need the latest firmeare and need to enable TIDAL as an input

I currently have my UQ in my big system. Works fine. Excellent solution for dab/fm/tidal etc, digital out to ndac

Yeah yeah yeah i could move it off the top of the 52. <contd lifes_too_short_to_worry>

Adam Zielinski posted:

You need the latest firmeare and need to enable TIDAL as an input

I have 4.1.00

Rossie posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

You need the latest firmeare and need to enable TIDAL as an input

I have 4.1.00

You need v 4.4.

Here is a link:

https://www.naimaudio.com/updates

A second hand ndx while waiting a new wave of electronics is a good idea, it is hard to believe how an electronic product has a that kind of shelf life in todays world! 

Still a microrendu/hugo/roon is an interesting option as well, not fraim friendly but i like roon interface specially with tidal!

I have try to update with a USB-USB cable and it does not recognized the unit ??

I found the problem . I have used another com and it works

I have a qute in another system - maybe I'll try that first (it's in a different residence so can't try it immediately). I think an NDS is taking it a bit far, but that said - I do like the idea of downloading some hi-res digital music and storing it on a NAS in addition to using Tidal. I'm thinking a used NDX might be just what I need, at least for now. Great looking system btw Jon!