Music storage/ replay UServe or not.

Adding some thoughts.

These are the options I think of:

1.

- NAS £

- Computer who rip, administrate, do replay. Can I use Mini or HP laptop?

2.

- UServe £

- NAS £

- Computer to administrate and setup NAS?  Guess I can use current options for both tasks?

S

Another correction. Sorry for my bad English.....

I mean playback, not replay

S

Can`t blame anyone for not responding to this thread. First of all it consists several faults in my English writing. Second and of most relevance, is my questions. They must be confusing in lack of fundamental knowledge on the subject.

To understand where to go for my future HD playback, I started to read, in Norwegian trying to find out what it`s all about. I can see there`s a long way to go.

I`ll just have to start at the bottom and forget all the wishes for a simple and served solution.

The main task for me is to find out if UServe will be the best solution for me, despite of its cost level.

Regards Steinar

Hello Steinar

Sorry nobody has responded to your post, personally I think that may be because your question is hard to answer.

I think that you really need a good dealer to help you with the many options available to you, none of these things are cheap and getting it wrong could prove painful.

It could be argued that nobody needs a US as there are several alternative ways of achieving the same thing. However, many people have decided to purchase one probably for almost as many reasons as unit sold, (slight exaggeration there). They are neat and match the Naim range, they undoubtedly do a fine job of ripping and are totally compatible with whichever streamer you may decide to add later, simple to use.

In the end only you will be able to decide what is important to you and whether or not it is worth the outlay…..to you.

You really need to find a dealer and discuss all the option from where you are now to where you aim to be; then your decision should be much easier.

Regards

Peter

PS.  Perhaps next time we my converse in the Norwegian language, (or not), you may then realise that you English is pretty darn good.   

Hi Steinar

Try a ASYNC USB to S/PDIF convertor between you Mac Mini and Naim DAC and you may be very pleasantly surprised how good it sounds. This could mean you could your current system and method of ripping and enjoy outstanding sound quality.  

The Mac Mini has a rather ordinary optical S/PDIF output and it is no surprise that the US sounds a lot better, but I think the gap may close/disappear with this inexpensive tweak. 

If you want to ditch the Mac Mini and are considering US SSD then I would definitely recommend auditioning against the UQ which has more facilities and I think will do just as good a job if you use UPnP (Vortexbox is ideal). The advantage of the US is that you don't need UPnP - if you ripped to WAV on your Mac it could access these files using a file share. 

As Peter says, a good dealer to help you try a few things is pretty essential. 

All these solutions can produce great sound. 

All the best, Guy

Steinar, I understand your confusion as I too am trying to figure out what option I want for a new 2 channel system.  I am continually thinking of a Mac Mini versus UnitiServ.  I personally would be likely to spend the money for the UServe in order to avoid having to deal with the technical issues, especially if I want to stream the music.

Naim is supposed to announce new hardware additions later this month, and so I will wait a few weeks and see what they have forthcoming.

Good luck with your decision!

Thanks to all of you, replying to this thread. As I said, quite understandable, I am still confused and it shows .

I did not take offence nobody answering.

My Mac Mini run USB out via M2Tech Hiface through DC1 BNC-BNC. I have compared it to optical output and there`s a big difference. I have also compared Mac vs UServe and the latter is better soundwise and espesially when it comes to UI. Mini was hardly used the period US was on loan.

I am quite sure about my "end" source. (there`s no end in hifi) Since Naim obviously prioritizes WAV format I found that continuing ripping to Mac and Lossless was a waste of time, even though I find current solution to give me alot of musical thrill . (Espesially 555PS on the Dac blew me away). Still it`s not preparable to a forthcoming Naim streamer? 

As far as I know iTunes does not support WAV (except from if Windows OS is used) and then windows based ripping and administration came to my mind, such as dbpoweramp. I could then use my work laptop doing it all?

Also, since SSD is for me, I need a NAS anyway. This is where my competence stops. I then wonder how to do playback from the NAS (until the streamer is in place and if not US). Still the Mac or a Sonos etc?

I totally agree that finding the right dealer is for the best. I will work on that.

Guy. I guess choosing US over UQ will give me the ease when ripping cd`s as well? On the other hand I agree in UQ having more options/ VFM.

At the end I also look forward to see what new hardware will be released.

Further I will be happy for any comments that can bring me further on, but again no replies also OK, I totally agree in that at the end I have to choose for myself. I will continue searching to learn more and last, I will look up the right dealer

Thanks, regards Steinar

It will, I am not sure I would have managed to rip every disc without it. I also use nDac/555ps and combined with Chord Sarum I have a sound quality that is vastly superior to my old CDS3/555ps combination, which is now departed.

Gerry

> My Mac Mini run USB out via M2Tech Hiface through DC1 BNC-BNC. I have compared it to optical output and there`s a big difference. I have also compared Mac vs UServe and the latter is better soundwise and espesially when it comes to UI.

Fair enough - can forget what I said about the V-Link then; I think it is a little better than the M2Tech device especially when using optical rather than a coaxial connection, but I think you like the US and why not it is a good piece of kit.

I disagree with the comment about iTunes ripping - it makes bit perfect rips. I use it and quite often switch to XLD just for variety. XLD uses he best ripping program around: CD Paranoia. And guess what on every test I've done iTunes rips with error correction are the same as XLD. I've also compared with US, EAC and dBPowerAmp and they all produce the same PCM content. I've now stopped worrying about Which Ripper - I simply can't find any difference. I agree it would be nice if iTunes popped up a box to say I've compared this with an Accurate Rip and it is perfect, but it doesn't do this.  

However, there may be non-sonic reasons for preferring a ripper like the US. It will create the Tags in the best possible way for the Naim clients. Though I like to be able to manually edit Tags and revamp the albums; I quite often separate from bonus tracks from the original and I I like simple song titles - e,g. White Rabbit rather White Rabbit (Remixed Mono Version 7); I relegate the bit in brackets to the Comments. I always separate two on one CDs into two separate albums too. 

One thing to Say though, Steinar, is you can use any of these methods to produce great sound - so which ever way you decide to go you'll have a good system. 

All the best, Guy

Hi again

The features for NDX says:

• Streams/plays WAV, FLAC, AIFF, AAC, Windows Media-formatted content, ALAC (from iPod), Ogg Vorbis and MP3 files from any suitable UPnP device or USB-connected storage device

If you are using the NDX why not stream aiff - just as good as wav and with better tagging.

Tog

Hi Tog

I don`t have an NDX, but I plan to own a Naim streamer in the future, NDX or better.

I wan`t to be prepared for this and to adjust my ripping/ format habits for it`s arrival.

I guess I can rip cd`s with my Mac/ iTunes then, as aiff and transfer these files to a NAS later on?

I am not at home right now to check. If so, this is really good news.

What format do most NDX owners stream, if they don`t have the UServe? I guess some might say Wav is superior to most other formats, also aiff, when it comes to SQ? Not needed to comment, I have read many threads on the subject.

S

Hi Simon - I've never used iTunes on a PC - all my tests were on my Mac which has a SONY DVD RW DW-Q28A. US, EAC and dbPowerAmp rips were passed to me by friends. My CDs are in good condition so perhaps I avoid error correction. XLD uses CD Paranoia or its own Secure Ripper. Try as I may with different options I end up with the same file in terms of PCM.

An exception was "M" - the guy who did "Pop Muzik". iTunes rip of the last two tracks goes wrong, its ripping speed drops to almost zero. Resultant rip is unlistenable. With XLD and it gave up too. I used my  Yamaha HD CD Recorder and it ripped it; I got it to burn a CD-R using its AMQ setting. Both iTunes and XLD ripped the CD-R and same file. Not convinced it ripped properly as SQ is still poor. Mind you they are not great songs.  

I absolutely understand what you are saying and appreciate you have heard errors. I'm lucky so far no clicks and pops on any CD except "M". I agree if you use a PC you may as well use EAC or dbPowerAmp to ripr. On a Mac I'm still OK with iTunes is OK, but could easily use CD Paranoia driven by XLD or Max - resultant files go into the iTunes library. XLD is best for cover art and tagging. 

Next week, for the hell of it, I'll burn a CD-R and rip it and then scratch it and rip again to see what happens.  

All the best, Guy

Stainer,

Something for you to try at very little cost.

Try connecting your Hi-Face onto the the BNC socket on the back of your Naim DAC with a BNC coupler.

These cost around 29p each.

Then run a USB to USB cable from the Hi-Face to your Mac.

You wont need the DC1 cable.

Stu

That should be a Female to male USB cable.

Stu

Either you were unlucky or I was lucky, but I have ripped just under 2900 CD's on the unitiserev with no failures, only 6 unknown albums which were promo's. Artwork failure was more frequent but very easy to update.  

I have checked playback possibilities for Serve, NDX and UQute to find out if AIFF is compatible with them all. Seems like UQute dont support AIFF?

What I do think of is to rip my cds to a NAS in AIFF format. FLAC may be a better solution though, supported by all three Naim units it seems?

Thanks again S