Wireless DAC

If you want to use WiFi I guess you will be looking at a streamer/DAC rather than just a DAC, with UPnP server sortware running on your laptop. I’m not sure that s £200 device will do justice to your Naim system in terms of sound quality, but there are solutions that will work. For example, a Yamaha WXC-50 does this very well. More recently, they have released the cheaper WXAD-10 which I suspect would work just as well. There’s also the Sonos Connect. 

The Yamaha WXC-50 is very capable indeed with multiple input and good streaming ability. It’s the only pre-amp I can think of which has Bluetooth out, so your wireless headphones can be used with it.

I’ve never heard of a wireless DAC, and so a player as others suggested (aka streamer), to which the file is served over WiFi by a UPnP server on the computer to the player/streamer.

ian1948uk posted:

Hi everyone and all the very best for the festive season. A quickie please (but replies after Boxing Day!). I want to put a wireless DAC between my Naim "olives" and my music library on my laptop. I use a JRiver Remote on my iPad to "control" what I play. At the moment I'm hard-wired but it's a bit of a pain. So a wireless DAC it may be. Compact size and no more than £200 - although I would consider 2nd hand to get a better one and still limit to £200. Any suggestions or advice would be most welcome. Many thanks. 

You can use a Raspberry Pi 3 with a HiFiBerry or with an Allo DAC as a hat. In this case you do not need to keep your files on your laptop: a 1TB drive connected to the RPi will prevent large data transfer over the wireless at replay time. Control via iPad or mobile phone. RPi3 + DAC + 1TB HDD will cost you about £200.

Hi everyone and firstly my apologies for my clumsy terminology and yes of course I was referring to the need for a not expensive streamer. Thanks for the replies so far especially during the Xmas period. There's certainly some consideration needed. Looks like the cheaper Yamaha is well recommended even though it lacks the sophistication (facilities) of its more expensive sibling. 

A local Naim dealer has thrown the Arcam RPlayer into the mix. Even though like the dearer Yamaha it's outside of my price thoughts I could stretch that far. Are there any comments on this kit? Or any other suggestions?

Many thanks in advance!

I’m pretty sure the cheaper Yamaha device does what you need it to do, the only extras you get with the other one is a built in preamp, which you don’t need. I bought the WXC-50 to add streaming to a system for my daughter, but if the WXAD-10 had existed at the time, that’s what I would have bought. 

I recently added an Arcam R-Play with a wired connection to my router. It fits into my mature system of NAC 92, NAP 140, Piega TS5 speakers and a more recent CD5Si (CD3 died aged 20). Using Spotify Premium  to compare with any of my 1800 strong CD collection I cannot detect any differences - it really sounds that good. I have tried "blind tastings" with family and friends - so younger and older ears and nobody can tell when the sources are switched. I realise that my system is entry level and aged but it still sounds great! I am still playing CDs as I cannot bear the thought of packing them in the attic with their vinyl relatives. 

R-Play works well. Incidentally does anyoneelse have experience of Piega spealers with Naim? I think they sound superb!

ChrisSU posted:

I’m pretty sure the cheaper Yamaha device does what you need it to do, the only extras you get with the other one is a built in preamp, which you don’t need. I bought the WXC-50 to add streaming to a system for my daughter, but if the WXAD-10 had existed at the time, that’s what I would have bought. 

Hi all especially ChrisSU. Thanks for further replies. Does anyone know if I can continue selecting from my library using JRemote and selecting the Yamaha kit to play it on?

I have no experience of JRiver - as long as you run UPnP server software on your computer, the Yamaha devices will allow you to browse and control your music library using their Music Cast app. It also supports internet radio, Tidal, Spotify, Deezer and Qobuz.

If you are looking for a cheap streamer maybe have a look at the Auralic Aries Mini.

You can add a internal HD.