Just starting out... (Uniti)

Posted by: NPD on 31 August 2011

Hi, I've recently purchased a Uniti, which I'm delighted with, although I'm a complete novice when it comes to streaming. I use a Sony laptop with an iTunes account which links to an iTouch and iPad.

I understand I need to buy a NAS drive and I can get an HP mediasmart server at a very good price so might go for that. Would love to hear from anyone else who has experience of this kit, or views on something better.

The CDs I've ripped to my iTunes account have been done using the high quality option, although A quick flick through this forum suggests Apple Lossless is the way to go. I assume that will mean re-ripping all my CDs... Again any thoughts or advice would be welcome.

Many thanks in advance, Nigel
Posted on: 31 August 2011 by garyi
Currently your best bet is flac, which is incompatible with itunes.

I recommend qnap for a nas, they are dedicated developers of nases, hp seem to be all at sea and areon about getting out of hardware, so long term for their products, humm..
Posted on: 01 September 2011 by Iver van de Zand

Indeed, like Gary mentions, the best way to go is probably FLAC which is a lossless format. Though iTunes also is capable of ripping lossless (called Apple Losless or ALAC), you might have a problem with streaming ALAC into the Uniti.

 

Uniti does support FLAC for streaming lossless, so that's could be your preferred format. ITune scannot rip to FLAC, so you'd best go with somethig like dbPowerAmp.

 

Good Luck,

Iver

Posted on: 02 September 2011 by rednotdead

I run an HP mediasmart server in place of a NAS and can recommend it.  If you're running windows home server (WHS) then I can recommend the asset upnp server which you'll need to serve toons to the uniti.  There is a dedicated WHS installation of the asset program and it hasn't missed a bit.

 

As has already been said, I'd go for flac.  Store them in the 'Music' folder that is part of WHS, point asset to that folder, the uniti will pick up the asset server and off you go.  It really is that simple.

 

Posted on: 03 September 2011 by Simon Everest
If you're managing your music in iTunes FLAC is as much use as a chocolate teapot. Better to rip to Apple Lossless and keep nagging Naim to sort out AirPlay so you can stream directly to the Uniti without messing around with UPnP. You can always transcode to FLAC at a later date if necessary (eg if no AirPlay by this time next year) but until then can keep using ITunes, iPod Touch and iPad without the hassle of mucking about with multiple formats or dynamic transcoding.

Simon
Posted on: 03 September 2011 by Pev

Or you could nag Apple to support flac! The OP has a pc and is contemplating a mediaserver so iTunes is by no means necessary for him. I do have iTunes but only because I have an iPod - Foobar, JRiver etc. are so much better as a streaming source.

For me flac vs AAC is a choice between free, open source and universal versus propietary, locked in and licensed...

Posted on: 03 September 2011 by Tog
Run Asset UPnP on your Sony - try the trial version first - use flac (fairly easy to convert from alac)

Or build, buy or acquisition an intel based PC to act as a Vortexbox server- free software - works brilliantly with the Uniti/nstream - can be administered via web interface - will rip to flac and mirror to alac automatically and stream flac to iTunes via it's own daap server. Simple, constantly maintained and updated - fantastic.

Tog
Posted on: 03 September 2011 by Guido Fawkes
Originally Posted by Iver van de Zand:

.... you might have a problem with streaming ALAC into the Uniti.

 

 

Good Luck,

Iver

I think you'll definitely have a problem - my UQ is not able to render either ALAC or AIFF (though I think AIFF may be put right with a firmware update). It can play FLAC without problem. I can play the Apple formats by getting iTunes to do the rendering and feeding the S/PDIF interface on the UQ with very good results. It is shame that computer audio is hampered by so many different formats; it would be easier if everybody agreed on FLAC or an equivalent (and AAC for iPods etc). The Sonus applications and rendering engines seem to cope with most formats, but it must be frustrating for manufacturers as well as us as users to have to handle this.

 

As Tog explains, the best music server around at the moment is the Vortexbox as it handles multiple formats gracefully and is very nice to use. So you can use it with both iTunes and Naim. The Vortexbox software is free so it is easy to try out and then if you like it build your own VB or buy a ready made one. 


Even though an all Naim system is nice; it does assume certain formats and if you see the future as downloaded music rather than ripped from CD then you need something that handles multiple formats. If all download services agree on FLAC this is not a problem, but I somehow doubt the iTunes store will oblige. 

Posted on: 04 September 2011 by NPD

Sincere thanks for all the guidance. As you all know there are multiple choices out there... After a few days of resonably intense research I steering towards a Synology NAS or VortexBox streaming Flac files and think I will just keep my iTunes account separate for the time being.

 

Many thanks, Nigel