Dipping toes into the NAS (world) with no clue and getting rid of the CD player

As HH says, just get the Naim streamer and you're home safe, you can't go wrong with that. From here it's really a question of simply plugging in the streamer and connect to nas with a standard Ethernet cable, and you're on your way. By all means, get one for home demo from a dealer just in case.  If that's a problem, just take the plunge, you're not likely to regret it. 

Hmack posted:

I completely agree.

NAS + streamer is the way to go, especially now your NAS is up and running. I think you will be delighted with the sound quality of your system (assuming you end up with a Naim streamer)

Why the qualification? If he chooses something else on the basis of having compared with a Naim streamer, as could happen at the dealer, then he is likely to be delighted regardless!

Innocent Bystander posted:

Hmack posted:

I completely agree.

NAS + streamer is the way to go, especially now your NAS is up and running. I think you will be delighted with the sound quality of your system (assuming you end up with a Naim streamer)

Why the qualification? If he chooses something else on the basis of having compared with a Naim streamer, as could happen at the dealer, then he is likely to be delighted regardless!

there’s not a lot of brands to propose streamers ( with dac).  Naim, linn, aurender and auralic, lumin too, and simaudio ( at the price level of nd5xs2)..... but not only naim choice.

Claus posted:

As HH says, just get the Naim streamer and you're home safe, you can't go wrong with that. From here it's really a question of simply plugging in the streamer and connect to nas with a standard Ethernet cable, and you're on your way. By all means, get one for home demo from a dealer just in case.  If that's a problem, just take the plunge, you're not likely to regret it. 

See it's little things like that (bold) that muddy the waters. If Stephen followed that he'd be back on here asking why doesn't it work. The NSA and the streamer both need to connect to the router, not to each other. Stuff that you just do if you know it is easily oversimplified and in this case, is misleading.

Stephen - you've done the hard bit. When you plug an ND5XS into your router and you have a device like a phone or iPad with the Naim on it, it really is a case of point and prod once you've confirmed on the app that the ND5XS it sees on the network is the one you want to use. All of the networking and connectivity is abstracted away from you the user. I recently swapped my ND5XS for a 272 and it was just a case of plugging the ethernet into it, it does the rest for you. The app simply smiled and said 'this one yeah?' and now my music comes through the 272. Easy. 

Except .. it is not always quite that straightforward with anything. (And this is no knocking anything, simply pointing out that how easy it is for people used to it to be guilty of over simplification, or forgetting little details. E.g.  I remember when I first plugged in my ND5XS wondering what on earth it meant by “rooms”, something that made no sense to me and didn’t seem to becexplained anywhere.

incidentally, at that time Cyrus published on its website a very clear guide to setting up a streaming system, with NAS and switches ryc, which was far clearer than anything on the Naim website - I haven’t looked to see what is available now.

Crikey, I would of thought that the Naim streamers will come with a comprehensive (paper backed) manuals with diagrams showing the user how to connect up and what to do next?

How things may have changed in this regard...the manual that came with my NAIT5si is as thick as a school text book although most of it is in different languages and all the other models in their range.

Do their network players use a on-line manual instead?

Hi Stephen. Why would it need a hefty user guide? Plug some mains into it, connect the ethernet cable from the router, connect the output to the amp and switch it on. Job done. By the time you've wondered if it's worked it's negotiated an IP address with the router and is ready to go.

You do seem to be over-thinking all this. Fwiw my view on things like this is along the lines of 'the internet isn't full of people moaning about it, how hard can it be?'. Usually it just works out tickety-boo.

Yes, the new ones just have a quick start manual, then it’s over to the online support pages on the website ☹️

More importantly, Naim have always said that their dealers are there to set up your gear for you, and where required, Naim in turn support their dealers in this. 

Ok, thanks guys.

The user guide in the box for the 272 streamer is a few bullet points that covers initial connections and basic usage; 4 pages multiplied by every language you can think of. A quick Google search revealed a a much more detailed user guide (PDF) that contained detailed descriptions of every menu item and its purpose plus everything else you could possibly need to know. 

Get it installed and working and then use it, just basic usage at first. Don't worry about grasping it all in one session, get used to what it does then explore its wider possibilities as you get used to it.

Stephen Tate posted:

Crikey, I would of thought that the Naim streamers will come with a comprehensive (paper backed) manuals with diagrams showing the user how to connect up and what to do next?

How things may have changed in this regard...the manual that came with my NAIT5si is as thick as a school text book although most of it is in different languages and all the other models in their range.

Do their network players use a on-line manual instead?

I seem to recall some sort of manual, though not what was in it about network - but I do remember that the Cyrus description was simple and clear. ChrisR is right that it is not difficult, but at the same time it seems to be a daunting thing for many people, and quite a few threads on this forum have been around the subject of how to fix it when people think they’ve done it right but it hasn’t worked or gives problems. 

As ChrisSU suggests, a dealer should ensure it is working - but again from umerous posts over the years it seems that not all dealers are as good as others at the networking side (while of course some people don’t have a dealer available). I have suggested in the past that perhaps all dealers should be required by Naim to stock a suitable NAS and network hardware and be competent at setting up a suitable network, as otherwise Naim is blamed if people have problems. That said, I guess the vast majority have no issues and it just works, so it is not something to worry about, and if you do buy from a local dealer you can insist that they don’t leave you with it until proven to be working.

Innocent Bystander posted:

T38.45 posted:

Innuos Zenith?

 

But he’s already gone the NAS route!

Innuos works with NAS shares as well, integrates ripping, roon, streaming and direct connection to a DAC. Thats what I want from Core as well :-)

T38.45 posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

T38.45 posted:

Innuos Zenith?

 

But he’s already gone the NAS route!

Innuos works with NAS shares as well, integrates ripping, roon, streaming and direct connection to a DAC. Thats what I want from Core as well :-)

Early in the thread I did suggest a Zen Mini, with a suitable DAC (Naim, Chord or other) as a viable alternative to a streamer without the hassle of running a computer as a source. As a potential alternative to an ND5 for similar money, that’s what I would be looking at for comparison. But if the OP just wants a streamer, that’s his prerogative, and he doesn’t have to justify it to us!

ChrisSU posted:

T38.45 posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

T38.45 posted:

Innuos Zenith?

 

But he’s already gone the NAS route!

Innuos works with NAS shares as well, integrates ripping, roon, streaming and direct connection to a DAC. Thats what I want from Core as well :-)

Early in the thread I did suggest a Zen Mini, with a suitable DAC (Naim, Chord or other) as a viable alternative to a streamer without the hassle of running a computer as a source. As a potential alternative to an ND5 for similar money, that’s what I would be looking at for comparison. But if the OP just wants a streamer, that’s his prerogative, and he doesn’t have to justify it to us!

I may check this other option out too Chris. I have considered what you suggested earlier in the thread, thanks. I'm not going to fall into this Naim streamer is the be all and end all way of doing things. I do understand that their are many  other options, it's just that to a numb nut like me, the Naim seems to be a no brainer as far as faffing around is concerned.

On another note:

I have been ripping more music into my laptop via dBpoweramp, now I want to send those files to the QNAP. Does the QNAP automatically know which 'recent' files to grab? or do I have to instruct my laptop what ones to send?

Sorry if these are stupid questions, but I haven't a clue.

Thanks

You need to drag and drop them from the laptop to the Qnap, just like we did at my place. 

Hmack posted:

dave4jazz posted:

Stephen Tate posted:

I must admit, when I first connected my laptop to my Arcam irDAC via a JitterBug and Chord Silver Plus USB cable and then started streaming from Qobuz it did hit me for six how good the sound was/is. I mean, compared to my CD5si with a Hi-Line or Grey/lavender lead, there isn't that much in it. I will say the CD player is little heavier in the bass and maybe a little richer but that's about it. I am expecting a dedicated Naim streamer and NAS to blow both of those out of the water. Do you think i'm in for a little disappointment in that it will not?

Regards,

Stephen

I can't answer your question but let's just say there's nothing that makes me want to go down the Naim streamer route.

Dave

I run both a 'streamer' (Linn Klimax DS/1) in one system and a separate renderer/DAC (Sonore microRendu/Hugo) in a second system. I also used to run a Naim streamer (ND5XS).

My preference, and my recommendation for anyone wants to get into local network streaming (or external streaming services) would be to go down the dedicated streamer and NAS route. Whilst the renderer/DAC route can be really good if you get it right and get it working, there are a number of advantages to the dedicated streamer option.

The most obvious advantage is that (assuming your chosen streamer is from Naim, Linn, Auralic or similar), it should be easier to get up and running than other perhaps slightly more 'complicated' options. It will also be significantly easier to get access to a multitude of Internet Radio stations (I find Naim to be particularly good in this respect) , or to have integrated access to streaming services such as Qobuz, Tidal or Spotify. I moved from a Naim ND5XS streamer to an ND5XS/Hugo to my current microRendu/Hugo in my second system simply because the sound quality of the original ND5XS on its own wasn't quite good enough, and the difference in sound quality between it and the streamer in my main system (at the time a Linn Klimax Renew) was just a little too much to be comfortable. I haven't heard the latest generation of Naim streamers, but I suspect that they will be pretty good at their price points, and there are a number of other options available as well. Unlike a number of people on this forum, I also like the Naim app (on iPad at least), and find its ease of use (and that of the Linn equivalent) enhances the whole music experience. 

My advice would be to demo one or more of the new Naim streamers, and look at a number of the interesting alternatives should you wish to broaden your search a little bit.

I fear the advice, based on Hmack's experience, has fallen on stony ground.

Dave

Hungryhalibut posted:

You need to drag and drop them from the laptop to the Qnap, just like we did at my place. 

Thanks for your reply Nigel. 

The problem I'm having here is (as far as I can see) my recent rips seem to be thrown in with the music that is already there, so unless I write each album down on a piece of paper and then manually go through and send them I can't see what has been recently ripped? There must be an easier way.

Thanks

When dbpoweramp rips, it should put each album in a folder with the artist’s name, under the music folder in your laptop. Richard will have set up a music folder on your Qnap. It’s then a matter of dragging the folders from your laptop to the Qnap. Does that make sense?

Oh dear, I think I have just gone and wiped off all my music from my laptop. I GIVE UP!!!

I need to walk away and calm down!!

I have now lost ALL interest now!!

I might see if I can get a used CDX2 instead!

Sorry to hear this.  Are the rips on your laptop backed up?  

Ripping CDs is not for everyone and perhaps a preloved UnitiServe/Core & DAC may have been a better option.

Stephen Tate posted:

 

The problem I'm having here is (as far as I can see) my recent rips seem to be thrown in with the music that is already there, so unless I write each album down on a piece of paper and then manually go through and send them I can't see what has been recently ripped? There must be an easier way.

Thanks

 

In the folder the normal sort is alphabetic by name, but each of the column headers changes the view to sort by that column and clicking it again reverses the sort. Click on the Date Modified column header to do that, to show the latest additions. That's how Windows & my Linux Mint OS works; I can't imagine a Mac is substantially different.

I was keen for you to make this work but tbh it's become such a faff I agree with you now, forget it and stick with what you know. If you do decide to give streaming a go in the future you might be better to get a streamer and the blank NAS together and get all your ducks in a row first, then do it all at once so that you don't have this endless angst of wondering what happens if... 

Guinnless posted:

Sorry to hear this.  Are the rips on your laptop backed up?  

No they are not to my knowledge. I don't know how to back them up, I don't think i'm going to bother now anyway. I just can't get on with computers and losing all my music has just proved it.

All my recent rips were just going in with the old rips, I looked for a separate folder but I couldn't see one.

I need to find a way of formatting the QNAP now and send it back.

I either going to go down the vinyl route or look for bargain CDX2.

Thanks for all your help, you have been fantastic!

I'm too peeved off now to even consider streaming...

Thanks

Have you looked in whatever the Mac equivalent is of the recycle bin on Windows? You might be able to get them back. But I agree, it should be a smooth process not a load of angst & pain.

 It sounds like you're at home doing this; what happened to the plan of going in to visit the dealer today which was curtailed by being called in to work at short notice?

Stephen Tate posted:

I need to walk away and calm down!!

I have now lost ALL interest now!!

I might see if I can get a used CDX2 instead!

hey Stephen, all you encounter is normal and a lot of us had the same problems.  Be patient, all will be fine.  In the meantime, when you will have a streamer, you will be able to stream directly on tidal, without opening your computer or nas!  just click the album to play on your ipad.