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

Stephen Tate posted:

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

 

 

 

open your window and throw away all your equipment, you will feel better!    or make a big fire with your computer and nas.....     no, just JOKING !

Stephen Tate posted:

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

 

 

 

Oh dear, you really seem prone to drama! Maybe it is just your nature, and maybe CD, online streaming or radio are the only sensible media for you, with nothing to faff. But: you  bought a NAS. That was before getting a streamer - which  actually is very sensible as you don’t need to rush the ripping. You seemed to be ripping OK, then panic sets in. HH has kindly offered to pop round and help - why not just take that up and wait for his practiced hand?

100% wot IB says.    This is nothing to do with not getting on with computers,  just that a very basic understanding will help.     I would count to ten forget it all for the day & have a fresh look again in the morning.   I can't guess whats happened & where your rips have gone to.  When I rip to either laptop or direct to NAS I can 'see' the rips in my MS-Windows File Explorer view,  are you saying the view that you did have is not there anymore ???    If so you cannot loose them that easily,  you might have dragged & dropped them somewhere in error,  but I doubt they are lost,  even if you've actually deleted them they will be in the recycle bin & you can 'restore' very easily from that.   

When I first started I ripped a few hundred CD's to my new NAS before my NDX arrived,  The only difference was I ripped straight into the NAS & not to my laptop first.  When the NDX arrived I plugged it in,  set up the n-Stream app & it played toones,  it really was that simple.

someone must come to Stephen house and show him .  I will be the end of the nightmare.   

Stephen, just give away for now. Wait for HH and all will be fine.

Yes, as others have said they are probably still there somewhere.  The best thing to do now is nothing - that way you can't make things any worse.  Once HH has sorted it you'll laugh about this tomorrow

There's plenty of pre-loved Unitiserves for sale - all you have to do is feed it CDs    It's not for nothing that Naim make 'Serves and 'Cores; I know it's not as cheap as a NAS but I'm fairly sure you could use the UnitiServe's output to a Naim DAC. 

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!

I really didn't mean to imply that he would only be happy with a Naim streamer. As you will see from my profile, I don't actually use a Naim streamer (apart from the Muso Qb) myself. What I really meant to say was:

...assuming you end up with a Naim streamer or another of similar quality (from say,  Linn, Moon or Auralic).  

Ok, after throwing all my toys out of the pram and spitting feathers and foaming at the mouth like some crazed nutter out of a horror movie, I now feel much better!!

I have been to visit my very friendly dealer today and after much debate and a good look around as well as drooling over all their Russell K speakers, I have left it with them to contact me the minute they receive a Naim ND5 XS 2. I will be taking this potential baby home and hopefully she will be up to my expectations. They did offer me a ND5XS (ex-demo) for £1799 which I have to say is quite tempting! They also had a second hand (probably a trade in) one for £1499 too. 

Now, I really have my heart set on the ND5 XS 2, this is the one I want and I shall now be patient and wait... 

It appears that I have - self harmed myself through frustration - but that's ok, I now have the time to get back on track. Hopefully Naim will take their time to get all these new streamers to perfection, so this is no longer an issue for me.

As for my music on my laptop; it's gone. I will re-rip it all and play around a bit more now i'm a bit more familiar as well as going through the teething pains that I guess most experience with these things. One can feel they will be rewarded in the end, that's why we keep going from one failure to the next 'with the same amount of enthusiasm'.

I will be back stronger than ever with a system I hope will give me years of pleasure, one just get's a bit old and cranky these days!!

I am now listening to The Light House Family (best of) which I have just picked up for 50 pence in mint condition, as well as a load of other bargain discs! I feel a plan coming on!

Wonderful weather here in the UK this weekend, beer in hand, what more can one ask for!

Happy listening folks and thankyou so much for your support, you guys are legends!!!

Hmack posted:

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!

I really didn't mean to imply that he would only be happy with a Naim streamer. As you will see from my profile, I don't actually use a Naim streamer (apart from the Muso Qb) myself. What I really meant to say was:

...assuming you end up with a Naim streamer or another of similar quality (from say,  Linn, Moon or Auralic).  

Ah, understood 

Oh, and the QNAP is now staying!!

And I apologize for my rant also!

Thanks!

dave4jazz posted:

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

Not really, assuming I understand the point you are trying to make, which I believe is that you think that my two statements highlighted in bold are contradictory.  

I stand by my assertion that a streamer is a better bet for most than a more complicated set up. In my own situation, I was comparing the sound quality of the bottom of Naim's streamer range with a streamer that was pretty close to the top of the Linn range. It was hardly surprising that the NDX5s didn't come out too well by comparison. I could quite easily have chosen to purchase an NDX or NDS or a Linn equivalent to replace the ND5XS in my second system, but as someone with quite a bit of experience in both network music streaming and computers, I opted to go for the much cheaper option of adding a Hugo DAC to my existing ND5XS. I have a background in computing, but I struggled for some time to get my microRendu/Gustard/Hugo set up and running reliably.

There are a number of drawbacks to this setup:

- The microRendu drops out of my network every now and again (maybe once every 3 or 4 weeks) and has to be massaged into life again, unlike my Kazoo/DS1 or Naim app/Muso QB setups.

- Internet Radio stations are very much more difficult to access, unlike on either of my Linn or Naim 'streamer' setups.

- I find the open source Lumin control app I use with the microRendu/Hugo setup to be less satisfying to use than either the Linn Kazzo or Naim apps. 

So, sound quality of the microRendu/Hugo setup is pretty good (albeit not as good as my DS/1), and the combination is undoubtedly very good value for money. However, I would not recommend it to anyone new to streaming or not pretty computer literate.  My choice for my own main system would always be a 'good' streamer from the likes of Linn, Naim, Auralic, SimAudio Moon etc, and my advice for any newcomer to the joys of streaming would be to opt for a dedicated streamer in the first instance.  

Thanks for your positive contributions Hmack!

And soundly understood here!

Just out of interest, in my dealer's demo room they had a NDX into a Supernait 2 and then into Special Forty speakers. Very nice indeed!

I still can't believe that all your music has been wiped. Get some help in before you give up on it - I'm not near you or I would offer.

Stephen Tate posted:

Just out of interest, in my dealer's demo room they had a NDX into a Supernait 2 and then into Special Forty speakers. Very nice indeed!

NDX/Supernait is a great combination, did you make him a cheeky offer?!

 I certainly wouldn’t buy an ND5XS for £1800, that would only be a 10% discount on a brand new ND5XS2. 

What I thought I was doing was getting rid of an old folder from old rips so I could then see where my new rips would be presented, pressed the click on the mouse and then my heart dropped after a green bar appeared wiping out all my music! 

Stephen Tate posted:

Ok, after throwing all my toys out of the pram and spitting feathers and foaming at the mouth like some crazed nutter out of a horror movie, I now feel much better!!

I have been to visit my very friendly dealer today and after much debate and a good look around as well as drooling over all their Russell K speakers, I have left it with them to contact me the minute they receive a Naim ND5 XS 2. I will be taking this potential baby home and hopefully she will be up to my expectations. They did offer me a ND5XS (ex-demo) for £1799 which I have to say is quite tempting! They also had a second hand (probably a trade in) one for £1499 too. 

Now, I really have my heart set on the ND5 XS 2, this is the one I want and I shall now be patient and wait... 

It appears that I have - self harmed myself through frustration - but that's ok, I now have the time to get back on track. Hopefully Naim will take their time to get all these new streamers to perfection, so this is no longer an issue for me.

As for my music on my laptop; it's gone. I will re-rip it all and play around a bit more now i'm a bit more familiar as well as going through the teething pains that I guess most experience with these things. One can feel they will be rewarded in the end, that's why we keep going from one failure to the next 'with the same amount of enthusiasm'.

I will be back stronger than ever with a system I hope will give me years of pleasure, one just get's a bit old and cranky these days!!

I am now listening to The Light House Family (best of) which I have just picked up for 50 pence in mint condition, as well as a load of other bargain discs! I feel a plan coming on!

Wonderful weather here in the UK this weekend, beer in hand, what more can one ask for!

Happy listening folks and thankyou so much for your support, you guys are legends!!!

 

 I really like your positive attitude, good job, keep it going. I know that you can do it.
Streaming is easy once you put your hand on it .
A man as thick as I am can do it, then anyone can do it.

ChrisSU posted:

Stephen Tate posted:

Just out of interest, in my dealer's demo room they had a NDX into a Supernait 2 and then into Special Forty speakers. Very nice indeed!

NDX/Supernait is a great combination, did you make him a cheeky offer?!

 I certainly wouldn’t buy an ND5XS for £1800, that would only be a 10% discount on a brand new ND5XS2. 

Hi Chris, 

I didn't know what the full retail price was for a ND5XS but because it was £200 cheaper than the newer item, I assumed this is tempting. Anyway, I want a ND5 XS 2.

Stephen Tate posted:

What I thought I was doing was getting rid of an old folder from old rips so I could then see where my new rips would be presented, pressed the click on the mouse and then my heart dropped after a green bar appeared wiping out all my music! 

Have a look in the recycling bin.

Stephen Tate posted:

ChrisSU posted:

Stephen Tate posted:

Just out of interest, in my dealer's demo room they had a NDX into a Supernait 2 and then into Special Forty speakers. Very nice indeed!

NDX/Supernait is a great combination, did you make him a cheeky offer?!

 I certainly wouldn’t buy an ND5XS for £1800, that would only be a 10% discount on a brand new ND5XS2. 

Hi Chris, 

I didn't know what the full retail price was for a ND5XS but because it was £200 cheaper than the newer item, I assumed this is tempting. Anyway, I want a ND5 XS 2.

The new version is cheaper than the old one (unlike all the other new models) presumably because it has no screen, and no external PSU option. 

next episode :  i give up and throw away all these toys and will buy a second hand cdx2....( posting that it will not happen, cross fingers !)

ChrisSU posted:

Stephen Tate posted:

ChrisSU posted:

 I certainly wouldn’t buy an ND5XS for £1800, that would only be a 10% discount on a brand new ND5XS2. 

Hi Chris, 

I didn't know what the full retail price was for a ND5XS but because it was £200 cheaper than the newer item, I assumed this is tempting. Anyway, I want a ND5 XS 2.

The new version is cheaper than the old one (unlike all the other new models) presumably because it has no screen, and no external PSU option. 

My guess is that is likely to make old model secondhand prices drop sharply when Mk 2 is released  - bad news for owners thinking of trading up , but good formbuyers.

ChrisSU posted:

Stephen Tate posted:

ChrisSU posted:

Stephen Tate posted:

Just out of interest, in my dealer's demo room they had a NDX into a Supernait 2 and then into Special Forty speakers. Very nice indeed!

NDX/Supernait is a great combination, did you make him a cheeky offer?!

 I certainly wouldn’t buy an ND5XS for £1800, that would only be a 10% discount on a brand new ND5XS2. 

Hi Chris, 

I didn't know what the full retail price was for a ND5XS but because it was £200 cheaper than the newer item, I assumed this is tempting. Anyway, I want a ND5 XS 2.

The new version is cheaper than the old one (unlike all the other new models) presumably because it has no screen, and no external PSU option. 

Chris, there is always one more thing, come on ; spit it out!

However, or what ever you decide, always keep a backup (or two)! 

An offsite backup is also recommended! 

Stephen Tate posted:

I didn't know what the full retail price was for a ND5XS but because it was £200 cheaper than the newer item, I assumed this is tempting. Anyway, I want a ND5 XS 2.

Good man - The ND5XS2 sounds very good so it\s worth hanging on for this player rather than a bargain ND5XS. 

James

I think so too James, thanks.

Actually, i'm now getting quite excited about the prospect of owning one of Naim's latest generation network players.

I have started to re-rip all my CDs again - at least this time around i'm not so lost and can better catalogue them. I need to find a way of backing it all up so I don't lose the lot again. 

An external USB drive is a good idea?