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

Needless to say when I now go to the Asset homepage and instead of reading something like - trial period: 5 days remaining - it now reads - functionality: Premium Registration 

Right; just need a Naim streamer now...

Hi folks,

I have seen on the audio T website that they have a second hand ND5 XS going for£1,400.

Is this a fair price do you think?

Thanks for any advice and opinions.

The ND5 XS2 won’t be that much more expensive and considerably better sounding as well as far more future proof. Wait.

Personally, I would also wait. But if you want to have a go now now -- get a better price. Maybe they can do an attractive trade-in deal that would allow you to get an XS2/ND5XS combo...  

I would wait at that price.

I'd wait as well unless an NDX cops up as this will only be a few hundred quid more.

I think used/exdem prices for ND5XS present a challenge at the moment as the new model is cheaper than the outgoing.  I suspect used prices need to drop and NDX will hold close to current prices as the new model is so much more then the old model.  The same probably holds for the NDS in the short term due to the ND555 price.

To be honest, used/ex-demo prices for an NDX I find even stepper -- between 2.5 and 3K. I feel these prices are even less justifiable with the ND5XS2 coming in at 2K. By the way, is it still 2K? Hifi corner takes pre-orders at £2,299. That would suggest a price rise before the streamer got re-leased... As an ND5XS owner, I probably don't mind, as it keeps the second-hand value up. If I sold now, I would hope to achieve £1,200. Following ebay, that's seems reasonable for a used model in basically mint condition... A few sold at slightly higher prices. But at £1,400, they don't sell...

Stephen,

my 2 cents in a quick résumé:

- Extract from all the replies the essential of what you need (NAS, a streamer and proper lengths of Ethernet cable)

- Download EAC (if you are a PC) or XLD (if you are an Apple)

- Buy a bottle or two of a good sparkling, light wine

- Put them into the fridge

- Invite the nearest of the gently available members to your place on a sunny Sunday

- Do the job together.

(A strictly personal PS: I know the CD5si and the Nait5si, and have heard the Motive SX2 a few times; all of them have minor flaws, but as a system they have drive and fun to waste. I hope you'll get the same with a NAS/streamer-based system).

Best,

Max 

Ops, it seems I came late. Best anyway.

M.

i would go also as Timo for an attractive price for xs2/ nd5xs.  If not, ndx second hand or wait for nd5xs2.   But i don’t feel now you will be able to wait for the later .

Adding to my earlier post -- when comparing ND5XS and NDX, the former can be economically upgraded with a Naim DAC later if you feel the urge... An ND5XS plus used NDAC should come in (possibly quite a bit) cheaper than an NDX. I haven't heard the ND5XS partnering up with the NDAC, but from reading the Forum I am under the impression that an ND5XS/NDAC will have the NDX for breakfast. I can't really see any case for the NDX at current prices, unless one is determined to avoid an additional black box... 

Stephen, off to Audio T? 

Stephen you continue to be baffled by where things have disappeared to when you download them. I don't know what browser you use (Chrome, Edge, Internet Explorer etc) but your best bet would be to change it from the default download location (probably a folder named Downloads), to your desktop. 

Google your browser e.g. Chrome change download location to find out how, or just prod around in Settings -> Advanced -> Downloads. These things are trivially easy, it just requires sitting down with the patient hat on and thinking the obvious.

You seem to be able to make every step of this a tortuous event, and for something that was all explained on page 1 of this thread, it's become a farce of Brian Rix proportions. As per earlier advice, find a teenager who gets this stuff, or your friendly local forumite who's already shown you how easy it is, and make notes. Or, if I might be so bold, stick to your cd collection.

ATB.

ChrisR_EPL posted:

Stephen you continue to be baffled by where things have disappeared to when you download them. I don't know what browser you use (Chrome, Edge, Internet Explorer etc) but your best bet would be to change it from the default download location (probably a folder named Downloads), to your desktop. 

Google your browser e.g. Chrome change download location to find out how, or just prod around in Settings -> Advanced -> Downloads. These things are trivially easy, it just requires sitting down with the patient hat on and thinking the obvious.

You seem to be able to make every step of this a tortuous event, and for something that was all explained on page 1 of this thread, it's become a farce of Brian Rix proportions. As per earlier advice, find a teenager who gets this stuff, or your friendly local forumite who's already shown you how easy it is, and make notes. Or, if I might be so bold, stick to your cd collection.

ATB.

stephen has already succeeded, several hours ago.....

French Rooster posted:

ChrisR_EPL posted:

Stephen you continue to be baffled by where things have disappeared to when you download them. I don't know what browser you use (Chrome, Edge, Internet Explorer etc) but your best bet would be to change it from the default download location (probably a folder named Downloads), to your desktop. 

Google your browser e.g. Chrome change download location to find out how, or just prod around in Settings -> Advanced -> Downloads. These things are trivially easy, it just requires sitting down with the patient hat on and thinking the obvious.

You seem to be able to make every step of this a tortuous event, and for something that was all explained on page 1 of this thread, it's become a farce of Brian Rix proportions. As per earlier advice, find a teenager who gets this stuff, or your friendly local forumite who's already shown you how easy it is, and make notes. Or, if I might be so bold, stick to your cd collection.

ATB.

stephen has already succeeded, several hours ago.....

Some blokes don't seem to read, only interested in posting for the sake of posting!

exactly, completely agree!

Timo posted:

Stephen, off to Audio T? 

Not quite yet Timo but I will be in the next week or so.

ChrisR_EPL posted:

Stephen you continue to be baffled by where things have disappeared to when you download them. I don't know what browser you use (Chrome, Edge, Internet Explorer etc) but your best bet would be to change it from the default download location (probably a folder named Downloads), to your desktop. 

Google your browser e.g. Chrome change download location to find out how, or just prod around in Settings -> Advanced -> Downloads. These things are trivially easy, it just requires sitting down with the patient hat on and thinking the obvious.

You seem to be able to make every step of this a tortuous event, and for something that was all explained on page 1 of this thread, it's become a farce of Brian Rix proportions. As per earlier advice, find a teenager who gets this stuff, or your friendly local forumite who's already shown you how easy it is, and make notes. Or, if I might be so bold, stick to your cd collection.

ATB.

Hi Chris,

With all respect I don't like computers, in fact I hate them. I don't understand them nor do I want to. Unfortunately, in this increasingly 'virtual modern world' we all now find ourselves living in we are being forced to use the damn things to get by. Yes, I find it all tortuous and extremely tedious if I must say so myself. I come here asking for genuine help and i'm very pleased and appreciative that many on here (including yourself) will give that help, which is what a good forum is all about. I would like to think that I have helped many here too since my membership of 2005, when this Hi Fi world was a very different place. As far as i'm concerned I have come along way since the beginning of this thread even though I have had trouble 'UNDERSTANDING' computer talk.

I am not a wind up, it's not my style. I work extremely hard for my money and not many I've come across can do my job, working in footings on a construction site all year round and being good at it. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Simple.

My thread does 'READ' - dipping toes into the NAS (world) with no clue and getting rid of the CD player.

Many thanks

Anyway - back to more ripping. I have managed to buy yet another 4 albums in mint condition for £3 the lot.

I'm just going to keep filling up the NAS with more music (as some here have suggested) until I get my Naim streamer. As mentioned earlier, I have purchased Asset and managed to install this (with a lot of help from you guys) onto the Qnap. I have also bought a second hand Apple ipad 2 off a work friend for £60, this will be my remote control for the Naim App once i'm up and running.

Again, a big thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread in helping me get up and running!! I have not found any of it easy but i'm getting there...slowly but surely...

Thanks all!

If anyone gives you strife Stephen just test them on their bricklaying. Even if the world’s best and most patient instructor showed me how to lay a few courses, it would look as though it’d been laid by a cross-eyed drunk. 

And then fallen over.

trickydickie posted:

I'd wait as well unless an NDX cops up as this will only be a few hundred quid more.

I think used/exdem prices for ND5XS present a challenge at the moment as the new model is cheaper than the outgoing.  I suspect used prices need to drop and NDX will hold close to current prices as the new model is so much more then the old model.  The same probably holds for the NDS in the short term due to the ND555 price.

Thanks Richard. I very much agree with your assumption too.

I am due to visit my dealer in a week or two to see or even hear (hopefully) a NDX player. I'm now not that interested in a ND5XS as I think they're still too expensive when, like you say, are not that much cheaper to the newer model due out soon.

A NDX does appeal to me in that it's obviously a higher end model with not that much of a price difference ex-demo compared to the up and coming ND5 XS 2 and it would be my first ever owned 'classic' Naim component if I go for it. I think in the end it will come down to, for me, hearing how much better it is compared to a ND5XS and at what price my dealer will offer.

Cheers!

Nick Lees posted:

If anyone gives you strife Stephen just test them on their bricklaying. Even if the world’s best and most patient instructor showed me how to lay a few courses, it would look as though it’d been laid by a cross-eyed drunk. 

And then fallen over.

Indeed Nick. It's one of those jobs that when you see someone doing it very competently and think 'that looks easy, I can do that' and actually trying and do it do you realise how difficult it actually is. A bit like watching a professional Snooker Player playing snooker. 

If you fancy a drive through the New Forest you are welcome to hear my NDX.

Interestingly, Winston Churchill was a very competent at brick laying, so you're in good company.

I, on the other hand, am the other way round, I can make computers do things that people have told me are impossible, but laying bricks is way outside my competency!

Imagine a world where we all have the same skills -- we would be doomed. Puuuh...  :-)