Does Naim NDS run out in time?

I wouldn't worry about these things too much. The nds will shine as a upnp source as well as a Dac. You could always get a cheapo streamer and use it's digital out into the nds. 

Roon support is an example.

I use the Allo DigiOne for roon into the nds.

The old streaming platform was developed before web streaming services existed, and was intended really for local UPnP use with iRadio thrown in. Hoping for ongoing support for new developments in web streaming services may be a bit much to expect, although it would be disappointing for many if Tidal integration could not be sustained. 

There are usually workaround solutions to add new functionality, often quite cheaply, while you save up for an ND555.

I think in true Naim style the streamers will be compatible with software for a few decades to come... in the limit one can use other software to drive the Naim streamers. However it is the automation and loading the direct streamer playlist buffer that is unique to Naim software. If Naim went out of business or decided to abandon support (which as I say is exceedingly unlikely) then one can use non Naim software that pushed media from the server ... and from a SQ perspective that works as well, even with gapless. The DLNA UPnP bass standard would come to the rescue if this was an eventuality.

When the classic streamers were initially invented, it was  I believe  only Spotify that was on the design to be integrated.. then later came Tidal, as at the time (and now ironically) it was seen as more commercially future proofed than Qobuz... however the integration approach required much effort... and in talking to Naim these integrations are only really globally relevant for a subset of their market..in Asia they have they tend to have their own streaming services.... so there was a change of integration approach with the newer streamers to support Google Cast ... this moves the streamer into a Google Cast endpoint that can be controlled by other software.. very popular in Asia I understand... meaning future service integration is not reliant on Naim... it is this that we will miss out on with the older streamers... However these older Naim streamer, and new alike  are an established UPnP end point, and as Chris says there are also many options out there to integrate  new services with our older Naim streamers such as Qobuz for example.

A different analogy - NDS is an efficient petrol car, in the day and age when hybrid cars are starting to appear. I suspect  we will still use both for many years to come 

it would be interesting to know how the nds can be upgrade or even updated with new and modern dacs to come or existing already.  A lot of members here have experimented outboards dacs like chord hugo or even naim dacs on the lower range of streamers, like nd5x or ndx.  But no one have tried to connect a dac like chord dave or dcs on the nds.  Can the nds be upgrade in this way?   is connecting an mqa dac to the nds can allow the nds to stream mqa files from tidal?   

Personnaly i am more interested in upgraded performance and sound quality than having access to more services like roon for example.

If naim could have adopted the linn strategy, the possibility to upgrade from linn ds1 to 2 , 3, ...without selling all the unit,  there would be no problem or questions like this thread.

FR, do as I do and use the SPDIF output... the Naim streamers create a top class stable transport feed when you run them in only transport mode as opposed to DAC mode in the settings menu... the better the streamer, the better the stream, albeit it is serious diminishing returns.

Another one who feeds a DAC (Hugo, then Dave) from an NDX. Excellent results. WHen funds allow I may try an Auralic streamer bridge.

Nick Lees posted:

Another one who feeds a DAC (Hugo, then Dave) from an NDX. Excellent results. WHen funds allow I may try an Auralic streamer bridge.

you have a dave connected to the ndx?    do you still use the naim app?   is the dave connected to your preamp or only to the ndx?   thanks 

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

FR, do as I do and use the SPDIF output... the Naim streamers create a top class stable transport feed when you run them in only transport mode as opposed to DAC mode in the settings menu... the better the streamer, the better the stream, albeit it is serious diminishing returns.

i have no outboard dac on hand.  If one day i connect a dac to the nds, in spdif, will i still use the naim app?

Nick Lees posted:

Another one who feeds a DAC (Hugo, then Dave) from an NDX. Excellent results. WHen funds allow I may try an Auralic streamer bridge.

Hey Nick, a last question:  you choose ndx/ dave vs nds.  Have you heard the nds, and how are the differences in sound vs your combo?

French Rooster posted:

Nick Lees posted:

Another one who feeds a DAC (Hugo, then Dave) from an NDX. Excellent results. WHen funds allow I may try an Auralic streamer bridge.

Hey Nick, a last question:  you choose ndx/ dave vs nds.  Have you heard the nds, and how are the differences in sound vs your combo?

The NDX is connected by SPDIF (Chord Signature TA) to Dave which uses a Chord Sarum T RCA-DIN connect to the 552. The NDX uses system automation so I use the Naim App for everything except Qobuz (for which I use BubbleUPNP Server/ Kazoo).

I bought the NDX originally as a toy to play the odd download I had, but the sound was way behind the rest of my system. I could have spent a load on upgrading to the NDS but was intrigued by the fuss about Hugo - which proved to be true. Dave was an inevitable temptation. I didn't try an NDS as it would have been way more expensive. As I mentioned, potential upgrades are the streamer head (which would mean I'd lose system automation) or the Chord Blu2 (though I have no real need of the CD player I already have and that part would be unnecessary).