Is it possible to play Music thru BNC connection without using the Naim App ?

I assume you are referring to a streamer? If so then yes, via selecting the input on the remote control.

I am sorry I didn't explain clearly.   Surely I can select SPDIF on my Dac to receive signal from the Core via BNC cable.   Under this setup, the music playing is controlled by the Naim app.  

The question is: are there any other music player programs (or methods) that can replace the Naim app to control the playing of music ?

If there is I don't know of them as you specifically have to make the core select and play the right song

If you want to use the Core as an HDD transport into a DAC then you will need to use the Naim App to control it - manage content, select music, read notes etc..

Japtimscarlet posted:

If there is I don't know of them as you specifically have to make the core select and play the right song

 

Neither do I.  Just trying to explore if there's other option.

Richard Dane posted:

If you want to use the Core as an HDD transport into a DAC then you will need to use the Naim App to control it - manage content, select music, read notes etc..

Very likely as you said.   Just exploring other possibility.  

Thanks

Yes there is a way and it's extremely easy but more cumbersome than the Naim App. I use lan connections as there's no need to go to the expense of BNC. There are a few caveats, one being I haven't got the album art to show and I haven't tried setting up a collection but I'm sure it's possible with a bit more experimentation! Maybe Windows Media Player could be used? See my last comment. This works on both the Music and Downloads file stored on Uniti Core, I haven't tried it with other sources but it should work with other NAS or storage medium. I've tested this using Windows 10, UnitiCore, NAC272 and NAP250DR

Step 1; Navigate to < This PC/Network/UnitiCoreXXXX >   

Don't try going to network Locations as although it'll show the Core icon it won't let you open anything. You may need to set up File Sharing.

Step 2; Open < \\UNITICORExxxxxx\Music\MQ > or Downloads

Step 3; Select Album and Track

Step 4; Right Click Track

Step 5; Select 'Cast To Device'. You will see 'NAC272xxx' as one of the devices to cast to, or whatever Naim or other device you would like your music played through.

There you are, against all expectations using a Windows 10 computer to play from Core through your HI FI system. I still prefer the App but if you really want to experiment this'll give you a working starting point. 

PS, just did some more quick checks. You can use windows media player, open < Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Network and Sharing Centre\Media streaming options > and select your Naim player of choice. Obviously your player must be network connected otherwise it won't show. 

Hope this answers your question and let us know how you get on with these suggestions. Rich

Hi Rich,

Thanks very much for the detail explanation about accessing music files on the Core via LAN.    They work.   

Since the sounds from BNC and LAN are different, just wanted to explore more if BNC can be accessed besides using the Naim App, even though it may not be possible as Richard Dane said.  

Best

Hi Tmtsui, you could try disconnecting the lan from 272 to Core and leaving the bnc connected. Being that the Core would still be connected to 272 Windows might still be able to see the Core. Rich 

272 ?  sorry, what does it mean ?  The BNC of the Core is connected to my Bricasti Dac.

Tom

Ah, 272 was referring to the Naim NAC 272 N pre amp/dac/network player/streamer. I was assuming that the Core is connected either directly (lan or bnc) to some form of streamer that is connected to your network. I think you proved that when Core is connected by lan that you can control it via Windows. I'm not sure how you connect your core/dac to the network and ensure that the signal is going through the bnc rather than lan and that the lan is only being used to control the music selection. I'm not familiar with your dac. Rich 

Connecting the Core to your LAN (which you would do anyway for metadata lookup, software updates, downloads etc.) will give you a wide range of connection options, as the drive will be visible to any device or music player software you choose to point at it. I doubt you will find a way to do it with the BNC connection. 

Rich 1 posted:

Ah, 272 was referring to the Naim NAC 272 N pre amp/dac/network player/streamer. I was assuming that the Core is connected either directly (lan or bnc) to some form of streamer that is connected to your network. I think you proved that when Core is connected by lan that you can control it via Windows. I'm not sure how you connect your core/dac to the network and ensure that the signal is going through the bnc rather than lan and that the lan is only being used to control the music selection. I'm not familiar with your dac. Rich 

No problem, Rich.  Thanks for the help and the instruction regarding connecting to Win via LAN.

Tom

ChrisSU posted:

Connecting the Core to your LAN (which you would do anyway for metadata lookup, software updates, downloads etc.) will give you a wide range of connection options, as the drive will be visible to any device or music player software you choose to point at it. I doubt you will find a way to do it with the BNC connection. 

That's what I am afraid of.   Thanks ChrisSU.

Tom

Tmtsui, just thinking out loud. If your Core is connected to lan and via bnc to dac and then connected to streamer (assuming you have one) you should be able to control your what's playing by using Windows to cast to your streamer. If you only have one dac then it must be going through the bnc if the dac is not connected to lan. Rich 

Hi Rich,

Since the Core is the only Naim product in my system, I have two ways to access the Music stored on the Core.

1)  Via LAN to stream music to my Dac and use a third party music playing program, such as Audirvana, Lumin, Amarra, etc, to control the playing, ie. song selection, metadata checking, etc.

2)  Via BNC to send music to my Dac's SPDIF, but under such configuration, Naim App is needed to control the playing of music.  

Above are the two methods to listen music on the Core.

Personally, I prefer the sound via BNC cable.  However, the Naim App lacks the control flexibility that I want even though it is not bad.   So I am exploring if it is possible and if there are other ways to use the BNC connection but not going thru the Naim App.

I hope I clarify my intention.

Tom

Hi Tmtsui, I get your intention now, I fear that perhaps I was of no help, as others have said, you may be stuck with the app. Although others may benefit if they have Core or other NAS, streamer and dac and don't use bnc and want to experiment with other methods of control that don't include using the app for everything. There was a thread in the past about wired lan vs bnc, as far as I remember the result was 50-50 for and against. I tried bnc with a loan cable, results for me were inconclusive and may have been due to the particular cable I used, but leaned to wired lan at the time, I will probably experiment again at a later date. Rich

Yes, I am afraid that I am stuck with the app.   The preference between BNC and LAN is quite personal.   Also, wire characteristic is an important factor, too.

Worth a try with a better BNC, you may be amazed.

Tom

tmtsui posted:

Yes, I am afraid that I am stuck with the app.   The preference between BNC and LAN is quite personal.   Also, wire characteristic is an important factor, too.

Worth a try with a better BNC, you may be amazed.

Tom

 

I was, and so cheap too, I do wonder if it’s DAC dependent though, I’ve only tried two and it improved both compared to the audiophlie alternative I’d borrowed that cost 10x the price but the DACs had different weaknesses to start with. I hope it doesn’t trump LAN when   my streamer arrives, I want the core off the Fraim.