Vortexbox/mpd + nDAC vs NDX or NS5XS

Posted by: Tim Watkins on 03 November 2011

I dont think this has been asked. But does anyone have views on how these options would compare. I didn't realise till today that you could use a vortexbox to act as a streamer with mpd software.

Any help greatly appreciated.
Posted on: 03 November 2011 by Guido Fawkes

I don't have a NDX or NS5X at home to compare with my VB.

I have used my VB out of its USB port through USB/S/PDIF convertor.

To me the Naim DAC has a much more appealing sound than the bear NDX as there was a huge improvement when Naim added its DAC to NDX at a recent demo. 

 

I'm delighted with my VB. I don't use it in the way described though, I use it as a source for a W4S modified Sonos ZP90 to feed the DAC. It sounds pretty good to me. Nothing I heard at the demonstration would make me want to change this set-up. 


My current VB is on an old Sony computer: I intend to upgrade this soon. 


Of course, everybody hears things differently so I can't be sure others will agree, but if I had to choose then I'd go VB into Naim DAC, well that's what I did choose so I would say that. 


I haven't heard the 5X though. 

Posted on: 03 November 2011 by beeka
I use VB/mpd to feed a headphone dac/amp and am happy with it (i also use it to rip cds and serve to a Uniti). The only issue I currently have is in controlling mpd - you have to use an app (on the phone, pad/tablet or desktop) that supports it. VB/mpd can not be controlled from a upnp control point (like the Naim equipment can) and I would like to unify the control of all the devices to one app.

Also, I imagine that the NDX doesn't have a fan and is totally silent. My current mini-itx box (which runs VB) cost £220 but has a cpu fan, a case fan and a spinning hard disk. It isn't particularly loud but making it quieter is on my todo list and is worth bearing in mind. You can get fanless + SSD mini-itx boxes, which trades the cd ripping / storage for the silence of having no moving parts, naturally for more money. Then there is a price/feature trade-off on the scale up to the NDX (e.g. the NDX has a display, IR Remote and looks nice / fits with other naim gear but costs more).

Steve.
Posted on: 03 November 2011 by Tog

@Tim - actually Vortexbox can operate in 3 different ways at present.

 

1. As a network server for UPnP, DAAP (itunes), Sonos, and Squeezeserver.

2. As a HDD based player using MPD (like an HDX)

3. As a renderer/player streaming from another Vortexbox or UPnP Server - Sonore's Vortexbox Orbiter (in fetching Naim half size black aluminium to go with the Qute) would be the latest example.

 

@Guy - your setup is exactly what Andrew at Vortexbox initially envisaged - a great way to serve to Sonos or Squeezebox devices. 

 

@beeka - the trick is that you can put VB in almost any intel based server you like - silent or otherwise cheap or ludicrously expensive. If you are going to use it as a HDD player consider the use o SSD for the OS and the use of really high end sound cards like Lynx.

 

Tog

Posted on: 03 November 2011 by Wazza69
Sorry to go off thread slightly but Guido, would you mind reporting on your views of the modified Sonos into the DAC? Maybe a new thread? I know a number of people are interested.

Thanks