Open Source Glasnost

Dream on - what next open source ALAC?  

I don't understand why Naim doesn't open it up. I don't think Naim want to have their engineers writing iPAD apps so why not let go and let it blossom in the open source world. 

Mind you I don't understand the UnitiServe when there is some free open source software that runs on any Intel platform and does the same job. 

I think Naim should concentrate on building the ultimate cassette deck for me. 

Really?  You dont see the point of an excellent Naim digital output?  Or a ripping, storing, streaming device for those who have NO desire to have or learn about HTPC's, EAC, UPNP etc??  How about those who dont want or have a computer lashed up to routers and the hifi???

My parents for example would NEVER be able to , nor desire to do, what most of us do with our computers and music.  But they would surely understand nServe and a UnitiServe connected to a DAC.

Your "free open source software" does not address any of those concerns.

I think two separate issues have been opened up here:

1) Open source for the NStream control app. I agree with Tog, this would be fantastic, and I think help Naim sell more gear to a wider range of people because it would make their products more flexible.  Certainly people on this forum would be excited to test out various efforts and vet them for the community.

2) Open source music servers - the software that controls playback and performance of the "box" for lack of a better word.  I don't think Tog is advocating for Naim to allow people to mess with the firmware/OS.

This brings up some useful background: I think some of us are frustrated with, or holding out (in my case) on Naim because we've seen just how good the "free opensource software that runs on any Intel platform" like Vortexbox really is. Yes, we like to play with computers, and probably many of us do that for a living. But, the user interface, ripping and set up on some of the opensource music software is astonishingly good and flexible. We also know from our day jobs just how fast the pace of iteration and improvement is for software - open source especially. Point blank, Naim's not up to the industry standard.

I happily pay Naim for sound quality and build quality. But, the bar for the software user interface should be equally high. That's why I'm holding out for an "insanely great" solution from Naim to match my CD player and Amp. What I want from computer audio is ease of selection and playback, at a good as/better than sound quality compared to my CD player and turn table. That mostly comes from the user interface on the control software. If that software doesn't deliver, I see no reason to adopt it.

Unfortunately, I think 95% of Naim streaming/digital product users are much less knowledgeable than the folks on this forum.  In order to to provide the most usable and reliable products, Naim have chosen to limit access to software/hardware details that, if altered (deliberately or acidentally), could screw up the owners systems completely.  Do I like this?  Not particularly.  Do I understand it?  Yes.

Keith

The MD of Linn has a technical background; the MD of Naim has a sales background. Linn have a much stronger history of software and computing. imo the gap between the companies is growing, and Naim aren't the ones ahead. Naim can't even get FLAC to sound the same as WAV if some of the posts on here are to be believed. Open source isn't the issue so much as being open to what customers want and need. The new Linn DSM stuff lets people do everything they could wish - streaming, s/pdif inputs, toslink inputs, hdmi inputs, Airplay .. a succint range of very strong products.

@likesmusic - you are quite right and unfortunately that comes across very clearly on Linn's website 

Tog

What a Lot of Rot.

Presumably as Steve Jobs was more of a salesman than a computer nerd Apple doesn't really understand what makes a great computer based product.

As for the gap between the products - Naim provide a complete solution, Linn just a partial solution - both are valid routes but it is down to the individual customer to decide which route they wish to take - guided by a good dealer, their needs, ears and not armchair experts.

Sorry Partick - wasn't meant to be taken too seriously. 

(I though the reference to cassette might give me away). 

However, I would add .... 

My father when wouldn't have coped with Naim US or a Vortexbox, but strangely my father had no trouble balancing the levels on a reel-to-reel. My mother copes with an iPad and recording TV programmes to HD on a Panny, but a US would be a step too far. 

I kind of meant if I were the target consumer then why would I buy a Naim US, which looks suspiciously like a Windows computer to me - albeit with excellent build. What irks me is the comments that the digital out from the US is not of the highest quality and bettered by other Naim devices. If the US had a great CD transport and its digital outs were top notch and it did the other things it does now that would be a camel of a different colour. 

Maybe I'm wrong, but Naim don't seem to advise using it as a directly connected digital transport, which I think is a great shame. Why is its digital out inferior to the NDX or CDX2 for example? Also if I understand correctly then changing the artwork or title requires the use of PC: you can't do it from an iPod - also if it has HD then you cannot copy your already ripped music to it. 

If you buy a VB from Sonore (or make your own) then all of these things are addressed, at least in theory, and the kit looks nothing like a computer (less so than Naim US). I have no idea about the level of service from Sonore, but the kit looks great. 

A CD transport/US with great digital out would be a very different proposition. 

Would I prefer to buy from Naim then anybody else - yes, but the Naim item has to offer a player that I want.

Do many folk who couldn't use a Mac or PC, buy the current Naim US?

I think most people buy one because it matches a Naim system.

In no way do I mean to imply it is a bad product  

All the best, Guy 

> Naim's top end streaming solution would involve an NDX and nDAC, power supplies for each and a pre-amplifier and power supply. Six boxes. Not to mention six Fraim shelves and fancy mains leads. Not to mention a Unitiserve for it's allegedly superior rips and serving. The Linn Klimax DSM does all that with one box 

So what? I like boxes. I'll be carried off in one some day  

If I liked to tinker I'd buy a computer. Not an HDX. I pay Naim to ship high quality music replay to me. I want them to optimize on that - not to spend time building tinker-safe platforms.

As for the iPad-app I sort of agree. But if you know your Cocoa and Objective-C well enough to do it then you also know how easy it is to reverse-engineer the protocol they use for communication with the equipment. So you don't need the source.

N-Stream only runs on iOs, it does not support creating a play list on the fly and it does not have a button to go back to the top of the tree when navigating in the library.

Aside from these well known limitations, the application works well, the UI is clean and it is easy to use. The application is free of charge and except for the Naim logo, there is no advertising when using it.

What exactly are we complaining about?

> What exactly are we complaining about?

That it is not open source

We have to have something to complain about or we'd just end up listening to music all the time. 

Oops, I am sorry...  I thought we had Hoop.la for that.

By the way, the forum has been awfully stable and unchanging for a while. I wonder what is going on.

We are all just getting used to it.  We have no choice afterall.