An alternative to a Naim Streamer for the DAC?
Posted by: 0rangutan on 09 April 2010
Anyone using USB sticks with the Naim DAC and wondering about a streamer may wish to keep an eye on the release of this product: the Infinitec Infinite USB Memory stick. Follow the link and click the link to "Read Press Release" for full details.
In brief, it is a wifi enabled USB stick that can access nominated files or folders located on a paired PC over a wifi network and then present these as if locally held on the USB stick to whatever it is plugged into. This has potential with the NDAC as it would allow the DAC to get to any laptop/PC (and by extension, NAS) files as though they were on the USB stick locally. You could then use the Infinitec software on your laptop (or via iPhone/VNC/RDP etc) to simply change which files the stick (and therefore DAC) could "see", all without ever having to unplug the stick or run out of space.
Not the Naim streamer that people are waiting for and certainly restricted by the lack of interface, but at ~$129, it beats swapping USB sticks.
John
In brief, it is a wifi enabled USB stick that can access nominated files or folders located on a paired PC over a wifi network and then present these as if locally held on the USB stick to whatever it is plugged into. This has potential with the NDAC as it would allow the DAC to get to any laptop/PC (and by extension, NAS) files as though they were on the USB stick locally. You could then use the Infinitec software on your laptop (or via iPhone/VNC/RDP etc) to simply change which files the stick (and therefore DAC) could "see", all without ever having to unplug the stick or run out of space.
Not the Naim streamer that people are waiting for and certainly restricted by the lack of interface, but at ~$129, it beats swapping USB sticks.
John
At the end of each summer, the marketing gimmick used to sell food at the Minnesota State Fair is "(Anything) on a Stick". Works better for some foods than others. 
So, not exactly a "Streamer on a Stick" here.
But if this smart stick has no sound quality issues, and if it presents different album directories without undue delay, then it could be a good affordable solution for "album at a time" listening.
Selecting a directory using a netbook and then hitting the remote's play button doesn't seem like too much of a hassle.
Hook
So, not exactly a "Streamer on a Stick" here.
But if this smart stick has no sound quality issues, and if it presents different album directories without undue delay, then it could be a good affordable solution for "album at a time" listening.
Selecting a directory using a netbook and then hitting the remote's play button doesn't seem like too much of a hassle.
Hook