Naim streamer news?

Just posted on Naim facebook page.

We're hosting a small gathering in Salisbury this week to announce some new product news...more to follow later this week, so watch this space!

NDX

Hmm.... Due November ? and still has the pointless USB playback feature. Quite neat though

a bit more informed -



NDX - Malcolm Steward

I couldn't quite tell, but don't think so, does the NDX have any digital inputs like the UnitiQute?

Curious about Malcolm Steward's description that the best was NDX + 555PS into DAC internally powered. That seams counter intuitive to me.

And why oh why is ALAC playback only from an iPod - at least they've added AIFF playback.

Eloise

It seems to have analogue and digital inputs so its a bit of a streamer / digital hub. I suppose begs the question if you are going to add a DAC, how good is it compared to a UnitiServe / Qute ?

James

On a negative note, again the news is on What HiFi and Malcolm Steward's site before it's on Naim's own website - the details should be ready to be in the "News" section immediately.

RE Digital inputs - you're right, it specifically says 3 digital inputs! I didn't notice anything about analogue inputs but then I'm blind.

Eloise

Maybe I'm wrong. To me this looks like a uniti without CD/Amp. But more expensive...

quote:

Originally posted by drfthomas:
Maybe I'm wrong. To me this looks like a uniti without CD/Amp. But more expensive...

To give Naim their dues... I think it's more 50% of the NaimUniti (excluding CD transport, amp or DAC) and 80% of the DAC (which is a better DAC than the Uniti's).

Actually it's the DAC with Streamer that everyone has said they want (with added Radio function I know).

Eloise

But Malcolm Steward has just stated in his release that the NDX DAC is not as good as the nDAC hasn't he?

So in that case having just forked out £2k for my nDAC, is this the only offering from Naim if I want to stream files and listen to iRadio?

It seems I've got to downgrade in DAC terms if I want these features.

Really annoyed now.

quote:

Originally posted by CraigB:
But Malcolm Steward has just stated in his release that the NDX DAC is not as good as the nDAC hasn't he?

So in that case having just forked out £2k for my nDAC, is this the only offering from Naim if I want to stream files and listen to iRadio?

It seems I've got to downgrade in DAC terms if I want these features.

Really annoyed now.

No, you can choose between the UnitiQute and the HDX streamer. Its the same decision as UnitiServe or HDX really. How many options do you want Naim to offer?

And because it's said to be not as good as the DAC, thats why I said it's 80% of the DAC...

For overall sound quality assessment I think you need to wait until you can listen to it!

Eloise

Sorry Eloise,

Annoyed at Naim, not any of the posters here.

With Naim you've always got to guess what's on their roadmap rather than them informing you, and my guess was that having released the nDAC as their reference statement DAC (up to now), that they would at least develop a streamer box to be a relatively cheap box which plugs into their reference DAC to give file streaming and iRadio, without duplicating DAC and digital inputs.

Just in case anyone missed it... the Naim NDX is also being discussed in the HiFi Corner here -- https://forums.naimaudio.com/ev...8019385/m/1562924437

quote:

Originally posted by james n:
It seems to have analogue and digital inputs so its a bit of a streamer / digital hub. I suppose begs the question if you are going to add a DAC, how good is it compared to a UnitiServe / Qute ?

James

I suppose that theoretically it should be better because it has fixed output whereas the Uniti line has only variable?

Same question came to mind with me also...

well I suppose the NDX completes quite a comprehensive range - different configurations will suit different people. My 'best fit' would be the Serve/NAS/DAC/555PS configuration, but there are many other combinations possible. The Linn equivalent would probably be KDS/RipNAS but comparable sound quality.
Let battle be joined!

SOOOOOO, why this rather than the Uniserve? This thing is still upgradeable with the Naim DAC?

I thought they were coming out with a reference DAC that had networked capabilities. Not a reference streamer with DAC capabilities.

Either way, it looks cool, and Naimees can finally have their streamer without a ripping drive.

-p

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
SOOOOOO, why this rather than the Uniserve? This thing is still upgradeable with the Naim DAC?

Well you'd need a DAC with the Uniserve, this runs without one. If you already own a DAC the 'serve makes a lot more sense.

I am slightly confused that it is upgradable with a nDAC - it suggests you pay 3k for a NDX that is lower quality than a nDAC - so it works out something like 1.5k DAC and 1.5k streaming unit - seems a lot for a streaming unit. I would really hope at that price a nDAC doesn't bring significant upgrade.

But I do like it alot - makes a lot of sense.

This machine is what I wished the HDX was when it was released, as I already had ripping and storage dialed. But what exactly is it? An HDX with no drives, and no ripping and a slightly better DAC.

The fact that this isn't a better DAC than the Naim DAC is strange to me as well.

-Patrick

quote:

So in that case having just forked out £2k for my nDAC, is this the only offering from Naim if I want to stream files and listen to iRadio?

It seems I've got to downgrade in DAC terms if I want these features.

Not at all!!!! You could stream with the Uniserve or an iPhone directly into the DAC. IF you already own the Naim DAC I don't think this product is targeted at you.

-Patrick

quote:

Originally posted by Eloise:
On a negative note, again the news is on What HiFi and Malcolm Steward's site before it's on Naim's own website - the details should be ready to be in the "News" section immediately.

RE Digital inputs - you're right, it specifically says 3 digital inputs! I didn't notice anything about analogue inputs but then I'm blind.

Eloise

This information was *SUPPOSED* to be under a general embargo until Friday so shouldn't really have been made available publicly today but the hifi press that attended Naim yesterday were given special permission to release the information today - hence no details on our News pages as no-one was really expected to have picked up on it yet...

Phil

Patrick,

I don't think you can stream iRadio through the UnitiServe can you? Also like you I already have music stored on a NAS so no need for another storage box.

What is iRadio? I dont listen to radio unless in the car. If I want to stream from online radio stations I can either use my computer as I do for al of my listening, or hook up the iPhone to the DAC directly and Pandora away!

Take the difference in price between a Serve-SSD (no storage), and a NDX. Then ask yourself if the extra features in the NDX are worth the additional outlay. In my case I think the answer would be no.

The Serve offers ripping (and optional storage). The NDX offers Radio (and optional PSU upgrade).

The DAC can be used with either.

Seems like some really good options.

-Patrick

Great,

So I'll need to buy a Serve for my FLAC files and a NDX for internet radio.

They're good options if you want one or the other, not if you want both streaming and internet radio (iRadio I think Naim call theirs).

quote:

So I'll need to buy a Serve for my FLAC files and a NDX for internet radio.

No you wont! The NDX will handle the FLAC files just fine. You would only want the Serve if you want Naim ripping as well.

Why are you bitching!?!? You have the DAC and multiple options from Naim to serve up files to it. Or go with another company. Or an iPod. In any case you have the best DAC Naim offers and a very wide, open (but not necessary) upgrade path.

If the price of the NDX is too much for what if offers, you have a ton of other options.

-Patrick

Patrick,

It's not bitching at all - more like I'm trying to see what the natural Naim partner for the nDAC is, now that the NDX is announced.

I've just bought the nDAC and I had hoped there would be a solution for the features I wanted but it looks like the optimum solution is to trade it in for the NDX.

I understand streaming solutions very well, and Naim's product range to date for this new era of hi-fi, but I think their range is right now missing a simple streamer box - an NDX without DAC.