New streamer from Bryston

Hi Richard, The lack of Chinese part is true. From chatting with them they are also looking forward to a pure streamer sans hard disk, integrated amp and touch screen.

Apparently, Naim was good enough to send them a survey of what they think of the product and what they think is the ideal product. I believe they have given their opinions on that.

quote:

Originally posted by Andy S:

quote:

Originally posted by js:
and we know that moving around wav can be an issue.

js,

I agree with 80% of what you say, then you make an outlandish claim that just begs for a reply Can you show me where anyone has shown that "moving around wav" can be an issue (I am reading that as copying to/from places and keeping it totally digital)?

This isn't about file integrity. Not everything accesses wav tags effectively. For instance, if you move a bunch of wav files and try to access it via a player program, the library and may not stay organized. The files move fine but the library can become disorganized until you restructure it. Not a big deal for Naim streamers or SONOS etc. but try building a .wav library in Foobar for instance. Useless. Itunes isn't that happy and you even need to watch your Ps and Qs with wav freindly programs like MM. These programs need to set up their own databasses to work well with wav. Even reverting from MM 3.1 to 3.0 would be a disaster as the data base was not bachward compatible for instance. I was in no way implying that there is a loss of bit or quality.

quote:

Originally posted by JYOW:

quote:

Originally posted by js:
I can't remember if it was a bit comparison or analog waveform comparison but itterations have been done to show both sides and if you get a bit correct on Itunes on one machine, it doesn't necesarily mean it will be the same on another. Naim have never said that you couldn't get a proper rip from a PC and neither have I. Just that it's not plug and play and we know that moving around wav can be an issue. Look, this is not where this thread sould be going and I'm happy if people rip via DB or EAC etc. When I have access, I'll use the Naim to rip and store. Don't knock it unless you've tried it. It really is a pleasure by comparison.

It may be a pleasure to use for people who has never done a rip before - i.e. the Luddites. However, some of us have already spent years ripping and that feature would be kind of redundant. Anyway I should slide over to the dealer and have them show me how the HDX can improve on perfection. If only they had it set up.

Is there a language gap here?

quote:

Originally posted by js:
Not everything accesses wav tags effectively.

....

I was in no way implying that there is a loss of bit or quality.

Ahh... the tags are the issue - gotcha. For a moment I thought...

quote:

Originally posted by js:

quote:

Originally posted by JYOW:

quote:

Originally posted by js:
I can't remember if it was a bit comparison or analog waveform comparison but itterations have been done to show both sides and if you get a bit correct on Itunes on one machine, it doesn't necesarily mean it will be the same on another. Naim have never said that you couldn't get a proper rip from a PC and neither have I. Just that it's not plug and play and we know that moving around wav can be an issue. Look, this is not where this thread sould be going and I'm happy if people rip via DB or EAC etc. When I have access, I'll use the Naim to rip and store. Don't knock it unless you've tried it. It really is a pleasure by comparison.

It may be a pleasure to use for people who has never done a rip before - i.e. the Luddites. However, some of us have already spent years ripping and that feature would be kind of redundant. Anyway I should slide over to the dealer and have them show me how the HDX can improve on perfection. If only they had it set up.

Is there a language gap here?

I did get that. I recall you mentioned that the ripping from HDX is a pleasure. I assumed that meant the user experience, meaning the ease of use like auto tagging, speed of use etcetera.

BTW, Naim did not say that you couldnt get a proper rip from a PC, neither have they said that you could. So for a casual user, it does read like Naim has a unique to a problem.

Having said that, I was truly interested in how the ripping experience is like.

I'm no luddite and my personal experience, like Gary's, is that it's a pleasure. Gary isn't our only customer like that. We have another that is transferring vinyl with a Nagra, edits in Wavelab, does live dig recording etc but does all his rips on an HDX. One of my partners uses a NS01 and another the HDX for rips. This is not about your level of knowledge or ability. It's just the nicest way if you have access to it. There's a reason why dedicated rippers like the RipNas are around and those are not generally purchased by luddites. It's even a DBpoweramp product. You know, the guys that built one of the best PC rip programs. They must think there's something worthwhile about this for experienced users. You don't have to need or want a ripper to understand it's fast and freindly.

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
i didnt read everything above, but followed the OP's suggestion of googling the Bryston. What a silly product.

It is NOT a streamer. USB drive player. A new species.

My understanding was that it will play from a NAS. Correction. No it won't. You're right, it just plays from USB connected drives.

Further correction. The "white paper" is very confusing on this issue and accordingly, I am very confused. Who knows what it will actually do?

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
i didnt read everything above, but followed the OP's suggestion of googling the Bryston. What a silly product.

It is NOT a streamer. USB drive player. A new species.

My understanding was that it will play from a NAS. Correction. No it won't. You're right, it just plays from USB connected drives.

Further correction. The "white paper" is very confusing on this issue and accordingly, I am very confused. Who knows what it will actually do?

Yes it looks very preliminary.

quote:

Originally posted by js:
I'm no luddite and my personal experience, like Gary's, is that it's a pleasure. Gary isn't our only customer like that. We have another that is transferring vinyl with a Nagra, edits in Wavelab, does live dig recording etc but does all his rips on an HDX. One of my partners uses a NS01 and another the HDX for rips. This is not about your level of knowledge or ability. It's just the nicest way if you have access to it. There's a reason why dedicated rippers like the RipNas are around and those are not generally purchased by luddites. It's even a DBpoweramp product. You know, the guys that built one of the best PC rip programs. They must think there's something worthwhile about this for experienced users. You don't have to need or want a ripper to understand it's fast and freindly.

ripnas is a class act at £840 ,1tera

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:

Further correction. The "white paper" is very confusing on this issue and accordingly, I am very confused. Who knows what it will actually do?

The way I read the Peak Speak is that it will initialy only play from USB devices and that they will look at adding NAS connectivity for a future extension.

So draw your own conclusions about its development stage.

-
aleg

quote:

Originally posted by Aleg:
.....they will look at adding NAS connectivity for a future extension.
aleg

Does that make it a "streamer"?

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:

quote:

Originally posted by Aleg:
.....they will look at adding NAS connectivity for a future extension.
aleg

Does that make it a "streamer"?

What do you call a streamer ?

For me any upnp device is a no-go. I only require the ability to access audio files stored on a NAS by means of a network share. I call that a mediaplayer you may call that a streamer if you like

-
aleg

OH NO!! Not the dreaded home shared network!

quote:

Originally posted by Aleg:

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:

quote:

Originally posted by Aleg:
.....they will look at adding NAS connectivity for a future extension.
aleg

Does that make it a "streamer"?

What do you call a streamer ?

For me any upnp device is a no-go.

-
aleg

Totally agree. UPnP is far from it. One of the great jokes of computer audio. Like MSFT's "Plays for Sure" DRM fiasco.

I probably have no real idea what a streamer is. Something that converts data files to a digital audio stream? They're all data, so that's where I am a bit confused. I think it has something to with whether the data are timed, and thus prone to the dreaded jitter.

By my extraordinarily naive definition, the ability to take data from a USB attached drive and send it to a DAC as an SPDIF stream would make this thing a "streamer". I think PCS disagrees.

Like I said, it is a new breed. I dont think we've seen this one yet. I don't even know what to call it but i am pretty sure I wouldn't call it a streamer.

I would say a streamer has ethernet and/or wireless connectivity to a computer/NAS/network, in another location. It has digital and/or analog output. Then there is going to be some kind of UI, whether touch screen, remote, VGA output with mouse and keyboard etc...

But it is similar to how I got into DA in the first place. I bought a DVD player that had a USB input that allowed any 5400rpm USB drive that was powered through USB. I bought a 160GB Passport. It showed a directory structure on the HDTV, controllable from the remote, and even showed embedded art or folder.jpgs

If there were multiple jpgs in the directory is scrolled through them.

Of course this was like 5 years ago. We've moved on.

-Patrick

For me, streaming means remote source. For instance if watching a vid. I 'play' local files which includes usb attached but if I would 'stream' the same file from the internet or remote server. I suppose it's an individual's point of view but mine is basically ethernet or not ethernet.

I get that remote source perspective, but I think there is also an element of "creating a stream" that needs to be considered. Is an Airport Express a streamer?

At the end of the day, none of it matters. We're all after the same thing. Convenience (setup, operation and trouble-shooting), sound quality and value for money. We may weight the different things differently, but I think we all consider each of them. Some may derive additional satisfaction from being able to setup and operate trickier arrangements.

For me, a streamer is a source component that delivers a stream of digital audio data to my hi-fi system. But I equate "streamer" with "audio data not stored here", so it has to have a network interface. The whole idea is that music is made available immediately -- on-demand -- so the streamer has to begin playing music after only a small amount of audio data is received over the network.

Am not sure if it is also necessary to distinguish where the audio data comes from. A stream is a stream whether the audio data comes from files stored on a local network's NAS device, or from "live" broadcasts of a remote internet radio station.

Hook

So, my Mac Mini can get music files from its own hard-drive, a USB attached drive or over my network. It can also get music (and video) from the internet.

Is it a streamer?

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
So, my Mac Mini can get music files from its own hard-drive, a USB attached drive or over my network. It can also get music (and video) from the internet.

Is it a streamer?

Hi WinkyinCanada -

Yes, I believe it is. It is performing all of the functions of a Sonos or a Squeezebox, so why not? And who is going to argue that either of those aren't streamers?

The only argument that could be made is one of packaging. It is not a "dedicated" streamer. It is a general purpose device that has been configured to perform streaming functions.

Hook

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
...Is an Airport Express a streamer?
....

I believe that the combination of iTunes and AE meets the definition of a streamer.

Hook