HDX vs Unitiserve

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Originally posted by Dungassin:
I've been thinking again ...

Run for your lives, everyone!

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Originally posted by Dungassin:
Now that the Unitiserve is about to appear, what is the point of the HDX other than it having an onboard DAC, 2 hard drives and an analogue output?

Some may prefer the standard lenght case size and single box player.

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Originally posted by Dungassin:
Unless I have misread Naim's blurb, the Unitiserve rips to the same standard as the HDX, has a bigger internal hard drive, and would interface quite nicely with my nDAC.

You've read it right.

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Originally posted by Dungassin:
So ... is there something I am failing to understand here?

No.

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Originally posted by Dungassin:
Also, the Unitiserve has some form of external power supply, but the Naim website is uninformative on its dimensions etc.

It's a pretty common switching power supply, quite similar to the one used for laptop computers.

Bye.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by Dungassin:
Also, the Unitiserve has some form of external power supply, but the Naim website is uninformative on its dimensions etc.


It's a pretty common switching power supply, quite similar to the one used for laptop computers

So I suppose that you'll be able to/recommended to get a better power supply? Don't see how you could use something like Hicap etc - no SNAIC input.

I think that if you are planning to use the US with your nDAC, there would be no advantage in a better power supply.
The HDX has that option via Burndy, and the analog output is improved as a result, but with a DAC in the system, the HDX becomes a digital server like the US.
If you don't need the touchscreen and you have a DAC, the US is a no-brainer
I only hope the power brick of the US doesn't put stuff into the mains, but we can probably trust Naim on that one

The HDX doesn't improve because it has 2 inboard supply sections and the Brundy doesn't effect the digital section which is purpose built and noise isolated.

Hicap is wrong V and probably not enough current to power the US. How 'common' the outboard switching supply is remains to be seen but that is what will be used. Expect a well sorted brick (whether unique or found) as they still make a dif. Going outboard was probably a good cost effective choice given the size and current requirements of the US. It does help keep PS induced RF out of the equation.

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I think that if you are planning to use the US with your nDAC, there would be no advantage in a better power supply.
The HDX has that option via Burndy, and the analog output is improved as a result, but with a DAC in the system, the HDX becomes a digital server like the US.
If you don't need the touchscreen and you have a DAC, the US is a no-brainer
I only hope the power brick of the US doesn't put stuff into the mains, but we can probably trust Naim on that one

It's just me having one of my preliminary "thinks".

My CB/Olive gear has just been collected and is now wending its way back to Naim, and if I wait 3 months or so I'll probably be able to persuade SWTSOTBO to let me give the DVD5 to my son-in-law and replace it with a Unitiserve running into the nDAC (for the AV system). Of course an XPS for the nDAC will probably have to wait a bit longer ...

If I do get a Unitiserve its wifi capabilities will almost certainly not be used.

I note the thread elsewhere about approved NAS drives, but my thought is that should I really require more than the capacity of the onboard hard drive, why couldn't I just attach a laptop external hard drive via USB?

If I did that, would the Unitiserve provide enough power for the drive, and are there any restrictions on which drive(s) could be used?

Perhaps I should take these questions direct to Naim info ...

Connection of USB hard drives is not officially supported on the HDX, so I would expect the same to apply to UnitiSwerve. That's not to say it doesn't work however. Phil at Naimnet support is the best person to comment I think

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my thought is that should I really require more than the capacity of the onboard hard drive, why couldn't I just attach a laptop external hard drive via USB?

Nothing kills streaming music dead better than a USB chipset that, in the interest of being "green", falls asleep.

Get a NAS. It's what the big boys use.

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Get a NAS. It's what the big boys use

The only problem with that option is that I would have to have my laptop switched on, and it does suffer from fan/internal hard drive noise - can be distracting.

I think my problem is that I don't really want streaming music to multiple players, and I hate being dependent on my laptop being available for the purpose - after all it does get "borrowed" and taken to other rooms where it isn't actually connected to an external hard drive.

Or am I just misunderstanding the whole concept of NAS? Is it possible that you don't actually have to have the drive connected to a computer at all? I'll have to do a little more research, I think ...

Just done my little bit of research. Hadn't bothered before, because I thought I could just get away with attaching a USB hard drive directly to a Unitiserve.

If I understand it correctly, I could just get a NAS with hard drive and it would function as a standalone device. Or do I have that wrong?

Well, I emailed Naim and :

My email to Naim :

I am contemplating buying a Unitiserve to use with my nDAC.

I have read the specs etc for the Unitiserve, but unfortunately they don't give me an answer to my query.

I have no real interest in using its wifi capabilities, and wondered whether a small laptop type external hard drive could be used for extra storage via the USB port.

Would the Unitiserve provide enough power for such a drive?

If so, whould there be any sound quality penalty compared to using a NAS drive?
If I read the Unitiserve specs correctly, rips to NAS drive should be of the same quality as those to its own internal hard drive.

I'd rather not use a NAS drive, because I suspect fan noise might be a problem, as it would have to be in the same room as the Naim system. If my understanding of NAS devices is correct, I believe that it is basically a small standalone dedicated computer with just the hard drives and server software?

There is no information on your website about the Unitiserve's power supply. I believe it is an external component, but what is it like and what are its dimensions?


The reply :

I think you may be confusing some of the features on Unitiqute with Uniti Server, the Uniti Serve has no WiFi it connects via Ethernet cable to your router and the best form of storage is a NAS drive which would also be connected to your router, USB drives are not as efficient or robust and the Serves USB connector would not provide enough power. Yes ripping to a NAS would be the same as ripping to its internal hard drive and you would need to investigate re fan noise. The Serve power supply is about the size of a Laptop power supply


So, my conclusions are : wifi link not available. Perhaps this could be done via a USB dongle?

Perhaps wifi not up to transferring hidef audio?

Second reply from Naim :

Me :
Thank you. So I assume you do not recommend wifi connections? I ask this because, although I could fairly easily manage an ethernet link in my study (where I would site the Unitiserve), I could not run an ethernet link to my other Naim system in the living room unless I undertook major structural work

Naim :
We use WiFi for the Uniti and its fine for a single leg transmission but no good if you want to do Nas to router then say router to Uniti, wifi is still not reliable enough for this and for hi resolution files wifi can fall over. For my main system to study I use Devolo Ethernet over mains

Do i take it the uniserve and dac would sound the same as the HDX and dac?

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Do i take it the uniserve and dac would sound the same as the HDX and dac?

Wouldn't particularly surprise me if they did.

Any members got one ordered?

Maybe better?

OK I get a bit confused about this digital ripping thing, but this is what I'm planning to do.

Assuming the unitiserve rips at the same quality as the HDX I would plan to get a unitiserve ssd and an Ndac. I have already got a dual drive d-link nas enclosure with two 1.5 TB drives running in a mirrored array. The unitiserve and Ndac would sit on my tables in the music room and a network cable would be run to the office next door where it would plug into a switch ths keeping any external noises to the minimum. All wiring is CAT 5E and router and switches are all 1GB.

Assume I can use my Ipad as a visual aid to see whats going on when ripping and playing or I might invest in a small capacity ipod touch.

Does this sound feasible?

Tim

Definitely......I've not played with the Naim app so can't comment on exactly what you can see on the iPad versus the PC client.

What you are suggesting will be a standard setup I suspect albeit with different NAS preferences.

I havent used an HDX but i personally find the on screen display, the full width format and the option for internal stoarge or NAS very appealing

just a shame that the HDX is so expensive and has a redundant DAC

still, there is always secondhand

I am trying to get myself into a position where i can go for a used HDX + nDAC all in one go and the very quickly add an old olive XPS

redundant dac?

Considering what it costs?

You can cat5 over the mains nowadays. It saves having to channel out the Walls etc if you have to host routers / nas in different locations.

As the router, unitiserve, NAS, source are all neworked then you can use your laptop/ iPod touch/ iPhone / ipad etc to act as the clent front end. Have your source connected to the ndac and off you go

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You can cat5 over the mains nowadays. It saves having to channel out the Walls etc if you have to host routers / nas in different locations

I wonder how well that would work in my house. If I go down that route the NAS would be on upstairs ring main, and the Naim stuff in the living room is on it's own spur.

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Originally posted by Dungassin:

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You can cat5 over the mains nowadays. It saves having to channel out the Walls etc if you have to host routers / nas in different locations

I wonder how well that would work in my house. If I go down that route the NAS would be on upstairs ring main, and the Naim stuff in the living room is on it's own spur.

It probably won't work. I tried it once and when on the same radial (spur) it was OK though degraded with distance, but when trying on two different radials (spurs) it became complete unusable. When the devices are on different spurs, as seen from the consumer unit, it probably won't work anymore.

I now use a dedicated 8011.n 5.2 GHz wireless connection between my streamer and dual band router and my NAS is on a cat5 wired connection to my router. I can stream full HD 1080p movies without any problems and all audio up to 192kHz also play without any problems.

But as I said I setup a dedicated wireless connection for audio and video streaming to my dual band router on the 5.2 GHz band, which isn't used very widely (so no neighbour interference) and isn't used by any domestice devices, so no interference from microwaves of DECT phones or mobiles.

I use the 2.4 GHz band only for control and internet access from my iPod Touch.

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aleg

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aleg

I use it no problem between floors as wifi in my place can be a bit hit and miss - it saves me having to add a repeater.

its not an exact science by any means but i do get HD movies through it no issue.

I'm not sure whether to go for the 1tb internal or the SSD version of the Unitiserve. Can I use both alternatives for not only CD rips, but also storage for recording vinyl (via Pure Vinyl)?