HDX vs Unitiserve

UnitiServe-1TB: CD rips only - internal storage is secure and write-inaccessible to the end user. Internal storage should accommodate up to about 1500 Red-Book rips.

Best to keep Pure Vinyl-created files on NAS–in this case, the UnitiServe-SSD would make more sense.

Hi Guys. Just to clear up any confusion...

quote:

Originally posted by Dungassin:If I do get a Unitiserve its wifi capabilities will almost certainly not be used.

The UnitiServe has no WiFi capabilities...

quote:

Originally posted by Dungassin: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?

Because the UnitiServe does not support ripping to a USB hard disc.

quote:

Originally posted by Dungassin: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?

The UnitiServe is not guaranteed to provide enough power to run a USB attached hard disc and so we would always dissuade customers from doing so - the USB ports on the UnitiServe (as with the NS0x and the HDX) are only intended for use with "transient" collections of music. (i.e. USB memory sticks and MP3 players.)

quote:

Originally posted by Dungassin:Perhaps I should take these questions direct to Naim info ...

Always a good idea...

Cheers

Phil

quote:

Hi Guys. Just to clear up any confusion...

Thanks. I'd already posted your reply to me. At some stage I must ask you whether I could use a wifi connection if I plugged the appropriate wifi adapter into its USB socket.

How's your life been since playing Baloo?

You cannot use a USB wifi adapter - there'd not be any drivers for it and no way to configure it - if you *MUST* use Wifi then you could always use a wired to WiFi bridge (also called a gaming adapter).

Life since Baloo has been OK but I must admit I'm getting rather bored of bananas...

Phil

quote:

You cannot use a USB wifi adapter - there'd not be any drivers for it and no way to configure it - if you *MUST* use Wifi then you could always use a wired to WiFi bridge (also called a gaming adapter).

Thanks for the info. I must file it away for future reference. It's all a bit pie in the sky ATM, as I wouldn't really need wifi with Unitiserve until the CDS in the living room system eventually (hopefully never) fails.

I'm really thinking seriously about the Unitiserve for my study system, where I can run a 5m CAT5 cable, although that will probably involve much bad language in getting it through the ducting behind the LP shelving.

Sorry about the Baloo comment. I used to get similar ones because my name sounds like John Martyn - amazing how many people were ignored the spelling difference!

Oh God - no worries at all on the Baloo reference ... it always makes me chuckle TBH because most people would never even know what you were talking about or what the connection was.

Phil

let's hope you aren't as scary in real life....

Now that the Unitiserve is beginning to appear, I have one other question.

If I got the SSD version and used NAS storage, any recommendations on CAT5 cable to connect them? I would need at least a 5m length.

quote:

Originally posted by Dungassin:
If I got the SSD version and used NAS storage, any recommendations on CAT5 cable to connect them? I would need at least a 5m length.

Any Cat5e/Cat6 cable will do - assuming you are connecting via a switch. If you are connecting directly, you may need a crossover cable.

The make will NOT affect the sound quality. Expect to pay about £3 max for one. Ebay have them from £1.60 for standard patch cable, £3 for a crossover cable (inc postage).

quote:

If I got the SSD version and used NAS storage, any recommendations on CAT5 cable to connect them? I would need at least a 5m length.

Yep

Pop into the nearest DIY or PC World and pick up a bubble pack. It has been discussed on a different forum...basic conclusion you are shifting 1s and 0s.. not music so bog standard screened Cat5 cable ( which has worked fantastically well for the IT industry ) is all that is needed.

SNAP!

Thanks. I assume I would need a crossover cable, as I was thinking of connecting the NAS drive direct to the Unitiserve without going through my broadband router. That is, of course, assuming that is is permissible? I wouldn't be using the NAS drive for anything other than music storage at this time.

Now, I think I'll have to go and check the Unitiserve specs to see if I could store HiDef music files on the NAS and get them via the Unitiserve into my nDAC without losing quality.

I would hate to find out that the only way of using HiDef files into the nDAC is via USB stick.

All this trouble, for something I probably won't get around to for a few months yet!

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff P:
basic conclusion you are shifting 1s and 0s.. not music so bog standard screened Cat5 cable ( which has worked fantastically well for the IT industry ) is all that is needed.

Strange. What is the DC-1 carrying.... not 1's and 0's? Isn't the DAC just using 1's and 0's until the analog stage? CD player?

They affect SQ with their 1s and 0s. Why couldn't CAT cable? Curious.

I have never understood why some think the streamer matters (big time if you read around here), but router cannot affect SQ. A digital lead from the source to the DAC can change things but the Ethernet cable cannot.

What gives?

Patrick

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff P:
basic conclusion you are shifting 1s and 0s.. not music so bog standard screened Cat5 cable ( which has worked fantastically well for the IT industry ) is all that is needed.

Strange. What is the DC-1 carrying.... not 1's and 0's? Isn't the DAC just using 1's and 0's until the analog stage? CD player?

They affect SQ with their 1s and 0s. Why couldn't CAT cable? Curious.

Ethernet data is sent in packets which can arrive out of order and the receiving device is able to reconstruct them and request resends when needed.

SPDIF data is a time-critical stream of data.

Eloise

Then how would the Uniserve affect SQ?

Well, I've checked both Unitiserve and nDAC on Naim's website. Seems that HiDef audio is output over SPDIF. I think I must have been confusing it in my mind with the fact that you apparently can't use SPDIF for HiDef multichannel audio (bluray etc).

I'll email Naim about my NAS direct to Unitiserve query and see what they say.

Incidentally I note that the Unitiserve seems to support 768Hz 32bit via USB. No mention of such capability in the HDX spec. Does that mean that the Unitiserve is possibly better than the HDX in some respects?

quote:

Originally posted by Eloise:
SPDIF data is a time-critical stream of data.

More precisely, SPDIF carries the audio clock interleaved with the data. Different streamers and cables will affect very slightly the precision in time of this clock from one bit to the next.

All of the SQ differences people are hearing (assuming the system is bit perfect which it is in 99.9% of cases) are down to the effect this has in the system in one form or another.

Ethernet doesn't carry the audio clock at all, so can't affect it.

quote:

Originally posted by Nero:
let's hope you aren't as scary in real life....

Far scarier...

...go for a mental image of something between a 70's darts player and a nightclub bouncer and you'll not be far wrong.

Phil

quote:

Originally posted by Phil Harris:
Far scarier...

...go for a mental image of something between a 70's darts player and a nightclub bouncer and you'll not be far wrong.

Phil

Like this

Well, I asked Naim, and this is what they said. Just shows the extent of my knowledge about NAS :

No the idea is that both Uniti Serve and NAS connect to your router and then both appear on your network, the Uniti Serve needs to see a broadband connection in order to download track and cover art for ripped CD's. Yes you can store Hidef music on the Nas and the Serve can play this back and output to its digital out, the Serve will handle up to 768kHz and 32bit, it depends what you are feeding into

Regards

Steven Hopkins
Customer Relations Manager


Subject: Unitiserve and NAS


I'm going to expose my ignorance, and ask what may be very simple questions.

If I buy the Unitiserve and a NAS drive :

1. Could I connect the NAS drive direct to the Unitiserve (presumably via crossover CAT5 cable)? i.e. without going via my broadband router? I would not be using the NAS drive for anything other than music storage.

2. Other than opting for a shielded cable, is there anything else I should look out for when selecting a CAT5 cable?

3. I assume I could store HiDef music on the NAS and access it via the Unitiserve? Although one cannot use SPDIF connection for HiDef multichannel in AV systems, I assume it is OK for 2 channel music use?

4. I note the 768kHz, 32bit capability of the Unitiserve via USB. The HDX spec doesn't seem to mention any such capability. Is this to enable much higher quality HiDef audio in the future?

Now I'm going to have to sit down and think about whether I need 2 ordinary CAT5 cables, 2 crossover cables or one of each.

Told you I was ignorant about this aspect of computers!

by the time we can all download high res tracks all these products will be discontinued.

Cheap CAT5 is all you need. Only one crossover cable if you go direct (but you'll need to be able to set IP addreses correctly etc...). Also, if you isolate the HDX from the internet you won't have any ability to download metadata (tags/album art).

It really would be easier to just drop them on a network with a router already in place. There is NO audio performance sacrifice for going through a router... None.

quote:

Originally posted by Andy S:
Cheap CAT5 is all you need. Only one crossover cable if you go direct (but you'll need to be able to set IP addreses correctly etc...). Also, if you isolate the HDX from the internet you won't have any ability to download metadata (tags/album art).

It really would be easier to just drop them on a network with a router already in place. There is NO audio performance sacrifice for going through a router... None.

js will be along to argue the point though

In principle, if you manually set the IP addresses of the HDX and the NAS, you could connect with a crossover cable. But surely most people have a router with DHCP server in the house somewhere? Maybe not. I've got kinda used to it

quote:

Originally posted by Nero:
js will be along to argue the point though

Oh... I do hope so