Sign the petition! - An XS Series Streamer

quote:

Originally posted by Alonso:
...XS Series (Mid Range)

Mid Range??

and a xs series dac...

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:

quote:

Originally posted by Alonso:
...XS Series (Mid Range)

Mid Range??

500 Series
Classic Series
XS Series
i Series
Uniti.

Yup.. XS looks in the middle to me!

I would definitely be keen on one of these, especially if it is similar to the NDX feature wise.

The point is 1,500 GBP.

I am sure Naim HQ already have a product like this in their sights. However, they are not a big company and things take a lot of R&D so don't rush them. Let them get the NDX right and released first because I might want one!

quote:

Originally posted by Taarzan:
The point is 1,500 GBP.

You reckon its too difficult to hit that mark? I mean... It doesnt have to be 1.5K (it could be less...) I dunno... Im no costing expert but if the Qute is 1,350 or so... why cant there be a streamer for 1.5? Specially considering there are not amps inside!

your welcome.

quote:

Originally posted by Alonso:

quote:

Originally posted by Taarzan:
The point is 1,500 GBP.

You reckon its too difficult to hit that mark? I mean... It doesnt have to be 1.5K (it could be less...) I dunno... Im no costing expert but if the Qute is 1,350 or so... why cant there be a streamer for 1.5? Specially considering there are not amps inside!

That's my point! The NQute is £1.3k. A streamer £1-1.5k is not exactly mid-point in the Naim range. It's more XS level.

NQute, 5-i and XS are three levels within the first third of the Naim range, as 202, 282 and 252 are three levels within the second third of the Naim range, the Classic.

I would be very interested, as I am currently using a Sonos/DC1 into the nDac and then 552/300. This is very convenient but not the best sound quality.

An affordable Naim streamer would be a great addition to the range, subject to its cost! But in my view, it would have to

• sound better than a Sonos or similar device
  
• have its own integrated ps with IEC socket for possible Powerline upgrade
  
• ideally allow for an upgrade to the internal ps via an external Naim ps
  
• offer wireless capability
  
• offer a useful interface like the Sonos handset - no I don't have an iPhone!
  
• from my point of view I would prefer it to be in a Hicap sized case but this would not be a deal breaker.

As for price, well if Sonos can do all they do in a small white box with decent interface for £800 (p90/zonebridge and controller)which is well less than £1000 I do not see why Naim should need to go much beyond that just for a basic streamer.

If they think this is not possible perhaps they could explain why but then as they are so far silent on the whole idea they might not wish to comment as it might fuel expectation.

I accept the nDac came in at about £1900 so maybe they would aim to price a streamer accordingly. I sense, on the basis of comments so far, that they could command a high price just because there is a demand for the product.

Perhaps they might think some of us would snap it up irrespective of price. I am not sure that would include me though.

Sonically I'm happy with my Sqeezebox Touch, but visually it would be a nice match, to have a XS series streamer.

I just had a vision of something like this...

(they could call it the XST, the XSTreamer)

regards,
Alco

C'mon guys! Its gaining traction!

R O C K T H E V O T E !

The XST Looks fanbloodytastic!

http://www.petition.co.uk/an-xs-series-naim-streamer

quote:

Originally posted by GrahamFinch:

As for price, well if Sonos can do all they do in a small white box with decent interface for £800 (p90/zonebridge and controller)which is well less than £1000 I do not see why Naim should need to go much beyond that just for a basic streamer.

I accept the nDac came in at about £1900 so maybe they would aim to price a streamer accordingly. I sense, on the basis of comments so far, that they could command a high price just because there is a demand for the product. Perhaps they might think some of us would snap it up irrespective of price. I am not sure that would include me though.

Totally agree Graham! I think the right price is as important as the right spec! You price it too high and one is forced to go to square one and look for other alternatives...

Sonos is up for a major revamp and companies like Olive are already there with a streamer sans HDD but with a gorgeous interface and beautiful casing...

quote:

Originally posted by GrahamFinch:
I would be very interested, as I am currently using a Sonos/DC1 into the nDac and then 552/300. This is very convenient but not the best sound quality.

An affordable Naim streamer would be a great addition to the range, subject to its cost! But in my view, it would have to

• sound better than a Sonos or similar device
  
• have its own integrated ps with IEC socket for possible Powerline upgrade
  
• ideally allow for an upgrade to the internal ps via an external Naim ps
  
• offer wireless capability
  
• offer a useful interface like the Sonos handset - no I don't have an iPhone!
  
• from my point of view I would prefer it to be in a Hicap sized case but this would not be a deal breaker.

Graham... You dont 'envision' an inbuilt (midrange) DAC? Like the one in the Uniti?

quote:

Graham... You dont 'envision' an inbuilt (midrange) DAC? Like the one in the Uniti?

Personally, I would not need it as I have the nDac. It depends on how "basic" people want a basic streamer to be. Some have already commented that they don't want to pay for features they won't use. In my case that would be the in
built dac.

However, I concede that for those that don't yet have a standalone dac it could be an attractive option to include it in the streamer.

This is all just wishful thinking at the moment.

How about a module-built Streamer + Dac full-width case to cater for different needs:

(1) just the streamer + basic psu taking up 1/2 the case which is divided into two separate halves
(2) the streamer + a dac module (perhaps in more than one SQ-version?) - each taking up their separate half of the box
(3) upgradeable by external psus

Best wishes,
Peter

quote:

Originally posted by GrahamFinch: I concede that for those that don't yet have a standalone dac it could be an attractive option to include it in the streamer. This is all just wishful thinking at the moment.

I know... the degree of convergence of technologies is for Naim to evaluate (e.g. standalone streamer vs Streamer & DAC). I think it would be fantastic if Naim had product like this in their pipeline but it is still an interesting exercise to gauge how this particular set of 'aficionados' think and feel about a product like this. When the thread dies out (i.e. No one else is interested) Ill definitely pass the comments left on the petition to the Mods and post them (without names of course) so we all get what the general thinking is.

quote:

Originally posted by Rosewind:
How about a module-built Streamer + Dac full-width case to cater for different needs:

(1) just the streamer + basic psu taking up 1/2 the case which is divided into two separate halves
(2) the streamer + a dac module (perhaps in more than one SQ-version?) - each taking up their separate half of the box
(3) upgradeable by external psus

Best wishes,
Peter

That is a really good idea but I guess it would be a complete departure of Naim's way!

It is how Cyrus does, isnt it? You get for example the XP8 which you can send back to add the 'd' (DAC) and then back again to add the Qx (upgraded DAC module)

So going back to your example... A pure streamer for those who already have an external DAC and the option of a DAC module for those who want an one box (ish) solution...

Thinking about it... How much product development would it take for the Uniti to drop the CD tray? I know... this is an 'amplified' concept, but still... I cant be THAT difficult... and hey! Itd be cheaper!

quote:

Originally posted by Alco:
Sonically I'm happy with my Sqeezebox Touch, but visually it would be a nice match, to have a XS series streamer.

I just had a vision of something like this...

(they could call it the XST, the XSTreamer)

regards,
Alco

Way to go Alco, I like your effort! Maybe Naim could come up with a slightly more elegant solution for those buttons. As it is it looks a bit like a playstation ;-)

quote:

Originally posted by GrahamFinch:
I would be very interested, as I am currently using a Sonos/DC1 into the nDac and then 552/300. This is very convenient but not the best sound quality.

An affordable Naim streamer would be a great addition to the range, subject to its cost! But in my view, it would have to

• sound better than a Sonos or similar device
  
• have its own integrated ps with IEC socket for possible Powerline upgrade
  
• ideally allow for an upgrade to the internal ps via an external Naim ps
  
• offer wireless capability
  
• offer a useful interface like the Sonos handset - no I don't have an iPhone!
  
• from my point of view I would prefer it to be in a Hicap sized case but this would not be a deal breaker.

I'm on board with all of the above, although since I have an iPhone that would be my desired interface.

Are we really asking for Linn DS streamers in a Naim box and an affordable price? Or am I missing something there?

quote:

Originally posted by Obsessed1:

Are we really asking for Linn DS streamers in a Naim box and an affordable price? Or am I missing something there?

That's what I'm thinking but like you I think I'm probably missing something. I'm also assuming that having a DAC, in many cases here the nDAC mostly renders it moot? What I'd like is a black monolith streamer operated by an iPod/Phone/Pad - the latter in my case, with nothing on the front plate which which gives a comfortably superior SQ to streaming from a NAS via HDX (into nDAC+PS). I suspect I will have a very long wait. That's OK, I'll feed the piggy bank.

quote:

Originally posted by GrahamFinch:
I would be very interested, as I am currently using a Sonos/DC1 into the nDac and then 552/300. This is very convenient but not the best sound quality.

An affordable Naim streamer would be a great addition to the range, subject to its cost! But in my view, it would have to

• sound better than a Sonos or similar device
  
• have its own integrated ps with IEC socket for possible Powerline upgrade
  
• ideally allow for an upgrade to the internal ps via an external Naim ps
  
• offer wireless capability
  
• offer a useful interface like the Sonos handset - no I don't have an iPhone!
  
• from my point of view I would prefer it to be in a Hicap sized case but this would not be a deal breaker.

As for price, well if Sonos can do all they do in a small white box with decent interface for £800 (p90/zonebridge and controller)which is well less than £1000 I do not see why Naim should need to go much beyond that just for a basic streamer.

If they think this is not possible perhaps they could explain why but then as they are so far silent on the whole idea they might not wish to comment as it might fuel expectation.

I accept the nDac came in at about £1900 so maybe they would aim to price a streamer accordingly. I sense, on the basis of comments so far, that they could command a high price just because there is a demand for the product.

Perhaps they might think some of us would snap it up irrespective of price. I am not sure that would include me though.

All Naim would need to do is take all functionalities of the Qute, strip out the amplifier and put it into a full sized XS casing, to match the rest of the XS range and Master Series front. That would be the perfect product. Would you need a better DAC inside? I don't think so because it should be a natural partner for the dedicated Naim DAC. The NDX seems way overpriced. If the Qute weren't so cute but in a full sized box, I would consider it even with the build in amp. However, as it currently is it just stands out like an ugly lump on your Fraim. A bit like a HC2.

Price wise, if Naim can offer the Qute for £1350, there is no reason, I don't think, why an XS equivalent could not be offered for the same or even less money. If the price were any higher, then certainly the product would have to offer an added benefit, such as a better build in DAC. However, trials done by Adam and others here seem to indicate that the nDAC pretty much levels the different digital source components once fed. So there is a question as to whether a better build in DAC is actually needed, if partnered with Naim's external DAC. Playing the product on its own, now that's another story of course... But even in this case it would make sense to build it at Qute level or just slightly above. After all there still is the NDX for those who want CDX2 level SQ and there needs to be a rising scale of SQ within the Naim product hierarchy...

quote:

Originally posted by Alco:
Sonically I'm happy with my Sqeezebox Touch, but visually it would be a nice match, to have a XS series streamer.

I just had a vision of something like this...

(they could call it the XST, the XSTreamer)

regards,
Alco

N-XS surely

i would rather like to sign for 555 streamer ;-)