NDX & Unitiserve - ease of use

Posted by: Sdan on 03 June 2012

I currently use a mac mini (with Amarra and XLD) fed into Ayre QB-9 DAC. I need to move to a NAS due to no more room on my mac hard drive. The issue I have with my arrangement is operations. To avoid the clutter of a computer screen in the living room I use the tv. Just a pain when trying to set up a playlist or play music in general.

 

My question is, will the name NDX & Unitiserve make my life easier without degarding the sound of the music?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Tim

Posted on: 03 June 2012 by Guido Fawkes

Well I don't know anything about Ayre kit, but I would not trade my Mac Mini/Naim DAC/555PS for UnitiServe/NDX/555PS because I believe the DAC sounds better than the NDX and the streamer is largely irrelevant - I can't see any advantage in using Amarra on a Mac, but if you like it fair enough - my Mac Mini produces the same bitstream and jitter levels irrespective of what player is used, provided that player is set for bit perfect replay and you avoid noisy USB and use a good glass fibre optical cable (e.g. Supernova 6). I have never been able hear a difference between software players or lossless formats. 

 

I don't believe the US/NDX would be easier to use than the Mac Mini - the Mac is easier to keep up to date, for example. However, the latest US looks a vast step forward from the original. 

 

In your position I would stay with the Mac MIni (assuming it is a new one - i.e. you bought it with Lion and not an early version you upgraded) and I'd add an extra disc (2 TB Firewire). I'd then audition the Ayre against the Naim and BAD Aplha DACs (assuming you are thinking the Ayre can bettered) - if not stay with the Ayre. 

 

However if you had said NDS rather than NDX then I'd have answered differently.

 

I still prefer the Vortexbox (google it) to UnitiServe, as it is more flexible, just as easy to use and costs a lot less so you have funds to spend on the DAC/PSU and amplifier, which to me are more important parts of the chain. 

Posted on: 04 June 2012 by Steve2

Guido!

 

I have been toying with the idea for some time now to rip and stream my music collection.  With this in mind I was looking at a Untiserve-ssd, NDX and nDac.  Now you have put the cat among the pigeons!  I have an iMac and Qnap in Raid 5 configuration already.  Your suggestion to use a mini mac would save a huge amount of money but my understanding is limited as you can tell, but I cannot see any CD drives on the mini mac to rip my CDs.  I ask only because I have seen both a US-ssd and ndac both second hand at a good price and wondered if your suggestion made more sense.  Thanks for any light that you might be able to throw on the subject in advance.

 

Yours attentively, SteveT

Posted on: 04 June 2012 by Monkey Jim
Hi Sdan I have a QB-9 attached to a MacBookPro into my Supernait/HiCap. I have a 2TB disc attached by FireWire 800 to the MBP and keep all my music there. I also use Amarra. I wanted to move to an all naim system, but didn't think the bare ndac brought a real upgrade vs the QB-9. When you add the XPS or PS555 that's a different story, but then you're in a different league price wise. IMO as most agree nDAC upgrades an NDX, I'd doubt an NDX would better your current set up. Of course the best thing would be to try it. The other thing is that the QB-9 sounds quite different to the naim DAC. Having been to TomTom's show and heard the NDX and NDS it was only the latter that really impressed me.
Posted on: 04 June 2012 by Sdan

Steve,


"I cannot see any CD drives on the mini mac to rip my CDs." 


There is a slot just below the silver band at the top. I down load the XLD lossless program for ripping. Supposedly will get the CD ripped bit perfect.

http://www.macupdate.com/app/m...0/x-lossless-decoder

 

I just need to take the time to really dive into computer audio to manage it myself. 

 

Another intersting source is computer audiophile. http://www.computeraudiophile.com/

 

Thanks for the feedback.

 

Tim