XS Streamer options - dealer comments.

That would be a very good system indeed. The US is in many ways a very beautiful product, very nice UI, interactive album art, lovely. But it comes at a pretty hefty price, all relative, I know. If you are allready invested in Macs anyway, you could get a current Mac Mini, rip all your CDs with your MBP in iTunes, store in AIFF or ALAC, transfer the files to the Mac Mini and run it headless as a server into the nDAC. Pretty much the same sound as using a US at 1/5 of the price of a US. Your money. I have to admit though, i do like the US, have refrained from purchasing one though because everything it does can be had for a fraction of what it costs. You will need to get an iPad either way, best way to operate the US and a must for running a Mac Mini headless, if you do not want to mess around with your MBP. Otherwise, since you already own a MBP you could have it sat next to your hifi and select your music files directly from it out of iTuens, same SQ, at no extra cost, other than an optical cable. I have noticed that it's actually quite nice to have that screen when going through iTunes. Personally, I think iTunes is a lovely interface, does everything I want and has a good look and feel to it. Plus if you have iPods in the house, going the Mac route makes even more sense. You will need a PC to update the US, although Naim is apparently working on a Mac based desk top controller (DTC).

Either way, your system will sound great. I would probably go for a Nait XS though, just to save one box. You'll want that Flatcap XS at some stage, ups, sorry ;-))

No, I can't either. Was just curious because according to Apples spec the optical out of the Mac Mini should be capable to deliver sample rates up to 192 kHz.

How do you do internet radio? I do it via iTunes (adding URL's of radio streams and combining them in a dedicated play list). Is there a more convenient possibility?

Problem is that Audirvana (which I use to play music on my MAc Mini into the nDac) is not capable to play MP3 streams. Therefore I need a second connection from the Mac to the Dac specifically for internet radio.

Internet radio would be a lot easier with a dedicated streamer. But the ND5 costs around 2000 EUR more than the Mac solution. Maybe I will try out a cheaper non-Naim streamer into the nDac. Heard that the Pro-ject stream box isn't bad. Will have to listen to its against the ND5 into the nDac.

Thanks, mipi

Jason:UServe + Naim Dac + NAC 152 XS + NAP 155 XS  However, in my own case, I don't even have speakers (which I believe will provide the most bang for the buck) and budget will prevent my doing something like that all at once.  So my thinking is along these lines:

1.  Start out with UServe+UQute+Speakers (Probably the Gurus).  Then I can bypass the CDP entirely and thus poke my head out into the Twenty-First Century--and immediately have a way to seamlessly rip my relatively small CD collection. 

2.  The first upgrade would be to add the Naim DAC--assuming it is possible to input from the Naim DAC directly into the preamp stage of the UQ, bypassing its internal DAC?????

3.  The second, and probably last, upgrade would be to relegate the UQ to duty elsewhere, and add separate Pre and Power amps--the best the future allows me to afford.

A new way to look at things.  Please feel free to comment.

Russ

Somehow, in my last post, I truncated the first part of it, in which I thanked you, Jason for telling me about this thread and the assistance from Bart, Guido, and all the rest. 

Russ

If budget is an issue, consider getting the Synology NAS instead of the UnitiServ.

MM ... Jason/Russ are looking for a simple route and to avoid the complexities of NAS and UPnP and transcoding FLAC to WAV, the metadata saga and .... well, I agree with you that the Synology NAS is a fine bit of kit, but it is more complex than plugging a Mac Mini into the Naim DAC or UQ which will work as easily as a CDP and give the same or better SQ. [IMHO a Synology/Denon Music Server into a Naim DAC would give stunning sound from FLAC]. 

Hi Russ/Jason ... to me the US looks more like a traditional computer than the Mac Mini. Things I would check out with your dealer.  Will he do a complete install for you and a full home demo? Will he pop around from time to time and do any updates .. if not ask him to show you keep the Naim kit up to date with the latest firmware (My UQ is till not updated because I don't think it fair to drag my dealer across country and I do not have the wherewithal to update it - the Mac Mini & Naim DAC are trivial to update)? If you are happy with both answers then go for the US as the level of support is worth the premium. 

OK, Guido, you are starting to convince me--so put on your best "I am talking to a simpleton" hat and don't assume anything!    And Jason, let me know if I am hijacking your thread.  (You may have noticed that I am very good at hijacking my own.)

For what it is worth, Because I want to start with a turnkey solution and work onward and upward from there, I am leaning heavily toward this as a starting configuration:

Naimuniti2 ----> Guru QM10 two s

Then, at some point, I will need to add some sort of server.  Let's assume that I go with Apple instead of Userve, but in lieu of the Mini, I choose one of the less expensive Macbook pro laptops with say, 750 gig of storage (which will hold way more CD s than I have currently, probably by a factor of 5. 

OK, onward: The NU2 is already connected to the ISP router via Cat6 cable.  I know (basically) how to rip a CD on a PC and I suspect it won't be that different with a Mac.  So I set up a file structure of some sort, (don't need to worry about that yet, I assume). 

I hook the Macbook Pro up to the internet by Cat 6 cable into a second ISP router port.

Now, I assume I have to load some kind of music server software on the Mac?

Now, I make sure that the settings on my iphone (onto which I have downloaded the nstream app) is set to default to WiFi to the same network to which my fancy new Apple is attached.

If I go to the "Inputs" screen and touch UPnP, can I now expect, without further computer hocus pocus on my part, for the nstream/NU2 to see the "server" set up on my Steve Jobs Special?  Or is there more?

So let's assume that I have been able to get the infernal machine set up and running.  Somewhere along the way, I will run out of storage--can I then connect Seagate 1TB GoFlex Portable for Mac Thunderbolt Hard Drive  and use that for additional storage and will the NU2 "see" what I rip to that as well?

Finally, is backing the whole shmear up as simple as hooking it up some way to a Time Capsule and setting it up to back up every week? month? when something changes?

Regards and thanks,

Russ

You can use a Mac but UPnP is crude to say the least running on OSX.

Macs do make good servers when running audiophile grade players like Decibel or using iTunes; directly attached to a good Dac and using Apple's Remote software or screen share as a method of control.

Either use your Macbook (Mini would be cheaper) into a Dac or use Vortexbox on a bespoke PC to serve up UPnP (+itunes, Sonos or Squeezebox) properly on your network.

Router - Switch - Vortexbox / NU2

Job done.

Tog

Jason

I have UServe>nDac>152>155. It is brilliant !!

I arrived at this combo for similar reasons to the ones you talk about. I can't be bothered mucking around with different software and computers. I just wanted to keep in the Naim family, and was prepared to pay more for the priviledge. For me everything now is easy and seamless.

Demoed UServe>nd5xs but quickly rejected due to inferior SQ than above. No drama not having a screen on Userve - iPad control is great. Also nServe supposedly better than NStream.

Stand alone nDac follows the Naim separates philosophy  along with 152+155. You can upgrade these with power supplies if required. I've got a HiCap which I can keep if I upgrade the pre, and the nDac can also accompany an upgrade.

But for now my system sounds great, and I'm just cranking up the volume at any opportunity - Balkan Gypsy music at 11 on the dial is great for gettting the kids out of bed in the morning, as well as for me the breakfast chef.

Cheers

dis

> I have UServe>nDac>152>155. It is brilliant !!

Agreed ... 

So is a Mac Mini/Naim DAC/Naim amplifier 

Two equally good systems ... just get the one that suits best 

Russ, if you go the Mac route, (1) use the Mac Mini (cheaper than a Macbook, happier running all of the time, no monitor needed, and I think some say much better optical audio out (but I am not positive of this)), and (2) use it connected directly to the NaimDAC via optical or a USB to SPDIF converter as Stu wrote about earlier.  You will greatly frustrate yourself trying to use a Mac as a uPnP server, and totally frustrate your purpose of trying to keep it simple.

Of all the options, running a Mac as a uPnP server to a streamer (NDX, ND5XS) might be the most tweaky option of them all.  You will get yourself into exactly what you're trying to avoid.

If you really want a turnkey solution get a UnitiServe to serve music (key word here, you can't serve anything else) to any of the Naim network players.

That takes care of ripping, serving and storage.  No computers needed.

Otherwise get a proper DLNA/UPNP server running on a computer and rip, serve, store and backup there.

My personal suggestion?  Get an ASRock mini PC (CoreHT is fine) with Sandy Bridge and HD3000 graphics (~$500-$600) and install JRiver ($50).  Connect directly to Naim DAC or serve to Network Player.  Then you can serve and stream full 1080p, pictures, music etc...  AND you can take it all on the road with you via iOS app JRemote.

Good Luck and have fun!

Patrick

Poor Russ . . . We're not confusing him (I hope) but rather pointing out just how many options are out here.

THE most turn-key approach is the UnitiServe.  IMHO, the second most turn-key approach is a Mac Mini directly into the Naim DAC, playing Apple Lossless files via iTunes.  After that . . . the dust really starts to fly!

Like you Jason I chose unitiserve as I did not want to cope with techy problems, i am happy with my unitiserve, ndac and nait xs.I will most likely look to inprove my system with a amp upgrade and maybe a hicap.

+1 

Yes as James n does you can stream from a Mac with Playback UPnP server, but it would not be my first choice for that kind of streaming.

However, just plugging a Mac Mini in to a Naim DAC or UQ using a Wireworld Supernova 6 optical cable just works ... no tweaking or wizardry needed - the Mac will find the network wirelessly for remote control from and iPad/iPhone. 

I wouldn't use USB on a Mac Mini ... especially if you plug in a USB external drive or USB CD drive fror ripping, but on a MacBook it is a different matter - this is what Stu uses and why he uses the hiFace. 

Bart: Of course you are confusing me--I was born blonde! and now I have gray hair and sometimes forget why I am standing in front of the toilet.   But OK--I don't fully understand why a Macbook Pro would be more problematic than the mini--(I realized it would be cheaper, but figure Hell, I might be needing a new laptop soon anyway, and have been DYING to wean my wife and myself away from Windows and eternally having to reinstall the OS and everything else (don't ask!)  But as you have said before: Horses for Courses.  So I now accept I should not go the Macbook route and will not trouble my pretty little head about it.

I would go the Userve-->Naim Dac--->Pre---->Power, if I were one of those rich Americans our President wants to pay his "fair share".    But although I can't afford it now, I may be able to in the future.  So for now, I am increasingly thinking I will go with the Uniti 2 and speakers, next add either a mini or Userve, then in the future, if I want better performance (and I may not)  use the Uniti 2 as a preamp and add power, followed by tacking on the separate DAC and finally a honking preamp.  Then I would have an antique Uniti 2 to donate to the Smithsonian.  NO, what the hell--make that the British Museum!

Bart and Guido: So what I am hearing you say--please correct me if I am wrong--is that I can simply buy a Mini (I assume with minimum configuration of 2 GB memory but an upgraded hard drive (from 500 gig to 750) an exteranal CD drive (I hear the Apples are not so good--so say, a Panasonic).  Now I am up to about 850 USD.  Then I buy the optical cable, but no keyboard, mouse, touchpad, or display required.  So, say 900 USD.

I then plug the cable from the Mini into the Uniti 2 and it works?  Do I also connect it to the network via Cat cable? 

And I guess another conceptual problem I have with headless commputer is: How do I control ripping?

Thanks,

Russ

News to me. Our Apple external superdrive is flawless so far. (Cue complete meltdown of winky's superdrive with 48 hours )

Winky: That is called "painting the devil on the wall!"  One of the reasons I hate computers is that I am sitting here with an ancient laptop, connecting wirelessly to the internet with blazing speed--while my wife is sitting at  a Dell desktop that ran some 5K USD, connected through Cat5 and sitting...and sitting...and sitting....I have no doubt one of you young hotshots who cut your teeth on these miserable things, could figure it out in a jiffy--I just want to take a sledge hammer to all of them. 

(I could still code IBM Assembler Language in my sleep.)

Regards,

Russ

Hi Russ

If you are interested in the Uniti2 and already have a MacBook, then you can still stream your iTunes library to it.

I think you said you are happy with ripping cd's to MacBook using iTunes. Select aiff for best quality. Then install a UPnP server software on MacBook. I use Playback ( just google it)

all you do is install the software, go through a few settings, that's it! All devices connected to network via cable, Uniti2 will then see your MacBook iTunes library and off you go.

Not sure of you already thought of this.

Anton

I don't believe I saw an obvious combo recommended which would be the SuperUniti and UServe.

Two simple boxes, superb interface, awesome sound, plenty of power...done. 

It's also less in cost than the ND5, 152, 155 UServe combo and actually closer to the 172, 155, UServe cost.

now the app is fit for purpose,at last .now it wants rolling out to andriod asap