Naim Streaming Products Update - Version 3.17

The DSP version on my NDS didn't change between 3.15 and 3.16 ?

I find this topic fascinating.  I have now had the pleasure of owning some Naim equipment for about  five months and have been reading the Forum for a few months longer.  The basis of the post is the latest upgrade which some have accepted but others are wary about.  The development process is fairly classic with limited information, followed by speculation and then growing anticipation.  I sometimes feel that we are part of some sophisticated behavioural experiment.  Perhaps it is just best to relax and take bets on how many more pages on this topic are needed before Naim deign to provide some information.

Perhaps Naim has finally figured out how to make FLAC sound identical to WAV ? ;-)

+1 to Allen's comment re. Better communication required.

I have upgraded my Uniti because it did say in the upgrade info that it was for all streamers, but I and many others here have taken a leap of faith and gone ahead without really knowing much (if anything!) about it.

It worked fine, and still does, but that's not the point.

Surely it would make sense to do an information bulletin simultaneously with the upgrade appearing on the website?

Im very happy with my Naim kit, but HQ could easily enhance owner experience with just a little more forethought.

Yes, I understand that for all the ND players the change in the DSP controller code took place between 3.15 and 3.16. From what I can gather the changes in the DSP firmware were about timing at the controller level, so the DSP can do its stuff with a more consistent load on the power busses. There has been no change to the oversampling approach that I can see. 

I agree with Allen, better change logs would be appropriate.

However... What we see now in firmware are two things... Bug fixes and tweaks. It's the latter that frustrates and delights as it is subjective and not necessarily appreciated by all... But surely  it really is evidence that controller logic perturbations in power line/ ground current  RFI and EMI has a side effect on digital clocks and analogue circuits or we would hear no sonic change with the firmware updates.. I personally find this area fascinating.....

Simon

where are the naim comments about 3.17  .what is the purpose of this for forum

I updated my Uniti to 3.17 today and it works fine...subjectively the SQ is marginally improved. I agree that it would be nice to know the objective!

Just a quick warning to Jobseeker / Redmires on the RS232 adapter....

I think you have to choose your cable and / or gender bender a little more carefully.  The one shown in Redmires picture wouldn't fit becuase it has the nut-like fixings.  The Qute's socket has nut-like fixings, and if your cable has the same, it won't plug in - the fixings just block each other.  As far as I can see, the cable needs to have the screw in fixings to go into the nuts on the Qute (not that they need to be tightened).

From a different point of view.

Why does anyone think that because the firmware is tweaked they automatically have to install it?

This process is a constant part of development and it is natural that these incremental improvements will be use on new kit as it is built. My recollection is that Naim announce each upgrade when they think it would be beneficial for us to install it.  I remember for example 3.0 and 3.16 being clearly flagged here on the forum.

There is another grand HI-Fi company that produced nightly builds of its control software, but I doubt that many find it essential to install every build.

Simply my take on the situation of course.

Regards

Peter

It would be great if it is related to WMA lossless compatibility, with no limit on the bitrate ! 

I am sorry if I annoyed you with my post.

But, please, rest assured, I am perfectly able to hear the difference in the SQ.

No need to speculate, no need for sarcasm.

I expect the firmware release to be accompanied by a release note. Naim should really be more proactive with this.

dealer says it patchs/corrects with radio.error number xxx that all.

On the Naim updates page it now states 3.17 Resolves ‘Error 36’ issue experienced by a minority of customers. The same message is on the forum by SH. I'm don't know what ‘Error 36’ is, but I updated yesterday and SQ does seem a little better. Thanks!

told you so

Nevertheless...the SQ is better...

Yup

MusicLover,  

apologies, and slightly horrified to think that I gave the impression that I was annoyed with your post.  I was only trying, and obviously failed, to summarise the different views being expressed by members in the absence of any information form HQ.  At least we now know that it has resolved the Error 36 issues!

Just goes to show how subjective the whole issue of "sound quality" really is!

If all 3.17 does is fix the error36 fault, why would it update the DSP thingy me jig. Im sure, although im probably mistaken, ive read Simon up there in Suffolk say that this is to do with the DAC side of things.

Most people only reported the 36 error after updating to 3.16, so why is the NDS immune?

Am I the only one that hasn't noticed any change in sound? Not complaining since I really like the sound i'm getting.

Maybe the update does different things to different machines. Since they now found in different places on the website, is the update for a say qute that I have infact different to uniti or superuniti?

You findings might quite likely be true since according Steven Hopkins: 

New software is now available for Naim streaming products the ND5 XS, NDX and SuperUniti. (full post)

In my mind this statement means that this update does not have any effect on other products (of course this could be a misinterpretation) although it is odd that the link appears also under e.g. NaimUniti 2 at the main web site.   

The documentation says that the update includes a DSP patch for the SuperUniti (plus ND5XS and NDX) so yes, the update for a Qute will differ and since it's a DSP difference I expect there will be a sound difference for the players listed and not the Uniti (or other players which will take the patch but won't have DSP upgraded). The .16 when applied to the NDS (.17 not applicable) changed the sound balance because the DSP was updated. All NDS owners have heard it, most prefer it. I don't.

Using an earlier procedure I did mange to brick my Uniti. it had to be returned to Naim for repair.

A subsequent update worked OK. I have not had the problem which Version 17 claims to fix so I may give it a miss.