why no network player without dac section
Posted by: dan-r on 04 November 2012
I am surprised that Naim has not released network player without dac section for those using Naim dac or other dac. I realise that the new NDS has dac section as good as Naim dac but feel that with the NDX and ND5 XS you are paying for dac section that is not needed if you already have a very good dac.
I ordered the Naim ND-5 XS to replace Bryston BDP-1 digital player as I find that the n-Stream app is better interface than MPad app ( music player daemon ) was for Bryston unit. Not sure but I think software used for Bryston digital player is based on Linux. Is the n-Stream app developed by Naim ?
The vtuner software for internet radio works well and allows you to add stations. It was always difficult to add internet stations to Bryston Digital Player and it did not show name, artist and song playing.
Since I am connecting digital out to external dac, is there still a advantage to using external power supply?
Dan
> Not sure but I think software used for Bryston digital player is based on Linux.
Yes you're right - MPD is as on the Vortexbox: though the VB is intended more as a music server than player.
I see no advantage using an external PSU with your ND5XS.
My view is the DAC and what comes after makes far more difference to SQ than what comes before.
So they can sell me, and everyone else with a Naim DAC, a streamer?????? We are ALL using SPDIF now....
Indeed so, sad isn't it? S/PDIF is so broken it would have been nice if a better interface with separate clocking (such as I2S) were the de facto standard...
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Maybe Empirical Audio would be interested in modding Naim DACs, then we could all use Off Ramps and i2s. 
He does have a new Synchro-Mesh product that reclocks between source and DAC. No clue as to its effectiveness though.
In the end though, doesn't the Naim DAC take care of all of this anyway? How could/would SPDIF affect what is going on inside the Naim DAC?
-Patrick
So they can sell me, and everyone else with a Naim DAC, a streamer?????? We are ALL using SPDIF now....
How about the Simaudio MiND 180, streamer only for approx £900, should be arriving in the UK soon. No connection to Simaudio, just been interested in trying one out for a while (it was announced at the start of the year).
The interesting question is was the Ndac the first dac or just the beginning of the streaming products. will we see a reverence dac in the future, maybe a dac wthat can serve as a preamp so so the all digital people can avoid pre amps?
I suppose the number of units sold decides what Naim is developping.
It is going to be very interesting to see wich digital products, Naim will release in the next few years.
Claus
I realise that the new NDS has dac section as good as Naim dac
Actually it doesn't. It's better than the DAC/555PS. I wouldn't be running the NDS if it was only as good as the DAC.
......will we see a reverence dac in the future......
Claus
God willing.
Harry it subjective, some prefer the NDAC and others the NDS so I think it's best to say they are pretty equal when powered by the 555PS with user preference one way or other. Certainly they are both extremely high quality devices with subtle differences in audio presentation...
Simon
Harry it subjective,
My initial reaction was "no shit!" But you are of course, correct to state this. We should all have a subjectivity disclaimer as a signature and I do usually couch my opinions in these terms. This one was a bit more off the hip, in a hurry.
So they can sell me, and everyone else with a Naim DAC, a streamer?????? We are ALL using SPDIF now....
I am using a Bel Canto Dac 1.5 as both a dac and preamp and would have been happier if there was a Naim Network player ( streamer ) that did not have a dac section built in.
So they can sell me, and everyone else with a Naim DAC, a streamer?????? We are ALL using SPDIF now....
How about the Simaudio MiND 180, streamer only for approx £900, should be arriving in the UK soon. No connection to Simaudio, just been interested in trying one out for a while (it was announced at the start of the year).
The Simaudio MIND 180 streamer is interesting component but I believe the power supply section in the Naim streamers and future possible upgrade paths to improve sound quality make Naim a better choice.
I could of just purchased the Naim dac by itself and use a Mac Mini but I feel the design and engineering of the Naim streamers will out perform music servers using laptop or desktop as it does one job only - deliver digital music files without digital noise created by switching power supply and other issues within typical computer.
Dan