Download & Replay on HDX/nDac Noob Question

Download it on your computer ... copy it to the root directory of a USB stick and stick it in the rear USB port on your Naim DAC ... the navigation is mediocre, but the SQ is superb (or at least it should be, I've not heard Grrr ... but assume it is well mastered) 

Sorry, I don't know the HDX so not sure if using its port would degrade the sound quality .. if it doesn't that's another option. If it sounds better that would be interesting as I've not yet heard a way of using the DAC that gave better sound than its USB. 

Thanks Guido....errr...what's a 'root directory' and is the front port on the nDac ok to use? G

Graeme

Put you files on the USB stick so when you list them there are no folders .. You just see your files. The top level directory or folder is the root. This makes it very easy for the DAC to find your music as there is only one place to look. It does mean you need a dedicated stick for each album. 

You can use the front USB port ... This will work, it is iPod port, but it will play USB. I am convinced a USB stick sounds at its best in the rear port. Though it is not something to worry over if the rear is too awkward to use. I don't use USB because i find it awkward, but i still believe it gives the best sound with the Naim DAC. 

All the best, Guy

Thanks Guy.....I'll give it a go and see how I get on.

Does the memory stick need to be blank to upload the music files to?  G

When I was using the HDX as my source, I used a flying USB lead into one of the back USB sockets into which I could plug sticks. This way the artist/album/tracks show up on the usual list displayed by the HDX. Or you can search by location (USB device). Simple and effective but questionable on the grounds of the absolutely best SQ. It didn't sound bad to me.

Thanks Harry - I'll try 'straight to Ndac' first to compare with tracks already loaded on the HDX before buying the whole album to see if it is a significant enough improvement over the ripped red-book standard.  G

Ok, managed all that but on first Play through the Ndac all sounding fine until halfway through 'Sympathy for...' and a loud 'brrrbeep' and the music stopped.

Tried it again and it has played all the way through fine.  Not sure the SQ is significantly better enough to justify the inconvenience of the memory stick though.  I'll play it again a few times and see.

I've worked out start, stop, pause but Can you move between 'docked' and 'non-docked' remotely?.

Cheers.

G.

Graeme, I had a setup similar to yours (I had the uServe direct to the Naim DAC via a DC-1 cable).  After putting downloads on a usb stick for a few months, I eventually got a nas to add to my network.  But until then, or if you never go that direction, you can load up a usb stick, plug it into your HDX, and use the HDX display or nServe to see and play the files.  That's really a lot more satisfying than trying to play them 'blind' using the DAC, at least to me.

You can have a folder for each album, and in each folder put the music files.  If you want to see the cover art, put the .jpg file in the same folder and in each case name it folder.jpg   Downloads you buy online may or may not include the cover photo, and often if it's included it has to be renamed to folder.jpg in order for you to see it on your HDX.

You will get used to it

Thanks Bart - So playing through the HDX front USB retains the FLAC high quality and I can place lots of albums in separate folders on the same memory stick?  

cheers

G

Yes. For playback via HDX USB you can make artist folders and place albums in them including artwork.

If you use the usb sockets on the hdx you get the same way of playing a browsing albums and tracks as if the files were ripped by the hdx, forget about using usb on the ndac with this setup.

This is in my view the simplest way of adding downloads to a Naim server because unlike with a nas you do not have to tell the server to rescan the shares on the nas for new music, every time you add a new album.

Claus

When using the front USB port on the HDX I notice the 'hd' light does not come on on the Ndac.....hmmm....

I never used the front port. The HD light on the DAC was lit when playing back via one of the rear ports (via a flying lead in my case).

Thanks - Just to be clear.

I've put a folder 'Rolling Stones' on the USB into which 've placed another folder 'GRRR' with the FLAC files.

Inside GRRR is another folder.jpeg where I've placed the cover-art. Is this correct?

Then plug into a rear port on the HDX and select 'USB device' from the HDX menu.....should the artwork and tracks then appear?

Thanks,

Graeme

Folder structure is fine.

Artwork goes in the same folder as the tracks and should be called folder. I use a jpg file.

folder.jpg works for me whereas folder.jpeg does not.  Otherwise, yes Graeme

(Just to avoid confusion, "folder.jpg" is the name of the jpg file that is the cover photo; there is no actual folder by that name.  OK, maybe I didn't avoid confusion after all!)

Got it all set and will now try and see what happens when I plug it in!  Watch this space.

Thanks again.  G

Ignore above - it is visible on iPad and playing now!  Thanks all!  G.

Sounding very good indeed.  This is my first foray into FLAC......hold me BAC! G

Graeme,

can you not store GRRR! on your HDX's hard drive? This would facilitate the matter by a margin.

Can I do this in full hi-res FLAC..transferred from the USB...sure I read HDX took CD rips only.? 

Really??? That would be a shame! Almost hard to believe ... can anyone enlighten us please?

Which HDX do you have and what software update are you running?

I believe that the HDX will accept HDX ripped files ( such as transferred from a NAS).

I also think that the latest software update allows for a seperate partition that can hold non HDX files such as mp3 etc

It is a 1tb With latest software.  G

The most current version of the hard-drive equipped Naim servers (2tb internal hdd) permit the consumer to store files that were not ripped to the system.  These servers include a "Downloads" folder, where such files can be stored and accessed as a networked share.  Graeme has an older model (but which can be upgraded by Naim to be made current).