UPnP serving/streaming kit NAIM confusion/bad purchase decisions

Dan, yes there are a LOT of options.  None is totally right or wrong, but any individuals preferences are based on a LOT of factors -- some purely economic and some more "biased" by such factors as:

-- why pay a shilling more for Naim kit if I can do the same function with a computer I already own.

-- I do not want a computer on my hi fi rack; I just want black boxes that work every time I want to listen to music.

--  MICROSOFT is the devil; they have sought to dominate with inferior tech. I will never own a Microsoft product.

--  APPLE is the devil and have sought to dominate with inferior tech.  I will never own an Apple product.

-- Home networking is hopelessly complicated and the world of computer geeks not hi fi enthusiasts.

So, "Is the US SSD via NDS completely overkill?"  You might apply one or more of the statements above and conclude that it is.  Or others and conclude that it isn't.  No "right" answer, only people who lean to some or other of those positions.  Me -- I use UnitiServe HDD into NDS.  I am happy with this combo.  Yes I could diy it other ways.   I would be happy to say more about how I got to this combo if youre interested   It started with the uServe directly connected to a Naim Dac and evolved to UPnP streaming to NDS.

Yeah, there are many options.  When I am sitting listening to great music and enjoying it, all that fades away.  It has to if you are to enjoy the music and not merely wring your hands over the hobby aspect of this.

EDIT:  In your parallel thread you got some good advice.  James N. and Julian echo what I would say.  It is natural to second-guess yourself.  It also is difficult to determine EXACTLY what you want the first time you build a system when all of this is so new to you.  Reading forums and getting opinions is no substitute for living with something for months.  And with Naim, there is good trade-in value especially if you buy ex-dem or used.  Total cost of ownership is not that high if you re-sell. 

Hi Dan,

actually it is all quite strait forward.

The Userve and HDX products are for those who want to avoid 'computers' in the process. They do not feel comfortable setting up an NAS and feel unsecure with ripping and tagging their CDs on a computer. These products are also for those who do not want to stream, but rather have a hard disc player connected to their hifi equipment.

If you buy a streamer, any of the above products are either a complete overkill from a technical and SQ point of view or fulfill the 'comfort' function for the computer adverse customers.

Separate DACs are for those you want to spend just a little more money than necessary, or for those who want to physically attach a PC to their amp. A separate DAC may also be indicated if the inbuilt DAC of your source is of the terribly inferior kind. Otherwise it is just one box too many for me.

Ah, don't we all want NDS/555PS champagne for UnitiQute's beer money? At least I do and assume it.

I don't know why some people are so frisky with dematerialised music, maybe it's because of the AIFF vs Naim WAV comparisson in the Naim demo rooms at shows? Who knows...  Well, you could rip your CD's off a UnitiServe if this could reassure you, but don't miss on the essential --> Music content that you actually like, and not just because it sounds good.

You can't go wrong with a NDS/555PS/Hi-Line/Powerline, you simply can't. Murphy can go away.

Bye.

If I was starting from scratch a US/NDS would seem eminently sensible, although I don't like the disk load/eject arrangement.It happens that we use an HDX because this is how it evolved. You can start anywhere you like and use anything you like at any cost (or fraction of it) you like. No one's ever pointed a gun at me or demanded an on the spot snap decision. We went streaming for reasons of musical enjoyment. We believe that streamed files sound better than CD playback at equivalent cost points. We didn't approach it from a technology standpoint. It didn't strike us as confusing, just a means to an end. I think that the motivation for pulling a trigger comes from musical enjoyment, which is why so many people use so many diverse formats and arrangements. I can't see what's not to like and I dread the day, should it ever come, when what I do is based on what other people tell me I should think.

Hence buying the US SSD and avoiding the DIY route. I happen to set up networks as part of my job, so I just wanted the n-serve and ripping simplicity, plus the CD playback and SPDIF out, so happy with that.

And it works really well, only snafu so far is I can't get my downloaded 192/24 files to playback.

All in all I was personally very impressed with the full tilt NDS set-up I heard at the local dealer and on my home demo.

US SSD, then save up for that NDS, as the pleasure I got from hearing my collection of ripped CD/DVD-As and downloads was the clincher.

Onwards on my NAIM odyssey it will be a journey come what may.

Cheers,

Dan43

Dan -- you validated my thoughts   Many who go the UnitiServe route (myself included) do so because they do not want "a computer on the hi fi rack" (me) or they work with computers all day and do not want to work with them at home to play music (you).  Cheers!

I started with UnitiServe directly into the Naim Dac, via the coax connection.  Then added an XPS-2 to the dac.  Something was still missing for me sound-wise and I wasn't quite happy with my total system sound.  I tried much more expensive amplification (282/250.2) but that didn't do it so I ended that demo.  Then I tried the NDS/555PS and WHAM that did IT.  In the course of that change, I went to UPnP streaming and got my in-home ethernet cables sorted so that the uServe was no longer on the hi fi rack.  It is several rooms away on my little 'server rack' with my nas, router, etc.  The NDS is plugged into an ethernet wall jack that is right behind the hi fi rack. That made me happy too.  Your Naim odyssey may end with NDS/555PS too.  You never know  

Bart,

That sounds close to where I want to be. The idea of having the UPnP/NAS tucked away and the NDS/555 running where you want it, ideal.

iPad n-stream is working fine for me, so sit and enjoy the music.

I'm in.....

Cheers

Dan43

Dan, here's my direct experience:

I have run an NDS/555PS for about 6 months now, served by a PC with Asset and music ripped by dbpoweramp. A really great sound!

I thought it about time to get an 'always on' set-up, a NAS or something, but first why not try out naim's 'overpriced' rip and serve product for those who are scared of computers - the unitiserve. Maybe it's worth the extra money simply for the comfort of having an all-naim system in case of any future problems?

Oh dear - it seems that there's more to it than that! My system sounds better with the U/S - a lot better! In fact I realise that up until now I hadn't really heard the full capability of the NDS. The US will be staying. I am a complete convert.

Don't worry Dan, you have made the right decision. Get an NDS when you can afford it. Serve it by your U/S via UPnP and have comfort that you will be getting 100% capability. Until then, enjoy your U/S now.

Gav

I guess we can now trash 99% of all audio test on streamers, as they were performed with streams coming from computers and NASs. So if you have read a positive test on a NDS ... forget it, it's worthless.