Need of Unitiserve

To expand on Nick's reply, the UnitiServe is one of many UPnP servers available. You don't need it, but you may miss the simplicity, reliability and better sound quality of an all-Naim setup.

In another thread, Zeplin has mentioned that he will compare the UnitiServe and two different NAS drives feeding an NDS. I'm looking forward to reading about the outcome.

Jan

Most nas's have software that enable them to function as a UPnP (DLNA) server.

The UnitiServe functions as a UPnP (DLNA) server.

No, you do not NEED a UnitiServe *if* your nas is capable of functioning as a UPnP server.

That's about as simply and directly as I can respond

Qnap, synology, ripnas,,,,,all running upnp. 

You can even use a pc/mac with upnp sw!

well i am a sucker for nice goodloking interfaces,,, so if there is someone special that you can 

recomend???

I use an old qnap and the gui is ok, think synology and new qnap gui are easy to work with... you could google for their gui to get an impression!

I just bought one of the Western Digital My Book Live 3TB device. I have around 20,000 tracks, it was very quick when copying my files to it, but that was where the good news ended. Painfully slow browsing artist and album lists, gave up after a couple of hours. Given that the 20,000 tracks are less than 1Tb it didn't bode well.

Sent it back to the supplier and went back to my HP Microserver running Windows 8 and the Asset UPNP software. Have found the Asset software to be excellent, is designed just to stream music and works perfectly with the Naim.

If you are ok with PC's then would suggest something like an HP 7900 USFF unit, very small and sufficiently powerful to run as a UPNP server.

Hi, Magnus,

I see from your history that you own a UnitiServe and Sonology NAS already.  So, presumably, you are familliar with the nServe experience.  Are you looking to change to improve some aspect of your experience, or simply to economize?

Your options would appear to be to remove the UnitiServe and activate the server features that came with the NAS and use nStream to control the NAS server, or replace the UnitiServe with a spare PC or Mac with some kind of server software installed,  like Asset, JRiver, VortexBox, Playback, or Minimserver, and pointed at the music on the NAS.  All of these options have their fans and detractors.  All will give a slightly different experience through nStream.  

You could even bypass UPnP altogether by trying a Mac via optical cable into the ND5 XS DAC, and use the iTunes Remote app instead of nStream, with iTunes pointed at your NAS library.

If I already had the UnitiServe, I think I would find it a downgrade in the total user experience to change it for one of these alternatives, but I am just guessing.  On the other hand, there can be usability/flexibility advantages to apps running on more generalized hardware; but you lose Naim's end-to-end support without a Naim server.  

I currently run a SqueezeboxTouch, and a Mac Mini into a Naim DAC, both of which I like a lot.  When I have technical difficulties, I have to sort them on my own, which works for me.

I want to get an ND-something one day, if only for the system automation benefits.  Let us know what you try, like, and dislike.

Good luck,

Nick

Well, you do need a UPnP server of some kind - whether it's built into the NAS, run on a standalone Windows or OSX computer or on a UnitiServe / HDX / NS0x. Otherwise without a UPnP server you won't be able to browse your music at all.

Remember that the options and facilities for browsing your music when in UPnP mode are completely down to your UPnP server so if you want to - say - use AIF files then be sure to find a UPnP server that supports them (very few NAS based UPnP servers have any useable level of AIF support) or if you need folder and file browsing then, again, few UPnP servers support this either.

Cheers

Phil

Thanks for everyones input,,, I have looked around, and i will stay with my US.