start me up...

In order to stream you need:

A UPNP Server (Universal plug and play)

A renderer

A control point

You have the renderer/control point with the uniti. A better control point however is nStream on apple IOS devices such as ipad or iphone.

The server in your set up will be more problematic, all you have is the mac, and macs are pretty crap when it comes to UPNP.  However there is softwares out there do a search on google for UPNP Server OSX.

Once the server is set up it will appear on your uniti and off you go.

A better long term solution however for the server is a NAS which will provide a UPNP stream without the need for the iMac to be on.

NAS with drives of your choosing

Cat5e > patch cables

Ethernet Switch 10/100 >

Connect:

Unitilite to switch

NAS to switch

switch to router

Software to rip & encode music to your chosen format.

Store files on NAS & use NAS media software package to serve music

good luck!

denied!

+1 to getting a nas.  People here seem pretty happy with the UPnP server software built into Synology nas's.  With the other popular nas company, QNap, people seem more inclined to want to install something other than what comes out of the box. 

I have a very basic IT understanding, and managed to get my Synology 212 nas up and running.

Another vote for Synology from me. I use it as a backup for my main server, which is a Naim UnitiServe, which some will tell you is overpriced and unneccessary, but while that may be true, it's delightful to use.

The recommendation is to connect Uniti to your network via Ethernet cable rather than use wifi for the actual streaming. For e.g., Cable Modem/ADSL modem to Wifi router, Wifi Router to Unitilite rear panel via Ethernet Cable (RJ 45) as also the NAS similarly wired to the Wifi Router. Somebody correct me if I am wrong but new music files for storage (rips or downloads) could be sent using iMac via wifi to the NAS with no loss for want of a wired connection to the iMac.

I'm guessing the Virgin Hub is the equivalent of Modem + Wifi Router.

Are you going to be ripping a lot of your CD's?

Yes, the NAS needs to be connected to the router, and the Uniti can then stream wirelessly. But it seems to work much better wired, and I'd try to find a way to achieve that. I have no idea if ripping can be done wirelessly - can't see why not. 

I've ripped wirelessly without problems, the question was about any probable quality issues attached to the one time rip/save carried out wirelessly. 

Also, XLD works nicely for the rip, but if there's a lot of ripping to do I would go the Vortexbox way both for software, and hardware (Vortexbox Appliance). Do not have one myself yet, but have not seen a bad review.

Check out the LIV Zen stuff . . . . 

I have the little 213 NAS. It's a 2 bay jobbie, so you you could have a disk plus backup. I rip everything with a UnitiServe, and then backup every night automatically to the Synology.

Over 2,000 CDs took quite a while. Having the ripper in the front room works for me - you can listen to music while feeding CDs into the ripper, though the whirring drove us all mad after a while. As well as the UnitiServe there are Vortexbox machines and the Ripnas too. All look much easier than fannying around with a PC in another room.

If the OP's only choice is a device in the same room / on the same rack as the hi fi, then this is less desirable. 

I got ethernet cable run in my walls, so that I could keep the nas, uServe, and other hardware out of the hi fi listening room.  That is ideal, to me.

A 2-drive Synology nas will not be very loud, but it's not SILENT.

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...36#30992173593347836

iver

The Vortexbox is a great way to go, though it does have to be hardwired to a switch or router. For now I have it in the living room next to the Qute, but when the ripping is done it will go in a closet in the basement with the modem and switch (great thing about an old house was the ability to drill a hole in the floor and run ethernet cable). Having it accessible while you rip is best, that way you can just walk by and feed it whenever. Best if you can have a laptop nearby so you can check on the progress as it uses a web interface over the network to access it. You will need to use something like Bliss and MP3tag to set the files right. I've done about 700 cds in under a month of casual ripping, though I do work from home. 

Charles, which ripper (hardware) do you use? I hope to go Vortexbox soon. Online I've seen VB Appliance, Small Green Computer, LIV Zen. - skipper

glasgowbernardo, hopefully you have an idea  with the enthusiastic posts above.. although tread carefully.. There are some enthusiastic terms such as 'router extender' which really dont mean much, 

it is about keeping it simple.

A wireless ibroadband router, and a NAS connected to the switch LAN port on that router (With inbuilt DLNA / UPNP server .. Most do have basic versions) Your Naim and ipad/iPhone controller connecting with wifi is the way to go to get started.

once you get going you will get a better appreciation on how to improve...

I found this site that might be of some help..

http://www.computeraudiophile....-dlna-network-audio/

Simon

Thanks for the gentle steering Simon.

As I also always understood it, the exercise is not to simply see that the ethrnet cable goes into the back of the Uniti device, but that it's other end also involves no wifi. ( .. strong as the weakest link ..). Besides, don't these wifi router range extenders cost way more than, say a decent wifi router?

Solid Air, it may be that I am missing something entirely in saying what I have above, would appreciate if you could fill in the gap.

skipper.

+1 For Simon-in-Suffolk " Keep it Simple"

First point ... Macs dont have a great deal of good cd-rip or UPNP software available to them.. i have all macs at home. The industry standards seem to be DBpoweramp and asset Upnp for windows

I didnt keep it simple and bought a Qnap NAS and spent hours trying bto get it up and running. So for what it is worth here is my solution to get you started until you have built an understanding.

1. Buy a cheap windows laptop or 2nd hand ( mine was £120) with an optical drive and plug it into the back of your router with a network cable

2. Buy a 1TB USB hard drive and plug into the laptop

3 Download DBpoweramp and install..this is easy to set up and point to your USB hard drive to rip CD`s to

4. Download Asset UPNP its an easy config and point it at your USB hard drive

5. turn the power saving features of the laptop to just screen off and not let it put the computer to sleep.

5. download nstream for Ipod/ iphone/ ipad

6. worry about file organisation and tags etc once you are up and running and have an understanding of vwhat you are doing and can see the results of your work in front of you.

Et Voila, leave it switched on and plugged in if you want or turn it off if you are not using it for long periods.

You get DBpoweramp and Asset upnp free for 30 days and then the combined cost is jus a litle over £40 for full licenced.

 Runs silently too

hope this helps

regards

Keith

glasgowbernardo, Ingenius,

For that matter i'm currently using a WD 1TB external USB drive plugged into my 2TB Time Capsule, with Uniti 2 connected to one of it's Gigabit ports, TCapsule plays the role of wifi router in this ensemble. This was done exactly as Ingenius envisages - to get it up and running.

@Ingenius ' suggestion to go further once you have it up n running is, well, ingenious, no other method of gaining an in depth understanding of what you are up against. That's not to suggest that it's overly complicated, it's not, but no amount of words of explanation can bring you the understanding you will gain by following his suggestion.

Am just exiting that path and pondering the next step.

Maybe we mix it in, after?

Hi Mr Glasgow,

The simplest option, in my opinion, is to get a U-Serve as your ripper/storer/UpnPserver and connect that to your Unitilite via a good quality ethernet and connect the U-Serve to your modem/router with another good quality ethernet and start ripping...job well and truly done. In my case, my ND5 and U-Serve were shaking hands in 30 seconds...therefore, ripper and bit perfect software, storer and UpnP server were ready to rock and roll. 

Pop a cd into the U-Serve, wait 6-7mins for the ripp then use the excellent N-Stream App (free download from Naim) to play said bit perfect cd. The U-Serve also comes with a free app (n-Serve) to manage ripping and backups etc.

You can also stream to other Naim devices to other rooms if desired and batch convert your WAV library to a low quality format for car use etc, if so desired. Naim's 5 year warranty and excellent tech support.

Then purchase a basic NAS like the WD My Book Live as your backup for the U-Serve...very, very simpl, no faff and just let the music roll.

The disadvatage for this convenience and versatility is cost, but as you already have an iMac you can use that as suggested above at very little cost....

Good luck.

Jason.

Hi Skipper, 

Just so that I am clear, are you streaming to your Uniti via a standard external USB hard drive?

Or are you using said hard drive to backup something else?

Jason.

+1 for JasonF

if you can afford it ... this is the way to go .. no faffing... after all its about listening to music.

If you are on a budget and you have some of the stuff knocking aroud, like a USB hard drive as i did , then it isnt too difficult or costly to get up and running and gain an understanding into something of what goes on inside a unitiserve..

For me.. when funds allow i will buy the Unitiserve.. but being of a curious nature, i dont regret the learning curve of getting a workaround up and running

regards

Keith