Which is better: Computer +Naim Dac set up , or Naim Streamer

Posted by: Louis-Andre on 26 November 2013

Hi All,

 

How does a "Mac & Naim Dac/XPS (using Audirvana)" set up compare (SQ wise) with using a Naim streamer such as NDX or NDS? I already have a good Dac and I wonder if connecting to my Mac would not be the better way to go...

 

Any one dare to share their experiences?

Posted on: 26 November 2013 by nudgerwilliams

Lots of threads on the forum already on this topic if you have a hunt for them.

 

There are people who favour both solutions.

 

Usability / functionality seems to come into preferences a lot as well.

Posted on: 26 November 2013 by mutterback

+1 its all about how you want to interact with / control the system.  Personally, I found I didn't like having a computer tethered to my stereo. Not sure about absolute sound quality, but I've found it very true that "everything matters" or at least changes the presentation, especially the software, if you have a direct connection.

 

You should also try out JRiver for the Mac. I think its much easier to use than Audirvana.

Posted on: 26 November 2013 by Bart
Originally Posted by Louis-Andre:

Hi All,

 

How does a "Mac & Naim Dac/XPS (using Audirvana)" set up compare (SQ wise) with using a Naim streamer such as NDX or NDS? I already have a good Dac and I wonder if connecting to my Mac would not be the better way to go...

 

Any one dare to share their experiences?

The experiences include both how the system is controlled, and the qualities and performance of the hardware.  It's a multi-variable equation that cannot be solved for just "which is better -- computer or streamer."

 

A Mac Mini and a Naim DAC/XPS2 may be better than a bare XP5XS.  It may not be as good as an NDS/555PS. 

 

If you simply want to know which sounds better, computer into a dac via usb or upnp server into a streamer/player, the answer is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

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it depends.

 

And there has been much written here in the past year or two about this very topic.  Nothing has changed since then, other than for Naim the intro of the Dac V1 which now gives Naim an entry in the usb dac market.  And it's been VERY favorably reviewed here on the forums and in the press.