Newbie on streaming

Hi Thomas

I'm not quite clear about your current situation and choices - basically the Unitiserve and the ND5XS do different jobs. If you are considering an ND5XS then presumably you have a computer that can stream to it in which case the computer (or a NAS) could also connect directly to your Arcam DAC. This would be a low cost/hassle way of trying out computer based music. The main advantage of the Unitiserve is convenience but I wouldn't get one unless I was committed to ripping and streaming.

You are correct that there is no Android version of Nstream (though it's exactly a year now since Naim said one was coming!). There are decent alternatives that do work on Android tablets. Many people, myself included, use Bubbleupnp to control their music.

If your experience of streaming is anything like mine it won't be long before you ditch the CD player (I traded in a CDS2)  and free up that Fraim level! 

Hello Pev,

Thank you for your comments, I do have a computer but it is situated in another room so I have got the wireless option of the Arcam to stream Spotify. Otherwise a 15-20 metres long USB cable would be needed.

I am under the impression that a NAS of some kind is superior to at computer as a source so some kind of investment of hardware would be needed any way. If the ND5 would be the option a Qnap NAS seems to be the most used alternative. I have got the impression that the set up could be a bit fiddly, it never seems to be just to Plug and Play. Therefore the Unitiserve looks like a way around this even if it is not most low cost alternative.

Regards

Thomas

Thomas I'd recommend a Synology nas, but then it's the only brand I've owned.  It's default music server package seems to get far better reviews than Twonky, which is I think the Qnap default server.

Setting up the Synology to be able to serve music to a Naim streamer player (such as the ND5XS) is not very complicated at all.  There may be a setting or two that you don't get right the first time, but many here have managed to do it, including me.

What's unclear to me is whether you truly want to do ethernet network streaming.  Do you have or intend to have ethernet cable in your home?  Or intend to rely on wi fi?  Or are you more interested in a solution where the storage device is on the hi fi rack along with everything else?

(And you are correct, a UnitiServe could serve as a ripper, storage device, and player connected directly into a dac.  No networking needed other than to get the uServe on your home network so it can play internet radio and connect to the database that id's the cd's its ripping.  I don't call that "streaming" but the difference is subtle.  It's still hard drive based music, instead of cd's!)

You could always use ethernet over mains - I know some people on this forum are a bit sniffy about it but it's always worked just fine for me (using Devolo 500 plugs). That way the NAS drive can go in another room where you don't have to look at it (or hear it if it runs a bit noisily).

+1 for Synology NAS - easy to set up and use with an ND5 XS.

Finally, please don't kid yourself that you'll stop at the ND5 XS; I reckon the XP5 XS is more or less compulsory as an upgrade!

For the around price of a new ND5 you can get a used/exdem NDX.

Stream from a decent NAS and you are sorted.

At that level the CD player becomes obsolete as the upgrade will be significant, you also won't need the Arcam DAC.  If you use the Arcam as a Dac for other things the NDX can do this as well as it has 3 digital inputs. Selling the DAC and CD player helps fund an iPad and a NAS.

Try to avoid the ethernet over mains if you can.  I used these for years and they were trouble free but when I removed them I noticed an improvement in sound quality.  You can get flat ethernet cables that are very easy to conceal.

Richard

Hello,

Thank you for your comments, the ideal situation would be if everything could fit within the 4 available Fraim levels since space is getting a bit scarce. The available CD shelves är soon almost full so it would be great to enjoy new music without the need for more CD space. The CDs could hopefully be stored in the closet or anywhere else out of sight to and minmize the cables to get a higher waf

I believe streaming from Spotify and internet radio is supported by the ND5 but could this be done with the unitiserve and V1? 

Regards

Thomas

Once you hear the ND5XS your CD-player will become very much obsolete..I had the same cd-player as you and was blown away by hearing the ND5XS with my FLAC files 16/44.1.

Hello Magnus,

I have read your thread regarding your ND5 and was intrigued by your findings. I believe we have same supplier of black boxes so time is tight..  Did you stick with the ND5 or something higher up the ladder?

Thanks Tricky

I am not quite sure what you mean by ethernet by mains? The upgrade itch is always more or less evident al time but in Sweden second hand Naim streamers a quite scarce so the wait for a used NDX could be long. Once a decent DAC is in sight the Arcam will be retired but for now it is quite versatile with both wire and wire less possibilities.

Kind Regards

Thomas

Extremely ot for the rest of you..

Yes that is too bad. I started my Naim journey last year when my old system 20+ years needed an upgrade. Although Í live 80 km north of my dealer I could in the beginning get a free home delivery which was a great service.

Back on track..  I Think I am going to start with a Unitiserve and (hopefully when swmbo agrees  next year upgrade to a V1 or a ND5.

Best Regards

Thomas