ND5XS to Airport Express to Stream from iPad - Cable?

You would need an optical cable with TOSLINK connector on the ND5 side and 3.5mm optical connector (or adapter) on the AE side I think.

Many thanks.

G

Something like this for example: http://www.amazon.com/Cables-G...link-/dp/B0002JFN10/

@GraemeH

Please be aware that the optical output of the new (square) airport express has too much jitter, creating a continuous "stutter" when playing music through a good dac. That doesn't happen with an Apple TV or with older models of airport express (wall "plug in" type). 

More info on this issue on the Apple forums https://discussions.apple.com/...start=0&tstart=0

Thanks. Does the Airport express or Apple TV need wired to the modem too? If yes then this will be an obstacle as it's nowhere near the hi-fi?

G

No. You can connect the airport express or the apple tv wirelessly to your router, if you have a wifi network. But -again- only old "plug in wall" AE or Apple TV will work fine. You will need a mini toslink to toslink optical cable to connect the AE to the ND5XS or an optical toslink to toslink cable to connect an Apple TV. Also, if you go the Apple TV route, you'll need to set it up using a TV. AE can be set up from your computer.

I'm currently using an old airport express both as bridge to connect my ND5XS to my home network with an ethernet cable (better bandwidth and reliability than using ND5XS wirelessly) and as an Airplay streamer connected to the optical input of the streamer. It works well and is convenient, but music doesn't sound as good with Airplay as it does when using the streamer itself.

Hope this helps

Thanks again. Looks like Apple TV presents the best solution. Could I get a steer on which Toslink to Toslink cable I need as their seem to be various types with different plugs?

cheers

G

For apple tv something similar to this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/KabelD...amp;keywords=Toslink

Thanks.

G

Hi, indeed I use the AppleTV technique into my NDX player for AAC files and movies.

i have tried WAV and. AIF files at 44.1/16 and compared directly with Ethernet upnp streaming to the NDX.

The quality of the Airplay is quite good, but compared direct upnp sounds a little compressed and lacking in detail/smeared.  Textures disappear  and space just seems to shrink compared to the Upnp variant. In short it sounds more artificial and ultimately not enjoyable for immersive listening... Great for films though.

Now true I have revealing speakers and my NDX goes into NDAC/555PS so I might be more critical than some, but in summary AppleTV is good but it under performs the sonic capability of direct upnp playout by quite a margin.

i have also plugged the AppleTV directly into the NDAC as opposed to NDX and the difference is the same, which tends to I indicate the limitation is Apple and not Naim, which is what I would expect

Simon

Hmmm....So what do I need to do to stream qobuz hi-res and hear the quality on offer should I go down that route when using an ND5XS:XP5XS.  What other bits of kit do I need?

Thanks

G

Graeme, I can't answer I am afraid, I have not seriously used qobuz yet, but is it not using web streaming (like web radio) as opposed Upnp? If so perhaps there is a qobuz client out there with a upnp back end, or perhaps just a better quality SPDIF feed.

Simon

I think it is web streaming Simon......but the rest of your answer was like what my dog hears when I speak to it as I'm an ignoramus on most things technical regarding computers!

All I want to be able to do is pay a monthly subscription and have a world of music at my fingertips replayed at a CD or higher bit rate and controlled from an iPad.

Best

G

Graeme

I think what you want to do is very reasonable and I suspect there are a reasonable number of people - and growing - out there who want to do the same thing. 

The fact that nobody provides this service sums up what is wrong with the music industry in my view.  Lots of complaints from industry execs about pirating, people not being willing to pay for music, etc., but very little attention paid to a segment in the market who is willing to pay for music.

Cheers

David 

Graeme - not used Qobuz myself but it runs as an app on the iPad. It should be able to use Airplay to send the audio stream from your iPad to an Airport Express. Use an optical cable to take the toslink output from this to a spare toslink input on your HDX.

If you were looking at an ND5XS to do this then you may want to investigate one of the other manufacturers who support ( or will support) this on their streamers and use this to feed one of the digital inputs on the HDX - no messing with UPnP required. 

Alternatively - will Naim support this sort of thing on their HDX / ND platforms. Qobuz is working with Linn so will Naim follow ?

James

Please note that AE digital output is limited to 16/44.1 (I think 16/48 in the case of the Apple TV) and Airplay streams at 16/44.1, so hi res qbuz files will be downsampled when streamed through Airplay into your ND5XS

Graeme

I have Apple TV already into my NDX and as Simon says the performance of Airplay is lower then the streamer.  I find that is is quite a margin and not acceptable for serious listening and my system is not as revealing as Simons.  

I also use a Sonos Connect wired to my NDX.  This is far superior to the Apple TV.  Rather disappointing really as I was hoping to redeploy the Sonos to another room and use the Apple TV instead!

I can report that QoBuz (lossless service) via the Sonos is excellent.  The Sonos is a small step behind the NDX using UPNP, but the sound needs no apologies and it is suitable for serious listening.  The Sonos application is also very good.

To connect a Sonos you use an SPDIF connection (coax or optical) to the streamer.  I use Coax (midrange QED cable).  With Sonos the first zone (player) on the network has to be wired.  If this is an issue then you can use the inexpensive bridge to connect the system close to your router and use the Sonos that is connected to the streamer wirelessly (Sonos uses it's own wireless network).

Richard

Agree with everybody that these Airplay based workarounds will work (and I use them myself), but to build on Graeme's post hopefully the industry will get it's act together and provide some proper solutions. 

My experience of Airplay is that the SQ takes a hit with hires files - not sure whether this is because there is compression in the stream (even if an AE output is 16/44.1) or if AE, ATV don't have well executed digital outs. 

For example, if I stick an iPod Classic into my Zeppelin Air dock the SQ is better than the same rip streamed using Airplay from my iMac.  And defo the case that the same rip streamed to a Uniti using uPnP sounds significantly better than going over Airplay via an AE (per Simon-in-Suffolk above).

Not a constructive post I know but feel like venting today :-)

You could also download Musicflow app. And just stream from ipad,

works a treat

spotify 320 no problem  and at £1.99 a bargin

hilary

Thanks Hilary

I noticed on their website mention of streaming from qobuz through the iPad.

No need for an Apple TV then?.....Sounds (no pun intended) too good to be true!

G

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  Mohamed Amin Dec 26, 2013
      

  I’m enjoying musicflow streaming from Qobuz .com a 16 bit music streaming website to my Naim uniti2 and was wondering if musicflow can send Flac files at 16 bit , Naim reads it is receiving the music at 705kbit not the full 16 bit Many thanks for a fab app

          

      
      

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  Sylvain Dec 26, 2013
      

  If Qobuz is already high quality, music flow will not degrade the sound. It sends PCM data to your NAIM unit. Flac will not improve quality. Qobuz outputs PCM to AirPlay (hopefully uncompressed).

          

      
      

Airplay is not good sound quality. You can try to compare Airplay with an asynchronous usb connection like the Stello U3. The difference is night and day. Airplay sounds messy while the usb connection sounds coherent with quiet backgrounds.

My iPad with AirAV app installed can pick up QNAP/Twonky/Asset/MinimServer on the same wi-fi network. Music is streamed wirelessly to the iPad with decent results.

Two different things for different purposes. I don't think anyone disagrees with you ( on this thread anyway) that there isn't a difference. 

Let me get this straight - I download this AV app or the Musicflow app to my iPad and how do I then stream qobuz or even spotify through the ND5XS? Do I need another box such as Apple TV?.

As you might have guessed my ND5XS:XP5XS has not arrived yet.....Tomorrow.

cheers

G

Suppose you stream from the Internet to your iPad, and you want to listen to that stream (or music stored locally on the iPad) on your ND5 instead, you need AirPlay to forward the sound from your iPad to an AirPlay capable device (like AE or AppleTV) which in turn is connected to the ND5 via TOSLINK. Easy, isn't it?

As far as I understand the AirAV app that Peter W is referring to allows the iPad to work as UPnP AV renderer, just like your ND5 which is also a UPnP AV renderer. I.e. AirAV is one option to stream to your iPad. You want to stream from your iPad. For the latter you need Airplay.