iPod or Nas?

Posted by: Hal on 28 January 2014

Silly question that may be but I am a total comp audio novice. Some facts: old iMac (2008), old iPod (80G), around 300 albums ripped in Apple Lossless already, bitperfect installed etc..

 

I consider getting a new iPod classic (160G) before it goes out of production to use it with UQ2-NAP100 combo instead of opting for a NAS solution that I abhor. I do not have time or will to rip all my CD collection. The capacity that will be provided by 160G iPod might be enough for me. I have no intention to get higher resolution than that of CD. Still I’d like to ask if there could be any palpable SQ benefit of a NAS over iPod playback, ceteris paribus? Ipod is super easy, just plug and play. And it just works beautifully with N stream..

 

Has anybody tried and compared the two?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Posted on: 28 January 2014 by NickSeattle

IMHO, iPod only SEEMS simpler.  I have Classics and Touches.  I think their strength is portability.  Interfacing with a Naim system is a neat trick, but not worth the hassle, given you probably have the computer that the iPod interfaces with as an alternative source on the network, especially in the case of the Classic iPods, which are excellent portables, BTW.  

 

If you don't have time to rip, copy from your iPod to iTunes  on a Mac or PC and make that your source to the Naim system.  You need the redundancy anyway, in case you break the iPod!

 

Interesting discussion, academically, of course.  

 

Best,

 

Nick

Posted on: 28 January 2014 by hungryhalibut

When I first had my SuperUniti, I was listening to apple lossless albums via my 160gb iPod Classic, connected to the front USB. Once my UnitiServe arrived, I compared the sound from that against that from the iPod. The improvement was massive, miles better in every way. In my view, you'd be bonkers to use the iPod as a regular source for the Uniti. Get a NAS. If you can understand Latin, you can set up a NAS.

Posted on: 29 January 2014 by joerand
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

If you can understand Latin, you can set up a NAS.

Finally! All my years in seminary school can be put to good use ..... what's a NAS?

Posted on: 29 January 2014 by nudgerwilliams
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

When I first had my SuperUniti, I was listening to apple lossless albums via my 160gb iPod Classic, connected to the front USB. Once my UnitiServe arrived, I compared the sound from that against that from the iPod. The improvement was massive, miles better in every way. In my view, you'd be bonkers to use the iPod as a regular source for the Uniti. Get a NAS. If you can understand Latin, you can set up a NAS.

+1 for this.  I did the same comparison when I first got a Uniti (albeit to a uPnP server running on a PC).  uPnP approach definitely better.  Yes there is a bit of faffing around with setting up a NAS but SW definitely better.

 

No need to re-rip your CDs either.  You could just use iTunes functionality to move your music library to the NAS, and have the NAS uPnP server work off that.

 

If you want to try the uPnP server approach out then download a demo version of one of the Mac based servers.

 

I would definitely go with a NAS as your permanent solution though as my experience is that in the long run this is much more stable and reliable than having uPnP software running on your PC / Mac.

Posted on: 29 January 2014 by blythe
NAS = Network Attached Storage.
 
Or in other words, a separate hard drive that your networked computers and devices can read/write from and to.
It usually connects, in a simple system, to your router/modem.
 
When your music is stored on a NAS, all your computers (or NAIM kit   ) can read the music files from the NAS in order to play them.
 
 
Originally Posted by joerand:
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

If you can understand Latin, you can set up a NAS.

Finally! All my years in seminary school can be put to good use ..... what's a NAS?

 

Posted on: 30 January 2014 by Hal

Thanks for your replies gentlemen. Last night I compared iPod playback and Naim Radio streaming (320K). Difference was not subtle.  Now I am gently disturbed.

Posted on: 30 January 2014 by Solid Air

NAS is short for 'nasci', which means 'being born' in Latin.

Posted on: 30 January 2014 by Bart
Originally Posted by joerand:
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

If you can understand Latin, you can set up a NAS.

Finally! All my years in seminary school can be put to good use ..... what's a NAS?

Say the requisite number of Hail Marys . . .

Posted on: 31 January 2014 by Gavin B
Originally Posted by Hal:

Thanks for your replies gentlemen. Last night I compared iPod playback and Naim Radio streaming (320K). Difference was not subtle.  Now I am gently disturbed.

Hal - what disturbed you about this?  Was it unexpected?  You don't say which you thought was better.

Posted on: 31 January 2014 by Hal

Gavin,

The  need to test NAS option that pushed me out of comfort zone...  Even a web radio was better than iPod playback by a country mile. Dunno what to do. Yes, it was unexpected. So it is clear that UQ2 should play its role as a retriever via a measly Cat6e cable from a source whatever that may be. IPod and very well endowed non Naim CD player are not on par, I am afraid.