Naim Unitylite - Advice on media server

Posted by: KevinS on 12 February 2014

Hi.  I'm new to Naim and new to this forum, but hoping that I get some advice regarding the best media server software for the Unitylite.  I have a good wireless connection to my PC and itunes folder, which plays mainly lossless files.    The Naim app works well enough but I'm unsure about whether I am using the most efficient media server.   I tried eye-connect originally but this is being withdrawn ( I believe).

 

So I switched to Twonky and while this does work, the interface between this, the Naim app and the itunes folder has jumbled up artists, songs, and albums so it's sometimes difficult to find what you want to play via the Naim app. 

 

I've looked through the forums and realise that this is not a Naim issue as such, but wondering whether there is software out there that presents a more straightforward catalogue of music files on the Naim app? 

 

Grateful for any views or advice on this.

 

Kevin

Posted on: 12 February 2014 by osprey
You could try Asset (by Illustrate). It's highly regarded also in these forums.
Posted on: 12 February 2014 by Reinibert

... or minimserver ... 

Posted on: 13 February 2014 by Solid Air

+1 for Minimserver, although I hear excellent things about Asset too (it just won't run on my kit).

 

Personally I'd invest in a NAS as well with a UL, but which is best for you depends on your personal usage and preferences.

 

Posted on: 13 February 2014 by Jota

+1 for the excellent Minimserver.  Simon, Minimservers developer, is always on hand at their forum if any help is needed.

 

I agree with Solid Air.  The benefit of a NAS is it's designed to be left running 24/7, they're virtually silent and they draw very little power when in use and not in use. A PC on the other hand will use considerably more power.

 

Minimserver and other servers can also be installed on NAS drives.

Posted on: 13 February 2014 by J Saville

+1 for Asset, Minim would have been perfect for me as I have a Netgear Readynas which I installed it on. Where it fell over for me was with the lack of WAV support.

 

Posted on: 13 February 2014 by Solid Air

I didn't know Minim wouldn't support WAV natively? I use it with FLAC media transcoded on-the-fly to WAV on a Synology NAS. Works perfectly.

 

Posted on: 14 February 2014 by Sorren
Originally Posted by J Saville:

+1 for Asset, Minim would have been perfect for me as I have a Netgear Readynas which I installed it on. Where it fell over for me was with the lack of WAV support.

 

Hmm. Just played 50 Words For Snow 24/96 WAV from my Minim server (running on a Synology DS212J NAS) and it streams to my UQ2 with no problem. Maybe it's come on a bit since you tried it.

 

Posted on: 16 February 2014 by KevinS

Thanks all for the replies.  i should have mentioned that I have a Mac PC so not sure if that influences the choices.  So I play lossless mp3 files directly from the PC,   Will any of the options mentioned (asset, minim etc) make a difference to the indexing issues I am seeing on the iPad app?

 

As an aside, I think that the UL sounds better the longer it is left playing - am i imaging this?

 

 

Posted on: 16 February 2014 by Solid Air

Hmm, there is such a thing as lossless MP3 (MP3HD) but I wouldn't recommend it. Are you sure it's lossless? 

 

Anyway, Asset and Minim both work on a Mac. I believe both will transcode FLAC to WAV, which I suggest is your best bet if you want to stick to the Mac rather than a NAS. But if your files are in MP3 lossy format then I suggest re-ripping to FLAC or similar lossless format for optimum SQ. 

 

If you use N-Stream then it picks up the presentation of the artist/album/etc from the media server (and metatags in the media files) so yes, it will likely look slightly different. I haven't used Asset but Minim presents fine in N-Stream.