Best way for Mac/iTunes into NDS/Dac

Lars - i've been down this route, both with nStream (using the Mac as a UPnP source) and now via the iTunes remote app. TBH i don't think iTunes remote is much different these days from the latest nStream so you seem to be going down a bit of a complicated route for a slightly different interface.

What part of the NDS user interface does she find difficult (i take it you are controlling via nStream ?)

James

Understood Lars. I'd be tempted to sort out the network issues to get the NDS 100% but I wish you luck with your proposed solution. 

James

I find the Remote app second nature now but it did a feel rather un-intuitive to start with after nStream. I never thought I would say that as the original nStream was a big step back which I disliked intensely after the Linn control points 

James

Hi Lars

I would recommend AIFF over FLAC if you want the same sound quality as WAV provides.

Why it sounds better, I do not know.  I have just heard that it does on an NDS/555PSDR.

AIFF is also fully supported by mac.

Our mac mini is incredibly stable playing AIFF files that are stored on our Synology NAS drives.  Everything is connected by CAT 6 cables into a Netgear ethernet switch.

I use itunes, as several members of the family like the interface, but upgrade it using the Bitperfect app. Audirvana may be a little better (I've never felt the inclination to try), but when Apple upgrade the operating system, Audirvana has been known to throw a wobbly until they come up with a patch. To be fair, this is Apple's fault, not Audirvana's, but it doesn't matter to us.  My wife wants a system that is easy to use, familiar and reliable.

Hope this helps, FT

Weiss interfaces are considered amongst the best, if not the best, the USB one is  the INT204, it also allows you to play DSD files in various sampler rates.

H

Hi, Lars,

I have had my NDX for six months and find the same.  I have an issue open with my dealer and Naim because it is the only node with network problems -- SBT and Mac Mini are solid.  NDX goes offline 2.5/7 days, requiring reboot.  Unity Qute2 is solid, too.

I set nDAC to SBT or Mac at bedtime so I can rely on being in control in the morning.  Also, Naim iRadio drops out more often than others -- same stations.  Hope Naim resolves both soon.

Nick

P.S.  AIFF is best all around for Mac users using iTunes et al.  Simple, compatible, and great sounding.  NP

Update:

I moved router and DHCP duties off the DSL modem and onto my AirPort Extreme:  Smooth sailing now!  Thanks to garyi for sending me in this direction.  Asus router is on order.

Nick

Nick, indeed as I have pointed out before on this forum, the DHCP implementation by the Naim clients seems quite sensitive and not that robust, and there are several times when there are issues of timing on new leases. One manifestation of this is DHCP can appear to work more reliably  on wireless than fixed wire or vice versa on some setups. Even with the Apple Time Capsule or my trusty home Cisco 870 doing DHCP there are cases where I need to occasionally cycle the NDX. Also I found the more I flip between web radio streams and UPnP the more likely it is the NDX will lock up seemingly somewhere in its TCP/IP stack.

its not a great issue, but I would say I need to power cycle the NDX on average once every four to six weeks, and I use the NDX most days but web radio very rarely now. All other non Naim devices are fine.

Simon

I wish I knew how to do this.  Ongoing problem with my HDX not being able to lock on to shares or a store - constant rescan/dropping. Got hold of a new airport extreme which informs me I have a double NAT error. Sounds like what you did might cure this at least.   Damn thing worked hitch free for 3 years and I didn't change anything! Grrr. 

The double nat error arises for example if you're using both your providers home router and another router (such as the Airport Extreme), and both are running their internal DHCP servers (which are what provide ip addresses inside your home network).  You don't want to do this.  The usual fix is to use the Apple router in "bridge mode" which is where its DHCP is turned off.

hmmn that's the point where I loose connection to the NAS. think I need to get a professional round to sort my network issues out.  tried turning the sky modem/router into bridge mode and that was just a huge can of worms. perhaps giving up computing was after a level was not the wisest choice.

Been there.

Here is what I have learned:  Double-NAT "error" can be ignored if it is intentional.  For most home users, setting a double-NAT unintentionally isolates one network from another, which leads to questions like, "Why can't I print to my network printer." 

In my case, Bart's approach was the problem:  my modem failed to be the DHCP boss, even when I set the DHCP range from 10-199 and hard-set my NDX to 231, making conflicts impossible.  The modem evidently could not cope.  After I turned off DHCP on the modem, and delegated that fn to the Airport Extreme, all was well.

I have hard-set all IP addresses on my routers to non-DHCP addresses to ensure there is only one subnet for my network, and the gateway is still the DSL modem address.  And all are bridging, except the main Extreme, in front of the modem, which is set to DHCP, no NAT.

This is the second time a DSL-provider modem has been crushed by my demands.  The first one died slowly; this one just torments me.  Believe in the dedicated router, separate from the modem! 

HTH.

Nick

Think I am completely fumbling in the dark with this one.  Managed to turn off the DCHP  in the AE and set up a network in bridge mode but now the ReadyNAS wont mount in any way even though I see it in RAIDAR and shared resources.  Another fun  weekend up to my eyes in computer jargon poking around it seems.  Miss my music!

I recently got the UQII and had quite a difficult time with streaming.  I tried wireless, then wired (which I don't have run so it was just a troubleshooting step) and finally using my Apple Airport Express as a wifi extender and using its ethernet out, which Naim apparently thinks is faster than it is, cause the same 24/96 files it stumbled on with its own wireless antenna now play perfectly when streamed through the AExpress and run ethernet into the UQII, which is dumb (in any case an extra router in the mix shouldn't help). 16/44 plays wirelessly fine, as long as the UQII can "find" the network.  Anyway, once it gets playing it will play forever, and I usually just let it (by turning the volume way down and walking away) if I stop it and use another source I always have headaches getting it started up again...it usually says it can't see the network that its been connected and stable with for the past week.  I wish naim techs would work this out, its really not a problem we should ever encounter on a piece of electronics costing a months wages.

Also, under no circumstances have I gotten it to work with DHCP disabled.  Once, while hooked up to ethernet, it worked but still stuttered a little.  This isn't a minor gripe...I'd rather they get the darn wireless perfectly stable before they start working on this.  This is about all I use it for, and playing FLAC from a 64GB thumb drive which works and sounds great.

Also, I've not been able to get the FM tuner to work in the US (even using several different antennas) just static...scanning doesn't yeild even one station and I can pick up maybe 50 in both my cars.  Ideas?

Anyone tried the new FW update?  Did it help any of the problems listed? (especially wireless consistency...)

Sorry for the multiple questions.

Thanks.

Cory

Cory,

I'm not much of a wiz on networking issues, but I wholeheartedly agree that a UQ runs better, and sounds better, running an ethernet cable from an Airport Express vs. using the built-in wireless function.  Aside from the AE evidently having a more robust wireless function, turning off wireless on the UQ inherently increases sound quality (lower noise).

I don't understand your FM problem.  I get outstanding FM performance, here in a (relatively urban) US environment.

This has been a life saver.  Thanks Nick my HDX is now up and running again, ripping and playing solidly after 5 problematic months and 2 trips to HQ. I never knew how completely clueless I was about my home network  aaah the music is back! 

Cheers, Nagual.  Network fiddling is a fact of life, I am afraid.  

Nick