So where is the best place too start?

Hi Pete.  We started from the same place.  A few hundred cd's and no hi fi.  We started from the proposition that (1) we want a nice hi fi and (2) we do not want cd's cluttering the living area. 

Not knowing anything about nas's, etc., I decided to start with the UnitiServe as a 'one box' solution to ripping, storage and playing / serving.  I knew that there were cheaper alternatives, but I was OK with paying for the simplicity. 

As for the players, it's all up to your budget.  Get the best source you can afford.  "Source first" applies.

Then you need a storage / server solution.  The technical issues with a UnitiServe are few and far between.  If that's not in the budget, consider a Vortexbox solution, or a nas from Synology or QNap. 

What's in your iTunes library?  Lossless files, or lossy files?  If you buy a nice Naim player, you want to feed it lossless files.

My dealers always tells me that  the sonics of a  high end  USB dac is superior to that of a high end Streamer ??? Undecided so far .Haven't purchased either yet..... Advice anyone ? 

UServe --> NDX --> Hugo

Well, Well. Instead of UServe-> NDX-> Hugo you could just do UServe -> Hugo.

Having said that, I would avoid the Hugo in a all naim system.

Have I auditioned it? No. Still...

I'd be looking at a UnitiServe and an NDX. 

Like always audition first. But I would anyhow suggest to get a nas which enables you to go in all directions. You only once have the hassle of ripping and then forever joy in all kind of setups, been with a second setup in the house if you would fancy any.

Finally I would suggest you to choose an upgradeable variant either through power supply or Dac. 

To stream you need the following functions (which can be combined or separated accoding to taste/budget):

1. Something to rip/copy your CDs (could be computer or could be Unitiserve or HDX);

2. Something to store your music on (could be a computer, a NAS drive, Unitiserve or HDX);

3. Something to translate and play your stored music (now we start getting more complicated, so I'm going to expand this a bit):

     If you're storing music on a NAS drive or Unitiserve, you need something to "render" (or stream) the music, which could be a dedicated streamer (ND5 XS, NDX or NDS, all of which can have an additional power supply and all of which need to go through a separate amplifier) or an all-in-one box (UnitiQute, Unitilite, Uniti or SuperUniti, all of which contain an amplifier);

     If you're playing from a computer, you'll need an external DAC of some sort (all the boxes above contain a DAC) but you could use a separate DAC (eg V1-DAC or nDAC) into a separate amplifier.

     (Just to complicate further, some people on this forum use a streamer and nDac together...)

     Finally (I think) HDX rips, stores and plays for you but needs a separate amplifier.

Hope that makes some sort of sense. You don't need to re-rip all your music (but you could choose to, depending on what format it is stored in - separate topic, not enough time here, look on this forum). I use a NAS drive into ND5XS into pre/power amp and it all sounds great. Best of luck.

Nick

PS - the advantage of a NAS over a computer is that you can leave the NAS drive on in a corner somewhere. If your music is stored on a computer hard drive, you'll have to fire up the computer each time you want to listen to something (or leave it on permanently)...

My advice is that anyone who would make such broad generalizations shouldn't be relied upon.

And for me the advantage is the "somewhere" part.  My nas is 2 floors away from my hi fi. 

(That said, a Mac Mini tucked behind the hi fi rack is rather silent I am sure.)

Pete - you should be able to move or copy the music from computer to NAS without the need to re-rip. The only need to re-rip is if you originally ripped the CD in a "lossy" format (eg MP3 or AAC) and you decide you want re-rip in a lossless format (eg, ALAC, FLAC or WAV). If you re-rip, do your research first; you don't want to go wrong and have to re-start...

I don't use iTunes for streaming but (subject to correction by others) you might be able to tell your computer that the iTunes music library is on your NAS drive. Also some NAS drives (eg my Synology) have some form of iTunes server functionality (though you'd have to research elsewhere what on earth that is).

Pete, you haven't said what your budget is, without that recommendations are worthless.

Having said that, with the kit you already have, you should consider the ND5 XS as a minimum.  On the rip side, you should definitely be using an uncompressed file format (ALAC, FLAC or WAV).

Them why give totally uninformed advise like that?  

My guests from the forum were amazed at the SQ of the Hugo, simply run from a MacMini, RAID using iTunes/Audirvana. This is a simple option the OP could use. There is no need to use a monitor with the MM, apart from setting up, and a small flatscreen TV would do. The music can be controlled with the Apple Remote app on the iPad or via Screen Share if you have another Apple computer. Total cost about £2500. Simple to set up, no network cables to install, no Netstream issues and it will sound better.

That's informed advise. 

...and IMO the best advice so far.

Mac Mini (with music on exterior HD if needed) using iTunes with either Bitperfect or Audirvana - controlled by iPad using iTunes remote - into USB DAC - to stereo is the best and simplest system. 

+1.

I was a guest of Steve J yesterday and all I can say about the sound heard through the Hugo is WOW!  At one point we were discussing the difference in SQ from 1st press vinyl and music played through the little Hugo. Steve said he thought it was about a 10% difference and then pointed out he was measuring it against a full fat LP12. I can only comment on what my ears heard again... WOW this thing can half boogie  

Graham.

however, having been streaming since the late 90s I would recommend using UPnP/DLNA if you can.. It really did make life easier in the long run.

So get a. NAS with all your media on it that can run a quality UPnP/DLNA server such as Minimserver or Asset. ( I say steer clear from the free bundled ones)

Then stream into a NDX or ND5XS.. These players are great and flexible and reasonably unobtrusive in your music room / living room. I think the NDX is a great product (though I am biased as I have one)  and can sound great and enjoyable without a separate PSU.

If and when you want to upgrade the source, it's refreshingly simple to flip the NDX into SPDIF source mode and feed a Hugo DAC or equivalent... even here the quality of a good digital source such as the NDX  is still benefitted from.

Simon

Fine if you already have an NDX etc but starting from scratch I don't see the point of going to all that expense and hassle. 

If someone could demonstrate that using a NAS and streaming via a suitable Naim device sounded better than the 'puter/HD/software player/DAC then I'd be interested. But in my experience it doesn't.

I've tried the NAS route in the past but it's more trouble than it's worth. I just use them for backup but when mine expires (for the second time) I'll just go for a Raid HD instead. I consider myself reasonably computer literate but I really can't be bothered messing about with network stuff for music.

+1 

That little DAC is unbelievable and it's frightening how close it got to Steves full spec LP12.

I would also say that the Mac Mini is a great option.  

You could also use it as a NAS (combined with appropriate software) if you really want a remotely located device connected by Ethernet cables and switches.  

In terms of aesthetics, it looks unobtrusive ( a bit the like silver coloured Hugo, I guess) and is quieter than my NAP200.  

In respect of sources, I would also audition the Naim DAC, alongside the Hugo and Naim V1, with the Mac Mini and see what you think about SQ and day to day usability. The use of the Mac Mini via optical out to the Naim DAC is well documented on this forum.

if budget is not an issue, then a Unitiserve, either network or with direct connection, may be an route ( I have no experience of this).

i also agree that should the need arise, thunderbolt equipped external drives, whether with built in RAID capability or through ' daisy chaining' is good for backup or quick recovery from disk failure ( I don't bother with this as my Mac Mini's internal HDD is not full yet and I back up to a Time Capsule).

Jude

My rationale for suggesting the Naim DAC is that the price of a second hand NAIM DAC is broadly similar to the Hugo and V1 (and indeed, the price of an ND5X).

Enjoy