Qobuz, Deezer Elite, Tidal and all other HQ streaming support?

Even the Spotify steaming, and I've not really researched it, but I think it's integration with Naim rely's on Spotify's implementation of a 'connect' function.  It seems to me that the leg work of interacting with Spotify's services is handled by another device, i-thing etc, and streamed to Naim gear, similar to UPnP or Airplay maybe.  Actually, when using Spotify with Naim, does one use the Spotify client app, or is it controlled within something of Naim's own creation.  Sorry, not familiar with the Naim apps.  

If any of this is vague speculation is true, then I would imagine as more services implement connect style solutions, as Qobuz have recently, then things will move on more rapidly.

Damn, what's goin' on with the 's in my last post?

I'm amazed at the appalling 'pidgin' English in the reply, was that really a quote from them?

Qobuz currently have less than half of my current collection atm (the best ratio of the major players) and a fair proportion of the albums they do have are incorrect in some way (tracks missing, badly truncated tracks etc.) so I'm currently not interested and won't be for some years.

Really, I find the ratio much better, but probably have a much less vast collection.  I do find it annoying that Led Zeppelin's albums appear finally, but you can only play the latest dodgy 'HD?' masters.  I don't find these most recent remasters that great, not terrible either, but just not as good as my CDs, although themselves a remaster (corn circle ones). 

So yes, Qobuz is a French company. I removed the names but the French aren't that good with foreign languages, or at least this guy is not. Either way, it is clear what he is saying.

Should Naim really be updating their old architecture to accommodate all the latest features and services as they become available. I'm not sure they should, even if i wish they would. After all surely it makes more business sense to introduce new products with these new features.

Problem is they don't seem to be forth coming with news on these new products. I truly cannot understand why they keep so tight lipped, i do believe they lose out as others move to other products.

let's say it could be clearer, the French are a bit reticent with their language skills but are nowhere near as lazy as the English!

Really? I was unaware that you could not select a 'version' to your taste. amazon are still selling versions of each album, so why can you not stream a particular 'vintage'? It seems a bit remiss of them.

The English are lazy with their foreign languages but who can blame them?

About if Naim should update their 'old' architecture? Let me put it this way, if Naim is going Apple style on my and tell me I have to buy their latest product if I want HQ streaming support (I own a SuperUniti) I will sell my SU and will abandon the Naim brand totally without any regrets.

They better add the major HQ streaming services asap to their current products (I still consider the SU current) or I will abandon them for good. Though I don't know what I will do with my Ovator s-800's.

That is a shame but I will buy it from you! I cannot afford S800s but I'm sure they will sound good, Naim are not renown for being 1st out of the blocks but if you enjoy your Naim product I'm sure there will be something soon for the lossless streaming community.

You say this yet the NDX was i would say one of the 1st of its kind. I went for an ND5 when it first came out as it did 24/192 and had a great app, and to be honest there was nothing else around at the time that did.

It just seems they have stood still since and not progressed, well as far as we know

Fair point Allen regarding the NDS, but even so the digital market has moved on very quickly over the last few years.

Well, it's not as clear cut as that, but when searching by artist, you'll often see the same album listed several times, plus deluxe editions, HD Studio Masters, etc.  In many cases you can sample them all in full fat, but with Led Zeppelin you can only preview 1 minute of MP3 of anything other than the latest re-masters, including the deluxe editions with early studio mixes etc. 

I'm not complaining, it's great to have that on tap, but for me, I don't think the mix / remaster is as good as some previous attempts.

Yes I agree, maybe I was a bit sloppy with my phrasing, it's past my bedtime so I can't think of anything better  maybe there is something amiss with me as a consumer because if I could box up all my Naim kit and unbox it again I would still be as thrilled as the 1st time, regardless of current trends and other developments.

Paul Stevenson has previously posted that the delays in adding decent quality streaming services are technical, not financial, so it is a little surprising that his staff are blaming non-existent license fees. They should at least get their story straight.

The NDA justification is hard to take seriously. I've signed loads of them and I would be a little miffed if the other party was ignoring them and talking to my customers as Qobuz do at every opportunity.

Keith

Sonos Connect W4S anyone...? Just enjoying the music through all of this.

G

Then get the W4S 'Remedy Reclocker' for between the Connect & Dac, no?

G

Graeme, i think Simon mentioned he thinks the sonos provides an even fuller sound into Hugo than the NDX, have you found this also.

I'd say more detail and wider soudstage - beyond the listening triangle 'stage' - great speed and clarity and quite revealing of different masterings. The sound streamed from NAS no different to subscription services with the same mastering. It's very good.

This with W4S Remedy Reclocker, Kingrex 9v linear PS and DC1 cabling + Hugo brings the source in at circa £2500. Clearly a 2Qute and, say, Chord cabling without the linear PS could bring this down to circa £1500.

i realise it has a bit of a bodge look about it all but it is unbeatable for the money ime...NDSx2555PS's with limited functionality and a sticky app just not on my radar now.

Come on naim, catch-up.

G

As far as I understood Naim used to embed BridgeCo streaming modules in their streamers. 

If this is still the case wouldn't this mean that they would have to ask BridgeCo to implement lossless streaming services? And would BridgeCo see a business case regarding that only audiophiles care about Qobuz or Tidal?

...one man's 'big difference' is another man's etc etc. For me it was £225 well spent Allen.

G

The sonos option does sound very interesting, but do i really want to invest a grand into a product which only plays 16bit. I suppose its all down to SQ rather than numbers. 

Sure - I was using NDX/Hugo Sonos so NDX became redundant and has gone to another. Was toying with upgrade to NDS but the former option reduced redundancy whilst being cost neutral.

G

Hi Allen, 

Don't know about the Magna mod but according to W4S their Sonos internal mod is somewhat better than the Remedy option. Seems a neater solution too, with just the need for one good cable from Sonos to NDS or DAC.

ATB

tp

As someone who lives on the other side of the world (and who happens to work in the music industry), I think I can say with some confidence that Spotify is the only major global streaming service at this point in time.  

Then there is the question of what will the Apple/Beats service look like and what impact will it have on the market?  Streaming relies on scale to be profitable and I suggest that some of the more specialist players won't survive (the Tidal play appears to be exclusivity but they have quickly discovered this is difficult to implement).

How many of Naim's global customer base have access to Qobuzz, Tidal etc?  Probably less than you think.  

In my mind Naim are taking the right approach to tread cautiously in this arena.