Err what happend to the DSD firmware updates for ND* range?

@Harry, @Klout not sure the point of those posts, it kinda goes without saying, but don't see the relevance to this thread.

@zen i think your right, everything has been said, yet no explanation has been received other than computer says no.

been a good read though and some steam has been released. Cheers 

I am probably wrong, and I am basing this purely and probably inappropriatelly on the length of time it is taking the DSD firmware to be released, but I suspect the software development contractors have either had most of their contracts terminated or more likely are all very busy working on the lossless streaming capability for imminent ( in Naim terms) launch.

There was something about Phil's posting above when he was describing specifically what they are not developing for the servers/ HDX.

Simon

LOL! Still waiting for your Moderator status to kick in eh? Well, I'm sure it won't be too much longer. Stay sharp, keep practicing.

Cant help but feel that software is not Naim's strong suit. Look at Devailet and Linn, probably two of Naim's closest competitors - periodic and well executed updates now forms part of their core offerings.

Harry while i respect your posts, i do love the way you avoid answering every question and keep blurting out the same old Naim allegiance line. Bit boring to say the least

Graeme

All in jest and good will Graham.

I don't think Naim's software and streamer firmware development has been anything to applaud but as I (and others) said have and will continue to say, I love the musical engagement, sound quality, whatever you want to call it. 

As for facilities that I don't want, I don't care how long they take or if they ever get implemented. I have the highest respect for the wants and views of others, of course. I do occasionally wonder where all the top quality inside information came from which compelled people to purchase streamers that didn't do what they needed at the time of purchase, although  again, I respect their views and their desire to have wishes fulfilled.

Past that it's just chat innit. What we're here for and all that.

Fair enough Harry, i may have read more into it than you intended. i must have heat stroke from all this sun 

Well put Harry. 

Don't give it another thought Graham. Nobody and no forum is important enough.

Have fun.

I have been reading various threads and I just wonder what ever happened.

Life used to be so simple as all we would have to  do is plug a turntable and speakers into the back of an amp and it all worked!

Well, now, let’s rake through the old memory banks.

Go to the shop, buy the album.  Take it home. Listen to all the cracks, pops and crunches.  Take it back. Kneel in the shop and swear on the immortal soul of your father who died in childbirth that you didn’t damage the album. Get another copy. Take it home and listen to the same set of cracks, pops and crunches. Take it back, swear again that you didn’t harm it and wait for the next batch.  Two weeks later go back to the shop to obtain the first release of the second batch, hot off the stampers. Take it home, put it on and listen to a different collection of cracks, pops and crunches. Take it back to the shop. Prostrate yourself, draw your own blood and swear by all that is scared to you that you didn’t damage the record. Get another copy. Take it home and listen to the identical set of cracks, pops and crunches that you just took back. Decide that you preferred the defects of the first batch and trudge back to the shop for either a refund or swap back to the first batch.

When you finally have the version of the album that you dislike the quality of the least, transfer it to tape, having given it a really good clean (without smearing or scratching it), exposed it to a really long squeeze of the Zerostat gun a minimum of five times, filled up the bowl of water next to the TT which cuts down of airborne static, topped up all your other room humidifiers, checked your room deionizer is working and double checked the force and bias of the arm to make transient pre echo and end of groove distortion at least bearable.

Play your tape to death and if you really really like the album, get yourself the Japanese import for the cost of half a week’s wages.  Go through all the usual quality checks, prepare to tape, tape and store carefully in special sleeves, away from temperature fluctuations, out of sunlight and maybe once or twice a rear, slide it out and play it but for Christ’s sake don’t damage it. In fact, don’t even look at it.

Yeah. It used to be so easy.

Do I need to put a smiley or wink in?

I mean, I can do if you like.

Where are you likely to go next Allen?

Doesn't seem bizarre to me, I'm using HQ Player to do just that at the moment.  Sounds magnificent into my Hugo.  Quite a number of the leading software players offer this facility as do Esoteric ( and I think Accuphase) on their SACD players.

To what possible end? DSD is only relevant if the source was recorded in DSD. If it is not a DSD master or DSD original it is going to add no gains whatsoever.

Because it sounds good. I  can only suggest you try it.

I am trying to wrap my head around two of the primary points in your disgust with the state of affairs in terms of streaming with Naim. I too am anxious for Tidal to come to NAIM and they have all but said it will in the short term so this does not seem like a terrible problem for all but the most impatient. The crux of the issue is that they are going to make this a "Connect" service which is how they handle spotify I believe. Isn't this the way the API's are setup for these services and how 3rd parties connect? Is there another superior way to do this?  Also I don't understand the beef with how you interact with the music, what is lacking in how you navigate through music and use these devices. I am using the iOS client and have over 7TB of high res music on a Synology NAS and I find the actual client very good, better than most that I have seen, I have no beefs with the client except there is not a OS X client so I have to use Kinsky or a generic controller when I want to control my NAC-272 from my MacBook. I am not discounting problems, but they are just not issues I have ever seen.

I bought one DSD album and I do think it sounds very good. Kind of natural and unprocessed. However, research after the fact revealed it to also be available in 24bit PCM and AFAIK it hasn't been released as a SCAD (could be wrong about that). So the question becomes, was it a good original recording/master and what does rendering it as DSD do for it? I suppose I could convert it and compare for myself. Maybe I'll do that it at a big enough loose end.

I bought a DSD album when I got my streamer and it does sound great. I am sure I will get some more as time passes.

For those who are all about the functionality above all...

I hear Sony and Pioneer have some budget microsystems with DSD, Tidal and rudimentary room correction. Maybe that would be preferable to you? And a pair of wicked Jamo speakers and you is sorted.

As I have a fair music collection which luckily seems to play just fine on my Naim system and sound good, I will just stick with it and let the world pass me by.

Really where have you heard this. I was not aware they have said they will be adding Tidal. Connect or otherwise

Exactly, otherwise all you are doing is creating a lossy data conversion. (converting PCM to DSD is a non exact process that varies on the algorithm and parameters used)

i don't deny such modified data might sound better in a specific audio replay system just like tone controls might, but I suspect other issues in the system, speakers, room, headphones, level of digital master etc  are enabling this to happen and I would look at these to understand why.. Certainly the Hugo in my system appears equally comfortable with PCM or DSD sources...

Simon

Allen, I agree the Connect methods will be far from ideal, not least because the firmware will need to changed on the Naim device each time a new service is added, unless Naim find a way of parameterising the functionality controlled by the Naim amp.

But fingers crossed I feel if we are ever to see this capability on the current hardware, we will see it soon... My feeling is that it has been quite quiet on the Naim software side so I do wonder if they are busy getting this software ready for test and release.

i agree switching between Naim app and streaming service app will be clunky, and won't enable seamless playlists and will make media searching like for certain masters etc a less enjoyable experience... But if that is the best Naim can offer I will take it.

It sounds like you are close to leaving Naim digi sources.. That would be a shame but I guess understandable.. For me it feels it's been quite a wait already and still no firm news.. 

Simon

I'm afraid my technical knowledge is insufficient to be be able to question above, although I am unaware of tone controls that, for example, bring out hitherto unheard detail in the music, while I also note that Sony's well reviewed top end digital  player converts everything to DSD as a matter of course.  What I do know is that the very best digital replay I have heard in my system  to date is from using a £200 fanless PC running HQ Player into my Hugo, whether PCM, PCM>DSD or native DSD. I must admit to having been sceptical myself, but I certainly stumped up for a license after demoing HQP.  All this suggests to me that, at least for customers looking for both leading edge technology and value for money, traditional HiFi manufacturers are fighting a loosing battle as digital source providers.