HDX/UnitiServe - few Qs

Thanks Lee for the prompt response.

Still couple of doubts -

1. You are saying dunctionality wise there won't be anything missing if I go for UnitiServe but what about performance - Sound Quality ? Is HDX vs UnitiServe+nDac will provide same Sound Quality ?

2. Got the Internet Radio idea. Hope someone from Naim will confirm me on this. Based on that I'll buy the thing now or later when the Internet Radio is available.

3.  Got it.

4. This is not very clear to me. I checked the manual of UnitiServe and there it is specifically mentioned that don't tamper with Hard Disk store of UnitiServer in an alternate way.

5. I'm an Apple junkie. But would like to see Naim label probably even in the hanset (its just me). I understand that temporray solution.

6. Good to hear that the heating of UnitiServe not an issue. I can live with small heating issue as long as 'm paying USD 3K vis-avis USD 8.1K.

Regards,

Sourav

The problem with DTC is it works only in Windows. Where as I'm mostly in Mac.

Can this be done using UnitiServer App on iPad where the App ?

DTC is windows only, people have reported success using it through VMware on mac though.

Naim have indicated that at some stage you will be able to do this via the web interface.

S,

As garyi has said you can use virtualisation. I use ubuntu, but use vmware-server to run up a Windows machine.

Another option that I am going to do:

I am going to get an s-video to HDMI scalar/converter and run the NS01 output into my HDMI switch - and into my TV, and then use my NS01 remote; which can be additionally purchased for the US.

Depending on where your files are stored you can add cover art without DTC. IF the files are on a share, i.e. NOT ripped into a Store by a Naim server, then you can simply add a jpg directly into the sub-sirectory where the audio files are and call it folder jpg - and then rescan.

The Naim ripping solution is pretty good at getting cover art, but doesn't always succeed. So my above solution will only help with your historic rips, maybe not with Naim rips; BUT, I have just done a quick experiment by dropping folder.jpg into an album where it did fail - I'll let you know whether it screws up my store.

As to sound quality: I found there was a difference between the NS01 and US, but both are excellent, as others have said you'll need to have a listen - and I could imagine many people preferring the US over the NS01, presentation, not absolute better/worse.

M

DIdn't cause any issues - but it didn't work either!

M

Thanks a lot u guys for the inputs/viewpoints.

Not able to make Cover art change for the disks ripped by Serve is someway a drawback for me to consider. Though I can do it through my Windows laptop also but sort of the convenience/usability will go for toss. Especially looking for someone like my wife who can just rip the CD of her choice and change the cover art through her iPhone (i.e that's what was my selling pitch to her to get a green signal for the budget).

Also, just to cross verify it again I'm hoping that UnitiServe/HDX can display the cover art stored in my iTunes lib as is. Those cover arts are now anyway displayd by my Sonos without any problem.

Sourav

Sourav,

Why don't you just go on listening to your CD's with your wonderful CDX2.2 + nDAC? You always have the album cover-art at hand - and in the highest resolution on the real cd cover itself! When your downloads gets the upper hand, you may purchase the NDX.

Aysil,

One of the drivers behind considering HDX/UnitiServ is to have a virtual music store for all music I own. So ripping my existing CDs (and also the new ones I'm going to buy) and putting them into a common NAS (along with direct downloads from iTunes etc.) is surely a goal.

And I'm already doing that using my Macbook, iTunes (getting the right images for cover from different sources) and listening to them using my Sonos. (Also I'm having internet radio in Sonos).

Irrespective of that, the impetus for moving to HDX/UnitiServe are - a) Ease/Convenience of ripping, and b) Playing HiRes downloads. Now if the convenience part (including adding the album cover of my choice, playing iTunes as with cover) is not really great in HDX/UnitiServe option I need to rethink whether I would like to invest into either of them at all.

NDX little bit overkill for me as it solves only the part of my goal - 'Playing HiRes download'. As a streamer when Sonos is plugged with nDac I'm perfectly satisfied with the output (for the CD quality downloads 16bit/44.1khz). For all practical purpose the sound is little inferior (in staging and warm ness) compared to CDX2.2 + nDac, in my opinion.

Regards,

Sourav

The main goal in any of this is quality of music replay.

I used to own an LP12 with Aro, it was superb. The colour of the shelf the records were stored on, although important was not so important.

"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquistion".... or Tog pedalling his sad vision of "Vortexbox World Harmony" but my key points are

1. In low power - dual core atom - server - little noise and little heat.

2. V1.8+ is working really well - forget 1.4/5 issues

3. As long as you use BLISS or are carefull with tagging - Cover Art is simple

4. Drop and drag file management from a Mac is idiot proof (unless you are a Windows user) and not restricted

5. Can be configured as RAID array or mirrored drives

6. No need for Windows at all - ever

7. No real need for command line Linux loveliness unless you enjoy that sort of thing.

8. Should work as a NAS share with a UnitiServe (need to be tested)

9. ITunes DAAP server much improved with larger libaries - due a major revision very soon - streams flac to itunes as wav

10. Management via browser on an IPAD or any computer - no DTC/N Serve confusion over facilities

11. Works very well with N-Stream on Ipad/Iphone

12. Will mirror flac with alac/mp3

13  Secure ripping - as in UnitiServe

14 Plays well with others - native Sonos/Squeezebox servers.

15. Software - free - hardware from £0 to £600 (6TB Array) 0r £1400 for a Sonore Server with all the trimmings.

May well buy a UnitiServe SSD in the end but since my VB TogServe works flawlessly (no problems at all with server - upgrade bug in BLISS quickly sorted) - and is being developed so rapidly I'm not rushing. Besides the money I would save not buying a Serve might be better spent on an NDX?

Anyone know where I can buy a UnitiServe case though - that would make a fantastic VB project

Happy Easter all

Tog 

To be honest I still don't understand the USP of NDX when we compare it with a solution like HDX-SSD+NAS or UnitiServe-SSD+NAS

Appreciate if anyone can brought out the key differences.