Nd5xs replacing cd5xs feeding ndac/xps
Posted by: STJimmy on 04 November 2015
Hello,
I am currently using cd5xs feeding ndac/xps. The rest of my system is 250/282/HC.
To me using usb stick into ndac/xps is almost equal to cd5xs into ndac/xps in terms of SQ. But the problem is navigation. So, I am thinking replacing cd5xs with nd5xs and use usb stick instead of NAS for the time being. The question is how to choose usb's folders and files with nd5xs in this case. Can I use nstream also? Will the SQ be inferior to cd5xs feeding ndac/xps? What about ssd drive instead of usb stick?
All inputs are appreciated.
You can use the Naim app to navigate through the folders of the USB stick.
You can use the Naim app to navigate through the folders of the USB stick.
You don't need a router for this, unless you want to use an app to control the ND5-XS. Without the router and app, you just use the ND5 XS remote to navigate to the track you want. That works fine but you get no album art work of course and it can be a bit slow if you have lots of similar starting track names (eg movements of a symphony) and have to let each one scroll to see if you are yet at the one you want to play.
The Naim nstream app is just called naim these days, and you can get it in IOS and Android. You still won't get album art though. But sound quality from a file on a USB stick should be fine, providing the file is lossless. You can also use high res files, for example downloaded, and these are often (but not always) better than CD. They are not better than CD when they aren't true high res.
best
David
You don't need a router for this, unless you want to use an app to control the ND5-XS. Without the router and app, you just use the ND5 XS remote to navigate to the track you want. That works fine but you get no album art work of course and it can be a bit slow if you have lots of similar starting track names (eg movements of a symphony) and have to let each one scroll to see if you are yet at the one you want to play.
The Naim nstream app is just called naim these days, and you can get it in IOS and Android. You still won't get album art though. But sound quality from a file on a USB stick should be fine, providing the file is lossless. You can also use high res files, for example downloaded, and these are often (but not always) better than CD. They are not better than CD when they aren't true high res.
best
David
In my view, the Naim streamers and a nas go hand in hand. If you don't want a nas, don't get a streamer. Controlling files from the remote is a nightmare and if you have loads of music on a stick, playing them will be a challenge, and the idea is to make things simple. If you want a streamer, set up a wired network for the nas and streamer and access it wirelessly from the Naim app. If all that is too hard, just stick with the CD player.
In my view, the Naim streamers and a nas go hand in hand. If you don't want a nas, don't get a streamer. Controlling files from the remote is a nightmare and if you have loads of music on a stick, playing them will be a challenge, and the idea is to make things simple. If you want a streamer, set up a wired network for the nas and streamer and access it wirelessly from the Naim app. If all that is too hard, just stick with the CD player.
Admittedly streaming isn't currently of interest to me, as to just hear if I like the music I can do on iPad or a PC, SQ being uncritical unless assessing the SQ of a particular version on offer, subscriptions being expensive to do that (many have raved about Qobuz, but I've yet to find a way of navigating that is useful to me)
However, I understand that Audirvana has a beta test version out that allows Qobuz integration, so presumably the intent is for that to be in a future update -and the guy who develops Audirvana is very responsive to questions.
You probably got the answer to this question from others, but anyway there is no basic problem at all with navigating through folders to locate a track, but you have to keep a mind map of where the music you want is going to be and you don't get many characters in a line on the ND5 XS display, so you have to let the display scroll across until you can see the bit you want, particularly if the files are not helpfully named. it's fine as a way to get started, but I really wouldn't contemplate it as a way to access 128 GB of music! As others have said, a NAS is the way to go.
best
David
You can use the Naim app to navigate through the folders of the USB stick.
yes. You need to hook up your nd5xs to your home network.