NDX Tuner?

Good reminder that I need to plug the co-axial cable in. Have been too busy exploring existing music and internet based radio to have a good listen yet.

The internet radio option is very good. Have not used the tuner yet as, well, the internet radio option offers so much more. 

I did have a NAt05 prior and favour the NDX thusfar

Scot

Hi - as part of Digital Britain'srevision. I understood the plans for the ceasing of nation wide FM channels had been shelved for the time being.

I would not be suprised however if we start to see in a few years the phasing out of generation 1 DAB  for DAB+ which is used more on the Conteinent and uses more recent higher qulaity and robust codecs such as AA3 and AA3+ which have better error correcetoin compared to the old fasioned DAB's MP2 codec , which is a must IMO if Digital Radio is to start to replace FM for cars etc.

Until the sound qulaity issue is resolved with DAB I can't see FM going anywher. Just google DAB & Poor Sound Quality. To use current parlence that combination 'trends' quite hightly.

Simon

Hi Simon,

The new BBC radio 3 transmissions on the internet are really very very good and there are loads of great stations to choose from now as well. I was so impressed I sold my NAT02.

Happy listening

RR

Hi RR,

Yes there are some good stations at high bit rate mp3, but it all sounds like it is coming from an iPod connected to a DAC etc - . Good but not that good, ie a little cardboard like / lifeless - to my ears anyway.

I currently use a Cyrus FMX with Belden mains cable with Eichamnn RCAs and  a 5 element Yagi with folded dipole  at 35 feet with no obstructions and with good quality braid with 75 ohm feeder, and it is awesome and quite spooky/un nerving with radio plays sometimes, who needs DD 5.1 surround sound ;-)  

I am kind of hoping being a Naim the NDX FM tuner is on apar with this, so I could rationalise the boxes but your comment is starting to casue me a nagging doubt. The NDX I have lined up for home audition this weekend has no Tuner ...

Simon

Hi Simon

I’m surprised that your original question has not been answered as the tuner would be an essential should I buy an NDX. Why have they not added a tuner card into the HDX, there must surely be plenty of room in the SSD version?

Anyway, just thought I would say that I have been using a Qute since launch and find that the FM tuner provides very respectable reception for us. Personally I am not interested in the Dab/iRadio sections. I don’t know if it is the same card in the NDX as in the Qute but even if it is, it is capable of fine sound.

Re: switching off FM……I have read in the last couple of weeks a worrying piece that suggests that they are backtracking somewhat on leaving FM on, pushing Dab again. Can’t remember which site I was reading now though.

Peter

Peter

Well in this part of the world in most locations you need a good outside antenna to get any decent DAB signal so I think if they want to switch or remove the national stations from FM  there would have to be a mjoar investment in transmitters - and no one has the money. Also there is the question of lack of mutiplex space for local stations iand here in East Anglia inteference from the continental multiplexes

Simon

I think the reason why the original question was not answered is that those who know to appreciate the sound quality of FM would prefer a dedicated tuner device. This is my case at least, until I am convinced that the FM module in NDX is of comparable quality.

Simon,

My apologies - I have been slammed at work and have not had enough time to do anything other than swipe the ipad and play a tune. It will probably be another 10 days or so before I get to it.

Cheers

Hi,

I have a Squeezebox receiver just to stream radio and some mp3's from my computer. I stream bbc radio4 a lot, since my cable company decided in their infinat wisdom that the radio listeners whom they do not care about anyway, suddenly without warning did not need bbc radio4!

Obviously a Receiver with analog out streaming whatever bitrate 128 or 64 bit has nothing to do with sound quality, and for Radio4 I can live with that since it is not music anyway.

I saw the  anouncement of the 300 kbps Naim radio on the hifi forum. 

I am sending my system up to my dealer, actually they are coming down and driving it up there, anyway I hope that my  cd s3 will not be coming back! There are a few potential buyers we  just have to convince them that an upgrade from x2 and spsx to my s 3 for much lower than a new cost, is an offer they cannot refuse!

I will replace it with an NS01 and  Ndac, wich should give me access to the Naim Radio in the near future as it is stated on the hifi forum. If it is just half as good as I expect my Harmon Cardon fm/dab tuner will find another permanent home for sure!

 b

Hi Simon,

I have to say it's not my experience. I have done a direct comparison on R3 on NAT02 and Akurate DS sourced R3 via my 252/SC/300 and cardboard is not a word I use to describe it. FM is better but not by that much and I now listen to Radio far more than I ever did. I loved my NAT02 for 20 years and parted with deep emotion but times move on.

If you like FM, get an NAT02. It's brilliant and you will fall in love straight away. MILES better than a Cyrus FM but they are a bit rare to find.

Best of luck

RR

Simon - there are a couple of good BBC articles here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/rad...the_proms_afte.shtml and here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbc...h_quality_audio.html about what happens to the BBC signal for a live prom.Seems to me the HD stream might avoid some of the compression and manipulation the FM stream is subject to, at least in the case of the proms. And much of the FM distribution chain is digital.

I think we should be pushing for the distribution of the digital feed before any compression, bandwidth limiting, NICAM encoding or similar jiggery pokery! There's plenty of digital bandwidth on the planet now. 

Hiya

I have just got my NDX - and it is still quite new.

I am comparing it - very unfairly - with my NAT-01.

Everything else is the same but the sound is not close.

I flicked on radio 3 and it lacks the atmosphere - the "hair stick up on the back of your neck" quality of the 01.  Music sounds compressed and the quiet background doesnt sound so quiet.  I have only ever had one tuner so apologies but I have nothing else to compare it to.

Yes very unfair comparison!

Andrew

Thanks - yes I have decided to leave the NDX tuner for now and stick with my Cyrus FMX - again another amazing sounding tuner especially with R3 and R2 - but a few rungs down from the NAT-01 I'm sure.

However I am tempted to try a NAT-01  ;-)

Simon