New to this - help please ?!

Lots of questions there Al.  

Yes, you need to rip all of your CDs to a NAS as a first step.  I would rip them as Flac files and there is an excellent free piece of software for the PC called EAC or Exact Audio Copy.  There is also a very clear set of instructions on how to use it on the internet which you can find via Google.  There are lots of options for NAS drives and a search on here will throw up recommended ones.  It is good practice to back up but this can be done to an external drive, or a PC or another NAS etc.  I rip to my PC, and then copy to my NAS and external drive at the same time so I have an identical copy of the library.

Your NAS needs to be connected to the same network as your NDX using an Ethernet cable.  They can both be plugged into your router or, even better, into a switch which is then plugged into your router.  If you do a search on here about network connections you will find loads of advice.  Switches are cheap - perhaps £20 or so depending on which you buy.  The Ethernet cable you use can be up to a hundred meters for Cat 5 I believe, so unless you live in a palace you should be fine two rooms away.  I'm not sure if it can be used outside the house although if it was shielded I can't see why not.  Cat 5 is cheap - on the internet I can see 50m of external Cat 5 for £30.

The NDX can be controlled via the front panel and remote or, ideally, using the Naim app on either an iPad/iPhone or Android tablet/phone.  IMO the IPad version is better but teh android version will work just fine.

Qobus, Spotify and Tidal are all streaming services which allow you to stream from a massive collection of music located on the Internet.  you do not need this to stream your own files as described above but they can be used to stream music you don't own for a fee.  The latter two can be used on your NDX - Spotify is £10 per month for lossy files and Tidal is £20 per month for lossless files which sound better.  At this stage I would suggest you don't need them - especially as you will have your hands full ripping all your CDs, but there are trial versions of both and you could use a trial to listen to music whilst you are ripping perhaps.  Get the ripping right, you don't want to have to do it more than once.

Best of luck, I'm sure you will have loads of fun.

dayjay posted:

Best of luck, I'm sure you will have loads of fun.

Hi dayjay

Thanks very much for informative reply !

I will need luck but wish to take it slowly, first of all considering purchase of NDX

The reason for thinking is that I currently have a CD2 which compared to LP12 is left standing, and rather than buy one of the (many) CDX2 or CDS3s currently available - streaming seems the route to go

How would one describe the SQ of NDX over CD2 on a % basis 20% better / worse........................  or just different?

I thought the NDS sounded pretty good in Bristol, but the ones I heard had 555PS etc. attached

Thanks 

Al

Excellent advice above Dayjay.

Just to add there are no problems with running Ethernet cable outside - shielding won't make any difference here (or is needed in a domestic network). The only slight concern is UV exposure so the cable jacket will go brittle after time. Again this is not an issue if it's clipped in place. I've got a 30m run between my lounge and study (where the network, NAS and other gubbins sit) and 25m of that is on an exterior wall. No problems so far and it's been in place for 9 years now (bog standard off the reel Cat 5e cable). 

James

Hi James

Thanks - the main problem does not seem to be one !?

Al

Correct  

You will also need a quality amp to pair with your NDX. From the NAIM stable, the good match is an integrated Super Nait 2. Or of course per-power combos from the Classic range.

NAS cost - a decent QNAP or Synology will set you back approximately Eur 300 / GBP 250 plus drives.

Hi Adam

Thanks for the info - all most welcome !

I have 2 x 135 82 2 x H/Cap Kan2s

I do not mind some expense, but just seems silly time to be buying a good CD player ???

I expected NDX + perhaps £5-750 for cabling, software, NAS etc......

Regards,

Al

P.S. I just got my system rigged up after one year - moved + loads of work to do - now got a lounge ! I was just sorting out around 100 miles of old reel to reel tapes (got rid of a load) - just put on an old radio recording on my nearly 40 year old Revox A77 - Wow !!!

WHY did I not buy the half track one at the time  (too expensive !?)

The old analogue tape - huge soundstage and power - amazing 

External grade Ethernet cable is available, I bought a 30m reel of cat6 external cable from eBay for my install, it's slightly thicker so crimping the plugs is awkward but a bit of patience and I have a neat installation running down the outside wall.

AL

If you don't feel like buying a CD player, then just don't. It's not compulsory

Streaming is a great way of listening to music. If at some stage later on you feel that you miss spinning the silver discs, I am sure a decent Naim player will be available somewhere.

So let's focus on the streamer for now.

NDX - a very good choice. Options are divided on wheather it actually needs an outboard power supply. Best to start without it and test a PSU some time afterwards.

NAS - I can guide you through setting up a QNAP server as this is what I use. If you drop me an email (address is in my profile) I will happily assist with setup guides and things to watch out for. Other forum members can certainly help out with, say Synology.

Software - Minim server is actually free. If you like it - just make a donation.

Cables: there's been a number of threads on this one. You can start with standard ehthernet cables (i..e. good quality and cheap - well below £1 per meter) , just to build a system and get familiar with it's functionality. 

I think we've covered the basics for now. If you feel like taking it further - just send me an email.

Adam

al9315 posted:

I cannot imagine a dealer being willing to go through the multitude of questions I have in the hope of a sale !?

 

I think that's exactly the sort of thing a Naim dealer will be able to help you with. 'I've got a CD player and I'm thinking of moving to streaming, but I have no idea where to start' is a question they will have been asked many times before, and any decent dealer will be happy to guide you. 

I think an NDX and a NAS is a good way to go, but if, say, you were using it to replace a CDX2, you might find that while they both offer a similar level of quality, one or the other has a sound that is more to your liking, as they are different beasts. Here on the forum, we like spending your money for you, but a dealer will let you decide with your own ears, and come and set the gear up for you and show you how it works. This stuff ain't cheap - make them earn their money!

Hi Adam

"I think we've covered the basics for now. If you feel like taking it further - just send me an email."

Hugely appreciate your valuable assistance & support - I will certainly take you up on your offer ! - May take a few weeks to get round to it though, still finishing decorating............................

You did effectively touch on one of the topics I have no idea how to decide on ?! - QNap, Minimserver, DBPoweramp.............................. this is where one hits a brick wall.

Having written a few Access databases ( mainly for fun) - one discovers the errors in setup once one has added a load of data ! - Trying to avoid this

I WILL be in touch - Thank you so much

Regards,

Al

ChrisSU posted:

I think that's exactly the sort of thing a Naim dealer will be able to help you with. 'I've got a CD player and I'm thinking of moving to streaming, but I have no idea where to start' is a question they will have been asked many times before, and any decent dealer will be happy to guide you. 

I think an NDX and a NAS is a good way to go, but if, say, you were using it to replace a CDX2, you might find that while they both offer a similar level of quality, one or the other has a sound that is more to your liking, as they are different beasts. Here on the forum, we like spending your money for you, but a dealer will let you decide with your own ears, and come and set the gear up for you and show you how it works. This stuff ain't cheap - make them earn their money!

Hi Chris

Thanks for reply - I would be replacing a CD2 - you are of course correct - dealer dem is the way to go.

I do not currently have a dealer, but I am working on it

Thanks

Regards,

Al

al9315 posted:

Hi Adam

"I think we've covered the basics for now. If you feel like taking it further - just send me an email."

Hugely appreciate your valuable assistance & support - I will certainly take you up on your offer ! - May take a few weeks to get round to it though, still finishing decorating............................

You did effectively touch on one of the topics I have no idea how to decide on ?! - QNap, Minimserver, DBPoweramp.............................. this is where one hits a brick wall.

Having written a few Access databases ( mainly for fun) - one discovers the errors in setup once one has added a load of data ! - Trying to avoid this

I WILL be in touch - Thank you so much

Regards,

Al

Whenever you are ready - just send an email

• QNAP, Synology - manufacturers / brands of hardware - they make Network Attached Storage servers (NAS)
• You will need to fit at least one hard-drive into a NAS - example of a quality drive manufacturer - WD (Western Digital)
• Minimserver, dBPoweramp - server software, which resides on a NAS, enabling you to stream from the NAS, over the network, to your NDX.

Al, I posted this some time ago. Still worth a read but the thread is now closed due to age:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...h-from-cd-to-network

I had always had a CDP and was thinking of moving to streaming and found the replies very useful. It is a long read bit I managed to summarise it on 1 page of A4 with a pen. There are lots of additional resources, "Computer Audiophile" being very good but long winded.

Just a few weeks ago I bought a NAS and managed to "see" this on my home network, although network is over reaching a tad. I'm no computer expert either. I bought DbPoweramp (DBP), based on the replies I received, but it took me a while to work out that this and minimserver were not physical devices but simply software tools. I am now about half way ripping my CDs to both NAS and an external HDD simultaneously (FLAC and WAV). This is easy with DBP with a few minutes trial and error and navigating menus. I did find a great online tutorial in the end. I do noytyet own a streamer/player but will go this route shortly.

As my initial curiosity in posting (above) was 2 years ago, there is no rush if you still have music in the house. My project is still a work in progress and I still have some more IT related tasks and purchasing to do. I am looking forward to boxing up all the CDs though and using a smart phone or tablet to browse my music, well the digital half anyway.

Good luck and post back here when you get stuck. Lots of friendly advice here.

Dave

Hi Bodger

Thanks very much for reply - I agree - lots of friendly help on here - as much "support" as anything else - it is great !!!

Like you - in no great hurry, but with modern day living 100 miles of tape - LPs 2000, CDs 3-400.............. it cannot go on!?

Regards,

Al

Actually - it can.... The flow of new music never stops - any format now. It's loads of fun

Hi Al,  unlike Bodger who seems to have taken his time over this,  I went straight in off the deep end.  I made the decision to start moving from CD to streaming & as I had already read up as much as possible on www & this forum & made the decision to go for it - I had a bunch of the book larnin' stuff dun so the deep was the only place to go & jump in.

I (we) demo'd various network players (brands & models) & ordered an NDX, that same evening I ordered a Synology NAS DS214 (2 bay) with WD Red 2TB HDD's, some cheapo ethernet cables & an iPad.  The NAS arrived two days later & with dBpoweramp on my laptop I set about ripping a few into into the laptop HD & experimented with metadata as best as I could on a laptop. I uploaded these to NAS & then started on the other 400+ rips but used a much faster desktop DVD read/write drive.  Five days later the dealer phoned to say the NDX would be delivered tomorrow     OK rip faster.   Picked up the NDX swapped out the much loved CDX2,  set down the NAS on the floor,  hooked up the power & the ethernets via the router,  loaded the Naim app on the iPad , pressed a few buttons &   ........... bingo !!!!  

Over the next month I tidied up the NAS on the floor & it now lives inside a closed door cabinet.  I quickly learned that my router got very hot after playing about 3 albums & installed a pukka network switch that fixed that problem & made a worthwhile SQ improvement,  I then changed out the temporary ethernets for Cat7's.    A few months later I added a UPS & rewired it all with made to measure power cables.   That's it,  since then I have been constantly striving for improvement - as you do - but its really tinkering around the edges.

I decided after a long trail that my original choice to rip to WAV was right, although it has to be said there is not that much difference between WAV & FLAC+transcoding,  but I'm now selecting DSD as a preference if & when its available.   I don't like iTunes & have gone off the boil with Tidal & dumped Spotify.  

Its really not that difficult,  OK I'm an electrical engineer & computer savy & that might help.     But like me,  if you Just follow the advise around from the experts on this forum,  involve your dealer & remember most mistakes are usually easy to put right.

Keep posting on your progress 

Hi Mike - Thanks for your reply

I think I understand the process reasonably well now.

The 2 parts I will have to investigate are a tablet of some sort - do not particularly wish to buy an iPad - and you mention the router overheating, I had never thought of that. I just have a BT hub, router, and assumed it would be okay...........

Anyway - walk before running, so will do some more homework first. Will keep posting

Regards,

Al

Hi again Al,   I understand the reluctance to go iPad (iOS),  but keep in mind Naim use iOS as the development lead & Android tends to lag behind;  not used Android myself so can't comment further. 

Yeah that overheated router, a bit contentious;   it was a BT HH3,  the BT forum/blog assured me it was OK & "great for gaming" & as I knew no better I went ahead & used it as a switch.  It got hot enough to stop streaming & a small section of the plastic on the back panel deformed.     Next morning when I reconnected it worked OK with internet,  but no way was I going to give it a second chance,  so after a quick read up on the best pukka switches I nipped out & bought a Netgear GS105.   

At around the same time I had an intermittent broadband issue that eventually required an engineer to call & the first thing he did was exchange the HH3 for HH4 muttering about pooh pots,  then set about finding the fault.    I don't know if the HH3 was faulty or it was just not capable of handing a continuous data stream.  I since found that not all routers have real switches & although a lot of folks around the forum disagree,  I would never trust an ISP or other low cost router to have a "switch" that is either capable or sonically good enough for hifi audio.

al9315 posted:

The 2 parts I will have to investigate are a tablet of some sort - do not particularly wish to buy an iPad

 

Al,

Strictly speaking you can control your future NDX from its remote control. I actually use my NDX this way approximately 60% of the time.

Unless I missed something, all the functions can be accessed from the remote and in few cases you can actually only do them from a remote (e.g network set up). 

So - start with a bare minimum, see how you get on and start adding stuff later. There is nothing worse than overinvesting at the start, just to find out half of the gadgets are never used

Adam

Personally, I would recommend using the app to control any Naim streamer. If you use the remote you'll end up peering at the small display screen on the front of the NDX all the time, and browsing an album collection would be awkward.  A cheap Android tablet will be fine, there are only a few minor features it lacks compared to the iPad app. It does take a bit of time to get to grips with the functions of the app, but well worth it in my opinion. 

ChrisSU posted:

Personally, I would recommend using the app to control any Naim streamer. If you use the remote you'll end up peering at the small display screen on the front of the NDX all the time, and browsing an album collection would be awkward.  A cheap Android tablet will be fine, there are only a few minor features it lacks compared to the iPad app. It does take a bit of time to get to grips with the functions of the app, but well worth it in my opinion. 

Compared to iPad the Android version is awkward. I would never recommend it.

Anyhow - let Al start with the basics and then we can start spending his money for him