Moving up the ladder with streaming

I guess it depends on how 'instant' instant must be. As all your CDs will be ripped, is it only for when friends bring their music around? If so, a basic Naim CD player such as a CD5 might suffice. The other easy option is to use a Core. 

Another option - if you decide to go for an NDS and your main system is next to your TV try a blu-ray plaer connected via an optical cable to an NDS. The reason for an optical one is to galvanically isolate the components.

Oppo makes good universal disc players.

As to ripping and storing: I would consider a Core. It also has a playback function, so this may be all you need.

I bought an ex-demo CDX2 to play CDs that I hadn't ripped or didn't want to rip. Or as HH says, a cheaper Naim CD player is another option. There will also probably be some cheap used Unitiserves coming on the second-hand market once the Uniti Core starts to ship.

best

David

Derek Wright posted:

I have been happily using a headless Mac Mini for my ripped CDS, this is accessed by a Sonos Connect and then into the 552 via an Arcam Sonlink dac.

I have a 555 which is definitely underused and only used when an unripped  CD has to be "urgently"  played. This method is OK for me as  the term "user friendliness" does not really bother me as I rip the CDs initially on a Mac Pro and then use iTunes Home share to copy the data to the Mac Mini. However other people find this process unacceptable

I am considering selling the 555 and moving to a NDS as the hub of the digital system, however I need a domestically acceptable method of ripping the CDs for "instant " playback when required.

What domestically acceptable device would you recommend for getting the data into the NDS.   

 

Thanks for any suggestions  - valid responses can range from - Save your money to some suggested black boxes.

Thanks for any suggestions.

I would suggest a Melco, is just one of the boxes on the rack. Looks good and has amazing audiophile qualities...

With your music on Mac Mini have you considered alternatives to NDS, such as Audirvana on the MM to render the music, which really is excellent, into Hugo TT, or as a real game changer into Chord Dave - latter I think is similar cost to a bare NDS let alone the PS, and TT less than half that. May be worth at least auditioning, ( Audirvana is available on free trial, so nothing to lose.)

Thanks for the suggestions, Adam Z comment on the Blu-ray play prompted me to read the documentation for the Denon DVD player and discover that it has a digital out socket, so that could be my domestically acceptable player and also input device to whatever storage device I choose.

If the existing Denon is not adequate then a new Blu-Ray player could be an interesting purchase.

Thanks for your suggestions - time for more reading and dealer visiting.

Derek Wright posted:

Thanks for the suggestions, Adam Z comment on the Blu-ray play prompted me to read the documentation for the Denon DVD player and discover that it has a digital out socket, so that could be my domestically acceptable player and also input device to whatever storage device I choose.

If the existing Denon is not adequate then a new Blu-Ray player could be an interesting purchase.

Thanks for your suggestions - time for more reading and dealer visiting.

I'd suggest that you use a high-quality optical cable for the connection. Most of Japanese equipment do not have a 3rd ground pin in their mains connection. So groun-loop hums are quite possible. With an optical connection you'd at least avoid that.

If you decide to go down a new BD route, I strongly suggest one of the Oppo players - excellent value for money. Not cheap but worth every penny. I use 105D - analogue outputs are very, very decent. I'd rate it on a par with say CD5XS. It also does a good job when connected to my nDAC.

If you get an NDS I would consider a Core when it becomes available. It's a Naim black box that looks OK on or near your rack, where it's readily accessible, and although it will play CDs, it will rip them in around 3 to 5 minutes, then you get to hear them at full NDS quality rather than on a second best cheap CD player. 

ChrisSU posted:

If you get an NDS I would consider a Core when it becomes available. It's a Naim black box that looks OK on or near your rack, where it's readily accessible, and although it will play CDs, it will rip them in around 3 to 5 minutes, then you get to hear them at full NDS quality rather than on a second best cheap CD player. 

Totally agree with this option the Core with rip and store your CDs at a quality suitable for a NDS plus you'll be able to plays CDs as and when required all from one box.

Pcd posted:

ChrisSU posted:

If you get an NDS I would consider a Core when it becomes available. It's a Naim black box that looks OK on or near your rack, where it's readily accessible, and although it will play CDs, it will rip them in around 3 to 5 minutes, then you get to hear them at full NDS quality rather than on a second best cheap CD player. 

Totally agree with this option the Core with rip and store your CDs at a quality suitable for a NDS plus you'll be able to plays CDs as and when required all from one box.

I am, of course, making an assumption here that the Core is going to be a good bit of kit. My experience is with the Unitiserve it will replace. 

I've heard the Core and it seems fine, though whether it's better sounding than a nas I don't know. If it's like the Serve, it will need a co-ax connection to a DAC in order to play CDs. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

I've heard the Core and it seems fine, though whether it's better sounding than a nas I don't know. If it's like the Serve, it will need a co-ax connection to a DAC in order to play CDs. 

I think the OP is considering an NDS, so he can jump straight in and stream on his network. 

My mind is being opened by your comments, it was suggested at at Naim demo of various new Naim products that the 555 could be replaced by an NDS (it would use the 555PS). 

As I read the brochures and web site the issue of ripping came up hence my questions here. However I am more likely to have a "mind freeze" until I fully understand the range of products and their functions better.

Q1 - why do I need an NDS when it looks as if the Core device would more than meet my needs, does it have a digital in to handle data from other digital sources eg TV.

Q2  - do not know

Time to spend more time with my dealer - I knew it was going to be a mistake going to Audio T last Friday and Saturday.

I think you'll find the NDS will easily outperform the Core as a digital transport, but I'm sure all this will become apparent when you go to your dealer. 

Derek

One thing you will need to get used to is that when it comes to digital playback quality of all components does matter.
To use the same analogy that you are familiar with  - why does CD555 sound better than CD5i? They both play CDs..

I suggest you spend a lot of time with your dealer and more importantly - listen to as many components as you can

ChrisSU posted:

I think you'll find the NDS will easily outperform the Core as a digital transport, but I'm sure all this will become apparent when you go to your dealer. 

You are probably right - but do keep an open mind. The new devices have a new architecture which may give benefits over the streamers

ChrisSU posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

I've heard the Core and it seems fine, though whether it's better sounding than a nas I don't know. If it's like the Serve, it will need a co-ax connection to a DAC in order to play CDs. 

I think the OP is considering an NDS, so he can jump straight in and stream on his network. 

Yes I know, I was just explaining how the Serve, and maybe the Core, play CDs. 

Derek, if you fancy a trip down to the seaside let me know and I can explain what I know. It would be good to see you. 

Hi Nigel

Yes please are you on your old email on BTinternet?

Hungryhalibut posted:

I've heard the Core and it seems fine, though whether it's better sounding than a nas I don't know. If it's like the Serve, it will need a co-ax connection to a DAC in order to play CDs. 

Same connection can stream the ripped music to an external DAC. 

There have as yet been no comparative review of the Core against any other Naim renderers, whether that in the NDS, NDX or ND5XS, so its performance in that role is an unknown quantity, the only observations I have heard to date other than HH's 'it sounds fine' are Phil Harris stating that he can't distinguish any difference between Core and the NDX feeding a DAC (in his system), and a statement attributed to a Naim rep at an exhibition to the effect that Naim's other sources are better.

I was thinking about using the Core or Serve as a upnp source. If you connect the Serve by Ethernet to the network, you need the coax connection when you use it as a CD player. I imagine the Core is the same but didn't ask. 

When I said to the Naim chappy that I thought that the Core was a waste of time and that my nas sounds better than a Serve he didn't comment either way. Very discreet. 

Yes. It never pays to tell a customer they are talking rubbish.

dBpoweramp for CDs. DVD Audio Extractor HD for DVD-A and DVD Audio Extractor HD plus AnyDVD Passkey for BD disks. 

dBpoweramp for tagging where necessary. Can also be used for converting formats.

It's all very easy for me because I have everything set up exactly how I want it. 

Ripping a CD isn't as instant as playing it. It takes about 15 minutes to rip it accurately, check the tags and transfer copies to backup and NAS. Once on the NAS I use either Asset uPnP to play it or Minimserver. The NDS works perfectly well with either or both (and both sound a lot better than using an HDX-SSD as the server).

This is a good opportunity to plan a system and workflow that suits you, or at least can be refined so that it works the way you think. That's the beauty of streaming and getting the files ready to stream, you can do it any way you like.

I think that while the 555 can't be beaten for detail retrieval and technical excellence, the NDS/555PS actually sounds more realistic. But your ears will be the judge of that.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

ChrisSU posted:

I think you'll find the NDS will easily outperform the Core as a digital transport, but I'm sure all this will become apparent when you go to your dealer. 

You are probably right - but do keep an open mind. The new devices have a new architecture which may give benefits over the streamers

Good point, one should never make assumptions like this without testing them with your ears. Mind you, if the Core sounds better  than an NDS for less than the cost of a Unitiserve, perhaps we can expect to be really blown away when the NDS2 arrives with new architecture.....