Unitilite love! (and a question)

The simplest way to get started would be to put a UPnP server on your computer such a Minimserver. Connect that and your Uniti to your network with a couple of Ethernet cables, and you're ready to go.

First, if you love what you heard out of an mp3, wait 'til you hear the music from a true lossless file!  As you probably know, good home hi fi equipment can certainly let you hear what's missing once you start playing lossless files.  This will require you to re-rip your cd's and/or purchase new, lossless, versions.  (Long before I had a nice home hi fi I had an iTunes library of lossy music for the car and airplane listening; I still have that library but started totally from scratch to make a lossless library for home. It's well worth it!)

You have two main choices for music sources -- those connected to the uLite over your home network, via the ethernet connection on the uLite, or those connected directly (toslink or the other digital connections on the back of it).  For now, you can use usb sticks or even a usb hard drive or ssd drive.  Some will be recognized by the UnitiLite and some won't; you may need some trial and error.

What kind of Mac do you own? You can experiment with networked music streaming by installing a UPnP music server on your Mac.  Both MinimServer and Asset (from the dbPoweramp people) have versions that run on OS X.  Try that!  Install one of them, point it to your music folder on the Mac, and the Naim App should see it and the uLite and get them talking to each other.  If you like the idea of networked music, I really would buy a nas and do the same thing but on a nas; install Asset or Minimserver on the nas.  It's NOT very complicated and  you'll learn a little as you go. It will not turn you into an IT nerd, believe me.

You can also use your Mac as a player and connect it directly, digitally, to your uLite.  People who do this often install Audirvana on their Mac, as it's a much better player than iTunes and supports more file types.  Depending on what Mac you have, I'm not sure exactly how to best connect it to a uLite.  Others here can help more with that.  (Many people use the usb output of a mac, via a usb to spdif converter, to the spdif input of a Naim player. The uLite has RCA-style spdif inputs; you'll need a usb to rca style spdif converter and I'm not familiar with which one to recommend.)

If you use a networked server, you'll control music playback with the Naim App.  If you directly connect a Mac, you'll have to control the Mac directly (Apple Remote app, etc.)  

Hope this helps!

Setting up a NAS isn't usually all that difficult, and once set up it makes everything simple as it's 'just there' and you don't have to turn your computer on.

One tip is to use a simple network switch (such as a Netgear one) to connect up the NAS, the UL, your computer and your WIFI / Internet Router.  Another tip is to use one of the simple mainstream NAS systems.  Synology has the advantage that it's inbuilt media server is very easy to use (albeit not as flexible as Asset or minim server, but correspondingly easier to configure.

Nick, i got hooked on NAIM after i had a home demo of a UnitiLite myself. I did not know anything about what a NAS was at the time but within two weeks I got the cheapest one i could find (that was a mistake, a paid the price later ... so do get yourself a decent one, I currently use an entry level QNAP with Asset & MinimServer). The steps are:

1. get a NAS or install minimserver on your MacMini

2. transfer your rips to it 

3. use the configuration Huge recommends ( NAS --> switch --> UnitiLite with the switch <-- your router , all --> are ethernet wired connections). Upnp mode on the UnitiLite should detect your NAS asap. 

4. You may need to edit your metadata (tags and album art) as the Upnp view on the UnitiLite will immediately expose gaps in this area. I use mp3tag for that but I have a Windows laptop, there is similar software for your Mac. I found that maintaining the metadata was a both time consuming but also rewording task as it tidies up your library.

5. enjoy!

Thanks so much for those brilliant replies!

Sounds like its not the nightmare i imagined it might be.
I have various usb drives so will try that for now. Definitely investigate a NAS at some stage though.
I have a recent Macbook Pro so will look at the suggested options.

I am intrigued as to how Lossless will sound. I've had a large digital library (mostly mp3's) for ages but only for portable stuff. I'd like to avoid iTunes in the future though as the latest incarnations drive me mad.  Audirvana sounds like a good option.

Might rip a lossless cd now!

the other nickc posted:

I have a recent Macbook Pro ... 

... Audirvana sounds like a good option.

Another option is to connect the Mac and the UnitiLite via an optical cable (headphone jack on the Mac).

Audirvana is wonderful and there is also a remote app.

Jan

Regarding NAS: QNAP and Synology seem to be the most used on this forum. I'm IT guy and considered the setup of the Synology nas extremely boring. Everyone can do that - and it won't turn you in IT nerd.

If you don't have multiple systems which you use to stream to, I would go for the simple solution: use your mac optically into the Unitilite as mentioned by others above. Simple, effective and good.

If you have multiple audio systems, need for a solid backup system, I would go for the NAS.

If you connect optically to the Lite you are bypassing its streamer, which is a large part of the point of it. The Naim app is very nice to use and brings the control of all the functions together. On the day my Qnap arrived it just so happened that another Forum member was visiting, which a bit more IT capable than me, and the nas was up and running with Asset loaded within about 15 minutes. A nas hidden elsewhere in the house where it can be neither seen nor heard is a very nice way to run the system. 

As you bought the Uniti ex-demo, that presumably means that you bought it from a Naim dealer, in which case it is perfectly reasonable to ask them to help you set it up. This means they can assist with network setup, and Naim support are also very good at this. So you shouldn't have to sweat it out trying to figure things out from scratch by yourself.

The reason I suggested putting a server package on your computer is that it uses hardware you already have, so virtually no cost unless you need to buy a network switch, and maybe a Cat5e cable or two. Then if you decide that streaming is for you, I would definitely consider adding a NAS and transferring all your music to that.

It's not a nightmare at all to stream to a Unitilite (or any Naim Streaming product). Install a UPNP server on your Mac (I use Serviio... but there are many to choose from, many of them free), direct the UPNP server to your stored digital music files, and you are off to the races.

Thanks. Sounds like a good first step is to install a UPNP server on my mac.
Might have to think about a wired connection to the Unitilite though. Its not near my router at the moment. Its actually sitting on top of my piano! I'm guessing that wifi would be less than satisfactory solution.

If you set the Uniti up and have problems using WiFi, the best and cheapest solution is a long Ethernet cable. It's understandable that many people are put off doing this by the need for a long, unsightly cable run through the house, but in my view it is well worth it. If you can't do this, there are various workarounds using WiFi devices such as the Airport Express that can be useful.  

I installed an ethernet for someone who was disappointed with wireless ability to stream 24/96 & higher from his NAS.  I used a flat profile Cat-6 from Amazon.  Remarkably neat & tidy & so easy to hide under carpet & tuck around/under skirting boards.  

Gotta say i'm impressed! I'm up and running in 5 minutes!  Just installed Minimserver and the Unitilite recognised my laptop  immediately. Just plays anything from my music library. A good first step. Thanks so much.

the other nickc posted:

Gotta say i'm impressed! I'm up and running in 5 minutes!  Just installed Minimserver and the Unitilite recognised my laptop  immediately. Just plays anything from my music library. A good first step. Thanks so much.

Excellent!  Next step -- get a nas (Synology or QNAP) and you can install Minimserver on it.  You will install hard drive(s) in it, put your music library on it, and can use it to backup other things. (Given that you have a Mac, you can install Time Machine on it and back up your Mac to it.)  

the other nickc posted:

Gotta say i'm impressed! I'm up and running in 5 minutes!  Just installed Minimserver and the Unitilite recognised my laptop  immediately. Just plays anything from my music library. A good first step. Thanks so much.

That may even be the only step you need. There are plenty of benefits to running a NAS, such as no need to start a computer every time you want music, big storage capacity, etc. but as long as you now have music.......