Who prefers a non-naim streamer and why?

I'm using a iPhone charger - LOL. I did order with an uprated linear power supply but it was a 12v one (meant for their amp board I think).

Roon has IOS, Android, PC and Mac apps so I use those. Really nice interface!

Having entertained a Naim Uniqute 2 for a few months and literally given up on it from sheer frustration with the wi-fi implementation and being distinctly unimpressed with the sound, I moved to an Auralic Altair and I have to say it is a different world in all respects;

I should add that I tried the Unitiqute 2 as a standalone streamer feeding my Copland amp and Proac Tablet Anniversary, with a NAP100 driving the Proacs directly and even with an M-Dac. I thought the sound was flat and two dimensional and really boring. Pease bear in mind Ive used many PC based solutions with JRiver software on a silent PC being the last and moved to the Naim because of personal circumstances due to moving house.

The Naim was unable to hold onto a wi-fi connection sufficiently well to stream standard res files without dropping and while I did eventually hardwire, the Auralic can stream high-res via wi-fi without issue. I had the larger antenna on the Naim BTW....

Usability via the DS Lighting app is superb. I loved the Naim app but on an iPad2 which I had spare and tasked purely for the use, it seemed a little slow and unresponsive. also the streamer dropping its network connection caused all kinds of fun and games with the app....... Again, no such issues with the Auralic solution.

Sound quality is so far removed from the Naim I am flabbergasted. Its more three dimensional, sounds far sweeter and has a verve and energy that was completely missing. I also find myself being able to relax a lot more and listen fir longer periods without issue.

While I do understand that the Uniquite 2 is now a bit "old hat", it is still a good example of recent Naim engineering and Im afraid its put me off buying further Naim products.

Sorry guys but the only bit of kit I still own is a NAC12 and thats sentimentality.

Roon compatibility required for any further purchases from me.

On another note, I've always thought that Linn just abandoned many loyal owners by not supporting older products. At least Naim have remained faithful on that score.

Auralic support Roon.....however Im struggling to see the relevance of spending the money when the Lightning DS app works so well. Also most people only have maybe a NAS with some FLAC's and subscribe to Tidal or Spotify etc. What is the point of Roon unless your media is spread all over the place, and then surely doing some housekeeping would be more beneficial in the long run!

Its also worth remembering that adding Room means a server if some sort and the specs are relatively constraining. 

Best thing I ever did was invest in a decent NAS. I used a Netgear for several years and have just moved to a Synology DS1515+ with 5 x 3tb disks.

Room therefore seems an unnecessary purchase and seems ti be required only if you have a PC or similar running JRiver, some distributed media and a crap control app!

Good chat/thread, I'm considering leaving 272/250DR for another brand and going through the testing at home trial, I have the time at the moment, but the choices are so strong now.

Streamers maybe old news soon, I have Melco N1A and this can feed a DAC into integrated amp into the Sopra 2 I have. Looking at Burmester 101, T+A DAC8 DSD, Exogal Comet+, Auralic Altair DAC, Devialet, Unison Research and so on.

I've had NDS, Dac-V1/NAP100 as second system, 272/250DR now, can't quite get the love going for this 272/250DR combo myself so times they are a changing, yet again. Expensive hobby this :-)

Wardrh posted:

Auralic support Roon.....however Im struggling to see the relevance of spending the money when the Lightning DS app works so well. Also most people only have maybe a NAS with some FLAC's and subscribe to Tidal or Spotify etc. What is the point of Roon unless your media is spread all over the place, and then surely doing some housekeeping would be more beneficial in the long run!

Its also worth remembering that adding Room means a server if some sort and the specs are relatively constraining. 

Best thing I ever did was invest in a decent NAS. I used a Netgear for several years and have just moved to a Synology DS1515+ with 5 x 3tb disks.

Room therefore seems an unnecessary purchase and seems ti be required only if you have a PC or similar running JRiver, some distributed media and a crap control app!

 

Roon is primarily about providing links to other information about the music, crosslinking between related things and suggesting other music it thinks are of interest, while seemlessly integrating your own collection with Tidal. I don't think its strenth and popularity have anything to do with ease of combining multiple local music stores, as most software is equally capable of that. If those features aren't of interest, or not sufficiently so to be worth the cost, and in particular if you don't want to have Tidal thrust at you or if you want other online streaming services, then Roon would indeed seem not to be worthwhile (as was my conclusion). But clearly there are a good few people for whom it seems to hit all the buttons.

Let's be honest - the cost of Roon and it's requirements are relatively inconsequential to anyone buying Naim or equivalent equipment. Of course, one wouldn't spend money on something you don't want or need. I just run it on the computer I use for everything else and I just have my music on a Vortexbox NAS - the same as any other streaming app would access. Naim. From my point of view, it's head and shoulders above its competitors in so many ways. So much more in the pipeline too. 

[@mention:22826037037337414] what does the Melco bring that the 272 didn't? 272 is supposed to be a great streamer (even though not as good as NDS) so I'm surprised to read about the jump for you. Would you care to elaborate? your post got me intrigued...

The Melco as a HDD delivering 24bit files in Direct Mode gave me very clean low floor noise levels, leaving a very clean delivery (zero to little noise) and for me delivers the music perfectly well, so I'm keeping this. I have Minim on the Melco. As a replacement for my SSD NAS, also with Minim, it works really very well and for the ex-demo price paid I'm keeping it.

But now I'm looking for either replacing the 272/250DR or just selling, getting say a cheaper all-in-one (like Atom for example, when they are more in the market) or just a bike or something else.

I hear Melco/Devialet being a good match, maybe a T&A DAC, need to test really for my environment/room/speakers.

I'm not thinking of the Melco being better than the 272, one feeds and one projects/plays onwards I guess, but the 272/250 combo just isn't working for me, maybe it is the rooms I have or something else, but it just isn't doing much, can't explain very deeply, just not working for me, no extra whatever it is.

For me does a really good DAC or if needed DAC/Streamer replace the 272 into the amps chosen (integrated or pre/power combo) the 272 as pre/streamer/DAC is awesome in so many ways, but just not for me right now, tried and its just sitting there not getting proper use at all, so may as well find a more rewarding home to live in :-) Perhaps it is just too much honesty going on, maybe I need some warmth perhaps, dunno..... :-(

Melco very clean low noise floor, for me.