Core Values

Interesting! It would be good if you could rip a favourite CD and see whether you have the same view about that....

best

David

Interesting report Chris (so far).  What are you using for an s/pdif lead?

I'm using the Naim DC-1.  

Just got my Synology share to connect.  Time to compare well known music.  

Chris Bell posted:

Testing out the Core this weekend.  This particular unit is loaded up with high-rez LP rips.  I've been mostly interested in comparing the UPNP ethernet vs the BNC direct to the NDS digital 1 input.   It turns out there really is no comparison... the BNC direct was much better.  Need to do more listening but initial feelings are quite good.  

 

just a question : have you upgraded your network with lan isolator or fmc, linear ps....?  because it changes a lot.

Martin Colloms review of the core was just published in hificritic, he uses nds/555 dr, and found the ethernet mode better.  But perhaps it is a question of preference...

For myself i preferred ethernet . I preferred bnc /dc1 before i upgraded my network.  I had the core for 1 week....

If Core's S/PDIF indeed is known by now to lead its UPnP, the question remains whether it beats TP linear supplied Serve UPnP. Whether HDD or SSD.  

Chag -

Chag... posted:

If Core's S/PDIF indeed is known by now to lead its UPnP, the question remains whether it beats TP linear supplied Serve UPnP. Whether HDD or SSD.  

Chag -

My understanding is that MC preferred US linear powered UPnP to Core UPnP. Can anyone confirm?

As the MC's Core review has not appeared on the Naim website, might I be correct?

Maybe I should spend the £17 and find out, but hopefully someone can save me the dosh!

Chag... posted:

If Core's S/PDIF indeed is known by now to lead its UPnP, the question remains whether it beats TP linear supplied Serve UPnP. Whether HDD or SSD.  

Chag -

I am not sure how one can ever possibly get to that conclusion, as it entirely depends on the streamer that is either consuming the UPnP transport transfer or SPDIF Protocol transfer from the Core....

I'm using very low noise linear power supplies on the U-Serve and Synology drive... the switch also has a small linear power supply running it.  

The op should try the iFi power supply on the switch..

MangoMonkey posted:

The op should try the iFi power supply on the switch..

…or try a Cisco 2960  8-port switch (which I found superior to a Netgear GS 105 with an iFi low noise SMPS). About £60 pre-loved so not a great risk if it doesn't work out.

Chag... posted:

If Core's S/PDIF indeed is known by now to lead its UPnP, the question remains whether it beats TP linear supplied Serve UPnP. Whether HDD or SSD.  

Chag -

Martin Colloms found the core upnp better than spdif.  He uses a custom built linear ps on his serve , not tp linear ps( israeli one).  With this linear ps, we don't know the name of this ps, he found that the serve, in upnp, is still a little better than the core in upnp.

He prefers the upnp mode on the serve and on the core.  He uses nds/555dr and seagate hdd on the core.

I wrote some extracts of the review in the topic" core review " , if you, Chag, Nigel , Chris ....are interested.

nigelb posted:

Chag... posted:

If Core's S/PDIF indeed is known by now to lead its UPnP, the question remains whether it beats TP linear supplied Serve UPnP. Whether HDD or SSD.  

Chag -

My understanding is that MC preferred US linear powered UPnP to Core UPnP. Can anyone confirm?

As the MC's Core review has not appeared on the Naim website, might I be correct?

Maybe I should spend the £17 and find out, but hopefully someone can save me the dosh!

yes, i confirm, i had received the magazine.  You can read the topic " core review ", juin topic, i put some extracts from the review.

We don't know which linear ps he uses. The prices of these linear ps vary from 200GBP to more than 1000GBP, the differences are significative.   From my last israeli ps to my uptone js2, the upgrade in sound quality with my serve was real .

My goal (and the owner of this Core) is to eliminate all of the ethernet cables, power supplies and witchcraft by going with a direct connection to the NDS.  It has always bothered me that streaming relies on so many unknowns. It is by far the most "tweaky" source in my hi-fi, having no less than 5 power supplies feeding the process.   It makes my LP-12 look simple by comparison.  

Less has got to me more.  

Chris Bell posted:

My goal (and the owner of this Core) is to eliminate all of the ethernet cables, power supplies and witchcraft by going with a direct connection to the NDS.  It has always bothered me that streaming relies on so many unknowns. It is by far the most "tweaky" source in my hi-fi, having no less than 5 power supplies feeding the process.   It makes my LP-12 look simple by comparison.  

Less has got to me more.  

yes, i understand you and i would like also to have more direct connection, less boxes and cables....But on the other side i read that more and more reviews tend to put ahead ethernet over usb and spdif connection.  Some time ago usb was the best link but is in decrease now. I am not talking only  about naim, core ...etc but in general for streaming audio.

Some brands, like melco, have already put inside their components lan isolation, linear ps and a direct lan connection.  So it eliminates some cables , linear ps and fmc or lan isolation.

I hope it will be generalized.

My network became complicate, with 4 lan cables, 4 dc cables to linear ps, 3 switches ( cisco and 2 fmc) , optical cables from fmc, and acoustic revive lan isolator between router and cisco.

But recently, i just compared to connect directly the nds and serve to the cisco, without the fmc, linear ps and acoustic revive, and the sound quality decreased dramatically, like from cdx2/xps2 to a cd5i.  A big decrease.     

From my inner experience,  the upnp mode is now a major step vs dc1. It is quite night and day!     Don't give up too quickly this mode, you can easily hide all the tweaks for the network.

I would've agreed with the op - however I've got my network up to the point where I'm 100% happy with streaming.

funny - tweaks include putting a audioquest vodka between the Comcast cable modem and the wireless router - and these are removed from the NDS by two switches!!!

I believe the goal of the OP is not only shared by many of us but also by Salisbury. The Core is primarily meant to offer a more integrated and simpler solution, therefore of a greater SQ in principle, for storing and serving for users who don't need network distribution. Is SQ at the rendez-vous? 

Chag -

Chag... posted:

I believe the goal of the OP is not only shared by many of us but also by Salisbury. The Core is primarily meant to offer a more integrated and simpler solution, therefore of a greater SQ in principle, for storing and serving for users who don't need network distribution. Is SQ at the rendez-vous? 

Chag -

I think Naim do certainly intend that it should be the prime source for network distributed music too. You only need to read their description of it on the website. They don't see it primarily as a ripper and hard disc player, but equally as a network server.  I am sure they try to maximise SQ in both modes.

best

David

Chag... posted:

I believe the goal of the OP is not only shared by many of us but also by Salisbury. The Core is primarily meant to offer a more integrated and simpler solution, therefore of a greater SQ in principle, for storing and serving for users who don't need network distribution. Is SQ at the rendez-vous? 

Chag -

i think that if someone doesn't want to have complicated network,  a more simple and integrated system, it is better to add a naim dac or chord dave to the core in spdif.

But buy the nds which has advanced streaming capabilities, for wich we have paid for, and only use the dac inside is a little a waste.

For myself, i would like also to have less boxes and cables.   A solution like the dagostino momentum c stream would be an ideal: integrated high end amp, dac and streamer inside.

David Hendon posted:

Chag... posted:

I believe the goal of the OP is not only shared by many of us but also by Salisbury. The Core is primarily meant to offer a more integrated and simpler solution, therefore of a greater SQ in principle, for storing and serving for users who don't need network distribution. Is SQ at the rendez-vous? 

Chag -

I think Naim do certainly intend that it should be the prime source for network distributed music too. You only need to read their description of it on the website. They don't see it primarily as a ripper and hard disc player, but equally as a network server.  I am sure they try to maximise SQ in both modes.

best

David

agree 100%.   In spdif, it is better to use a naim dac or chord hugo or dave. In upnp, nds.

My preference is the Naim DC-1 cable direct to the NDS.  It is a far more musical experience, with greater resolution. There's an emotional impact to performances not present via ethernet. Oddly I prefer the DC-1 with the label-end on the NDS... technically backwards.  Sadly, the user-interface in this configuration is a total disaster compared to the UPNP experience.  Frankly I'd only use this for serious listening. 

Next experiment will be to replace the Core with my UnitiServe and repeat the comparison.  More soon. 

Isn't using a Naim cable backwards an unauthorised modification?!!

Maybe Richard will ban the thread.....

best

David

nigelb posted:

MangoMonkey posted:

The op should try the iFi power supply on the switch..

…or try a Cisco 2960  8-port switch (which I found superior to a Netgear GS 105 with an iFi low noise SMPS). About £60 pre-loved so not a great risk if it doesn't work out.

The v4 of the netgear 8 port and v5 of the netgear 5port doesn't have capacitors anymore - and is quiter than the previous versions. :-)

Chris Bell posted:

My preference is the Naim DC-1 cable direct to the NDS.  It is a far more musical experience, with greater resolution. There's an emotional impact to performances not present via ethernet. Oddly I prefer the DC-1 with the label-end on the NDS... technically backwards.  Sadly, the user-interface in this configuration is a total disaster compared to the UPNP experience.  Frankly I'd only use this for serious listening. 

Next experiment will be to replace the Core with my UnitiServe and repeat the comparison.  More soon. 

 

of all the tweaks i add to upgrade my network, the fmc or lan isolator before the nds was the most significant: more natural tone colors , more fluency and bigger soundstage.  I don't know if you have tried that.

More witchcraft... it never ends.  Naim could have solved this by incorporating a switch into the Core.  

Chris Bell posted:

My goal (and the owner of this Core) is to eliminate all of the ethernet cables, power supplies and witchcraft by going with a direct connection to the NDS.  

Less has got to me more.  

Melco ?