Which streaming method is best

Not 3 or 6 (lossy compressed audio data).

If via the analogue output then not 5.

4  is only supported by the new Unitis, so unknown at present

Others it probably depends on the particular equipment concerned.

Agree with Huge but would add another answer as none of the above,  none can match the SQ & convenience of Ethernet connected to a UPnP controlled NAS server & the lesser SQ www services such Tidal and all controlled by the Naim app..   USB has the same SQ but control via the Naim remote or front panel is very clunky

Are you talking about web based sources, or your own stored music? If the latter, streaming is generally taken to mean sending music data over an Ethernet network from a UPnP server, which is not on your list, but is considered by many to be better sounding than web streaming from, say, Tidal Lossless.

Many thanks all, should have stated setup, for me it is an Atom, at the moment Tidal via Airplay is the best (or ripped lossless onto USB), but was interested in Chromecast as my mobile in Android.

ChrisSU posted:

Are you talking about web based sources, or your own stored music? If the latter, streaming is generally taken to mean sending music data over an Ethernet network from a UPnP server, which is not on your list, but is considered by many to be better sounding than web streaming from, say, Tidal Lossless.

Streaming of your own stored music also includes where the music store incorporates rendering software outputting a digital music stream to a DAC, such as Uniti Core using SPDIF output, Melco (ditto) Mac Mini/Audirvana, etc.  which avoid the vagaries of streaming across a nerwork, against which in that mode they are usually limited to output to a single directly connected device.

in answer to the original question, USB into streamer would be good IF the streamer can accept and access the files in that way, however depending on the source device the USB output from may be be a rendered digital music stream, which would need to be connected direct to a DAC not a "streamer" unless the latter has a usb input connection to its internal DAC. Depending on the source device, electrical/RF noise superimposed on the output could be a significant challenge to sound quality unless the source has been specifically designed to avoid that, depending on the susceptibility of the DAC.

With Naim standalone DACs i think the nDAC doesn't have a USB input and a converter would be needed - Gustard U12 is good (and some time ago was being tested by RIchard Dane for just such a purpose), having the advantage of simultaneously isolating electrical/rf noise from the source. I think the DAC v1 may have USB input, but I don't know how susceptible to the effects of RF interference it may be.

Obsydian posted:

Many thanks all, should have stated setup, for me it is an Atom, at the moment Tidal via Airplay is the best (or ripped lossless onto USB), but was interested in Chromecast as my mobile in Android.

The Atom, and all Naim streamers, support Tidal natively, you don't need to use Airplay, which I suspect wouldn't sound as good. 

ChrisSU posted:

Obsydian posted:

Many thanks all, should have stated setup, for me it is an Atom, at the moment Tidal via Airplay is the best (or ripped lossless onto USB), but was interested in Chromecast as my mobile in Android.

The Atom, and all Naim streamers, support Tidal natively, you don't need to use Airplay, which I suspect wouldn't sound as good. 

I use Tidal but assumed via the ipad it is Airplay, from my Android it only offers Chromecast.

Obsydian posted:

ChrisSU posted:

Obsydian posted:

Many thanks all, should have stated setup, for me it is an Atom, at the moment Tidal via Airplay is the best (or ripped lossless onto USB), but was interested in Chromecast as my mobile in Android.

The Atom, and all Naim streamers, support Tidal natively, you don't need to use Airplay, which I suspect wouldn't sound as good. 

I use Tidal but assumed via the ipad it is Airplay, from my Android it only offers Chromecast.

If you're selecting the Tidal input on the Naim app, you're not using Airplay - the streamer is taking the Tidal stream from the web, and the app is just a controller.  

Obsydian posted:

Wondering with all the various connection types which is best in terms of sound quality (and i guess stability).

1. USB into Naim  - Plugged directly into streamer;

2. iPad into Naim - Plugged directly into streamer;

3. Spotify to Naim - using Connect

4. AirPlay to Naim - Via the iPad

5. Chromecast to Naim - Via Android

6. Bluetooth

 

None of these. Wired cable is the best option.

USB into Naim DAC or ND should give consistently the best results. But it's quite limited in its functionality (due to capacity constraints).

So streaming from a NAS, via a wired network, is probably the best choice (number 7 on your list of 6 )

Thanks all.

One last question is something a miss for me when using the Naim app and Tidal logged in if I try and play anything Tidal from within the Naim app nothing happens, no matter what I press nothing. From the Tidal app direct it works Airplay or Chromecast.

Does it have to play via Airplay or Chromecast, I thought the whole point of the flaky Naim app is it'  all playable from there direct to the Atom ?

Not sure if I understood the questions (syntax is a bit off...).

Have you enabled Tidal as an input on your streamer?

All approaches have their reasons for existing.  Most of us try them all, eventually, out of curiosity.  All part of the passtime.

Enjoy.

Nick

Obsydian, if this has confused you then that's probably because you asked a closed question on a subject with many functional answers, rather than explaining what you wanted to achieve and any limitations that apply, and then asking how to achieve it.

I was trying to establish the bookends, in hindsight should have stated current setup - but was hoping the thread would or could end up ranking top down regardless of system, so people know how best to squeeze the best from a given system to avoid GIGO.

Example due to the disastrous Naim app (and Nespresso) I had been Air Playing and Chromcasting since day one, but last night after a reset of Atom, ipad and S8 - Tidal and Naim apps, finally the damn Naim app works with Tidal - sounds is much much better. Seems the Naim app confused things all the media was present but hit play and nothing.

Fear the Naim app is becoming an uninstall and reinstall for any updates - will see.

For me (famous last words) I like the convenience of Spotify and Tidal (home only) for the Atom, Android Auto and Samsung S8 - just makes a seamless library wherever I go.

Hello,

I hope it's ok to add a question related to this thread here, in stead of starting af new thread.

I have a ND5 and a NAS i want to connect. Can I simply run an ethernet cable directly from the NAS to the ND5 ? Or should I connect both to the wifi router ?

I'm not sure if the NAS has only one ethernet connection. If so I will probably have to use this to connect the NAS to the router and from there feed the ND5, using wifi or cable. 

One more thing: can anyone share some experience with QNAP HS 251+ ?

Thanks for your replies,

Claus

Claus, I have a ethernet cable running from the router to ND5, another ethernet cable running from the router to the NAS, also have desktop connected via ethernet cable to the router.  I download my music to the NAS via a MAC Desktop, both ripping CD's and downloading Hi Res files that I have downloaded to the PC and then transfer to the NAS.

The naim app on my iPad connects to the wireless router which then brings up the UPnP server on the NAS to allow me to select music to play on the ND5. Not sure how that would work with the ND5 directly connected to the NAS.

Perhaps someone else has knows a method to make it happen.

I run a Synology DS716+II NAS and have no experience with the QNAP. 

Your NAS will almost certainly just have one Ethernet port. You should connect both the NAS and your ND5 to separate Ethernet ports on your router. This should simply just work, as long as you have a media (music) server such as minimserver running on your NAS.

You should also investigate the possibility of placing a network switch between your router and the ND5 if you have any additional devices (such as a Smart TV or Blu-Ray player) that require an Ethernet connection.  

Obsydian posted:

I was trying to establish the bookends, in hindsight should have stated current setup - but was hoping the thread would or could end up ranking top down regardless of system, so people know how best to squeeze the best from a given system to avoid GIGO.

Example due to the disastrous Naim app (and Nespresso) I had been Air Playing and Chromcasting since day one, but last night after a reset of Atom, ipad and S8 - Tidal and Naim apps, finally the damn Naim app works with Tidal - sounds is much much better. Seems the Naim app confused things all the media was present but hit play and nothing.

Fear the Naim app is becoming an uninstall and reinstall for any updates - will see.

For me (famous last words) I like the convenience of Spotify and Tidal (home only) for the Atom, Android Auto and Samsung S8 - just makes a seamless library wherever I go.

Hi Obsydian,

I'm presuming that as per your other posting on the "Atom Review" thread you are no longer having issues with the Naim app?

If you are then please contact us directly at support@naimaudio.com and allow us to work through your problem.

Best

Phil

Thanks for comments, which are much in line with my own thoughts. The reason for considering direct connection from NAS to ND5 is that these boxes will be close to eachother while the router is in the other end of the room. With both cabled to the router I will have to have two 10m ethernet cables running through the room. 

Would it be possible / adviceable to run one cable from router to some kind of switch where I connect both NAS and ND5 on one end and the ethernet cable from the router on the other ?

Claus

Yes, that's a good idea, and better than connecting both to the router itself. 

Claus posted:

Would it be possible / adviceable to run one cable from router to some kind of switch where I connect both NAS and ND5 on one end and the ethernet cable from the router on the other ? 

YES very possible & (IMO) most advisable.  Re 'some kind of switch',  an ethernet switch can be bought at your local electronics store &/or the usual www stores.   Most people seem to go for something like Netgear GS105, or its 'prettier' desktop model such as GS605.  

This is the schematic ......  

Thanks again, I'll go for that setup then.
Nice schematic 

For sound quality on my Uniti2

1. HiRes streaming from NAS
2. Lossless cd rips streaming from NAS
3. CD played from internal player 
4. Lossless Tidalstreams (it's good, but not quite CD)
5. Internet Radio (higher bit rate streams are ok to have the radio on in the back ground while doings something else)
6. Bluetooth (only really used to catch up on gardeners question time on Radio4)
7. DAB (flat, dead sound)
8. Lossy Spotify (awful, don't bother)