Units Core as NAS / source

Posted by: MDFdude on 07 October 2017

I have grudgingly coming to terms that my CD transport sounds better than my digital file player. A fellow member of this forum in my part of the world had prodded me to do a comparison & now I am in the reality that if I want to enjoy the best sound, I need to use my spinner.

 

However, the lazy bum in me is still trying to find an escape back to file based replay. I am now experimenting with streaming using UPNP streaming from a QNAP fanless NAS to my digital front end. Also tried ROON with ROCK. All cannot even beat my old file player.

 

Now, I am wondering if the Uniti Core with some SSD goodness can be the One. Either as a NAS or SPDIf running Naim app or other configuration.

 

Any thoughts ?

Posted on: 08 October 2017 by nbpf
MDFdude posted:

Well,

(A) I have songs ripped using DB poweramp stores in the HDD of the Aurender output via AES/EBU into upsampler of Vivaldi

 

(B) I can play CD or SACD using the transport of Vivaldi into the upsampler of Vivaldi (SACD direct to DAC using dual ASS/EBU)

 

(C) play the same files via NAS with Asset into Vivaldi upsampler

 

(D) use ROON with ROCK pulling files from NAS into Vivaldi upsampler

 

(E) song files on SSD direct input via USB into Vivaldi upsampler

 

(F) exploring Core to become part of the playback chain

 

So far, (B) > (A) & (A) is similar to (C) with possibly slight edge to (A). Both (A) & (C) better than (D). With (D), the top end was a bit rough. I did not like (E) either which I thought would b the best. Sounded mute missing the top end. Now thinking whether (F) can be on par with (B)

 

Any other suggestion for (G) ?

 

No but if you google "S/PDIF Battle basshead" you will find a ranking of SPDIF sources. There are a number of threads on the same subject in the Head-Fi forum. None appears to have systematically compared the SPDIF output of the Core to other SPDIF sources so far. Considering that Naim does not consider the Core to be primarily a player (but rather a server and a ripping station) I would not expect its SPDIF output to be its most outstanding feature. I have opened a thread on the Core (and two popular Raspberry Pi hats) as SPDIF source, please see https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...gione-and-spdif-dacs. Best, nbpf

Posted on: 08 October 2017 by DrPo

in that case I would be content with the magnificent front end you have and use the CD transport for the maximum performance... easy to give advice, ain't it? :-)

Posted on: 08 October 2017 by nbpf
DrPo posted:

Thanks. Perfectly clear. Melco might be an option (some claim it’s 2nd Ethernet “direct” output has the edge...). Also at this level of digital source cables might be playing a role...

And also the UPnP server and the computing platform on which it runs, I am afraid. See https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...24#41551095555372824

Posted on: 08 October 2017 by MDFdude

That would mean getting up from my throne seat to change discs every once in a while. Such hard work �� :-]

Posted on: 09 October 2017 by French Rooster
MDFdude posted:

That would mean getting up from my throne seat to change discs every once in a while. Such hard work �� :-]

the streaming part of the dcs is perhaps not so good. The core will not resolve that.  I would suggest nds or linn ds3, alone or connected to your dac/upsampler/clock.

Posted on: 09 October 2017 by MDFdude

Sigh, I was kind of hoping that I won't have to seek out the NDS.

 

Have to work hard to relax.