NDS,NDX,272 longevity

They may of course become obsolete but look at the LP12 designed over 40 years ago and still going strong.

I cannot see lossless music files becoming obsolete.  If something better comes along, you will have options, same as now.

You will probably be able to store a library of practically any size on a thumb drive or better, sooner than we think. 

Nick

I can see that I personally would have an issue as I only stream directly from Tidal and don't store any music.

I was streaming in the late 90s but that is already  20 years ago. I suspect ripped files will be with us for a long time.. after all the core WAV  file was created in the 80s and that is 30+ years old already.. UPnP DLNA protocols might change and evolve, but because they are so popular almost certainly some future media software in 30 years time will have a legacy mode to support the current generation of  streamers from Naim and elsewhere.

i guess the area at most risk is the iPad Naim control point... this will probably be unrecognisable in 30 years time... and thirty years is a long time for Naim to keep support going... but they might.

Much of what is used in streaming is already a lot older than many realise... it’s simply not that new anymore... and some of the file formats are as new as CD.

I always buy albums via Qobuz once I listen them more often from sources like Spotify. Once bought, they reside safely on my NAS and PC and backups.

But ...

The existing products can perfectly work as DAC and / or Pre-amp only. They have digital inputs which can be fed by a dedicated streamer.

Personally, I don’t think Tidal will make it, in the long run.  Services will come and go. I would not pin hopes on any of them.

Nice while they last though.

Nick

I think the core functionality, i.e. the ability to play from a UPNP server will continue to work for a long time.  This is where these streamers have an advantage over much more proprietary systems like Sonos or Roon as it uses a universal open standard that should have a longer life.   UPNP is already over 10 years old and is supported on multiple platforms.

The Naim application is proprietary and could become obsolete if Naim ceased to maintain it as at some point it probably wouldn't work with a new version of Android or IOS.  There are alternative control points which work with Naim streamers as fortunately there is a standard here which allows this to happen so this situation should continue.

Popeye may be in more trouble though as streaming services may come and go, or they could update their API which would require a change on the Naim side of things which if no longer supported.

Many of us, myself included bought Naim streamers when all they could do is play from UPNP servers so as long as this continues I will remain happy.

Popeye posted:

Hi all

Those of us using streaming products I can't see in 30 years our products still working and us sitting down and using like we do today unless music is stored on a NAS.

Cheers

Popeye

For me, the answer is rather simple: I am 65, and can't see myself alive in 30 years.

My B&O system is 22 years old, but I still use it.  Aux In from the current Naim system works well.  I admit I do not use the cassette player onboard much.  Still, cool, after all these years.  Fully depreciated, and then some!

Nick

Max_B posted:

Popeye posted:

Hi all

Those of us using streaming products I can't see in 30 years our products still working and us sitting down and using like we do today unless music is stored on a NAS.

Cheers

Popeye

For me, the answer is rather simple: I am 65, and can't see myself alive in 30 years.

Ciao Max 

Why not in 35 years?

Vincenzo

I think Simon hits the nail on the head, it's the control point that would be most questionable in 30 years, but as long as we have our own locally stored files there will always be a way (ie. The remote control for example)

If the control point changes,  meaning both iOS & Android,  why can't Naim software encompass & include whatever the new technology might be.   ??    I'm only posing that as a question in itself,  not disagreeing with the control point premise

There will always be a way to control the legacy Uniti / ND* devices, as long as the devices themselves do not change (i.e., the service descriptions remain the same) and provided that the network protocols remain usable (e.g., UDP multicast isn't blocked on the local network) etc.

That said, the control may not be via a legacy / supported Naim app, but I think we're far too early in the process to guess. At present, the second-generation Naim app works fine on Android (for me, anyway) when controlling an original Uniti from 2009 (almost nine years old), so we're about a third of the way there already, and on a tablet platform that was not natively supported on the product's release.

Internet radio (a sort of static ContentDirectory-as-a-Service) may become an issue as the listings expire (yes, vTuner, I'm looking directly at you!), but it is certainly possible to push-stream into the earliest Uniti products without a problem.

Vincé 2 posted:

Max_B posted:

Popeye posted:

Hi all

Those of us using streaming products I can't see in 30 years our products still working and us sitting down and using like we do today unless music is stored on a NAS.

Cheers

Popeye

For me, the answer is rather simple: I am 65, and can't see myself alive in 30 years.

Ciao Max 

Why not in 35 years?

Vincenzo

Ciao Vincenzo,

I'll move my reply to a thread in the padded cell.

Max

Naim have a history of supporting their products it's part of their appeal. If they follow their usual pattern they will have a stock af parts to keep things going for a while though it won't be endless once the parts become obsolete but are Naim good for another 30 years? We can hope, they have survived the venture capitalists better than some. Take a look at Thiel Audio for what can go wrong once the money men take over. So far Naim have shown every sign of enduring but another 30 years? Who can tell, uncertainty is the only sure thing.

if parts for servicing not an issue and firm ware kept to date (about time for classic update - FLAC on paradise??) i see now reason why

download is what the music industry has moved to, but as Bob mentioned Vinyl is back (IMO it never went away)

i am sure in the future streamers might need to have a something like a DR update, and if that works anything like it does on AMP & PS - great

Ripped files are said to deteriorate over time.

TOBYJUG posted:

Ripped files are said to deteriorate over time.

Noooooooo...

G

GraemeH posted:

TOBYJUG posted:

Ripped files are said to deteriorate over time.

Noooooooo...

Actually bit rot is real ... a modern OS preferably with RAID (something like ZFS or BTRFS) protects against bit rot though.

TOBYJUG posted:

Ripped files are said to deteriorate over time.

Is it April 1st already?

re topic, I think we are getting way ahead of ourselves. What if naim only release one new item, or god forbid, nothing for a year!? Me thinks we have been spoiled with all these new releases. The current range will work for a long time, and if the control software needs ongoing work, then what is to stop a third part developer from taking it up, like Squeezebox?

At least my system will still sound as good as ever whatever happens ????