Help!

The Core or Melco for top-notch solutions -- or maybe the entry-level Innuos as a more economical solution.

Thanks, should notice a significant improvement over Tidal? With switch? It never ends!

I have used a Core since they were available initially the editing wasn't up to much but firmware and app updates have sorted that so easy to rip CDs and sounds stunning. I use a Netgear switch I think it is a GS108.or something like that does the job.

I would suggest a dealer demo and they should be able to help with your network enquires cabling etc.

The switch is ideal, but it's an optimisation, not essential.

You don't need anything anywhere near as expensive as a Core or a Melco or an Innuos.
For playback all you need is a NAS drive  (such as Synology or QNAP).  To put the music files onto the NAS you can just use a standard PC or Mac.

What's the problem with tidal?

Have you got the tidal hi-fi subscription?

If so ...have you got the settings set for hi fi quality?

I have a similar system to you ..but with different speakers...and find tidal amazing quality even over wifi

Even with Tidal streaming lossless 16/44.1, the flow of data across the internet doesn't have the smoothness or freedom from jitter that can be obtained streaming the same data from a NAS on the local network.

Using a properly optimised system from a NAS on the local network will sound better than Tidal (or any other lossless 16/44.1 internet streaming service).

Agreed

But tidal hi-fi is a perfectly acceptable way of listening...I'm wondering what's wrong with the OPs setup that makes him dissatisfied

Welcome to the forum Strutter;   there is no point in a Core unless you have a load of CD's to rip, even so a DVD drive on a PC/Mac or laptop can just as easily be used for ripping,  & I would argue it's a better solution.    So per Huge's post above,  all you need is a NAS to store downloads & CD rip.   Also keep in mind that your 272 has superb sound quality potential & is not getting the best from Tidal,  there is far better to be had from 24-bit PCM & DSD downloads.

Ethernet cabling is a more reliable solution than long distance wifi.        Using your BT HH ( what HH# is it? ) switch port connections between NAS & 272 is OK,  it can be optised with a pukka network switch,  but although not essential providing its a BT HH4 or later,  it can at least make wiring a lot easier with just a single cable run to the hub.  

Japtimscarlet posted:

But tidal hi-fi is a perfectly acceptable way of listening...I'm wondering what's wrong with the OPs setup that makes him dissatisfied

From the OP...  "though from reading this forum that appears not to be the case".

It appears that  Strutter does not have a PC so ripping to a NAS would be difficult ?

Further to Mikes post above, you don't need expensive Ethernet cables either, in my setup, a simple £6 Cat6 UTP Ethernet patch cable outperformed a couple of 'audiophile' cables costing ten times as much.

Just get a few basic UTP cables (Cat5, Cat5e or Cat6) and try them - you might be surprised.

Pcd posted:

It appears that  Strutter does not have a PC so ripping to a NAS would be difficult ?

True, they haven't said said that they have a PC or Mac; but equally they haven't said said that they don't have a PC or Mac!

He's already bought the expensive ethernet cable so won't want to hear that Huge.

best

David

Strutter posted:

Hello all! New member, first post etc.

Current set up is: 272, XPSDR, 250DR, Dynaudio 1.3Mk2 - so far exclusively used with Tidal.

Recently had to move this set up further from BT HH where wifi only has been used, though am awaiting 15m of audioquest pearl ethernet cable.

I originally bought the 272 in the belief that Tidal would negate the need for cd source as I read the blurb about "cd quality" and above, though from reading this forum that appears not to be the case. 

My question is really, where do I go from here? Upnp with a Core ( I don't have a pc) - install a switch? (had never heard of these until seeing mentioned here)!

Plan further down the line is to swoop for Focal Sopra 2 when funds allow.

Pcd posted:

Strutter posted:

 

...

My question is really, where do I go from here? Upnp with a Core ( I don't have a pc) - install a switch? (had never heard of these until seeing mentioned here)!

...

 

Mac? Laptop?

Or buy one - it's still a LOT cheaper than a Core / Melco / Innuos.
And most people already know how to use one (the difficult bit is learning about tagging and that's the same problem no matter which solution you use).

Thanks to all, a very useful thread. Each time I feel a vague urge towards trying streaming, I read posts like these and go back happily to my CDX2 and Pro-Ject TT. No irony or sarcasm intended.

Max

Just a curiosity: 272/XPSDR/250DR is £11,600. Tidal is essentially Super DAB+. Who would have spent, 30 years ago, the equal of £11,600 for background music?

Except that DAB+ is lossy compression and Tidal can be lossless (i.e. much closer to CD than DAB or MP3, even if not quite there).

(And despite all these replies, streaming really is quite easy if you follow Mike-B's diagram.)

Hi try streaming - I used a WDMyCloud NAS cost about £120 (4TB) connected it via a switch and Cat6 cable. Result brilliant - I ripped all my CD's sound quality is excellent. I understand Qnap/Synology etc are highly recommended NAS drives - but mine works fine....(the latest update tames Twonky).....and I back it up to my pc periodically - simples. Try Roon if you like it .... I understand the right spec of NAS can actually run the Roon Core......... others will advise on this......try it and enjoy...the 272 is an ace streamer.

David Hendon posted:

He's already bought the expensive ethernet cable so won't want to hear that Huge.

    wot !!  AQ Pearl expensive.   In the rarefied air of Naim forum 'expensive'  AQ Pearl doesn't come close  15m of the Pearl CAT6 is around £50,  the CAT7 version is £120, .............   unworthy & bound to make the 272 sound broken (not)    

We can debate tomorrow...

David Hendon posted:

We can debate tomorrow...

After you've ordered the 12m AudioQuest Diamond Ethernet cable at £7,479?

Strutter posted:

Hello all! New member, first post etc.

Current set up is: 272, XPSDR, 250DR, Dynaudio 1.3Mk2 - so far exclusively used with Tidal.

Recently had to move this set up further from BT HH where wifi only has been used, though am awaiting 15m of audioquest pearl ethernet cable.

I originally bought the 272 in the belief that Tidal would negate the need for cd source as I read the blurb about "cd quality" and above, though from reading this forum that appears not to be the case. 

My question is really, where do I go from here? Upnp with a Core ( I don't have a pc) - install a switch? (had never heard of these until seeing mentioned here)!

Plan further down the line is to swoop for Focal Sopra 2 when funds allow.

You need to decide how you want to get your music. If you want to buy CDs and rip them, a Core could make sense. I get nearly all my music as downloads, and if you want to do that you will need a computer of some sort, because you cannot download directly to the Core. If you are to get into downloading you will need to get a grip on handling and editing the metadata, which is key to a well organised collection. It’s not hard, but it’s something you have to do.

In my experience, Tidal sound quality falls short of that from ripped CDs. But if you are happy with the sound quality - and the rather limited range of music on offer - and are willing to accept that you are not hearing anything like the potential of your equipment, then there is nothing wrong with sticking with Tidal. One interesting experiment would be your existing setup with streamed CD rips against your system with Tidal and the Sopra 2. 

Huge posted:

David Hendon posted:

We can debate tomorrow...

After you've ordered the 12m AudioQuest Diamond Ethernet cable at £7,479?

Maybe not that!

Strutter posted:

Thanks, should notice a significant improvement over Tidal? With switch? It never ends!

Dazed and confused by all these replies yet? Welcome!

 If you find that Tidal covers all your needs, and works reliably, I would think carefully about starting to build up a locally stored music collection now. Recently, I have found the sound quality of Tidal on my NDX to be really quite good compared to my findings in the past. A year ago, I would not have offered the same advice, but perhaps things have moved on. Is it as good as streaming from a NAS? Possibly not, but .....?

If you do decide to go for it, especially if you already have a CD collection, I would consider an Innuos Zen Mini. This will give you all the hardware you need to rip, store, edit and play music from ripped CDs and downloads. You would be hard pushed to buy a laptop, ripping software, NAS & hard drive for the £700 it costs. 

For network hardware, you may have to spend a few pounds on a suitable Cat5e cable, and if the switch ports on your router aren’t up to it, maybe £20 on a separate switch. Don’t even think about getting sucked into the black hole of network tweaking until you have a basic LAN up and running. 

Good luck!