What is the use of a cable between the core and the Nova?

fred47 posted:

Hi all,

I hope someone in this very helpfull forum can explain this to me , cause I am confused now.I have a Naim core to go with my Nova. My dealer was very helpfull and installed it for me. The nova is fitted wireless into my router. The core is wired with a cable also into my router. And there is a BNC cable running from the Core to my NOVA. so far so good an on the app he sees two rooms which I can acces.

But I wanted to see what kind of cable my dealer fitted between the Core and my Nova. But when I disconnected this cable the music still plays and I can acces my Nova and Core rooms HUH.=..why is there a cable fitted between the core and the nova if this is ( so it seems) of no use att al?

You have bought a device (the Core) that is both a UPnP server (providing data to UPnP renderers) and a S/PDIF player.

You also have bought a device (the Nova) that is and integrated UPnP renderer and DAC.

When you connect the Core via BNC to the Nova, your music files are converted to S/PDIF streams and sent to the Nova's DAC directly. This way, you bypass sending the music file over the LAN and through UPnP renderer section of the Nova.

When you use the Nova as a streamer (which is what you have done so far) you do not need the BNC connector. When you use the Core as a S/PDIF player, you do not need a LAN connection.

This is strictly speaking not true: if you control your devices with the Naim app, you always need them to be connected to your LAN.

No matter how your data get to the Nova: enjoy your new devices and your music!

Odd that your dealer used a direct SPDIF connection and a network connection, but I would have a listen to both, and see if you prefer one over the other. 

Did your dealer charge you for an SPDIF cable? Naim’s own (DC1) is quite expensive at £300 or so. 

Either way, your Core needs a network connection for metadata, and your Nova needs one for Tidal, iRadio etc. so you still need those, with or without the SPDIF. 

Hi Chris,

My local dealer is a nice guy so there was no charge.On the other side its an el cheapo cable.

Just for my understanding , the core without cable is streaming the files onto the Core harddisk directly (wifi) in the Nova? But I do not know how to listen to my music files only through the bnc connection. The servermode in the app are all disabled.In advance thank you for your kind help.

You have to use the App to play from the  Core to the Nova via Spdif. You cannot play from the Nova in the App from the Core via Spdif. Select the BNC digital connection in the App for Nova, then go to the Core in the App and play your album.

Gentleman,

Now I get it. Thank you very much.

fred47 posted:

Hi Chris,

My local dealer is a nice guy so there was no charge.On the other side its an el cheapo cable.

Just for my understanding , the core without cable is streaming the files onto the Core harddisk directly (wifi) in the Nova? But I do not know how to listen to my music files only through the bnc connection. The servermode in the app are all disabled.In advance thank you for your kind help.

As Gazza says, you need to select the correct digital input on the Nova using the app. Then use the App to control the Core and browse/play music. In this mode, you will not see the other inputs that the Nova has, such as Tidal or iRadio. 

I Understand now. Thanks again. great help.