Uniti Streaming - Tidal vs USB v Server mode (USB)

Posted by: Obsydian on 16 August 2018

The ND555 thread started exciting and has gone all over the place, but some interesting points being raised, one raised (sorry forget who) was how the Uniti and ND555/NDX2 can be used with a USB in server mode, as opposed maybe to having a Core or just being tight 

Enjoying a working (listening) at home day and been listening to Tidal (which i swear by as a slight compromise for ease of use and immense catlaogue), so 2hrs in i decided to plug back in a USB (a few GB of ripped 24bit and some DSD64) and compare, then also try the suggested activate (i switch everything off) server mode.

TIDAL vs USB - yes USB is better but i could live with Tidal

TIDAL vs Server Mode (same USB) - Wow so much better or have my ears gone golden.

Be nice if others could try and share thoughts, but why would uNP mode be so much better, recall someone saying that is what Naim work to as the best method, which align to buy a Core and start ripping.

BUT (major one) for those in the Uniti range you can achieve this with a USB 

i don't want to go back to Tidal now  curse you forum  but what about them non Uniti owners thinking 

Posted on: 19 August 2018 by French Rooster
Obsydian posted:
French Rooster posted:

can you see the cover of the albums and the informations in that way OBSYDIAN?   when i put a memory stick in my nds, i have to choose usb , no upnp, on naim app. After i see the files, but without covers and informations.

You have also the innuos zen mini , ripper and nas, twice less expensive vs the core, and black color too.

Hit and miss but I would say that was however they where ripped or downloaded. I'd still prefer to turn off the display.

Just received a DPD notice from Samsung my T5 arrives tomorrow, £160 for 500GB of  V-NAND flash memory. 

Album work I am not fussed, in general it still freezes and the app via UPnP is still as flaky.

Oh MR ROOSTER I am also waiting delivery of more Belden mains cables for the Cisco and my Wireworld block, including a synergistic research blue fuse for the Wireworld which feeds my router, switch, and TV. Will report in a need thread...

a lot of fun i see.  I am curious to know how you will enjoy the samsung ssd.   I tried the sandisk memory stick put in front of the nds, and compared vs the upnp mode with my improved existing network and unitserve/ linear ps.  I tried to here differences, but not easy.  The serve / nds was slightly better vs usb, but very slightly.  

You will tell me if your samsung is running hot, curious too.

 

Posted on: 19 August 2018 by ChrisSU
French Rooster posted:

can you see the cover of the albums and the informations in that way OBSYDIAN?   when i put a memory stick in my nds, i have to choose usb , no upnp, on naim app. After i see the files, but without covers and informations.

Seeing the USB drive files in the UPnP input is a feature of the new streamers. With the old ones like your NDS, you can only use the USB input, and as you say, there is no metadata. This option is still available on the new streamers, but better to use the UPnP input with them. 

Posted on: 19 August 2018 by French Rooster
ChrisSU posted:
French Rooster posted:

can you see the cover of the albums and the informations in that way OBSYDIAN?   when i put a memory stick in my nds, i have to choose usb , no upnp, on naim app. After i see the files, but without covers and informations.

Seeing the USB drive files in the UPnP input is a feature of the new streamers. With the old ones like your NDS, you can only use the USB input, and as you say, there is no metadata. This option is still available on the new streamers, but better to use the UPnP input with them. 

ah ok, thanks Chrissu, all is clear now.  I understand now the upnp mode with usb sticks, not possible with the old streamers.

Posted on: 20 August 2018 by Obsydian

Samsung T5 SSD arrived, yes I did have the format to FAT32.

All I can say wow, hard to describe, yes more clearer details, but overriding thought is the shear flow and ease of how music is presented, it's not a dramatic change but a very clear change. Soundstage positioning again clearer.

I would say to any Atom, Star or Nova owner (without a NAS or thinking of a Core or NAS) a must dabble at least, warning though ... You get hooked.

Posted on: 24 August 2018 by Obsydian

So after a few more Belden power leads and SR Blue fuse, Tidal is ahead easily vs SSD, it took less the 1 track to decide.

SSD unplugged and back to 100% Tidal.

Posted on: 24 August 2018 by Mercky
Obsydian posted:

So after a few more Belden power leads and SR Blue fuse, Tidal is ahead easily vs SSD, it took less the 1 track to decide.

SSD unplugged and back to 100% Tidal.

Whats the source on your ssd? Rips or downloads?

Posted on: 24 August 2018 by Obsydian

Downloads from HD Tracks, 24 bit and a few DSD64.

Posted on: 24 August 2018 by Alley Cat
Obsydian posted:

So after a few more Belden power leads and SR Blue fuse, Tidal is ahead easily vs SSD, it took less the 1 track to decide.

SSD unplugged and back to 100% Tidal.

Really, I'm quite surprised - is this Tidal or the power leads etc???

Posted on: 24 August 2018 by French Rooster
Obsydian posted:

So after a few more Belden power leads and SR Blue fuse, Tidal is ahead easily vs SSD, it took less the 1 track to decide.

SSD unplugged and back to 100% Tidal.

Mr Obsydian, from where did you have this idea?   first time I hear of it.  What is power lead? Fuse?    It was on the power cable, on the router ?  what is your power block ?

Posted on: 24 August 2018 by Obsydian

I added another standard Belden power lead to the Cisco switch and then one SR Blue fuse to another Belden which feeds my Wireworld power strip, which in turn feeds the Switch, Router, Fibre Bridge, etc... not the Nova that is cited away on another socket.

I do feel the Router is as if not more sensitive than the Switch.

I had recently gone off Tidal in favour of SSD via UPnP, but these small simple changes for me have pushed Tidal beyond the UPnP SSD and not in a coloured, tone control adjusted, as in a clear improvement.

Worth a Google of the SR Blue.