First time poster here, although I’ve been lurking on and off for a couple of years.
Been into hi-fi for close to 35 years. I’ve only ever had amps, speakers and cd players (my main source of music). Current system is Naim Nait 5si, Marantz CD6005 and B&W 602 S2 (I do have some Buchardt e50 on order for a to myself).
I’ve never had a subscription to a streaming app like Spotify, SoundCloud, tidal or roon etc, so no very little about how it all works because I’ve always liked owning a physical copy of music. Although I do get wind of new music mainly through YouTube algorithms or reviewers recommending something. If it’s grown on me and I want to listen to it on my system for the full sonic experience, I find it hard to get a copy on CD for some albums/songs. A chunk of these songs only stay on streaming services or get pressed on vinyl . So it looks like I need to move with the times .
This is where I’m not sure what I need… I have a number of CDs I keep for 2-3 tracks so would like to burn on to a harddrive? (and get rid of the CDs and free up some space) so I can play it through a streamer or network player?. Is there a streamer with a harddrive? If not one that has a connection so it can play stuff from a harddrive? What actually do I need? I have a budget of up to £1,300. I don’t have/use apple related tech. Ideally I’d walk into the room open the streaming app or YouTube from my phone and play it through this device (streamer?)
Do I need devices from Wiim, eversolo? I’ve looked at the Naim nd5 xs2 streaming player but it appears to have no screen or buttons so I don’t get how that’ll work. The nd5 xs2 has a screen… so I’m confused on what to look for.
I am also thinking of upgrading the amp to the Naim Nait X3 or the sn3 next year if that will change the outcome of any answers.
Thanks in advance.. I’ll try and keep an eye on this post (as I’m not sure how to follow it yet).
Others will no doubt provide more details but most streamers can be controlled via an app on your phone/ipad etc so a screen isn’t necessary. There are plenty of options in your price range without going crazy although the Nd5 Xs2 is probably out of that range. Check out reviews in What Hi Fi etc and you should get a decent idea of what is out there. Wiim and Eversolo, also Cambridge Audio seem to be very well liked.
If you want to rip some of your CDs (or just tracks), I ripped mine using dbPoweramp and just have them on an SSD drive which plugs into the back of my streamer. Nothing fancy but works very well for me as I generally don’t bother with playlists and just listen to albums. Others will point to the use of a NAS drive but that is a little more involved but probably gives more flexibility.
Another option is to upgrade to a streaming amplifier and do both in one step, although that could then be limiting going forward if you want to further upgrade
The Eversolo DMP-A6 would be an ideal solution for you. Mine worked well with my 5si (since upgraded) but I’ve kept the Eversolo. The DMP-A6 allows you to rip CDs directly to it’s built in SSD. (You’ll need to add the drive. I installed 1TB). The Eversolo DAC is also very well regarded. You can control it with the touchscreen or phone app. The build quality is superb. It makes most alternatives in the price range look cheap. Eversolo has a very active online community. It’s not as polite as this one, but few are.
I’m not keen on streaming amplifier. One of the reasons I got into separates was if the cd player broke, or the amp broke I would only need to replace that part. Having a streaming amplifier is over complicating things.
The way I see it is, if I spent X amount of money on an amp all the money has gone in to that component to making it sound good as possible for the budget. Whereas having spent the same amount money on a unit that does 2 or more things, something has to give (we ell that’s the way I see it).
I’ve had a quick Google before replying to you. It immediately appears overly complicated, although I realise it may not be that way. I will however spend some of today reading up on it more.
As you mentioned buying music off bandcamp which is where I’ve steamed some of the artists I’ve listened to. Am I right in thinking it’ll be a file, that I can use on the set up you use as well as other set ups mentioned in the thread? It maybe silly question I know, but I’m 10-15 years behind the times with this technology .
I have a Cambridge Audio CXN 100, I do not use any streaming services. I have a 1TB SD card with music files on plugged into it. I just use the app on my iPhone to select music, if you did not want a screen, the MXN 100, What Hifi have reviews on these models,
You could look at a Bluesound streamer. There are multiple option at different prices: Node Nano, Node, Node Icon. Get a Spotify subscription and use Spotify Lossless controlled from an Android phone or tablet, a Windows laptop or MacOS laptop. You can also rip your CD’s onto a USB drive and play them on the Bluesound.
You would just about get a used ND5XS2 for your budget. Yes, it lacks a built in screen, but the screen on your phone or tablet shows you everything you need to see.
You would need to use something else to rip CDs, but any computer can easily do this well. Then you can either run a UPnP server on it to get the music to the ND5XS2, or you can put it on a USB drive and connect that directly.
Up until about three years ago I was a complete ignoramus about anything to do with streaming and couldn’t really understand a word of what people were talking about. It all sounded far too complex and almost more trouble than it’s worth. Give me a piece of plastic I could slide into a slot or plop on a turntable and I was happy.
However, some wise words and a little prodding from my dealer forced me down the streaming road and I couldn’t be happier. There’s a vast catalogue of new music waiting to be discovered and the quality compared to CD is pretty much the same (if not better).
I’d not even bother with storing music yet. Yes, I ripped all my old CD’s but to be honest I spend far more time listening to new music than listening to old CD’s. I’d save the storing part until you are a little more familiar with how streaming works and the bits you need to get right. Maybe start with something like a Node 2. Both the device and the interface are very simple and easy to use - it’s what I actually started with. Get up and running on something like that and then come on here when you want to ask advice on the next steps. That’s all there is to it!
Hi, long time Naim user and fanboy here. If you can rip your favourite cd tracks on your PC using dbpoweramp or similar, you can save them on your pc or a separate store, usb or other attached drive.
The streamer will then play them via either an inbuilt dac, or an external dac to your amplifier.
To my mind the very best value for money streamer and dac currently available comes from a company that has just collapsed. The Auralic Vega S1 at approx half price around 1000 pounds will provide all the functionality you will need and an outstanding sound quality.
The downside is that the streaming element of any streamer relies on the software to function. If the Vega should fail, there is no one who will fix it with new software. On the other hand, even if it should fail, the dac will continue to function. Just to test this I am running a Node 2i streamer ( available for around 200 pounds on ebay) in to my Vega S1 and its performance is amongst the best I’ve heard.
If you want to just try a streaming solution before spending on hi end kit I would still go with the pre owned Node 2i before looking to upgrade.
I am now where you were 3 years ago and plus 4 or 5 years. Yes it’s overwhelming.
I have thought about seeing a dealer but I’m a minimum 45 minute journey away and the last time I went it was closed although the website said it was open. 20 years ago I had 3 within a 10 minute walk (oh how I miss the 90’s). Which is the reason I thought I’d come and ask on the forum.
I think your advice is sound in the fact I should start with something a little more basic and forget burning CDs for the meantime till I find my feet. I’ll have a look I to this node 2 (it’s been mentioned before in this thread so could be an obvious choice).
I have had Auralic kit for a good few years and nothing has failed. I also don’t know of any other streamer that has had a software failure. It just seemed right to state the slight possibility though. I have such faith in the integrity of the kit that I have taken advantage of the drop in prices and bought new kit and am about to buy two more pieces. It is a risk, but I believe the risk is minimal.
The Node products are excellent value for money imo, but they can be improved by connecting them to a much better dac.
to myself).
. So it looks like I need to move with the times 
.