I just updated my NAC-N 272 to fw 4.9. The NAC-N 272 retrieves music from the Uniti Core over wifi, everything works fine if the file is .WAV, but if a file is .mp3 the NAC-N 272 doesn’t play. If the Uniti is running as a source for a DAC/pre/amp (e.g. cable connected to digital input) the mp3 file plays fine. I never used an mp3 file to play music, so I don’t know if this is also an issue with the older fw or a ‘new’ issue with fw 4.9. Any suggestions?
1 Like
Hi Ermi
Just tried on an MP3 file from my Core to the 272 and it’s working fine. Unfortunately probably a problem at your end. I am not sure what.
J
Any changes to how the music sounds after the update?
I didn’t notice a change.
1 Like
I wouldn’t expect it it to.
Me neither, but you never know…
Some folk believe that network cables affect audio. I’m not one of them.
Okay. But that wasn’t the question here so why mentioning that?
Yes - they do a lot. I was a non believer for years. But this is another discussion I think.
They both relate to to “belief”.
Working on updating the Firmware for NAC-N 272. currently on 4.8 to 4.9.
my laptop runs Ubuntu 24.04.2 now.
(but I already attempted to install Wine on the ubuntu 22.04.5 and use that to talk to the Streamer. I confirmed connection was theoretically good, but the update didn’t load). Ubuntu then failed to boot.
I had a recovery disk, but with hindsight I didn’t try it in all the usb slots. ergo it appeared to fail to boot.
I used a 7 PC, that obviously has not been used for a very long time. but it enabled me to download latest Ubuntu. and Rufus.ie to burn bootable to a USB flash drive.
I have read the documentation for the Naim NAC-N 272 firmware update.
It seems to talk about opening Programs and features and then finding Naim firmware 4.8 listed and to remove. before installing 4.9. I don’t have any prior Naim firmware installations within Programs and features. May I go ahead and install?
.net framework 2.0 requirement, this win7 box has .net framework 4.5.2 so should be good, agreed, as should be backward compatible?
This has led me to consider that the answer could be easier than working to get Ubuntu to work like Windows. connect to the streamer with Windows 7 PC with no network connected. and run the update from there?
I am aware it is theoretically dangerous to use Windows 7 these days. I usually wouldn’t.
I have seen this morning that I could possibly run a virtual machine on the Ubuntu. but I am now somewhat reluctant, even though I could recover again, instead it is more; if doing so it would waste time.
Any thoughts please?
There is no problem using windows 7 without any farting about with Ubuntu. But don’t forget you need two separate connections between your pc and the 272. Firstly you need the USB to mini-USB which works as a serial output from your PC as long as you have the silex driver installed. And secondly both your 272 and the windows 7 pc need ip addresses, which in practice really means just connecting both to your router, because the last part of the update is delivered from the pc to the 272 over the Ethernet connection.
Obviously you don’t need to remove the 4.8 or older versions from your pc if they aren’t there! I think you may have to let the installer install .net 2.0 because the updater isn’t clever enough to understand that a higher version is ok too. But you can always try without and see.
And although you wouldn’t run a windows 7 pc for banking or maybe even for social media these days, I really wouldn’t worry about running the Naim updater which isn’t there for long, handles no data of any interest to anyone and I don’t think your 272 is likely to be a host to anything malicious either.
You probably haven’t got any anti-virus running on your windows 7 pc, but if you have, then you will probably need to disable it or it will likely interfere with the updating process (as I discovered myself).
1 Like
So the people in the thread Unhappy with the new Naim update is just imagining things according to you? Okay…
1 Like
Hi David,
Thanks for your speedy reply. Just what I needed.
To confirm, I have managed to update the streamer.
The win7 PC was running 4GB RAM, the update proceeded reasonably quickly, in my experience. maybe 15 minutes, sorry wasn’t actually timing it.There was a glitch at the very end, when the applet advised failure, after reaching 100%. Update Failed
Incompatible Firmware version
The product rejected this firmware version because it is incompatible.
Please contact Naim Support
The options: Abort or Retry. I went for retry. I clicked it without first shutting down. but whilst I thinking on that. error, next thing the applet came with Succcess. I tested the NAC-N 272 and it does seem good thankfully. I do have a screenshot but can’t see how to attach it. I do wonder if the update timed out first time. and then rechecked and found all good and up to date. hence success this time. perhaps due to available RAM
Only ‘issue’ I have is that Radio Paradise doesn’t seem to be available? Any tips for that please?
Thanks
Only RP Main Mix is in Naims Choice, the other services are in
Location>North America>USA>Brands
1 Like
Not sure that error message was about! Anyway I should assume it’s ok and just enjoy. As Mike says, finding the stations you want is a bit different, but if you can’t find something just come back and ask for help.
1 Like
I can’t and won’t speak for others. Only myself.
You’ve already done that by calling it belief. But that’s okay, everyone can think what they want.
Indeed
You are entitled to ignore theory as it doesn’t prove changes occur in practice, and you may not have herd any changes occurring in your experience of those systems to which you have listened; however, neither of those indicate that the changes do not occur.
The mechanism by which changes in the digital domain affect analogue sound is through noise coupling. It is impossible to completely eliminate noise coupling - it’s a factor in electronics design and layout. Noise can be directly coupled to signal lines, or indirectly coupled through the power supply lines (PSU coupled noise)
Changes to firmware result in changes to code executing in real time, and this can change the location of the code in memory and in the timing of the code execution. These change the pattern of current demand by the digital circuits, and hence change the PSU coupled noise experience by the DAC chip and subsequent analogue circuitry. In addition these changes in timing can also make small changes to the timing of data being supplied to the DAC resulting in changes to the coupling of digital jitter into the analogue signal.
Changes to the digital input cables (S/Pdif or Ethernet) change the way the cable filters the electrical noise conducted into the audio device along with the digital signal. This electrical noise couples to the signal lines and PSU lines affecting both the DAC and the analogue circuits.
For anyone who understand electronics or audio amplifiers, it would be a VERY brave person to boldly assert that these have no effect on the audio signal!
1 Like