As previously explained, my digital source is actually iMac through Toslink connection to nDAC.
I’m using iTunes as interface for local library with AIFF files only.
I’m also using Qobuz application for streaming with the same iMac.
I have made benchmarks between AIFF & FLAC file format in different manner such as:
local USB dongle directly connected to nDAC,
AIFF through iTunes / FLAC through Qobuz
Results are:
AIFF better in any situations
Similarity of results independanlty of support (iMac/USB dongle)
My questions are:
is there any obenefit using one streamer instead of iMac? and especially ND5XS2?
is ther any risk of loss using DC1 cable instead of Toslink? (all my past experience have demonstrated losses using SDPIF digital cable)?
is ND5XS2 able to manage local AIFF library when connecting SSD drive through USB?
what is the SW able to manage local library?
Will Qobuz application be better when used from ND5XS2 than from iMac?
How to explain benefit while considering nDAC is FIFO/reclocking architecture ???
Thanks a lot & sorry for my rookie questions in streaming!
Hi Linden, I cannot answer every question re file management on your local devices but I did wonder if you had tried Audirvana on your mac? It’s available on free trial and when I did run it on my mac mini to Gustard U12 I found it miles better than itunes.
If you get the free trial it will give a sense of what a better source will do for the ndac. If you like what you hear, going to the streamer is about 5-10x better!
Very hard to explain but music just gels instead of sounding mechanical.
The streamer of course is only coax output (no optical).
I cannot address all of your questions, but I have some relevant experience.
At some point I was able to discern that AIFF sounded better than lossy formats, and it is the easiest of the lossless formats to use with Macs.
Adding a Meridian Explorer 1 between the Intel Mac Mini and Naim DAC was better than optical straight out of the Mac via the same Toslink cable.
Audirvana playing local files on a second external USB drive attached to the Mac sounded better to me than iTunes with the same files on the same Mac. Not sure why.
I added the popular BitPerfect extension that made it easier to optimize the Mac for audio playback. It seemed to make a positive difference.
I eventually abandoned the Mac for the NDX-FM plus Synology NAS primarily due to the integration with the rest of my Naim system, and the excellent Naim app.
I do not think the NDX into the Naim DAC sounds any better than the Mac did, after all the tweaks and cares, but I like using the NDX better, and optimizing the NDX was less complicated.
Thank you for your reply,
I have tried Audirvana 8 years ago and the experience was not probative.
I could describe it similar as my comparaison between FLAC & AIFF file format combinating also loss of dynamic. Of course, files used were the same as the ones used with iTunes.
I also made the experience using bitperfect which conducted also (to my opinion) to a regression in comparaison with itunes. If bitperfect is able to adjust automatically sample rate of digital output from iMac the results are:
loss of accuracy (jittering?),
sensation of a more ‘muddy’ restitution
Could you explain “If you like what you hear, going to the streamer is about 5-10x better!”
" 1. Adding a Meridian Explorer 1 between the Mac Mini and Naim DAC was better than optical straight out of the Mac via the same Toslink cable."
I’m very interessing in ! I suppose Explorer is similar as a USB interface.
I have tested SMSL PO100 Pro USB interface without any success (but with Digital RCA connection instead of optical!). I could resume that effect is as increasing difference between AIFF and FLAC restitution: spotted restitution (focus and separation due to loss of microharmonics)
Finaly, you consider Meridian USB interface as your ‘major’ add-on benefit and streamer as a better UI/UX interface? is it correct?
At the time I was testing 10-15 years ago, FLAC, WAV, and AIFF sounded the same to me, but FLAC was not as well supported by iTunes. AIFF worked best across all platforms provided I embedded cover art in each song-file’s metadata using iTunes (even though iTunes itself does not require this to display the cover) AND saved a copy of the image as “folder.jpg” to the folder for each album, also not required by iTunes. I use MinimServer on my NAS to serve these files to my NDX + nDAC/555 now and all the covers show as expected.
The USB Explorer 1 is similar to AudioQuest Firefly. Meridian is focused on audio, and I understand getting the DA converter outside the Mac’s case may be a positive factor. Same function as your more modern SMSL. I am surprised at your disappointment. I usually prefer copper to optical, but did not have the choice with the Meridian. I know to listen to both if given the choice: the isolation optical provides sometimes trumps the extra bandwidth of copper.
I found an analogous significant improvement using a USB headphone amp versus connecting headphones directly to my MacBook Pro. “Total BitHead” it was called. Discontinued long ago. Sounded great powered by USB, and better still with 4 AA batteries option. The amp was necessary for me to clearly hear that Sennheiser HD600 were better than lesser Senns. They sounded too similar without the amp.
It probably goes to show all our experiences vary quite a bit. My mac mini at the time was one of the earlier ones that had optical out and also on a version of the OS that meant Audirvana could highly optimise the audio driver stack and turn off a lot of the macs own drivers. For me it was a very significant step up from itunes.
Of course other variables at play compared to your AIFF files. I was mainly playing FLAC from a Qnap nas and using a login on Qobuz. When the nd5xs2 came on board there was a larger still jump in peformance, hence the comment about it being better than Audirvana.
iMAC miniToslink gave better quality than USB interface with Coax cable to nDAC.
As I can’t experiment SMSL with TOSLINk, I can’t attribute origin of loss (SMSL or Coax)?
I don’t remember version of audirvana
iMac is still operating with Mac OS 10.13.6 & iTunes 12.8.3.1
happy to read “When the nd5xs2 came on board there was a larger still jump in peformance, hence the comment about it being better than Audirvana”
I suppose your comment is relative to nDAC restitution when PCM stream is coming from ND5XS2 through DC1?
DAC with USB input is not my priority.
Priority is to use full range capacity of nDAC which is to my opinion one of the best never designed provided that it is well integrated (that’s my own experience…).
So I’m still looking for better integration and asking for streamer benefit in comparaison with my existing installation.
@fozzybear
is Naim application able to manage files stored on one local SSD disk connected to the ND5XS2?
Or ND5XS2 does require NAS Disk for file management?
Yes, the Server input on an ND5XS2 (and any 2nd gen. Naim streamer except for the Musos) can access a directly attached USB drive. The built in server is a little basic, and perhaps not ideal for managing a large library, but it works, and sound quality is good.
You can also access this server/music library from other UPnP devices on your home network if you turn on server mode.
The app can access but to “manage” someone else would have to answer that . It’s not something I do.
I am not sure if the drive becomes visible on the network like a nas for example …
“UPnP”… term that I don’t want to hear… I’m not a geek… just music lover!
I didn’t find any naim documentation about ND5XS2 funcion, only hardware connections.
is Naim app able to generate a music library based on the files on USB disk?
Well you’ve discounted your existing source via SMSL PO100 Pro, whilst I’ve said on our system iPad via that device is very good.
So the assumption might be your source is the issue (Mac).
What a streamer (ND5XS2) will bring is a device designed for purpose - when you select S/PDIF output the analog output stage closes down. And, as described widely on forum, LVDS decoupling etc. is used to stop noise transmission between various internal components,
So perhaps it’s likely a streamer will sound better than your existing (“general purpose”) source. Only you can decide.
Do you need to go as far as an ND5XS2 cost wise? That’s up to you - see posts from happy users of things like the Lindemann bridge. You don’t have a naim preamp so won’t benefit from system automation, so you could have a streamer from any vendor really.
Well if you send music from a NAS or network storage, including the USB drive in this case, you will be using UPnP whether you like it or not. It generally works with little or no configuration required by the user, and should be discovered automatically by the streamer.
