Primare np5

Awaiting delivery of one of these to partner NDS will I still need an Ethernet connection with the nds and the primare ?
Thanks

Primare only for music playback.
I take it the NDS will be acting as a DAC only?

Yeah just not sure wether I still need to Ethernet them both … I have 2 cables so I expect it wouldn’t hurt

Ethernet to the NP5 only.

S/Pdif cable from NP5 to NDS.

I use NP5 with ÂŁ100 ifi power supply and ÂŁ75 optical cable into Ndac.
I’m very pleased with it, no urge to swap it for anything else after 18 months.

There’s a 20 min video on youtube that may be worth looking at. Search “NP5 Prisma Tips and Tricks”.

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Cheers :+1::+1:

Your NDS still needs a network connection if you want to use the Naim app for volume control, input selection or anything else.

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Cheers Chris I wasn’t too sure although I have 2 Ethernet cables so I’m just hook them both up
Thanks

Why would you need this for all services. I guess streaming from Tidal or qobuz, but why change when using internet radio and local streaming if you use that. One of my friends has to add radio to his old userve. I talked to my dealer and supposed he would go for np5, but he said it does not work that well for internet radio so has other suggestions to solve this problem.

Claus

It will improve sound quality for all service.

Does your dealer sell the NP5? The internet radio is excellent.

It’s definitely faster than the new Naim iradio on my QB MK1.
Plus, higher bitrate. Smooth Jazz Global is 320 on NP5, 256 on Naim.

So a streamer costing very little is better than the streamer in the nds costing not a very little at least at launch?
My dealer and yes he sells Primara actually he is overall very happy with the brand has the view on the internet radio in np5.
Claus

Quite few people have added the NP5 to Gen1 Naim streamers. All have reported an uplift in sound quality.

@Ron posted recently.

Low price doesn’t necessarily mean low quality.

The NP5 appears to use the same coax socket that Naim use in the ND555. :scream_cat:

I doubt many dealers would be promoting the NP5, (or any other low cost high quality streaming bridge).
Instead of customers spending a few hundred pounds upgrading Gen1 streamers, they’d prefer them to spend thousands on a new streamer.

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Very happy with my NP5 mk2, mine is connected via a Mark Grant Digital Coax to ND5XS which is then connected via DC1 to an nDAC. The NP5 is powered by a Fidelity Audio linear PSU.
Keeping the ND5XS mainly for Naim App use for volume & source selection. Both are Ethernet connected. Primarily used with roon for Qobuz and ripped or saved files.

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Does the radio work okay?

Mine does with the NP5.

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Hi,

re: Smooth Jazz bitrate.

We updated that based on a different customers comments, so it’s 320kbit now.

Best

Steve

Thanks.

The image I posted shows 100%. It was actually switching from 90% to 100%.

I was listening to a station the other day that kept switching from 70% to 80%.

What does the % figure signify.

Hi @Fabcat

(technical answer alert)

Remember the stream is live so to buffer lots of audio means either:

  1. The server has a buffer (delay line) that can be read quickly at connect time. So live radio broadcast at say 12:00.00 will come out of the server at 12:000.10secs but 10secs worth can be read in .5secs as its no longer live.
  2. Waiting for audio to buffer on the player at “realtime” speeds (1sec listened takes 1second). This can be poor for user experience as time to play is extended.

So on stations that don’t buffer server side, may never reach 100% buffer level.

Quick example:

  • Server has 2seconds of audio buffered. That means it can be read instantly
  • Product will play when it has 5 seconds worth as customer doesn’t want to wait too long to start playback.
  • 100% is considered 6 seconds of audio.

So in reality it will wander around the 80-90% mark.

If however we do the example of the Naim Radio stream :slight_smile:

  • Server has 12seconds of audio buffered. That means 12secs can be read very quickly from the server.
  • Product will play when it has 5 seconds worth.
  • As there is actually 12seconds worth it will have 12secs of audio buffered in the product so will report 100% and will need to drop 6seconds worth before the buffer level shows issues

Overall, buffer more on the server gives a far superior streaming experience, and few stations need super low latency. However, saying all this, typically it only becomes a hard requirement when doing internet radio streaming worldwide where sheer distance latency and traffic congestion can result in lots of random dropouts.

Best

Steve

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Thanks Steve.

I might actually change my name to Fabcat.

I like it. :grin: