Back here from a self imposed absence following a posting faux pas I have a question, maybe several.
I’ve no streaming facility, I genuinely have no idea how it works and as such never been interested but a lad I know has gone all in. No turntable or CD now just a naim streamer(not sure which one it’s been a while since I spoke to him)
He invited me over to have a listen back in november IIRC and I was astonished that he had it connected on a cable to his phone so he could access spotify, whatever that is.
So, is that the usual way to use these . Can they connect over Wi Fi without a phone? Can they connect direct to a router with an ethernet cable and how do you access ‘spotify’ or whatever?
Also, how does a streamers DAC compare with an N Dac and slightly off beam, how would either change(*improve?) the sound of my CD5 which I expect sooner or hopefully later will have to be replaced.
Physical iPhone connection is rarely needed unless the friend might have been trying to play hi-res Apple Music (has Spotify gone hi-res yet? Don’t use it).
The last few iterations of most Naim streamers connect to wi-fi or ethernet - they can be controlled by a smartphone.
You can play stored audio files from a NAS, attached USB stick/drive or from various subscription services including Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz - the app controls what you want to play but the streamer accesses the stream itself from the internet. Chromecast, Apple Airplay 2 and Bluetooth playback are generally also supported.
Ta A_C
I genuinely don’t know what most of that means .
. The idea I had was if I need to get a naim dac to connect to a future CD Transport I may as well go down the streamer route as used Ndac’s are also getting on a bit.
Suppose it’s simply down to how digital data gets to a device.
If your friend has an nDAC he’d need a physical connection to send the digital data from a CD transport or other device which could provide a physical stream.
Instead of physical connections Spotify/Qobuz/Tidal etc send the digital data across a network to be converted by the DAC in a streamer into audio - again if your friend has an nDAC then because it can’t access these internet services itself the iPhone might be used with an adapter to send a digital signal to the nDAC.
NAS - network attached storage - a simple computer in essence without screen/keyboard etc that can present audio/video files and photos to compatible streamers on the local network to play - it can also behave as storage and some run certain applications which can be handy.
Chromecast/Airplay/Bluetooth are simply protocols to send audio from another device generally wirelessly to a compatible device to play.
In simple terms, this is how a streamer usually works.
If you have a Naim streamer, you download the Naim app onto your phone. A Primare streamer would require the Primare app.
You subscribe to a streaming service, such a Spotify or qobuz.
The phone app connects to the streaming service website via WiFi through your router.
You browse the website and decide what you want to listen too.
Your phone app communicates with your Naim streamer and tells the streamer what you want to listen too.
Via WiFi/router.
The streamer communicates with the streaming service website and instructs what music to download.
Similar principle if you want to play stored music on Nas drive.
Simplest way, get an ND5xs2, connect it wirelessly or by ethernet cable to your network, connect it to your amp via DIN and if the CD5 is in the system set the grounding switch on the back to floating. Sign up to either Tidal or Qobuz (my current preference) streaming service, which will cost, or if you’re tight and don’t mind adverts the free version of Spotify. Use the Focal/Naim APP to search and brows your chosen service and stream music from it.
The earlier series, ND5xs was OK for streaming from a local source of ripped music but less adept when it came to streaming services, don’t bother.
There are probably alternatives to the Naim option and also ways to split the various functions but do you wan’t to explore them?
I’d be very tempted in your position to buy a fairly cheap streamer simply to investigate possibilities you might need in the future - you’d probably get something for £100 or much less which you could use to demo streaming services as there are pros and cons.
Bluetooth works in that way, but Chromecast doesn’t. I used to think it did until I started using Chromecast.
Chromecast streams direct from Spotify, qobuz…etc
OK cheers all.
I’ll stick I think, it’s all too complicated for my old head.
Part two.
How, if at all, would an Ndac improve the sound of my CD5. and if I went to a non naim transport would an N dac maintain the ‘naim’ sound?
Do you have Netflix or similar? You pay for a subscription service, use an iPad or phone as remote and send over internet your chosen music.
In addition you can rip CDs to a storage device and access them via the streamer too.
Do you want to stream digital files from a store at home or a store kept out on the internet somewhere, such as Amazon, Qobuz, Spotify etc who are all service file providers that can either sell you a download for your home store, or charge you to play from their internet store.
Your streamer will then play the files. How you control that player is ‘normally’ from an app on your phone or ipad type device. The file can either be played from the store to your controller, and then on to the player, or the control device contacts the file store and tells it to send the file directly to the player.
Dependent on the file provider the file can be a larger higher sound quality file, or a smaller lower sound quality. People will disagree on which file type is required for the best quality.
Summing up
File store, home or internet
Controller, is the device or handed off to a direct connection
File type, high quality or lower quality.
The file can be sent and controlled either by wifi or by a wired connection.
For me the digital file source is an alternative to a cd.
I’m way too lazy to start ripping CD’s and I don’t subscribe to anything except The BBC.
I was weakening but all the talk of ‘files’ etc. makes me cold.
So, Ndacs?
The file is the same as that held on a cd, just more of them on a store somewhere.
For listening to a radio service you don’t need any thing more than a radio streamer, although most will also connect to those other services if required.
If you can access this forum on you phone or PC/Mac then you can stream music easily! Go and get a dealer to show you how or just download the Spotify app on your phone and give it a go - it’s free unless you don’t want adverts.
Give it a go!
I couldn’t even post the in the correct forum so I don’t know about that 
Apols Mods