i am trying to adjust VTA on each arm for each lp i am listening. Oups, i spent 6 hours but could only listen 30 mn. And not talking of the right lp to choose for each arm!
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That’s because Apple security that’s designed to suppress the value of stolen ipads &phones did its job correctly, and you you were trying to beat it. Good luck with that.
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We had a format conversion with TV when we went from 405 lines to 625 (VHF to UHF). Those with old TVs were eventually forced to by a new TV. As indeed when TV went to digital, your old TV would no longer work so you needed a STB. So that’s three different incompatible formats.
Of the streaming ‘formats’ you mention three of those are Apple’s so they don’t count. The rest have appeared to suit new types of use unless you want to carry a record deck around with you or put it in the car? WAV and FLAC aren’t formats but containers for PCM (pulse code modulation) - that’s been around for a while too!
Records have have four different speeds since their inception eventually standardising on 33 and 45.
And then after all this you buy a streamer anyway. PMSL 
I would hazard a guess that 90% or more of teenagers in this country already use music and video streaming with little or no difficulty. Perhaps not in exactly the same way as you or I, but streaming nonetheless.
I would consider this to constitute ‘mainstream’.
At the same time, I suspect that very few of them will have ever used a turntable, a conventional radio or perhaps even a CD player.
When we had a box that did a specific job that was fine; we now expect devices to be multi-functional. With increased functionality comes complexity and with that comes a greater need for end users to have a little bit more awareness. As soon as there’s an option, you’re moving a decision point to the user. Press Play; sure, but what do you want to play - internet radio, your streaming provider, a ripped CD? Give me a clue.But once you tell me, I’ll make a damn good job of it.
In its simplest form you can plug a streamer into your router and use it as a radio, but there are still decision points to be made, still simple decisions but not as simple as winding a needle down a scale until it lands on your preferred station.
And by and large people are more tech savvy these days so it’s reasonable to make use of that greater knowledge by giving us increased functionality & choice. Not moving on until all the old people have died out isn’t a good way forward.
And nobody cares about formats in the real world. If we do, we know enough to know what we need to know. DSD hasn’t troubled me yet; when it does, I’ll find out about it. If it doesn’t come onto my radar I can safely ignore it.
In 50 years time I’m certainly not going to be wanting to do this or anything at all come to that, so actually I don’t care.
Best
David
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Haven’t we always had this issue?
We don’t have one device capable of playing vinyl, 3 types of tape (reel to reel, 8 track and cassette) and CD. Plus we have FM and DAB.
Whilst we may have multiple formats for streaming most devices will play them all. What happens in the future is unknown but at least the files can be converted without loss, something not possible with the analogue formats.
I think streaming can be very simple. A core (or similar) to rip, just stick the disk in and wait for it to pop out and an integrated streamer/DAC that replaces a CD player. The remote is a tablet and an internet connection opens up the possibility of online streaming services and internet radio.
All this can be setup by a dealer.
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Mmm …Tidal is just not doing it for me. I can’t see me hanging around. It’s just too clunky for me…It’s not slick like Qobuz on a PC.
I find Tidal to be a better, more intuitive interface. Metadata in Tidal is never messed up but I’ve had a few albums in Qobuz that haven’t been correct.
After using it today, it does seem a lot more intuitively better than yesterday. Yesterday, it kept on freezing up and to keep on playing a last selected track without me being able to do anything else apart from closing the app down and then re-booting it again. Maybe it’s something else causing it and I am unfairly blaming Tidal. Running really smooth today with a really good sound quality on albums I am familiar with. Perhaps it was just a glitch?
I’ve had my ND5 XS 2 since early Feb. I did have a few niggles to start with. Mine was down to a bug with the Android app.
Like yourself I’ve had issues with Tidal. Nothing major, just annoying. It would start to play a track and after 30 or 60 seconds it would either go back to the start of the start or jump forward 4 or 5 tracks. It’s not something which happens a lot but it does get on your nerves at time.
There are many, many, many threads about issues with Tidal but from what I could gather 99% of the issues were with older steamers.
Just to touch on another topic you raised. You mentioned about upgrading your amp? Like you I wanted a Naim amp to match the ND5. I had a number of demos trying the Nait 5si and Nait XS. Try as I might I just couldn’t get on with them. My dealer suggested an Exposure amp and I loved straight away. So even though they don’t match visually they are a fantastic pairing sonically. Not knocking the Naim amps you understand, they just didn’t do it for me. So a demo is a must.
As for the ND5 XS 2. I’m loving it. I can’t believe the increase in quality over my last CD player, the Linn Akurate which was no slouch but the ND5 is a massive step on all fronts.
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You sound just like me and I do understand where you’re coming from. Great post.
Thanks!
I’m pleased it’s working for you, Stephen. (Your path fills me with trepidation for when I eventually leave CD).
On the amplifier front, I am an XS guy and loved the NAIT XS. Likewise my friend Massimo with his NAIT XS2. Personally, I couldn’t manage the mismatch with the SN2.
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Thank you Chris, that’s very nice of you. Yes, i too don’t think that I could live with the mismatch unless I was looking to eventually do a gigantic leap into the classic series, full stop (something I know I will not be doing). Anyway, now that i’m eventually up and running, do I regret it? Absolutely not. My poor old perfectly working and very musical 5Si CD player is just sat here, dormant and turned off. Not sure what to do with it, i’m very reluctant to let her go…Just in case!
Sell the CD player, and used the funds to buy a Powerline for your ND5 XS2! 
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A much better thing to do, in my view, is to sell the CD player and the Nait si and put the money from both towards a Nait XS. PowerLines are nice to have, but should come after dedicated mains.
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Well the ND5 XS 2 does indeed already come supplied with a Powerline Lite cable which I think is well up to the job for a XS series system.
Absolutely Nigel, your suggestion sounds to me the best way forward with what I already have. Thanks again.
Powerline Lites are great - I bought mine (all six) based on SQ improvements
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ND5xs2 It cannot be powered from outside