Do you think Naim is going for FPGA too in the next Gen, or do you expect them to stay with the tried and true PWM approach?
Not sure I follow… FPGA is typically a programmable chip device … in the DAC world FPGAs are often used for high speed DSP functions… Naim however use an Analog Devices SHARC processor for their DSP functions…
Willl Naim carry on using AD SHARC processors in their future products?.. I see no reason to change unless they you use their own reconstruction and filtering algorithms… I doubt Naim will do this as that requires a level of specialism that I suspect Naim don’t have.
Oh what i meant is that since the Chord DACs (and i think the new Linn DACs too?) only use FPGA’s and no off the shelf PWM DAC chips like the Burr-Brown’s, perhaps this would be an interesting option for Naim too to retain their own sound and have a lot of flexibility in controlling it…
Ok, but Naim don’t use PWM (Delta Sigma) type DAC chips or at least not in DS mode, they use multi bit converters … and the FPGAs are used for the reconstruction filters and noise shapers with some other manufacturers such as Chord, not the actual converters…
So perhaps your question is will Naim continue to use off the shelf converters as they do now with the Texas Instruments devices such as the PCM1704K, or will they use custom converters… I suspect Naim will continue to use standard off the shelf converters.
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Hi Clare,
Do you know if there are any plans to add Spotify Lossless support to the previous streaming platform?
I’m loving my ND5XS, but concerned about Tidal’s longterm viability with several more popular platforms entering with lossless (Spotify) and hi-res (Amazon, Apple) options.
Thanks 
Nathan
Probably best to email Naim directly if you want a specific response from them.
However Naim have stated they they expect the current Spotify Connect method to support the new codecs and throughput.
Certainly architecturally in the new streamers there is no limitation I am aware of as it has been design to be extendable.
The first gen streamers are unlikely to support any such changes, not least as they are superseded, but there are also throughput/latency limitations and weaknesses that come into play with internet cloud access that can result in excessive unwanted dropouts.
Depends what type of stream Spotify might be pushing down. The older units can certainly pull FLAC from TIDAL, so if it’s technically possible perhaps Naim might invest some effort to get them playing Spotify connect.
Yes - look at my post above - the limitation of the on the older platforms is the susceptibility to latency / throughput issues on cloud streaming at 44.1/16 - which can cause unwanted dropouts at such throughputs - an issue that has plagued many Tidal 44.1/16 FLAC users (though not all) - which is one of the motivations behind the new streaming architecture.
Therefore any investment here may well have less than perfect results for some/many users - and Naim might prefer those customers who make extended use of cloud streaming to upgrade to the current products.
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Indeed where feasible… we shall see how reliable it is if it is done.
I was assisting Naim engineering on a voluntary basis when the old now obsolete streamers were being re optimised by Naim to try and reduce reduce dropouts on Tidal. There is not much leeway with respect to internet latency affects on the TCP transfers of 44.1/16 FLAC on the old architecture.
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I’m really glad I don’t have any drop out issues with Tidal on my setup.
I vaguely recall an old post you made recommending some specific settings for Ubiquiti routers for optimal music streaming. If I have not remembered incorrectly, would you be able to refresh my memory?
I don’t currently have Spotify, but Spotify Connect does show up as an option for me with my ND5XS in the App which is part of why I was curious.
Either way it at least has been a big step up in sound quality from my past option.
Let’s just hope Tidal stays afloat for a few more years …
Hi, I can’t think of anything on a Ubiquiti router that would be relevant… this is more related to the ISP you use and their backhaul network… as well as how busy your internet access is, and the amount of error correction your ISP uses on your local access.
I am sure Tidal will be around for many more years yet…
Qobuz has gone from strength to strength after having being on death’s door several years ago… so I see no reason why Tidal won’t either.
If Spotify then however offers up to un adjusted 192/24 FLAC it will I suspect largely become a price war, or a choice of bundling, say free included family subscriptions or combined music and TV streaming bundle … and perhaps there may be some market consolidation…
I think the entertainment streaming (what used to be called the OnDemand) market is going to evolve interestingly over the coming years … more so I think than the technology which has largely matured which has allowed system/product price points to come right down.
OH YES
It’s an off topic remark, but I can’t resist: so disappointed with Logitech… They made a product that is unusually solidly build -the Harmony One I own for 10 years now- and no proper successor. I should have bought two at the time… Argh.
Bravo for helping Naim and for Naim addressing the previous issues. Nowadays if I had a dropout it would unnerve me like someone trying to sneak up on me from behind. The new streaming platform for me has been rock solid either wired or wireless, hires or cd quality.
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