Advice for moving to streaming

[wilro15]

My current setup involves a Mac Mini connected to a SuperNait via optical - I love the sound and am very happy.

However, I need to move the Mac Mini so it can be used for other things and will no longer be 100% dedicated to music. This means the Mac needs to start streaming instead of having a direct connection. I've installed Twonky and tested with an iOS app called media:connect and it seems to work OK.

Next step is to add streaming to my hifi. I think I have two choices and would welcome feedback:

1) Swap the SuperNait (mark 1) for a UnitiLite. I'm guessing the SN going second hand would get me a UnitiLite brand new. I like Naim but don't need the CD player. Would the step down from SuperNait to UnitiLite be a big difference?

2) Buy a cheap streamer like Cambridge Audio NP30 - they are £200 brand new. I would connect the NP30 to SuperNait via digital optical. This means the SN still does most of the work. Will the swap from Mac Mini to NP30 make any difference in sound quality? I am guessing not as I am still using the SN DAC and integrated amp.

My music is all Apple Lossles or MP3 with a tiny amount of hi-res.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I'm sure that will make a difference in sound quality, mini mac as good as it can be, is no dedicaded streamer/player, so, you can add a NP30 and use it bouth ways, the question is:

will the DAC in the NP30 will better that the one in the Naim...? Or as good?

 

[wilro15]

I think the iOS app is also an important factor as this is what I will use 99% of the time. Naim's nStream is supposed to be good, as it the Cambridge Audio offering now that it has been updated. Its hard to know which I prefer until I use them I guess.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I think the iOS app is also an important factor as this is what I will use 99% of the time. Naim's nStream is supposed to be good, as it the Cambridge Audio offering now that it has been updated. Its hard to know which I prefer until I use them I guess.

i've use the nStream when i had the UnitiQute in home demo, and only have the DS audio app from synology that is quite good and complete, can not say that one is better that the other, could live happy with one or the other...

 

[Overdose]

Just plug in an Airport Express to the Naim and you will have exactly the same functionality.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Just plug in an Airport Express to the Naim and you will have exactly the same functionality.

and does it streams hi-res? The OP has a small amount...

 

[unsleepable]

If you are very happy with the SuperNait, maybe changing the amp is a risky move after the upgrades you have done in the last months.

I second the advice of the Airport Express, particularly if you have your music in iTunes. You can use the remote control application for iOS, and would get the same functionality. No hi-res, though—but have you tested if this really matters to you?

 

[JamesMellor]

If you are very happy with the SuperNait, maybe changing the amp is a risky move after the upgrades you have done in the last months.

I second the advice of the Airport Express, particularly if you have your music in iTunes. You can use the remote control application for iOS, and would get the same functionality. No hi-res, though—but have you tested if this really matters to you?

I agree with everything unsleepable has said esp' if you have an ipad to use as a remote , very nice screen very nice interface and at 80 quid worth a punt before you change your amp.

Funnly enough I'm considering going the opposite way and buying a mac mini to use as a player connected direct to my amp via USB. How do you control your mini ? TV and bluetooth k/board and track pad or a phone/pad ?

James

 

[wilro15]

I use ipad with Apple Remotr app. Works pretty well, a little annoying how it has to reconnect to itunes if you don't touch it for 10 minutes or so.

i've heard that airport express messes about with the data and converts everything to 16/48? So that even CD quality is resampled. Is that true?

 

[wilro15]

Had a quick peek at Airport Express, looks like it receives Airplay? Airplay quality isn't generally that good, that would be a big step down,

 

[unsleepable]

i've heard that airport express messes about with the data and converts everything to 16/48? So that even CD quality is resampled. Is that true?

This is the Apple TV, not the Airport Express. But yes, it's true.

I've tested that and I couldn't hear a difference, though. There are also reviews in some Hi-Fi magazines that reach the same conclusion.

By the way, upsampling DACs also do exactly this, except that they normally upsample the audio to a multiple of 48, such as 192 or 384. And they sell that as a good thing, as we recently discussed in another thread.

 

[unsleepable]

Had a quick peek at Airport Express, looks like it receives Airplay? Airplay quality isn't generally that good, that would be a big step down,

Airplay on the Airport Express allows for playback of CD-resolution audio without compression. I've also compared the sound coming through my Airport Express to my DAC, with the sound directly from my computer to the DAC through USB, and couldn't find any difference at all.

 

[Overdose]

Airplay quality isn't generally that good, that would be a big step down,

This is completely wrong. Firstly, the output can be digital or analogue. If digital, as the OP will use, then the signal will be no different to any other digital source of any manufacturer and at any price, botched designs not applicable.

The analogue output is also very good.

I suspect that those swayed by expensive equipment, cannot square with such good quality at such a modest cost.

The reason it's so 'cheap'? Why should it cost any more frankly, it's quite a simple device, just like most other sensible DACs.

 

[Overdose]

Just plug in an Airport Express to the Naim and you will have exactly the same functionality.

and does it streams hi-res? The OP has a small amount...

I'd down mix it to CD resolution. All the quality, with a fraction of the file size.

 

[Overdose]

If you are very happy with the SuperNait, maybe changing the amp is a risky move after the upgrades you have done in the last months.

I second the advice of the Airport Express, particularly if you have your music in iTunes. You can use the remote control application for iOS, and would get the same functionality. No hi-res, though—but have you tested if this really matters to you?

I agree with everything unsleepable has said esp' if you have an ipad to use as a remote , very nice screen very nice interface and at 80 quid worth a punt before you change your amp.

Funnly enough I'm considering going the opposite way and buying a mac mini to use as a player connected direct to my amp via USB. How do you control your mini ? TV and bluetooth k/board and track pad or a phone/pad ?

James

If you have an iPad, try an App called 'Splashtop'. It's a remote access app that allows you to control the Mac mini. The only issue I have found with it though, is that it will not show full screen video on the mini if using DVD Player, so you would need to use the small Apple remote to stop the movie. Using VLC as a media player however, gives no problems in full screen and retains full functionality of control.

Well worth the cost of the app.

Edit: After launching iTunes, Splashtop is mostly redundant, as I then use iTunes remote or 'Music' to access and play the Mac mini library. Splashtop is only used afterwadrs to shut down the mini.

 

[toyota man]

I was thinking of streeming from my macbook pro but I have been put off by the fack that some of my albums have distortion on the first track and one Red Hot Chilli Peppers has the first 9 tracks that distort I have been through all of the settings and cannot work out why a local deeler has suggested that it could be a softwear issue

 

[Overdose]

I was thinking of streeming from my macbook pro but I have been put off by the fack that some of my albums have distortion on the first track and one Red Hot Chilli Peppers has the first 9 tracks that distort I have been through all of the settings and cannot work out why a local deeler has suggested that it could be a softwear issue

Have you tried re-ripping the tracks?

 

[toyota man]

Yes that was the first thing I tried all the cds play on my system and there is no sighn of any damage on the cds the guy in the apple store suggested that there may be some kind of spoiler on the cd to stop you from ripping it but they all worked ok on my windows Toshiba

 

[unsleepable]

Yes that was the first thing I tried all the cds play on my system and there is no sighn of any damage on the cds the guy in the apple store suggested that there may be some kind of spoiler on the cd to stop you from ripping it but they all worked ok on my windows Toshiba

And when you play locally, there is no distortion? What is the output device of your computer?

 

[toyota man]

the distortion is present right from the get go if I play back through the mac boook speakers its there

 

[JamesMellor]

Am I understanding this right Overdose , turn the mini on and splashtop will act as a screen and k/b for the mini , get past the logon screen and start up itunes then just use the remote app , no need for another screen or hid and it's 5 bucks ?

James

 

[Overdose]

Am I understanding this right Overdose , turn the mini on and splashtop will act as a screen and k/b for the mini , get past the logon screen and start up itunes then just use the remote app , no need for another screen or hid and it's 5 bucks ?

James

That's about the size of it. I'm using it that way, right now in fact.

I connect Mac mini to TV via RGB connector and optical audio to the speakers.

The Mac mini can also act as a server for its library to be utilized by other Airplay devices around the house. For example, You could listen to one thing in the 'music' room and then someone could be streaming other content from the Mac at the same time on an iOS device.

 

[JamesMellor]

So from bootup the pad is everything or do you need the TV screen ? if the pad runs the whole thing , thats excactly what I am looking for.

James

PS the apple guys don't understand

 

[Overdose]

No TV required.

The only caveat, is that you may need a TV for initial setup, but I couldn't say for sure. Prior to this I was using a Macbook to control the mini, again, in headless configuration.

Just had a thought, you could get the tech guys to setup the mini to auto login on start up for you. Then you will not need the TV for sure.

 

[JamesMellor]

Thanks Overdose ,

Now we know what Junes paycheck is buying ,If you dont hear from me before the end of July then you know I figured out how to work it <S>

James

PS if you want to explain how ripping my box sets to a nas works I'll see you sooner