It is important that you have adequate space for networking to really get the most out of its potential.įor example, you could put a streamer in your main hi-fi room and situate a NAS drive in your study and then control the streamer with Naim’s dedicated app. The Naim ND5 XS Network Player, currently available at Audio Affair, click on the image for more informationīoth the NAS drive and streamer, although not directly coupled, are connected together by your network as they communicate with each other over your IP (internet protocol).

This is simply the means by how different pieces in the system communicate with each other. This is achieved by a feature called Universal Plug and Play (UPnP, also sometimes known as DNLA). When connected to a network it allows you to access streaming services such as Spotify and Tidal, as well as a NAS drive. One such example of a streamer is the Naim ND5XS, which is currently available at Audio Affair. The streamer acts as a bridge between traditional hi-fi equipment, modern streaming services and NAS drive access. To set up your NAS storage system you will definitely need a NAS drive and a network renderer (also known as a streamer). NAS drives designed for the hi-fi enthusiast will usually combine a NAS drive with a CD ripper. Instead, opt for brands such as Naim or Zone Ripper that aim their NAS drives squarely at the discerning audiophile. Buy a cheap model and you will invariably be disappointed. What does a NAS drive offer the audiophile? Standard NAS drives are quite cheaply available but are not specifically targeted at the audiophile market.

You can rip your CD collection onto a NAS drive too so it also a brilliant space-saving solution.

This is the term for the drive device that allows you to externally store high-resolution music at a quality that exceeds CDs. NAS stands for ‘Network Attached Storage’. Beginners Guide to NAS Storage and Home Networking: Firstly, let’s get to grips with the terms.

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