BaL 10.03.12 Vaughan Williams' Symphony no. 4 in F minor

[rank_and_file]

jayne lee wilson

Thank you for reminding me of the HD stream at 320kbps, which I have not listened to yet.

I have an all Naim system (with the NAT01 tuner!) built up over the years at eye-watering cost. I know the exact sweet spot in a comfortable armchair. I am now sitting on rather a hard chair as I type this, and any music from my computer goes into rubbish computer speakers. So my problem is to get the HD stream to ignore my sound card and line out, get it into a DAC and then into one of my preamplifier slots?

I will certainly make enquiries of the Naim people, but have a feeling that, as audio enthusiasts, they would have tackled this problem before? Having said that the HD stream has not been available that long.

Thanks - will make a few phone calls.

[jayne lee wilson]

Yes that's right, you can get the computer stream to the DAC via Optical, USB(preferably asynchronous) or wirelessly of course.
A Naim Uniti (or other Naim servers/streamers) will probably pick up the R3 HDs stream from your router without a computer, so the best thing is to talk to Naim people to pin down how best to achieve what you want. If you were ever going to listen to downloads through the set-up, bear in mind that many wireless (e.g. Apple Airport) or USB connections don't go above 16-bit, so choose with care...

jayne lee wilson

Thank you for reminding me of the HD stream at 320kbps, which I have not listened to yet.

I have an all Naim system (with the NAT01 tuner!) built up over the years at eye-watering cost. I know the exact sweet spot in a comfortable armchair. I am now sitting on rather a hard chair as I type this, and any music from my computer goes into rubbish computer speakers. So my problem is to get the HD stream to ignore my sound card and line out, get it into a DAC and then into one of my preamplifier slots?

I will certainly make enquiries of the Naim people, but have a feeling that, as audio enthusiasts, they would have tackled this problem before? Having said that the HD stream has not been available that long.

Thanks - will make a few phone calls.

[Beef Oven]

jayne lee wilson

Thank you for reminding me of the HD stream at 320kbps, which I have not listened to yet.

I have an all Naim system (with the NAT01 tuner!) built up over the years at eye-watering cost. I know the exact sweet spot in a comfortable armchair. I am now sitting on rather a hard chair as I type this, and any music from my computer goes into rubbish computer speakers. So my problem is to get the HD stream to ignore my sound card and line out, get it into a DAC and then into one of my preamplifier slots?

I will certainly make enquiries of the Naim people, but have a feeling that, as audio enthusiasts, they would have tackled this problem before? Having said that the HD stream has not been available that long.

Thanks - will make a few phone calls.

Do let us know how you get on. I too have a (13 year old) Naim system and I may do something similar.

[rauschwerk]

I remain bemused at what happens so often on these BaL threads. Hardly anybody seems to listen to the complete broadcasts of the chosen versions! I have done so, and consider it superior to all of the versions I have - Previn, Haitink, RVW. Like the composer, Berglund observes the metronome markings but he was a better conductor and it shows. I would say that there are some passages in the finale which cannot be played with proper ensemble at the prescribed speed. Berglund chooses to play these a bit slower than the main tempo and avoids the melée that the composer gets at these points. I do urge all those who like the composer's approach to hear Berglund before it disappears from the iPlayer.

Silvestri fans will want to know that one of the fill-ups is his Tallis Fantasia recorded in Winchester Cathedral and reckoned by some to be in the same league as Barbirolli in this piece.

[rank_and_file]

Beef Oven

So it's just about run in now!

[Nick Armstrong]

Do let us know how you get on. I too have a (13 year old) Naim system and I may do something similar.

So do I and am equally interested in the outcome....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I remain bemused at what happens so often on these BaL threads. Hardly anybody seems to listen to the complete broadcasts of the chosen versions!

Well, I didn't listen to the "complete broadcast" because I have the recording! Very good it is, too, almost as good as RVW's own and coupled (on my cassette tape - I've had it that long!) with a fine #6: it is a great loss that Berglund wasn't asked/didn't want to record the Third, Fifth, Seventh or Ninth.

I'd not noticed Berglund playing below the marked Tempi in the Finale, but doesn't this goes against what PBP said in the BaL, that Handley was ruled out because he "slackened" in the Finale whereas Berglund doesn't? And RVW's "melee" is a joyful frenzy anyway - that's why it's my favourite recording!

[rauschwerk]

I'd not noticed Berglund playing below the marked Tempi in the Finale, but doesn't this goes against what PBP said in the BaL, that Handley was ruled out because he "slackened" in the Finale whereas Berglund doesn't? And RVW's "melee" is a joyful frenzy anyway - that's why it's my favourite recording!

Perhaps Handley 'slackens' in a different way to Berglund? There's no question that the latter slows slightly for the canons at the start of the development (Fig.9 to Fig. 10 in the score) then speeds up again.

[Alf-Prufrock]

Thanks, JLW

My thanks to Jayne Lee Wilson for her advice. I shall save up the pennies.

Do I understand a squeezebox correctly when I say it stands between a computer and the hi-fi delivering a better signal than the computer sound-card can do? If so I shall need the second computer anyway as well as the squeezebox (my hi-fi is in its own room well way from the computer I have at present.)

Keeping to the topic at the end of my message, I thought the Berglund performance on Monday superb. But I have always liked Berglund's work and take a secret delight in his granite-hewn Sibelius symphonies from Bournemouth.

[jayne lee wilson]

My thanks to Jayne Lee Wilson for her advice. I shall save up the pennies.

Do I understand a squeezebox correctly when I say it stands between a computer and the hi-fi delivering a better signal than the computer sound-card can do? If so I shall need the second computer anyway as well as the squeezebox (my hi-fi is in its own room well way from the computer I have at present.)

Keeping to the topic at the end of my message, I thought the Berglund performance on Monday superb. But I have always liked Berglund's work and take a secret delight in his granite-hewn Sibelius symphonies from Bournemouth.

I LOVE that Sibelius cycle, I have it on the Royal Classics CD issue. The 4th is perhaps unsurpassed and PB is one of the very few conductors not to rush the 6th's finale (11-ish minutes instead of 8 or 9-ish). But we mustn't shout too loud about it or it wouldn't be a secret, right?

Squeezeboxes like most streamers/servers tend to be a wired/wireless pick-up with a DAC in the same box. You can improve some models, if they have digital outputs, by using a separate DAC with them (as your system clutter grows and grows...). Generally you do need a computer to download the Logitech Server software to run the system. I don't use them as I find the Mac (as digital source, bypassing the wretched soundcard)) plus DAC combo (in my case a Cambridge DacMagic) works fine (even for my fussy ears), and I have only 70 or so downloaded albums/part albums and can use the Mac for R3 or Berlin DCH streaming without any other equipment.

Many hifi streamers can work without a computer, but ease of use will then depend on format compatibility, size and legibility of the display, not to mention the front panel/remote layout. Generally it is easier to use a computer to navigate around your choices.

[Suffolkcoastal]

I don't find that Handley slackens off particularly in the finale, he allows the contrasts and contrapuntal textures to sound very clearly and then winds up the Fugal Epilogue admirably. But then I rarely take much notice of what critics and reviewers say, I make up my own mind from the evidence by listening, and if I have a score (which I do in this case) from the score in front of me. Sometimes it turns out we agree, sometimes (as it appears in this case) we completely disagree, but this doesn't sway my opinion in any way I'm glad to say.

[rank_and_file]

Do let us know how you get on. I too have a (13 year old) Naim system and I may do something similar.

Beef Oven and Caliban

Following jayne lee wilsons very informative posts, I visited my Naim dealer yesterday to see what is possible for internet radio and downloads via the Naim route. Good or bad news first?

Good first - they have a number of network players which act as an add on to an existing Naim (or any) system. Essentially a Cat5 ethernet cable to a NAS (hard) drive to a network player, such as an NDX (the middle of the 3 players), which will connect into your preamplifier. The NDX has its own internet radio software to choose stations. Part of the blurb on what the NDX does:
“The NDX is a network audio player with the potential to transform music in the home. It can play UPnP audio streams, internet radio, iPod or iPhone audio, and files stored on USB memory hardware. Three high resolution S/PDIF digital inputs complete its versatility.
NDX is however more than just a versatile network audio player. It embodies Naim's unrivalled digital audio experience and knowhow to provide music reproduction quality equivalent to the best-in-class CDX2 CD player and HDX hard disk player. It makes music with vitality and clarity, rhythm and warmth. NDX defines a new class of high-end audio source equipment and brings to it genuine audiophile performance.”
Much more is explained on the Naim website:
www.naimaudio.com The forum is also interesting, and has a board on Streaming audio.

Bad news now - prices are (entry player) ND5 XS £1,925; NDX £2,995 - did not ask about the NDS (top of the range).
As usual Naim recommend a discrete power supply as well, so add - £2,000 odd for the ND5, £3,195 for the NDX.

The hard drive is anything from £200 to £500 depending on size.

Well, you can buy an awful lot of CDs for that, be much more picky about listening to concerts on Radio 3 and play the CDs instead! Would even leave you with enough money to buy a bottle or two of Ch Lafite Rothschild.

[jayne lee wilson]

So it's Mac plus Dac, then - plus Network Attached Storage as required. Keep it simple, right?

[ucanseetheend]

Rvw 4

Surprised there is no thread of the recent BAL of RVW 4 . The selection was the Royal Phil/ Bergluund, Personally I love Haitinks series with London Phil on EMI , I have now got a liking for the Colin Davis Boston Symphony from 1973, Only on Youtube it seems and in mono of course but recordable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwIXuYmGg30

[PJPJ]

You can see it here:

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?4657-BaL-10-03-12-Vaughan-Williams-Symphony-no-4-in-F-minor