Same Naim & Linn IR codes a real pain !

[Geoff P]

Don't throw me off here!

I have Naim 552 into a 500 which has just started hosting an Akurate DS since it sounds great and Naim don't do a network streamer....BUt I have to have a whinge about something so here goes.

I have given it a nice home right under my 552 pre-amp on a Fraim rack but am bugged by the fact that Linn and Naim use the same IR codes for Vol + and - and Mute.

Typical scenario without thinking manually mute the 552. A bit later press play on the ADS and get silence, brief heart attack followed by thought "OK mute is on" so press mute off but now the mute on the ADS comes on because they are out of sync. Damn got to get up ( lazy bum ) and switch mute on 552 to bring them back in sync.

Volume control. Volume moves at 2X since it goes up on both the 552 and the ADS when "VOL +" is pushed. Not long before the settings are getting crazy differentials and the 552 has to be adjusted back manually to get a sensible volume range on both.

The real 'Killer' however is that the Naim pre amp "Balance" control on the remote affects the Channel Balance INSIDE the ADS in ONE direction only, even when moved back and forth by remote. Balance on the ADS has been gradually offsetting in this one direction without me realising it...until...my dim brain finally notices a significant volume drop in one channel on the ADS which has virtually become silent

Result because I didn't realise this was happening assumption that my brand new ADS is disfunctional in one channel. After some head scratching just to be sure I used KONFIG and noticed the value in ADS 'Balance' was odd so decided to restore factory defaults and hey presto all back to normal.

So now I know to only dick with the 552 Balance MANUALLY from now on.

I ssume there is no magic fix other than moving one out of receiver range of the other which ain't going to happen in my setup.

regards
Geoff

[Daria]

There are a few things I'm not getting here. Not an expert of Naim devices but I guess 552 is a preamp is it? If so, why should you use the internal volume control of the ADS? Further of being useless in your case, it also makes the DS sound worse.

By avoiding the internal volume control of ADS you should as well get rid of the (frightening) problem with the balance...

Last, it's okay DS devices can be controlled by a IR device, but the best way to control them is by far to get a wireless control and forget about IR. I know by owning a Naim preamp you wouldn't be able to control your volume by wireless, it would be a fabulous enhancement in how enjoyable your DS would be from the point of view of control though, and it would avoid IR interference still further, although I think you should solve all of your problems by simply disabling the ADS volume control.

Then another thing I don't understand is you stating Naim don't do a network streamer... But I'll avoid commenting on it.

[slacker076]

Use the Linn Konfig programme to switch off remote commands to the DS and disable the internal volume control.

[Geoff P]

(2010-08-05 17:49)slacker076 Wrote:  Use the Linn Konfig programme to switch off remote commands to the DS and disable the internal volume control.

Thanks for the info. I was not aware that the DS IR control functions could be disabled (Not explained at installation ). I will do that.

As for your other comments Daria. Yes the 552 is a pre-amp. I do run the DS using my ipod but of course the 552 has to use IR commends so it was affecting the DS. Now I know I can disable the DS IR I can run without problems.
I realise that Naim have their versions of 'streaming' products but their way of implementation is not attractive to me. Their boxes either require first conversion to SPDIF audio for input and/or include pre- or power amps and noisy hard drives & or CD drives in the total solution which I don't need. I prefer to think the money that went ointo a streamer has all been spent on only the function I need ( ie a DS ).

regards
Geoff

[Daria]

(2010-08-05 18:35)Geoff P Wrote:  I was not aware that the DS IR control functions could be disabled (Not explained at installation ). I will do that.

More importantly as I said Geoff, you can disable the ADS internal volume control, so that the Akurate will be a rightful source-only. Then you will not need to disable IR's which can be of use for the occasional track change.

Internal volume control is a digital volume so it's affecting the Akurate's performance depending from the volume level you use.

Thank you for the additional explanations.