Since about January of 2024 I have been unable to play DSD files or WAV files above 96 kHZ using the Sense app with a Zen Mk III and my Naim NDS streamer. DSD files play, but have very obvious white noise. I also have a couple of WAV files at 176.4 kHz that give only loud white noise. WAV files up to 96 kHz and FLAC files up to the DAC's maximum of 192 kHz play fine. The problematic files also play fine when using native UPnP and the Focal/Naim app. This is my work around. I hope that this issue can be fixed in a future Sense update, as the interface is so much more user friendly than the Focal/Naim app.
DSD and certain WAV files won't play with Sense app and Naim NDS
- Thread starter SalsaCycle
- Start date
We'll need to do some more investigating around the WAV 176.4 kHz problems; certainly if there are any other Naim owners here who can test, that would be interesting.
Have you tried the two Naim NDS profiles in SenseUPnP?
Have you tried the two Naim NDS profiles in SenseUPnP?
My original post was a brief summary of the problem as of today. Here's the complete story FWIW.
I originally had a Zen Mk II and enthusiastically embraced the Sense App when it was released (was a beta tester). Through various versions I was always able to play DSD files. In July of 2023, I purchased two albums in WAV format from small, audiophile labels. One was at 176.4 kHz, the other at 192 kHz (apologies for the error in my original post, where I said both albums were at 176.4). Both of these gave only loud white noise. I went back and forth with tech support about this and sent a sample track from each album for testing. Sense update 2.5.1 seemed to fix the problem and I was able to enjoy both of these albums and my DSD albums.
I have been diligent in installing Sense updates when they become available. As I first noticed the problems in the original post in early May, I assume that they are related to an update later than 2.5.1. I had been using the NDS/NDX profile; Nuno suggested that I try the NDS v2 profile. To get this to appear in the profile list, I had to reboot the server. At this point, my Zen Mk II decided to stop functioning. I replaced it with a Zen Mk III. I've tried both the NDS/NDX and NDS v2 profiles; however, the problems described in the original post remain.
I originally had a Zen Mk II and enthusiastically embraced the Sense App when it was released (was a beta tester). Through various versions I was always able to play DSD files. In July of 2023, I purchased two albums in WAV format from small, audiophile labels. One was at 176.4 kHz, the other at 192 kHz (apologies for the error in my original post, where I said both albums were at 176.4). Both of these gave only loud white noise. I went back and forth with tech support about this and sent a sample track from each album for testing. Sense update 2.5.1 seemed to fix the problem and I was able to enjoy both of these albums and my DSD albums.
I have been diligent in installing Sense updates when they become available. As I first noticed the problems in the original post in early May, I assume that they are related to an update later than 2.5.1. I had been using the NDS/NDX profile; Nuno suggested that I try the NDS v2 profile. To get this to appear in the profile list, I had to reboot the server. At this point, my Zen Mk II decided to stop functioning. I replaced it with a Zen Mk III. I've tried both the NDS/NDX and NDS v2 profiles; however, the problems described in the original post remain.
I just wanted to put this thread back on the radar to see if any other Naim owners have had this problem. To recap, when using Sense 3.03 and a Zen Mk III with my Naim NDS streamer/DAC, DSD files play with pronounced white noise in the background. I also have a couple of albums in WAV format from Audiophile Society and Octave Records at 192 and 176.4 kHz, respectively, that give only white noise. This occurs with both the NDS/NDX and NDS v2 profiles. All of these recordings play without problem using native UPnP with the Naim/Focal app or from a USB stick plugged directly into the NDS.
Last edited:
Found the obvious solution to the lesser of the two issues I mentioned above, the WAV files with sampling rates of 176.4 and 192 kHz that only gave white noise. I imported the WAV files into the audio editor Audacity (I presume any similar editor would work equally well) and then exported them as level 0 FLAC files (least amount of compression). Problem solved. Now if we could only find a solution to the white noise when playing DSD files.
Out of curiosity with the DSD files, do you have DSF, DFF, or both types of files?