naim Uniti Core
- AAC
- AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is a lossy compression and encoding format for digital audio. Intended to be a successor of the MP3 format, AAC was designed to achieve better sound quality than MP3 at equivalent levels of data compression. AAC’s best known use is as the default audio format of Apple’s iPhone, iPod, and iTunes application, and as the format of all iTunes Store audio. AAC is however also employed by Sony and Nintendo. AAC files are sometimes identified by .m4a or .mp4 file extensions.
- Bit Perfect
- The term bit perfect refers to the error free ripping of digital data stored on CD. A bit perfect rip file will be, bit for bit, identical to the data held on the CD.
- DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
- Hardware items installed on a TCP/IP network have an IP Address through which they are identified by all the other items on the network. DHCP is a set of rules that enable the automatic allocation of addresses as items are connected (or switched on while connected) to the network. UnitiCore is set up by default to use DHCP.
- Firmware1
- Firmware describes control and interface computer programs that are embedded in the electronic hardware of a product.
- FLAC
- FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a file format for audio data compression. Being a lossless format, it removes no information from the audio data, as lossy compression formats such as MP3. FLAC’s primary advantage is a reduction of data storage requirements by up to 50%, it may however result in subjectively less good sound.
- Free DB
FreeDB is the secondary database that UnitiCore interrogates when an unknown CD is inserted in its transport.
- IP Address
- An IP address is a numerical identifier unique to a specific piece of hardware on a TCP/IP network. IP addresses contain four groups of numbers from 0 to 255 separated by dots. 192.168.0.8 is a typical IP address.
- Local
- Local in terms of this manual means non-network connections and associations. For example, a hi-fi system (amplifier and speakers) connected to UnitiCore’s audio outputs, or a touch screen connected to UnitiCore’s USB interface is local. A hi-fi system or a touch screen connected via the NaimNet network is not local.
- Memory Stick
- A memory stick is a small, portable solid-state computer memory element that connects via USB to provide removable extra storage. Memory sticks have replaced floppy disks.
- Network
- A network in terms of this manual is a group of interconnected and communicating servers, computers, or peripheral devices that are able automatically to share and control large volumes of data at high speeds.
- NAS (Network Attached Storage)
- If a CD collection is too large for the internal storage of UnitiCore, an external hard disk can be added to the network to increase the storage available.
- Network Share
- A Network Share is a network attached storage location from which UnitiCore can replay audio. A Network Share may be a NAS hard disk (see above) or a shared folder on a computer.
- Music Store
- A Music Store is a storage location where UnitiCore stores ripped CD data. Normally, UnitiCore’s internal hard disk is its Music Store however Network Shares can be converted to become Music Stores.
- Playlist
- A playlist is a specific group of tracks collected together for a specific purpose; “favourites” perhaps, or “party tracks”. A simple list of tracks queued-up to play (the tracks of an album for instance) may also be referred to as a playlist.
- Ripping
- Ripping is the slang term for extracting and storing the audio data from a CD. UnitiCore is unusual in ripping the audio data repeatedly to minimise errors. There are some copyright and legal issues to consider when ripping CDs.
- Router
- A router is an item of network hardware that controls network traffic. Many home network routers include a broadband modem to connect the network to the internet and many also include a wireless element that enables network hardware with wireless capabilities to connect.
- Server
- Server is a generic term that describes an item of network hardware that stores and provides data to the network.
- Shuffle
- Shuffle is a term used to describe the random playback of tracks.
- S/PDIF
- S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format) is a digital audio interface format commonly used in domestic digital audio equipment.
- TCP/IP
- TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is the communications protocol on which the internet and many other networks are based.
- UPnP
- UPnP™ (Universal Plug and Play) is network connection standard that enables compatible hardware to connect automatically and to simplify the implementation of home networks.
- USB
- USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a computer interface format developed to enable simple connection of computer peripheral devices.
- WAV
- WAV (Waveform Audio Format) is a Microsoft/IBM audio file format for storing and transferring audio on PCs. WAV is a “lossless” file format.