I thought we should have a separate discussion thread on what we have learnt in this last week on the 'propotype' Naim Unitiserve.

These are what we know about it:

1. Prototype music server in a UnitiQute-sized box
2. Built in 1.5TB Hard Disc Drive (HDD)
3. Slot Feed CD drive to rip CDs to the HDD (uses simililar software to HDX)
4. Store and Play 24-Bit/96Khz .wav Files
5. Can be controlled from a Web Browser via computer or iPhone App.
6. Content can be transfered to external NAS.

The unit is expected to be on sale by around June/July. Pricing - not known.

I think the Unitiserve concept is good but they should not include the HDD in the box. HDD is a technology that is fast changing and anything they put in the box will be obsolete by the time they launch the product. Better to build in a WiFi or Network NAS access functionality so that the storage can go in a separate box elsewhere (which is has it seems). Also HDD are noisy and since this box will have to sit next to the rest of the Hi-Fi system, it is better to have the HDD winning away in the computer room somewhere else.

So the Unitiserve should do only the following:

1. Rip
2. Transfer the ripped music to the NAS drive via Wi-Fi or Network conenction
3. Run the software to control the music via a browser interface and iPhone App.
4. Output the digitial signal via SPDIF to an external DAC.

I expect the Powersupply to be built-in in this since there is little to gain from external PS since all activity is 'digital' within the box. But I could be wrong here, maybe a HiCap will bring some sonic benefit and the half-size of the Hicap will help with the stacking.

This is indeed the streamer we have been asking for. Thank very much you for listerning Naim!

ASenna04

I really think they should allow the hard drive to be replaceable (dealer replaceable?). Perhaps with a set list of recommended drives.

quote:

Originally posted by Asenna04:
I think the Unitiserve concept is good but they should not include the HDD in the box.

They are probably aiming at the market that just wants to buy a box that connects to the rest of the system and delivers the result in the same way as a tape deck or cd player - the market that does not want to get involved in setting up wireless networks and separate computers/storage.

That would be me. i can't really be bothered with setting up nas's, messing around with wireless connections.

As always, there's a woeful lack of info as to what this new box from Naim can/cannot or may/may not do.

Why do Naim get this imparting of information so wrong with every single product launch? Does it come as a surprise, each time, that potential customers might want to know what a newly launched product is/may be capable of?

They produce such wonderful electronics that you think they'd want the world, their putative customers, and their envious rivals to know. But apparently not.

Oh well.

Well, we still don't really know much...nor on the HDX-SD....Just a few of the reports from folk who attended Bristol.......1 week on, and nothing from Naim here or on the website etc ......I can only figure Naim have school leavers or work-placements working on the IT and PR desks at present ! (well, more than usual )

quote:

Originally posted by Asenna04:
This is indeed the streamer we have been asking for. Thank very much you for listerning Naim!

Are they ? Is it ? I'm not too sure......It still has the HDDs in there (not even SSD) and we now have a completely different case to that of the (thus far) released DAC - not exactly a 'designed' pair or concept in my eyes....

As you say, there are some good things here, but I think you have it more on the money with your 'amended' wanted spec....

One thing I'm very interested in, and hasn't been mentioned much yet, is the choice of a slot drive and the reasoning behind it (apart from ripping off the aesthetics of the MacMini ! ) - after all the emphasis & importance given to the quality of CD transports over the years (and I've even seen it stated officially it's an important element of the HDX rips) I'll be somewhat fascinated to read the 'new' line on this slot drive.....

Anyway, as ever, I guess we need to know more and have some info first....One thing that, unfortunately, Naim really don't do well......

Steve.

quote:

Originally posted by Asenna04:
I thought we should have a separate discussion thread on what we have learnt in this last week on the 'propotype' Naim Unitiserve.

<...>

So the Unitiserve should do only the following:

1. Rip
2. Transfer the ripped music to the NAS drive via Wi-Fi or Network conenction
3. Run the software to control the music via a browser interface and iPhone App.
4. Output the digitial signal via SPDIF to an external DAC.

Thanks for the summary and very useful post, Asenna04.

I agreed with you on the what the unit should do after I've read it.

But I think this is a very valid point, too:

quote:

Originally posted by zarniwoop:
They are probably aiming at the market that just wants to buy a box that connects to the rest of the system and delivers the result in the same way as a tape deck or cd player - the market that does not want to get involved in setting up wireless networks and separate computers/storage.

As always, the market is large, and different people want different products.

So which product should be developed to grab the biggest market share?
Up to senior management to decide, I suppose...

Ralf

quote:

Originally posted by in_bxl_now:

quote:

Originally posted by Asenna04:
I thought we should have a separate discussion thread on what we have learnt in this last week on the 'propotype' Naim Unitiserve.

<...>

So the Unitiserve should do only the following:

1. Rip
2. Transfer the ripped music to the NAS drive via Wi-Fi or Network conenction
3. Run the software to control the music via a browser interface and iPhone App.
4. Output the digitial signal via SPDIF to an external DAC.

Thanks for the summary and very useful post, Asenna04.

I agreed with you on the what the unit should do after I've read it.

But I think this is a very valid point, too:

quote:

Originally posted by zarniwoop:
They are probably aiming at the market that just wants to buy a box that connects to the rest of the system and delivers the result in the same way as a tape deck or cd player - the market that does not want to get involved in setting up wireless networks and separate computers/storage.

As always, the market is large, and different people want different products.

So which product should be developed to grab the biggest market share?
Up to senior management to decide, I suppose...

Ralf

simple sonos/ripnas/ndac/iphone and you have a top quality convenient system plug and play. no drop outs etc

quote:

Originally posted by Asenna04:


These are what we know about it:

1. Prototype music server in a UnitiQute-sized box
2. Built in 1.5TB Hard Disc Drive (HDD)
3. Slot Feed CD drive to rip CDs to the HDD (uses simililar software to HDX)
4. Store and Play 24-Bit/96Khz .wav Files
5. Can be controlled from a Web Browser via computer or iPhone App.
6. Content can be transfered to external NAS.

So the Unitiserve should do only the following:

1. Rip
2. Transfer the ripped music to the NAS drive via Wi-Fi or Network conenction
3. Run the software to control the music via a browser interface and iPhone App.
4. Output the digitial signal via SPDIF to an external DAC.


ASenna04

Reads a bit like the specs for a Mac Mini being used as a music server..

Stu, maybe they read our plans a while back to hide a Mini in a HiCap box. I think you suggested a flip-down front panel.

Graham, SC et al.

This is not a launch as such, more a "concept preview" for what is to come. Naim were keen to stress that both the Unitiserve and the solid-state drive HDX were both prototype concepts, and as such, I sincerely doubt you'll get more information at this stage. I think that once features, specs and design are cast in stone and the products launched, then there will be information aplenty. And remember, at this stage in development there may well be plenty that Naim don't want competitors to know...

Thanks for the info. This product is very intriguing.

Richard, I shan't fall out with you over this, but it seems a remarkably unprofessional way to "launch" a product. Why not finalise it, build it, have it ready to ship, then launch it properly in a blaze of publicity, and hit the market with a bang?

I'll wager that, as usual, review copies with be with the prints well before the product is available.

Why do Naim insist on launching potentially world-beating products in such a cack-handed way?

And, if you reply, please take off your Naim hat ("great product, still under development, details to be finalised, machining of case still to be determined, blah, blah, blah"), as we've heard this too many times before, and just explain why Naim feel the need to semi-launch an unproduct in this way. We've only just got over the unlaunch of the UnitiQute, and are still waiting to see quite what that's all about!

As said, I think that Naim electronics are world beaters, but their marketing skills are down the pan. Just my opinion, and others will disagree, but I could never have sold my services in that way and have hoped to survive.

Graham

quote:

Originally posted by Richard Dane:
Graham, SC et al.

This is not a launch as such, more a "concept preview" for what is to come. Naim were keen to stress that both the Unitiserve and the solid-state drive HDX were both prototype concepts, and as such, I sincerely doubt you'll get more information at this stage. I think that once features, specs and design are cast in stone and the products launched, then there will be information aplenty. And remember, at this stage in development there may well be plenty that Naim don't want competitors to know...

Richard,

Thanks for the clarification. I guess after all the complaining on this forum of not getting anything from Naim about their future product developments we should not complain when a concept/prototype is revealed.

This is very helpful for us the consumers to make informed decisions on weather to wait for the product from Naim or go with another manufacturers product. We can also give our feedback on what we think about the product and that is fed into any decision on the final specs of the product.

But does this mean that the Unitiserve 'might' not make it to a final product launch and is canned? Can you throw some more insight on the timeline for its availability? Is the June/July timeframe correct?

ASenna04

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
Richard, I shan't fall out with you over this, but it seems a remarkably unprofessional way to "launch" a product. Why not finalise it, build it, have it ready to ship, then launch it properly in a blaze of publicity, and hit the market with a bang?

I'll wager that, as usual, review copies with be with the prints well before the product is available.

Why do Naim insist on launching potentially world-beating products in such a cack-handed way?

And, if you reply, please take off your Naim hat ("great product, still under development, details to be finalised, machining of case still to be determined, blah, blah, blah"), as we've heard this too many times before, and just explain why Naim feel the need to semi-launch an unproduct in this way. We've only just got over the unlaunch of the UnitiQute, and are still waiting to see quite what that's all about!

As said, I think that Naim electronics are world beaters, but their marketing skills are down the pan. Just my opinion, and others will disagree, but I could never have sold my services in that way and have hoped to survive.

Graham

I think this is unfair, loads of industries do concept previews such as the motor industry, computer games industry, military, mobile phones etc.

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
Why not finalise it, build it, have it ready to ship, then launch it properly in a blaze of publicity, and hit the market with a bang?
Graham

Graham,

As Richard stated, this is a prototype. How many concept/prototype cars have you seen? It is perfectly normal strategy to product a concept and reveal it and get invaluable feedback. You can then incorporate that in your final product.

In this particular example, I rather know a little information that has come out about a future 'streamer' that goes with that DAC that Naim is working on. Now I can decide to either wait for it to be finalised and is available or I can get another manufacturers product. If I had not known about this I will not have the choice and might have been disapointed to find out about it a few months after I have bought something that I think is inferior to the Naim product.

So choice and options are better for consumers. Marketing is just about sprinkling and presentation. Its is not substance. I don't buy naim products because of their 'status' value but rather because of their practical audio enjoyment.

ASenna04

I'm disappointed that it has a slot drive, I hate them, I am not convinced that these drives dont mark your cd's. Top loaders are the only sure way to never harm the cd surface and that's why I love the cds family of players. drawer mechs are ok to .

Mario.

quote:

Originally posted by Wazza69:

I think this is unfair, loads of industries do concept previews such as the motor industry, computer games industry, military, mobile phones etc.

Exactly!

ASenna04

quote:

Originally posted by Mario:
I'm disappointed that it has a slot drive, I hate them, I am not convinced that these drives dont mark your cd's. Top loaders are the only sure way to never harm the cd surface and that's why I love the cds family of players. drawer mechs are ok to .

Mario.

An example of good feedback. So don't be surprised if the final product has a top loader .

ASenna04

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
Why do Naim get this imparting of information so wrong with every single product launch? Does it come as a surprise, each time, that potential customers might want to know what a newly launched product is/may be capable of?

Quite ! I've known PR companies loose whole jobs and clients for an awful lot less....

It gets even worse with products that have been pulled....Leaving potential customers without a clue what's happening or where they are going....Try asking a AV related question around these parts at the present time....!

Steve.

Richard -

That's a fair point and totally understandable (although I really didn't realise the HDX-SD was a 'prototype too.....Jeez, just how drawn out does it have to become until the HDX is finally the machine it should have always been....?)

But, as Graham says, please, take off the Naim hat once in a while.....Many others are well aware of this long running and underlying issue with Naim - information release is beyond poor...It's cringing. Do we really have to list all the historical examples here, again...?.....It just seems a repeating trait that never seems to improve..........As I've said a good few times before, it's a real shame....and I know for fact from other forums it's lost Naim customers.

Graham has it spot on - for a company that produces world class product, the PR is awful. But, at the end of day it's Naim's gig. I'm just glad the staff don't work for me.....!

Steve.