About to buy second hand UnitiQute, any advises?

Make sure it includes at least the Wifi antenna among the spares. Other items it comes with are Naim bananas for the speaker wire, a coax plug for cable assembly (?), and a BNC->RCA adapter. It comes with a paper manual, but that's available in PDF if missing.

There will be a new firmware coming in the not so distant future, so you should be able to get that from a dealer when it is out.

In normal operation it runs about 50 deg. C +/-, so make sure it isn't running significantly hotter

Does the 5 year warranty transfer between owners? If so it would be worth checking that it has been properly registered to give the extra warranty..

I'd want to hear it before parting with any cash - presumably you can't return it if for some reason if it doesn't sound as good as it should (that is the advantage of a trusted dealer)

+1

You guys (girls?) are starting to scare me.  Even though I totally understand your points, in my mind, from what I have been reading, the name Naim means: reliable and quality (built and sound).   Which is why I was more comfortable to buy second hand.  I'm I wrong???

The warranty transfer, that's something I need to look at.  But I might loose that (will check).

For sure I'll hear it before, but the "break in" is not fully completed, so I'm a little concern.  Not sure how it's suppose to sound in that condition.

You bet I would buy new if I could.  But for me it means saving for about 2 years since I will also need budget to buy speakers.  I did check for demo, but none are in sale.  To my knowledge there is only one dealer in my area (Montreal, Canada) .  In my case I will be saving 1000$ considering taxes that I will avoid.  That's a around 30% of the product over here. 

I don't worry so much about buying secondhand, although I am careful about it and use common sense. I bought my NAP250.2 on Audiogon. I paid less than have of what it costs new, and it is in such good shape I would n't have been able to tell it was used. Even an out of warranty repair plus a recap in a few years will be less than buying new or ex-demo from a dealer.

Personally, I think all the hype about dealer support and avoiding private secondhand sales is overrated. Sure, my dealer is great and has provided awesome support over the years, but I won't hesitate to buy used either. My dealer accepts that and is still happy to see me walk through the door. I may be in the market for a 202/HC/NAPSC next month, but I'll be looking at Audiogon for it.

Using the word "hype" is total crap.  Also i find it irresponsible, since we have all had some kind of negative experience buying from the uninformed over the internet. Unless the seller offers a 100% money back guarantee, I would avoid it.  We are talking about thousands of dollars here.  Some insurance is worth a couple of bucks.

A dealer will be able to determine how well the unit is performing.  Does it need a recap?  Has it been modified?  Does it have warranty remaining, whether from Naim or the dealer?  Is it stolen, fake or somehow compromised?  It is nice to hear the "you dont want it" when asking about an old used Olive hicap.  Trust me, your online seller is not going to warn you that the unit is on its last legs.

I reiterate, if the seller is willing to give you a complete and total 100% money back guarantee, maybe that is safe.  I guess then you will only have to confront the potentially nagging worry of wondering if the unit is tip top. 

I bought a 180 that needed a recap the very day it arrived.  It would distort on low frequencies in one channel.  It was of course perfectly cured with a Naim recap, along with other nuances.  My dealer would have told me this before selling it to me, or would have had it serviced prior to selling. If I had bought this from a dealer I would have simply returned it.

I would have paid a few hundred more (maybe) to buy from a dealer but that would have been less expensive than an instant recap.

On the other hand I bought my Arivas from a Naim dealer (albeit across the country), and one arrived with a loose crossover inside the cabinet.  I called the dealer, the units we still under warranty and were picked up by fed ex, sent to Naim, repaired, palleted and sent back.  All at no cost to me. 

You get what you pay for.  There are few exclusions to this tenet.  Dont be cheap, save your money and have piece of mind when you purchase from a dealer.

-Patrick

Whatever. I've had good success buying secondhand, but I don't buy from just anywhere and anyone. I accept the risk, as do many other people. I also buy a lot of my stuff from my dealer (and he barely carries any Naim anyway, just the Uniti). I bought my Qute from my dealer, but I would never have been able to get my NAP from him. When it comes time to get my NAP serviced, my dealer will help. 

I just disagree with statements that one should only buy used Naim gear from dealers. That doesn't work for everyone.

Where did I say that????  I said "I would avoid it".  That said, ALL of my points are VERY valid.

Also, there are PLENTY of Naim dealers out there (and many online) who will happily sell outside of their local area.

-Patrick

I didn't intend an argument. The OP has more than one perspective. They can draw their own conclusions about what's best for them.

Outside my local area is an all day trip, so that just adds even more expense over buying in the used market. I agree the latter is not for everybody, but a lot of people like it. Just look at the traffic on Audiogon.

You can buy online (without driving to) from a dealer.  Just look on Audiogon.  More than one Naim dealer there.

Just because many are dumping their unwanted gear on audiogon means it will be a safe purchase.

-p

Just to be clear. I am well aware of my options. I am also well aware of the risks buying from private sellers, on Audiogon or otherwise. I'm actually pretty capable of making informed and intelligent decisions. I'll buy new or used from a Naim dealer when it suits me to. Nuff said. 

sure... but that doesn't entail that the prudent advice to buy from a dealer if possible is "hype". Also the amount of ads on internet sites doesn't justify the position of throwing caution to the wind. 

It is bad advice.  That, I am well aware of.

Hi,

It should sound good. The UnitiQute is an excellent product.

There is absolutely no reason that it should need a recap - the Qute hasn't been out long enough to be any where near that territory.

If you need any further reassurance you can look up the serial number on the Naim website.

One of the selling points of Naim gear is the healthy second-hand market. So you are doing nothing wrong. If it sounds good to you buy - and enjoy.

By its very nature the Qute can only be two years old - because it didn't exist before then.

Jon

(Hope that helps. As apart from any polemics posted previously.)

Mrox

A caution.

A friend of mine is a Naim dealer. I help out on weekend openings and as a result can step behind the counter from time to time. Today, on their computer  was an announcement from Naim's America importer of the new SuperUniti. I couldn't resist reading. You know the get your order in before the holidays announcement. Lo and behold there was also an announcement of an upcoming upgrade to the Uniti, UnitiQute, and, I believe NDX. The upgrade which is both a board and software brings 24 bit/192 hz UPnP to these devices plus onboard Apple lossless ( I think that's what it said).  There was more but I don't know enough for it to be easily remembered. Availability was not given nor was price. But the upgrade is coming. 

Second hand is still likely a very good deal for all the reasons previously mentioned, especially if these enhancements don't mean anything to you. But if these items are important they will be available but at some, as yet, undetermined time and cost.

Clay

Naim told me about a firmware update coming for my UnitQute in the next few weeks that will add support for ALAC and 24/192 streaming, but nothing was said about any hardware component to upgrade. I have sent a followup email asking for clarification.

Racetripper

I'll be interested to hear the results of your inquiry. Not being at all conversant on streaming I had imagined that the 24/192 and what you're calling ALAC would be on the new board as I imagined they might be hardware driven. I had guessed that the software would correct the UnitiQute's inability to stream Linn hi-def channels and perhaps other issues of which I'm unaware. I had heard a beta of such software three months or so ago and had been awaiting its arrival ever since.

My UnitiQute is my first effort at understanding all of the new technology. I regard it highly but use it only as an IRadio. When I read these threads I realize that I have an intimidating amount of information to learn. I've got to get into iTunes, NAS, FLAC, WAVE and whatever!!!!

Clay...

I mostly use my Qute as an analog pre-amp and am even considering selling it to get a NAC202 instead. I have not used the iRadio feature at all so far, but am using it to occasionally stream digital audio from my Mac. I have ripped some CDs to FLAC, but would like the Qute to just support ALAC so I can rip all my CDs into iTunes (iTunes doesn't support FLAC). That will make things easier that way.

When you are ready to get into streaming, there are plenty of people here to help.

I won't find out anymore about the upgrade before Monday.

Well Thanks to all for the advises.  From now on I will have to live with the consequence of my choice.  Yes, I DID IT!!!!  Yeah!!

Did spend about 1 hrs at the guy place.  Had the chance to do all the proposed check.  And even time to look (but not hear) at his crazy at least 6 feet tall Dunlavy speakers .  A guy who owns that kind of speaker and cables at 2K$,  Don't care much about selling UnitiQuote used for second or third system...

As for update, I'll cross my finger that it will be firmware.  Otherwise I think as a first hifi system, I can live with 24-96, I only own a few 24-192 that I will downscale with DBpoweramp.

But no big party yet... I only own lo-fi speaker for now... that I cannot even plug since it's not banana connectors.  I think I'll go crazy if I don't buy speaker soon!    At least I have headphones!

Thanks again!!!

when buying 2nd hand like that, have little reservation.  Almost as good as buying from a dealer.  no warranty but no biggie.

enjoy,

p

buy some regas or something.  get it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1