Superuniti and Unitiserve
Posted by: CSI_Basel on 11 April 2012
First post - so go easy...
Taking the train home now from the dealer. Went to listen to the ND5XS and the nDac. Instead spent most of the time listening to the Superuniti fed via a Unitiserve. I was very impressed with the Superuniti and even more so when I listened to the ND5XS and Nait5 combination. The Super was more involving and dynamic.
So I think I'm now sold on the Superuniti, though I wasn't thinking of changing my Cyrus amplification.
The dealer insisted that a lot of the perceived quality was down to the Unitiserve and how it rips the CDs. But that's a lot to pay for a server.
Was wondering how many on this forum have a Unitiserve and what made them get one?
Did they hear a difference compared with a Nas server?
Also the dealer said prices were going up next week and not 1st of May as I read.
I have bought the Serve, and I am not in the Naim camp, I have Exposure gear.
The Serve is so easy to set up, just connect it to your router and done, it rips cd's in 6 minutes in WAV.
Sound quality: I did notice a difference between FLAC from NAS and WAV form Serve, but it could depend on your system if you will notice that too.
Only problem I had was a noisy harddrive so mine is replaced my another, so buy your serve at a good dealer who will replace it when you have problems.
Hi & welcome to the forum.
I picked up my UnitiServe SSD a couple of weeks ago. Reasons for my purchase:
- I wanted a one box solution for high quality CD ripping & streaming to my Uniti and in the future to SuperUniti in a multi-room system
- An end to minor but highly irritating problems with missing metadata / track ordering following CD rips (Previously ripped via my PC)
- Minimal faffage & ease of use (i.e.Simple set up /Quick CD rips / granular metadata / Not having to take a second degree in networking / computing)
- Future proofing - US can be used as part of a NaimNet system)
- Avoiding a headache when comparing the numerous alternative Hardware & software options
- Most importantly sound quality (Previously streamed from a NAS to my Uniti and while quality was acceptable I noticed a significant difference between CD playback and streaming WAV files from my NAS). After a demo of the UnitiServe I was struck by the improvement in SQ (much cleaner & open than before)
Very happy with my purchase and the improvements in SQ although I'm not sure if this is due to the "Magic" Naim Rips / Streaming or both!
Cue advocates of Vortexbox / MacMini / Ripnas et al!
All the best
Phil
Good evening Mr Fawkes,
I have read several interesting and lengthy threads comparing the rips made using the US vs. MAC / Vortexbox etc and agree that the tests conducted by members of this forum indicate that rips made on the US are not superior when compared to these other solutions i.e. all are bit perfect. (Although I must say all rips made by the US sound absolutely fantastic).
Accepting that magic Naim rips are a myth and assuming that my hearing has not been affected by paying £2K for a US, should I put all the enhancements in sound quality over my old set up (Uniti & NAS) down to the improvements the US provides as a server?
Apologies if I am going over old ground but I am relatively new to this forum
Thanks
P
Guy, could you please send me an email at kcrose@shaw.ca? I am a new person to all this and I'd like to ask you some questions on using a mac for my digital music.
Why by email, we won't bite.
Was the serve connected direct to the superuniti?
The Unitiserve was wireless and was connected wirelessly to both the Superuniti and the ND5XS. For me there was quite a difference between the Super and the nd5xs + Nait5, even though price wise there is not much in it.
The Superuniti was much more involving and had more drive compared to the ND5 + Nait5 combo. Superuniti seems to give the best then for the buck. Only drawback is the upgrade potential is limited..
When I went to the dealer I was thinking more about the Nd5xs because then I could keep my Cyrus amps. Unfortunately it didn't sound as good as I hoped.
We left it with me making a return trip next month (90 min by car) with my own ripped flac tracks and I'll bring along the cd too and the dealer will rip it with the Unitiserve. Then I can make a comparison!
The Unitiserve hast to be ethernet wired, so wireless is not possible, or did you mean without digital interconnect?
Sorry, mymistake. There were so many boxes present, wasn't sure what was wireless and what was wired. The dealer did say the Superuniti and the Nd5xs were streaming.
Did they hear a difference compared with a Nas server?
I have the UnitiServe HDD. Sound quality and musical engagement convinced me - as compared to CDS2 - along with the need for a portable high-quality source that I can carry between our weekday home and our weekend home. I use it in one house connected to the MDAC and in the other connected to the nDAC. My next purchase will be the oDAC.
I also use it when reviewing DACs, as it provides me with a reference-level computer source. I've yet to hear another computer source, or CD transport, that equals it in terms of rhythm and drive.
Compared to a NAS server ? Playback from the UnitiServe HDD is more direct and engaging than playback through the UnitiServe, of a copy of the same files ripped by the UnitiServe and stored on a network NAS. I can consistently identify whether the file being played is on the UnitiServe or the NAS. From the NAS, there is a subtle processed quality, sort of a digital 'glare', that just doesn't sound right and puts me off extended listening. The folks over at HiFi Critic are convinced that different NAS's sound different, but I don't have time or the inclination to experiment. The UnitiServe works very well for me.
Jan