Unitiqute

Based on preliminary dabblings with the UnitiQute, this may still fit the bill for many:

1. linear power supply
2. digital out on transformer-isolated 75ohm BNC
3. 30WPC power amplifier switched off when speaker size is set to "None"
4. cost of amplifier parts negligible relative to overall parts build cost
5. 24-bit/96 kHz upsampling OR native sample rate / bit depth when streamed via digital out
6. fixed-level out via RCA phono line out
7. gapless playback (forthcoming)
8. UPnP stream control via iPod touch / iPad etc
9. full network control of all functions via Uniti Remote app or AMX / Crestron (forthcoming)

Did I miss something?

NS01 will most definitely play back 192KHz files of all types gaplessly.

quote:

Originally posted by David Dever:
4. cost of amplifier parts negligible relative to overall parts build cost

Isn't it funny that costs for items that you don't really want are always 'negligible' but for some reason become substantial when it comes to parts/features you do want....?!

quote:

Originally posted by David Dever:
NS01 will most definitely play back 192KHz files of all types gaplessly.

David

Thank you for this confirmation.

Now I'll have to see if SSD's can play a role in the NS01 instead of normal HDU's.

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aleg

I tend to agree with you Aleg - the HDX is close to what you want, but it has too much redundancy, even an SSD version. Pull out the redundant DAC, the analog power supply and the local storage, and it's an even more attractive package (and I'm a fan anyway). The SSD could be very small, sufficient to run the OS and that's it. You could even use a switched mode power supply
But I wonder if it would be any cheaper?

Oh, and it is actually available, which is a big advantage over any future streamer

Seeing that Naim are down with using an iTouch/Phone as a streamer for the DAC it seems as though a standalone streamer is not a priority.

Maybe they assume they cannot better the current options or their own offerings.

Who knows?
Patrick

quote:

Originally posted by SC:
Allen & Nero & Aleg,

Sorry for the delay in your much waited for streamer (I'm in the virtual queue too) but sadly Naim have their hands totally full with all the upcoming AV releases......Sorry, it is going to be just a little longer, but us AV folk have been waiting a mighty long time too.....

I hope that's OK...

It's OK, I'm not waiting for a streamer. I think I just bought one....

quote:

Originally posted by Nero:
...
I think I just bought one....

Meaning ?

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aleg

hope to be having a play around with a well-known alternative in the next week or so. I'll report back

I've been off and on looking at changing my CDP to a server, even went to buy a Mac Mini and put 2 dozen albums on it but technology just was changing so fast I gave it to a friend who needed a small Mac and couldn't afford one.

Now I've been thinking about the UQute and read the info on Uniti. I know it's 2 different things but a NServe which could handle my CDs and a streamer that I see in the UQute to exchange my Roksan tuner which only gives me FM.

One problem I see is the UServe would have redbook only. I guess I could use my Bluray player for DVDs with higher bitrates.

This way I have 2 boxes of CDX2 and Roksan and could go down to one shelf with 2 shoeboxes for the same purposes using the UQute DAC. Some day I'd upgrade the DAC to the big brother.

Ah fantasies do come true sometimes, and then there's cost.....

quote:

Originally posted by mudwolf:
One problem I see is the UServe would have redbook only. I guess I could use my Bluray player for DVDs with higher bitrates.

You can use a computer to extract the audio off DVD(A) or BluRay then transfer this to a UnitiServe

Eloise

quote:

Originally posted by mudwolf:
...
One problem I see is the UServe would have redbook only. I guess I could use my Bluray player for DVDs with higher bitrates.
...

Whatever gave you that impression???

The UnitiServe plays up to 24 bit / 192 kHz according to the specs.

The only thing I'm wondering is if it will also play 24 bit / 177.2 kHz, since that frequency is not mentioned.

Only the Ripping Engine is 'limited' to CD's, but there are all kinds of legal issues to DVD ripping.
-
aleg

quote:

Originally posted by Aleg:
Only the Ripping Engine is 'limited' to CD's, but there are all kinds of legal issues to DVD ripping.

I'm always confused by statements like that - as Naim is a UK company and (IIRC) it's still illegal to copy the music from your CDs in any form in the UK (we don't have "fair usage" exceptions like US copyright law does ... why is talking about tools to extract the audio from a DVD or BluRay any more taboo than talking about a HDX or EAC, etc?

Eloise

quote:

Originally posted by Eloise:

quote:

Originally posted by Aleg:
Only the Ripping Engine is 'limited' to CD's, but there are all kinds of legal issues to DVD ripping.

I'm always confused by statements like that - as Naim is a UK company and (IIRC) it's still illegal to copy the music from your CDs in any form in the UK (we don't have "fair usage" exceptions like US copyright law does ... why is talking about tools to extract the audio from a DVD or BluRay any more taboo than talking about a HDX or EAC, etc?

Eloise

Not being from the UK I don't know the nitty-gritty details of your copyright laws, but DVD and BluRay are probably encrypted to prevent copying while CDs are not.

Maybe it makes a difference if you are breaking an encryption or not?

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aleg

quote:

Originally posted by Aleg:
I would like it to connect to NFS and SMB fileservers (and definitely not be dependant on UPnP, that would be for me a no-go), play the main codecs (WAV, FLAC, OGG, MP3, ALAC/AIFF(?)) and to be able to stream internet protocols.

The sound quality would have to be of the current HDX-performance.

How's that for a wishlist!

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aleg

An Acer Aspire Revo 3610 running xbmc will do that (and play 1080p movies too - although it stutters on FLASH movies) for about a 10th of what you'd propose to pay.... It has optical out or you could connect an external DAC via USB. You'd need to be a bit techie to get it all working well, but it does the job nicely.

That is, if you subscribe to the view that streaming sources all sound the same into the nDAC via optical...

quote:

Originally posted by Andy S:
An Acer Aspire Revo 3610 running xbmc will do that (and play 1080p movies too - although it stutters on FLASH movies) for about a 10th of what you'd propose to pay.... It has optical out or you could connect an external DAC via USB. You'd need to be a bit techie to get it all working well, but it does the job nicely.

That is, if you subscribe to the view that streaming sources all sound the same into the nDAC via optical...

What I use now (Naim DAC, Ubuntu Server NAS, PopcornHour A-100, coax- SPDIF, with mpd as mediaplayer and mPod controler), I would put that in the same league (?).

And I can hear definite improvement using a Memorette USB-stick over this setup.

I would like to get a Naim device that is adapted to an all Naim setup. Further I like the MediaManagement of the HDX-/NS-/UnitiServe type of products.

One further improvement for me would be on the playback of 24-bit audio. On my Popcorn I have to switch player now to be able to play 24-bits, though that should be fixed 'soon' in my main player.

It's just I expect Naim to do a better job than general purpose devices in an all Naim setup.
And a visualy matching device in the stack would be nice as well ...
I don't see myself switching one non-Naim device for another non-Naim device. Certainly not to a general purpose computer ...

Well, the proof of this pudding will have to be in the eating as well ...

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aleg

Fair enough - but xbmc can do 24/96 now (tested it the other day).

Perhaps the sound difference between USB and may be improved using an optical cable on the PCH? (does it have optical out?).

quote:

Originally posted by Andy S:
...
Perhaps the sound difference between USB and may be improved using an optical cable on the PCH? (does it have optical out?).

No this one (A-100) doesn't, the next model (A-110) does. So it would have to be a converter if I wish to try it.

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aleg

Hi all, I've been off for a while. You are right that it does higher bit rates.

quote:

UnitiServe is not just limited to CD format audio or its internal storage. It can also play back audio from a USB memory stick and will scan the network for music stored on NAS drives or network shares in WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, OGG Vorbis, AAC, WMA and MP3 formats at up to 24bit/192kHz resolution.

I'm just trying to get my head around all these new numbers. I'll probably get into a Userve and Uqute but I won't rush into it like many. Would be nice to clean up my CD storage with multiple stacks of free floating current faves.

One thought is how would I integrate this with my preamp? I read somewhere Dave Dever mentioned a 0 out to speakers which I presume means I have the power on the Qute on and my integrated preamp. (it isn't Naim)

quote:

Originally posted by mudwolf:
Hi all, I've been off for a while. You are right that it does higher bit rates.

quote:

UnitiServe is not just limited to CD format audio or its internal storage. It can also play back audio from a USB memory stick and will scan the network for music stored on NAS drives or network shares in WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, OGG Vorbis, AAC, WMA and MP3 formats at up to 24bit/192kHz resolution.

I'm just trying to get my head around all these new numbers. I'll probably get into a Userve and Uqute but I won't rush into it like many. Would be nice to clean up my CD storage with multiple stacks of free floating current faves.

One thought is how would I integrate this with my preamp? I read somewhere Dave Dever mentioned a 0 out to speakers which I presume means I have the power on the Qute on and my integrated preamp. (it isn't Naim)

The UnitiQute already contains a pre-amp so you would't need one for the Qute but it has a pre-amp out to feed an external power amp. The other audio output is a speaker output and a digital output to feed an external Dac.

I don't see how and where you would put your current integrated amp, it is a bit superfluous and your poweramp couldn't take two inputs either.

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aleg

yeah, maybe it's not for me, tho I have a friend who needs a Qute, he's resisting but it'll be futile once it comes out I'll be buying one. I"m still happy with my CDX2 and turntable

But when will it finally appear?

there must be a problem with it. or there would be an release date by now. dealers have no idea

We are finalising the app control and sign off processes,we expect to ship mid June.

Hi Paul, will the UnitiQute come with 802.11n wireless interface? Tq.