experience with the qute

I collected mine this weekend. I have been running it in a rather hasty set up whilst I finish working on the study where it will eventually be in a proper system. I can tell you it is a doodle to set up, it was working on my network within a minute of switching on. The FM radio and especially the DAB are also sweet and simple, our area has marginal DAB reception but it had no trouble getting the stations.

Within the limits of the rest of the kit it sounds just fine but it is not even close to being run in of course.

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
I collected mine this weekend. I have been running it in a rather hasty set up whilst I finish working on the study where it will eventually be in a proper system. I can tell you it is a doodle to set up, it was working on my network within a minute of switching on. The FM radio and especially the DAB are also sweet and simple, our area has marginal DAB reception but it had no trouble getting the stations.

Within the limits of the rest of the kit it sounds just fine but it is not even close to being run in of course.

Bruce

Thx for the reply.

Could you tell if there is a big difference between the qute and the uniti ( except the CD and less power and less inputs )

I wanna make a decision for a streaming pre amp wear as i already have a power amp ( NAP250-2 ) i do have to make a new cable. 2 x RCA too xlr.

Can flashback make that cable?

Doesn't it matter about grounding/earth because normally it's the 4 pin DN connection.

I have not heard a Uniti. I had no need of the CD player since my networked HDX acts as the source for all CD-based music.

Bruce

Hi Robbert,
I 'should' have my Qute tomorrow (delayed in shipping due to Canada Post)from the dealer and I have recently owned a Uniti,Supernait and a 200/200 with a NDAC /CD5Xs.Give my impressions asap....

Hi Bruce

What speakers are you using with the Qute? Is it easy to set up streaming from the HDX? Are you streaming from the HDX wirelessly?

I'm thinking of getting one for my office but would like some small bookshelf speakers and will probably have to connect over wireless network.

Regards

Richard

The 'Qute is breaking in and I like it,i think it may sound better than the Uniti.

PS The Ipod N-stream app is worth it IMO. I dont have to worry about banging up or loosing the remote once it's set up. Its very handy and easy to use.

Powerbench.

If my experience with other Naim equipment is anything to go by you have a month or so before your device is broken in. Some days it might even sound as if it has gone 'backwards'. Bizarre I know, but I have heard it with my own ears. If you like it after 3 days you'll like it more after a month, but it will have changed.

Richard

I set up the system in 2 minutes. The Hdx is wired to the modem and the Qute is wireless for now. The speakers are Dynaudio Audience 42. I have some nice new nSats awaiting the completion of my office where the system will be properly installed eventually. I have not tried it 'wired' yet, nor have I linked it to my PC but the FM DAB section is excellent.

My initial impression of the sound compared to the outgoing source into these speakers (Audiolab 8000a and Rega planet CD) is immediately one of more pace and sparkle.

Bruce

I am not great at analytical 'HiFi' reviews but I thought I'd post a few impressions here, I know a few people are interested in the 'Qute.

Just for fun I swapped the device into my main system last night, replacing the HDX/XPS in a real 'mullett' system, but using the HDX files over the network as the media source.

The result was very pleasing, a lovely fresh, pacy and clean sound, especially at low/mid volume. The HDX in comparison has a great depth of quality and detail (especially in the lower registers) that is missing from the 'Qute but it stacked up very well really, especially when you consider the price and the fact is is not even fully run-in. It has a very sweet and clean mid/treble that makes voices particularly enjoyable with no sharp or brittle edge. It has that innate musicality that for me has always been a characteristic of Naim kit, the ability to just play the music and engage you with it rather than making you focus on any individual elements. Good fun, and vaguely like the original Nait without being perhaps quite as feisty (if my acoustic memory banks can remember that far back).

I also used the FM tuner section against the Audiolab 8000T that normally does service and this was perhaps even more impressive, I think I actually preferred the 'Qute which again sounded fresh and lively. Incidentally DAB sounded pretty good too although the sound character back-to-back with the same FM station was quite different; DAB sounded richer but a bit sluggish somehow. I did not really listen to this for long but I wonder if it is the nature of the medium not the 'Qute.

In all I remain very impressed. It seems really good value for the versatility it offers. I've found it easy to set up and use (the iPod app is very good and really should be bundled with it IMHO) and it appears to stack up pretty well as a source of decent audio quality.

Bruce

(PS As I was writing this I wondered if the listening notes of the Naim product developers ever see the light of day, or indeed if they read the forum. Perhaps they read 'reviews' such as this and have a mighty chuckle to themselves!)

Hi Bruce
Thanks for your response.

quote:

Originally posted by powerbench1:
The 'Qute is breaking in and I like it,i think it may sound better than the Uniti.

PS The Ipod N-stream app is worth it IMO. I dont have to worry about banging up or loosing the remote once it's set up. Its very handy and easy to use.

Hi Powerbench, how is the qute doing it now? You have also the nStream app for the iPod Touch. As i understand it correct you MUST install a uPnP server on your computer. Or isn't it?

If yes, what is the best uPnP server software? Especially with my iMac. ( i see twonky etc.. )

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
It has a very sweet and clean mid/treble that makes voices particularly enjoyable with no sharp or brittle edge. It has that innate musicality that for me has always been a characteristic of Naim kit, the ability to just play the music and engage you with it rather than making you focus on any individual elements.

Ahhh my kind of language - I am going to have to listen to one

Simon

My qute is scheduled to come on Wed. - it will be connected to my nait xs and will stream from my Buffalo LinkStation Duo (it has TwonkyMedia as UPnP Server). I'm considering Songbook as client application on my macbook - has someone experience with it and qute?

Ilko

quote:

Originally posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
It has a very sweet and clean mid/treble that makes voices particularly enjoyable with no sharp or brittle edge. It has that innate musicality that for me has always been a characteristic of Naim kit, the ability to just play the music and engage you with it rather than making you focus on any individual elements.

Ahhh my kind of language - I am going to have to listen to one

Simon

Thats my experience also...in a nutshell.

quote:

I'm considering Songbook as client application on my macbook

It is SUPER buggy. Slow. But it does play FLACs, which is the only reason you should use it.

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:

quote:

I'm considering Songbook as client application on my macbook

It is SUPER buggy. Slow. But it does play FLACs, which is the only reason you should use it.

hmm - any other clients here? I have VLC player installed too but it lacks the feature to stream the tracks to a specified renderer - in my case this will be the qute...

Allegro Media Server is the way to go...

They have a free limited demo on the website to try it out. All iTunes folders will be visible in the Qute menu.

But I would prefer using a NAS at any time. No need to start your computer any time you want to listen to music.

quote:

hmm - any other clients here? I have VLC player installed too but it lacks the feature to stream the tracks to a specified renderer - in my case this will be the qute

If you are insistent on using a Mac for playback, I would REALLY recommend you consider converting all of your FLACs to ALAC.

I have used Play and Songbird on a Mac to get FLAC playback. Neither were acceptable. LOTS of swirling beach balls.

Have you tried (I have not) Fluke with iTunes? I know of some people getting decent results with that.

From there, I dont know how you UPNP stream with a Mac. I think you require a third party in the chain somewhere. I dont know of any UPNP enabled media players for Mac. But I have never looked for one.

The best piece of advice I can give you would be to build up a $300 PC (or buy one of those Acers). This is not a popular suggestion for those dedicated to Mac computers, but a surefire way of making things easier for you if you need FLAC playback.

If that is not acceptable, one again, you should really convert to a codec iTunes can handle.

-Patrick

quote:

Originally posted by Ricardo Tubbs:
Allegro Media Server is the way to go...

They have a free limited demo on the website to try it out. All iTunes folders will be visible in the Qute menu.

But I would prefer using a NAS at any time. No need to start your computer any time you want to listen to music.

That's my intention too. I've my music stored on the Buffalo Linkstation NAS, which comes with TwonkyMedia Server and it can stream to Qute via UPnP (I've tried this with my Naim dealer). On the other side I can access my music files on the NAS from Songbook intalled on my Mac, having a nice interface to browse through my collection AND in Songbook - as far as I understood it right - I could say play this stream on the device with IP of my Qute. This feature (I thing they call it Multi-Room support) is exactly what I need. I think in this scenario the Songbook needs "only" to connect my NAS and Qute, presenting nice list of the music collection with better GUI than the Qute's one. Has someone tried such an installation or am I completely wrong with all these assumptions? Does Alegro Server support this, too - I couldn't find a lot of info on the hp - will try the demo version as soon as I'm at home today.

Playing FLACs is not an issue at the moment, because I can play them with VLC - the listing via UPnP is somehow "basic", but at least it works fine...

Thanks,
Ilko

I got my Qute now and it seems quite good from start, I want some weeks running in to see what happens..

I´m using Ipod Touch and the nStream app. It's nice and userfriendly. It's not 100% stable (ver 1.2), some times it don't find the UQ but it's no big issue. I guess next version will be more stable.

Is Songbook Mac the same as nStream?

Only

- nStream need a uPnP-software on you computer. ( 2 things )
- Songbook Mac got it all, software and app. ( 1 thing )


Or is it like the app "remote" from apple?

quote:

Originally posted by Robbert:
Is Songbook Mac the same as nStream?

Only

- nStream need a uPnP-software on you computer. ( 2 things )
- Songbook Mac got it all, software and app. ( 1 thing )


Or is it like the app "remote" from apple?

Songbook Mac is both a UPnP server and also UPnP control point - both running on the Mac. Although you are buying one thing, you're actually getting both parts.
nStream is a UPnP control point which runs on your iPhone / iPod Touch. To make a complete system (with a NaimUniti / UnitiQute you also need a UPnP server.

Eloise

Technically speaking, the n-Stream app is not a UPnP AV™ control point in a strict sense, but rather a networked player controller (for confirmation, watch carefully the displays of the UnitiQute, NaimUniti or NDX when you use the app). It does control UPnP™ stream playback, but that's the extent of any similarities to PlugPlayer, TagNPlay, SongBook et al.

Internet Radio aggregation via vTuner is built into the Qute, not push-streamed from a PC or a handheld app (a la RadioTime). This is fundamental to its performance, and, there are other CE manufacturers who use this in a similar way.

iPod control is certainly not a UPnP function either, but is also built into the Qute (with authentication in hardware). USB playback is also handled in hardware.

Taken all together, this clearly shows how far above basic UPnP control the n-Stream app functions (and quite well, I might cheekily add).

On the other hand, SongBook is exceptionally buggy, and nearly unusable in its various forms as SongBook Mac and SongBook HD. (Personally, I am surprised that it has been approved for the App Store–access is slow, state is uncertain, and the app has a tendency to freeze for short periods of time with no interface feedback.)

But–if they ever get it right, it might be quite handy, given its iTunes integration, CD ripping, etc. It's not stable or functional enough at this point in time, IMHO, to recommend as a paid app(lication) for use with Naim music servers or network players. I wish them the best.

quote:

Originally posted by Eloise:

quote:

Originally posted by Robbert:
Is Songbook Mac the same as nStream?

Only

- nStream need a uPnP-software on you computer. ( 2 things )
- Songbook Mac got it all, software and app. ( 1 thing )


Or is it like the app "remote" from apple?

Songbook Mac is both a UPnP server and also UPnP control point - both running on the Mac. Although you are buying one thing, you're actually getting both parts.
nStream is a UPnP control point which runs on your iPhone / iPod Touch. To make a complete system (with a NaimUniti / UnitiQute you also need a UPnP server.

Eloise

You can see it like the app "remote" on the ipod touch. only the upnp is in iTunes. only it works with a cable or airport express + cable. Not with the qute in my wifi.

quote:

Originally posted by Tonkis nr2:
I got my Qute now and it seems quite good from start, I want some weeks running in to see what happens..

I´m using Ipod Touch and the nStream app. It's nice and userfriendly. It's not 100% stable (ver 1.2), some times it don't find the UQ but it's no big issue. I guess next version will be more stable.

i agree its a little buggy at times but overall easy to use.

quote:

Originally posted by powerbench1:

quote:

Originally posted by Tonkis nr2:
I got my Qute now and it seems quite good from start, I want some weeks running in to see what happens..

I´m using Ipod Touch and the nStream app. It's nice and userfriendly. It's not 100% stable (ver 1.2), some times it don't find the UQ but it's no big issue. I guess next version will be more stable.

i agree its a little buggy at times but overall easy to use.

If you find that the app "loses" the Qute and you have the Qute connected wirelessly then (if you can, even temporarily) just try dropping in a wired connection between your router and the Qute and see if that resolves it - wireless networking is a technology that has been (IMO) badly developed as a consumer level product and because everyone and their dog is using it there are lots of instances where there are so many networks competing for airspace that the throughput (and consistency of connection) are compromised even though signal strength is good...

Cheers

Phil