Unitiserve SSD versus Unitiserve 2 TB

Posted by: Russ on 16 August 2012

My Friends,

 

As you may have concluded in my post regarding speakers in cabinets, I am somewhat technically and audio-challenged.   Having at least (with your help) approached a solution with regard to speakers, I am now trying to zero in on the rest of the systems and am strongly leaning toward one of these two servers in combination with a Unitiqute--later perhaps to be upgraded to the SuperUniti.  I have read the specs on the two units listed above and even much of the manuals.  That having been said, I do not see the advantages of the SSD unit.  It appears to me that the SSD unit is some 300 US dollars more than the 2TB model (and I do understand the reason for that) and that it MUST store your CD s on an external drive or NAS.  OK so far.

 

What I do NOT understand is what the small amount of solid state storage buys you--since you would have to back up the NAS anyway, just as you would the 2TB of storage in that unit.  So please, in relatively elementary terms--what am I missing?

 

Russ in the wilds of South Texas

Posted on: 18 August 2012 by Guido Fawkes

> One question--if I went a few extra bucks with an Air notebook hooked up to some extra storage, would that work as well as the Mini?


Hello Russ 


In short no - the MacBook Air has no digital music output - so to make it work you would need a USB to digital convertor such as the Halide Bridge (which is $395 cable) or the HiFace 2 which is ($200 adapter, but you still need to buy a decent BNC to BNC coaxial cable for around $100). There other options, but these tend to be extra boxes like the Berkley Audio Design box ($1250). These are fine, but would not be my choice, especially if MacBook Air is going to be off doing other things - remember my suggestions were to help to save a bit or reallocate funds to the DAC end after DAC end of things. 


The MacBook Pro would work, but so it should for the price. Really nice bit of kit though. 


All the best, Guy

Posted on: 18 August 2012 by Russ

OK, Guido, now it makes sense why so many tout the Mini but never mention the Air.  I was wondering why not.  Having had you and others strongly advise me on the Mini versus the Unitiserve, I am now going to research this option thoroughly.  I had previously thought that having the iphone control of both the streamer AND the serve would be tremendously helpful.  Now it seems from what I have heard y'all say is that if I have nstream, I could do most of the controls needed through the streamer.  I will hunker down, read a whole lot more on this board and other places about using the Mini, then probably come back with a new thread listing tentative plans and ask for more advice.

 

Gerry:

 





 





Posted on: 18 August 2012 by Russ

Sorry for the partial post:

 

So Gerry, (or anyone): Say I want to put the Qute or the Uniti 2 or SU away in a closet--other than changing out the CD, and hook it up via ethernet cable, does that mean I could use the Iphone to get to it deep in its closet (so long as the Iphone has wireless connectivity to WiFi via wireless?

 

Thanks

Posted on: 18 August 2012 by CSI_Basel

Russ - yeah that should be fine though you might have an overheating problem.

Posted on: 18 August 2012 by Jasonf
 

Hi Russ,

 

Just a quick hello and to say we seem to be in a similar situation and possibly arriving at different conclusions, but you may be interested in some of the advice on my post, entitled "XS streamer - dealer comments", specifically the responces by very helpful and knowledgable forum members.

 

Your questions are more detailed than mine but none the less some interesting viewpoints by forum members. 

 

Dan, for instance, sums up an whole plethora of options in general terms.

 

Cheers,

 

Jason.

Posted on: 18 August 2012 by Russ

CSI: Actually, I made it sound more closed in than it actually is.  One possibility is to have it on a shelf in a fairly large (5-6 square meters?) It will also have an AC vent since we are in South Texas where temperatures in summer often exceed 41 degrees C.  I may even put a return vent in this space to cut down on humidity.

 

Jason: Thanks for the tip.  You are correct we have much in common.  I read the entire thread and it was very helpful.

 

Russ

Posted on: 23 August 2012 by California Jim

Russ, I understand your concerns about using a Mac mini.

I am an Apple guy and have had Macs for nearly 20 years.

But you never know what a future OSX update will support

and the software which works now may not work in the

future.  i was happy to set up my Mac + router + NAS, but

then the NAS begins to show an error and one of my ext.

HDs disconnects at times etc etc.  I am not the kind of guy

who wants to spend all his time correcting these things...

especially when it comes to my music.  So, while I am sure

a Mac mini would be fine at much less cost, I favor the US

Because it keeps my music in Naim territory.

 

California Jim

Posted on: 23 August 2012 by Sloop John B

apologies if I haven't read the full tread and am off target but............

 

if you have a windows pc and a NAS, just buy dbPoweramp to rip to a NAS with twonky or some such and stream from this to UniQute or superuniti. If you don't have any of these certainly consider going down the mac or vortebox route but don't go buying a mac mini if you already have a pc, spend your money on what Naim do best, amps and music.

 

and if you never want to see a pc or mac again go down to US route, just make sure you have an iphone.

 

 

basically use whatever you have to get as much money as possible to spend on the muscial end of what Naim does.

 

SJB

Posted on: 24 August 2012 by California Jim

And for clarity, you don't need an iPhone, you can use

the iPod Touch or iPad.

 

BTW...my mother was from Austin, so if you are Texan,

We could be cousins. 

 

California Jim