UnitiQute: Still best VFM Naim streamer?

I would say so, I use UQ just as a streamer into nDac connected via DC1. No regrets and no future plans to change to an ND5xs or NDX. Plus the UQ is always a backup just in case I have a problem with my main amps.

I had a UnitQute and traded it in for a ND5 XS. I suppose if the Qute had supported ALAC streaming I might have kept it instead. The other reason I traded is the lack of fixed line level output for the Qute (I wanted to use it as source for my NAC202). As for streaming they are about the same. The Qute had a FM tuner, out I never used it. I use internet radio, but the two seem functionally equivalent in that regard.

I like the Qute a lot. Great little piece. Right now I'm planning to use it on its own and have ordered the board upgrade. When I"m ready to experiment more with streaming I'll add a dac. That should work nicely until the path forward for this  technology becomes clearer. 

As you know, Mango, I strongly considered the Qute along with the Uniti 2 and the SU--which I eventually went with.  Although I chose not to audition either of the other two--and still have not--and thus cannot give a personal opinion on your question--I can say that I surveyed virtually everyone who had bought the SU and/or the UQ by researching them on this and other sites--and I read every review written--several times.  Does that give me the same credentials as if I had auditioned all of them--absolutely not. 

I bought the SU, largely due to the size of the room in which it would live, and frankly, because I did not want to later on regret having passed up significantly greater wattage and alleged superior technology.

All that having been said, from all the admittedly once-removed opinions and reviews I have read, do I think the Qute is the better value for the money--I would say you are absolutely correct.  Considering that it is half the price, the only way I would (and did) think buying the SU worth the extra money is if one is willing to eat the difference in cost.  But I think it is one of those many examples of "diminishing returns", not only evident with Naim equipment, but in almost every other field as well.  For example, a 3 million dollar Bugati is capable of what--240 MPH.  Well hell--my 2001 GMC pickup is capable of 105 on a good day, but comes in way under even a million.  (OK--OK--a very bad example--but diminishing returns nonetheless.) 

Russ

You value cars by how fast they go?  

I guess my Subaru is 1.5 times as good as your truck. 

is there any other measure?

how good the loud pedal is?

Top speed is a meaningless measure for a car, and relevant to just about nothing, other than bragging rights. Put it on a road circuit to measure lap speed is another thing altogether.  

Or how much it makes you grin?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SthbMswkef4

Phil

having just had a track day at silverstone, i agree with the comments on lap speed, and also grim factor.

having driven cars and bikes at mad speeds on roads and motorways is one thing, but the track speed and braking sensation is incredible.

150 on a track is not the same as 150 on a motorway

OMG, the brain just cannot react quickly enough !!

Ever since I started doing track weekends about 10 years ago, I have really settled down on public roads. Nothing beats the thrill of doing hot laps on a dedicated road circuit, and nothing beats the education and skill gained to make you realize how dangerous it is to misbehave on public roads. My Subaru will do a 160, but I'll never get it near that. On my home track, I may hit 130 MPH at the end of the front straight on a good day, but it's the slower bits in between the end and start of the front straight that give me the most thrills, and the most opportunities for better lap times. On public roads I never get it faster than 80 or so on the interstates.

Phil,

    my lasting memory is driving the aston martin vantage and the ferrari 360, both at 150mph down the straight and then only approx 100 yards from tight turn before slamming on the brakes.

Not the best at my age, and kept missing the apex.

c'est la vie !!

Uh, guys, it was only a joke--and I myself pointed out what a bad analogy it was.   

Russ

yeah, but it's fun to talk about that stuff 

Yep, it is.  And I knew that mentioning automobile speed to a bunch of freaking Brits was like throwing a five-pound steak in front of a a slavering dog!   My  only racing experience was churning a '58 Ford up to about 90 in the quarter--and actually beating a '56 Chevy.  Somehow, it lacks the heroic quality of Sterling Moss refusing to drive anything but British Formula One's in all the various Grand Prix!

Russ

Bwahahhaa! That's me in my pride and joy you're talking about there...

Phil

Mmmmmm ... five pound steak!

Phil

I wonder what a UnitiQute would sound like once you've had a 5 Lb. steak and driven around full speed in a Ferrari.

Might be hearing it from the loo 

Tired.

Probably got fruit in one ear and jelly in the other

A trifle deaf !

Dusting this thread off for some supportive evidence of the truth of your original proposition, MangoMonkey: A little earlier, I got to scrolling down the thread titles on this sub forum--and saw that of the first 21, 7 of them--fully a third of the  thread titles were directly related to the Qute.  So to the extent that a market moves based on VFM, I think that says it all.

Russ

I'm quite surprised at the results I'm getting from mine, I must say. I've read that people have said it is a bit underpowered, but I'm listening 4m away from a pair of System Audio Mantra 30's in a 6m long room and there is plenty of juice there (plus detail and imaging).

Mind you, lest we forget, the best part of £1000 is still a lot of money for a one-box (or, indeed, any) system as far as 'normal' people are concerned, so it should be damn good !

And of course, in the U.S. it is a lot more in USD than the equivalent of  £1000--$3,000 and $2,400 sale models.  I will bet Naim is selling a helluva lot of them from the comments.

Russ