UnitiServe review by Jason Kennedy (The Audio Beat)

That is a good read, Jan-Erik.  Thanks.  I had just about decided that, given the (admittedly few) problems that have turned up with the SU's moving parts, I would forego the unit in favor of a Vortexbox appliance (which I will buy in any case for the short term), however, this review whets my appetite once again.

Best regards,

Russ

Naim has come a long way from the crudely finished and basically equipped amplifiers of its heyday.   ??????????

Thanks Jan 

If you'll forgive me for saying so it wasn't especially informative and part of his description would deter me from ever buying one ... the thought of Stevie Nicks appearing in my living room with music from a hi-fi test record playing is more than any sensitive man could possibly bear ... tell him to buy "Oh My Darling!" by Basia Bulat, as I'd much prefer her and her autoharp making an entry in to my domestic environment. 

Hi-Fi Reviews with no technical data are really not for me ... I like a few jitter measurements thrown in. 

I know a UnitiServe played back through a Naim DAC sounds very good ... it did when I heard it, but I'm still of the opinion that the new style DAC V1 is the best route for Naim (however, that's just my opinion ... everybody else seems to prefer UPnP), the Mac is just easier to use and you can do a lot more with it (Izotope). I also prefer XLD for ripping ... simply because it does a nice report saying .. no errors  I'm a simple soul. 

Surely, the UnitiServe is a computer ... it even has a motherboard. 

All the best, Guy

Music

You're forgiven Guy, but it's not all bad, he did mention Frank Zappa.

Computer as source

Yes, the UnitiServe is a computer, finely honed for music by Naim. I've yet to find another computer that matches it, but I'll keep looking.

In analogy, I'm coming to think of the computer source as the equivalent of the turntable, with the DAC as the phono stage. As someone else has said, it's not about the bits, it's much more than that... remember, the bits are analogue-transported digital representations of the analogue signal, or something to that effect. My head hurts.

Streaming method

I'm not yet completely convinced by UPnP, preferring S/PDIF so far, at least with the UnitiLite under review, fed by the UnitiServe of course (I think I'm in danger of becoming typecast here... too late you say ?). By the way, the USB input on the Lite is mightily impressive, and *seems* better implemented than on the nDAC. Or maybe the ability to navigate USB files on the UnitiLite has seduced me.

Got to go, there are just too many comparisons to do with the UnitiLite. Comparing it's DAC section to the M-DAC at the moment.

Jan 

I find the bit about two routers to be utterly confusing, if naim are suggesting that I would have to ask why?

That was the first I read of this.  I'm not sure where the author got that from.  It's not in the User Manual. 

He says Naim supplied an Apple Airport Express WiFi base station and a Netgear gigabit 8-port switch for this purpose 

I'm not sure he understands the difference between a router, switch, network and Airport express. 

It would have been useful if he had provided a network diagram 

I could define two LAN interfaces on my router so that they are on different subnets and connect a separate switch to each and not allow devices on switch 1 (subnet 1) route to those on switch 2 (subnet 2), but let both subnets route to the Internet. This would create a music only network ... if it was worth the effort the I'd be amazed, but I've not tried it. 

Of course, if I just plug a Mac Mini in to a Naim DAC (optically or using a Stello U3) then this doesn't come in to the equation. 

I can't imagine that it's necessary. I've got empirical evidence of that at my home! Never a 'dropout' here at home.

Residential gateway

It's a little clearer in this extract from the HiFi+ review (Alan Sircom) of the NDS :

The right way to make a network system is to take a dedicated ‘feed’ from your internet router into what’s commonly called a ‘residential gateway’ – Apple’s Airport Extreme being a perfect example. Naim recommends a belt and braces approach to the next step, adding a dedicated network switch, such as an eight-way Netgear GS108. This switch connects to a dedicated network attached storage device, a computer used to rip discs (a Naim UnitiServe does a fine job in both contexts, if you bring some backup to the party) and the NDS.

By accident, this is precisely what I do at home.  Internet Router > Time Capsule > Netgear switch.  The NDS, uServe and nas are all connected to the switch, although the NDS is many rooms away and is connected by a long run of cat5e.

Internet router handles dhcp, Time Capsule handles wifi.  Another Airport Extreme in the same room as the NDS extends the wifi network and is needed as my home is very vertical and I need wifi in 4 stories.

But I don't do any 'separate subnet' thing.

A connection diagram would be useful...

As long as my cheap modem/router has enough ports and no dropouts I have no intention of making my setup more complecated.

My issue was wifi; the wifi from the home router supplied by my internet provider was awful.  Much better with the Apple products for me.

I struggle even now to see the point of two routers, cannot get my head around it. Assuming they mean a separate network for music, again I would have to argue why why why? 

Its been mentioned a number of times, no one to date has explained the why bit.

I use 2 draytek routers in the house, but on a single network. House is a 3 storey, one router on top floor and one on ground floor, to give better coverage in house.

Agree no sense in different networks 

To be fair you're not using them as two routers -- but as two wifi access points.  I know . . . terminology is very loose with this stuff.

hello Jan,

I was not satisfied with US as S/PDIF source; that's why I kept HDX as my S/PDIF source. I know that you are using a foreign PS with your US. I wish Naim offered an optional linear PS upgrade for US; then, US would deserve even more appreciation, I guess.