Suggested solutions needed please

An old but interesting read https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607432042

The SuperNait is more or less equivalent to the SuperUniti, the best all in one Naim solution. 

If I was to start from scratch I would buy one of those combined streamer/preamp units like Naim NAC 172, Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6 etc. and add a good power amp which suits the selected speakers.

The one box streamer/preamps usually have a digital volume control which comunicates with the built in DAC. This is the best solution for volume control if you want to control it via a wifi control point like an iPad or similar. Otherwise you merely control the output level of the streamer and thereby reduce the bit depth of the digital signal.

+1 for the NAC N172 if you don't need a CD player. I had a good listen to one partnered with a NAP200 driving a pair of Neat Motive 2s. It was very, very good. I would choose this setup over the Superuniti on flexibility and sound quality grounds.

I think some of you missed my point. Rocker asked for a one box solution to replace his current system. Unfortunately 803D are no neat Motive's and none of the current all in one Naim offerings would probably power them adequately (SuperNait couldn't and the SuperUniti is more or less the same beast). Rocker would also like a CD player so 172 is out of the question. 

Rocker, if you are determined to go Naim, keep the 803D and use as few boxes as possible, the only way I see it is one of the members of the Uniti family (which will be your tuner / streamer / CD player / preamplifier) with the best amplifier you can afford. The bad news is that the amplifiers that would drive your speakers comfortably are two box solutions. And considering the Uniti as a source would be a big compromise I would forget it. 

Thanks guys for the replies.  Yesterday I auditioned the NaimUnity2 which did all that I require.  But the sound quality of the built in amp is a big step down form the Classe monobloks.  The control on the iPad is intutitive but perhaps not as 'nice' as the iPeng app for a Squeezebox.  This is not a deal breaker though.  I am tempted to try out the NAC-N 172XS and keep my Opus 21 CD player and the Classe monos.  Good as the one box solution is, once you get used to decent sound quality, it is hard to accept anything less.

Hi-res music files sounded very good through the NaimUnity2.  I will need to try out the 172XS in my own system as it is difficult to determine what is doing what in an unfamiliar system in an unfamiliar room.  I can forsee a NAS in our house and the installation of Cat5 cable for the streamer.  Yesterdays demo used WiFi and the dealer assured me that cable brought better sound quality but to be honest WiFi sounded pretty good.

Thanks again guys, I will update you if and when there is any progress to report.

Hi Rocker,

sounds like you're on the right track.

Don't be fooled about wired ethernet vs. wifi though. Wifi either works or it doesn't. If it does there will be no improvement from a wired connection regarding SQ. Remember that the streamer plays from a buffer.

I am running Logitech Media Server on my p.c. [for the Squeezebox].  Would a Naim Audio product such as NAC-N 172XS pick up on this and thus allow the 172 to play music?  Or is there a special dedicated Naim Audio Server that has to be used?

Thanks again.

I use a Vortexbox and also a Netgear NAS. The Vortexbok runs Logitech Media Server, the NAS does not. My 'Qute and my NDS detect the contents of both devices without issue (as does my daughter's Cambridge Audio NP30). I can't see any reason why the NAC-N 172XS would behave differently from the NDS or Qute......