Naim UnitiQute 2 and streaming streamed audio

Hi Lantto

My take on your questions is:

1. Qute does not do streamed services like Spotify directly.  You need to connect something to the Qute that will feed these into one of it's inputs.  There are many people on this forum who have been hoping / expecting Naim to do something on this front for ages!

2. I think there is a way that you can run something like Spotify on your Macbook, and have that output feed a uPnP server on your Macbook , which the Qute could then play from the network using its uPnP renderer.  I don't know how to do this, but hopefully others will be along to explain further. 

3.  An Apple TV or Airport Express plugged into your Qute will allow you to stream things like Spotify from an Apple device.  I've done this with an iPod Touch.  From an SQ perspective, a couple of comments.  If using an Airport Express I strongly recommend using an optical cable into a digital input, not an analogue cable, so are using the Qute's DAC.  The DAC in the AE is what you would expect of something that costs £99.  Airplay to my ears seems to do something to the files it streams that reduce SQ relative to a direct digital connection. 

Hope that helps.

David

Lanto, hi.  You need to refine your vocabulary a bit.

The UnitiQute, like other "networked music players," are designed to 'live' on a home network and play music served from a UPnP server.  So the Qute is meant to be connected to your home network, that also has a server connected.  The server itself could be a computer (Windows, Mac or Unix) running UPnP server software, or a nas running such software, or a dedicated server such as a Naim UnitiServe.  Once networked like this, you can use your iPhone or iPad (which also has to be on your home network) running Naim's nStream app to control much of the music playback, including the volume of the Qute.

The Qute can be connected directly to a computer (it includes digital inputs and RCA analog inputs), rather than living on your home network, but in doing so you're not using its network player features.  You could not use nStream to control playback.  Indeed you'd just be using the Qute as an integrated amp (and dac if using the digital inputs).

If you want to connect directly to your Macbook, and use iTunes to control playback, a USB dac could be more of what you are looking for.  The Naim Dac V1 supports a USB input and would be a good choice.  Again, you'd be controlling playback from the Macbook itself. 

For Spotify, I don't think there is a way to play it over the UPnP network.  Most folks who want it use another solution, such as an Airport Express or bluetooth music player box. 

Thanks for your answers. Im pretty new to the hi fi world, but this forum seems really helpful. The reason I started looking into the UnitiQute is that it was sugested to me by a store and has gotten great reviews. I wanted to look into it a bit more though to make sure it suited my needs.

It seems however I might be better suited by a device for AirPlay for the streaming. That together with perhaps another Naim product, but not really a network player, since Im not planing on connecting multiple devices at home. The main thing Im looking for is a good way to play everything from my computer or iPad wireless, while still beeing able to connect my DJ controller with wires. This together with good sound of course.

Well for a small all-in-one unit, I am not sure what beats the sound quality of the UnitiQute when paired with good speakers.

I'm not proposing that you start networked streaming where you don't need to, but will note that it's for more than connecting multiple devices.  For example, it's nice for those of us who do not want a computer or similar device on our hi fi rack or in the same room as our hi fi.  Whether it's the looks, or the noise of fans, etc., sometimes it is nice to have the hi fi in one room, and the hard drive-based source in another.

For you it sounds like playing directly from your computer makes perfect sense.

Query -- do you want a desktop setup, with speakers on the desk, or something more like a whole room setup with speakers on stands bookshelves, etc?

If you do get to listen to a Qute and really like it, buying a usb dac to go between the Macbook and the Qute, or buying a usb-to-spdif converter to go between them, are options.

N-stream control the Qute's volume.

Neil

It definitely does on my Qute2!  I use that feature very often.  And when I listen in my other room to my NDS, I miss that feature. 

Don't bother with their advice anymore! N-stream can control my Qute's vol., my Qute's vol. when acting as client in Multiroom mode, and can also provide a master volume for master & client(s), a little drop-down vol. button appears and controls all 'virtually connected' streamers, simultaneously. Voluminous!