Trying my Uniqute 2 with different amps and DacV1 :-)

Posted by: BenW on 25 September 2013

I picked up my new Uniqute 2 today :-)

Jordan Acoustics kindly let me also take: a Dac-v1, a Nap100 and a Nap 155xs to try. Lovely chaps!

ive had an interesting few hours! (I know nothings run in at this point, but it's still been interesting!)

I was confident in the choice of the UQ2, as even if it turned out not up to my main room I would have put it in my bedroom. I was intrigued by some of the posts here about running it through the dacv1 into a better amp, and really wanted to try that, as well as simply trying the amps themselves as i have a sizeable room (28ft by 17ft) and didn't know if the uq2 would fill it.

Im blessed with a pair of PMC FB1+ speakers, nice and efficient. I'd also ripped all my CDs to flac in anticipation and downloaded some more, linn and naim stuff.

1st impressions, running just the UQ2 were really, really good, very impressed with the sound, the confidence, the timing, and the punch into the PMCs was excellent, at volumes between 50-60 was all I'd ever need in that room, masses of nice controlled bass that felt great on the sofa, and so smooth with vocals. Set up the iradio and quickly tried a couple of naim channels and again, very impressed.

I have to say the Uq2 far, far exceeded my expectations. At this point I couldn't wait to run it through the loan kit which they obviously hope i'll buy too!

Adding the Nap100:

Not the big change I was expecting. To me the power difference didn't feel substantial, and while it still sounded fine, it wasn't something that grabbed me as a 'oh yes that's better' solution. Didn't make me want to get the wallet out, even for a what is a very good value amp.

Adding the Nap155xs and dac v-1

I had to use the Dac with this amp as the 155 only had a snaic input and I didn't have leads to go from Uq2 direct. I had to do digital from uq2 to dacv1 and then snaic from there. Took me a minute to find that the digital output needs to be enabled on the uq2, and then everything fired up fine.

results: frankly very disappointing, I felt quite let down! More power undoubtedly, but it just wasnt as musical at all, I was sat listening to the detail but skipping track to track to find something that sounded good. I wondered if I was imagining and went back to uq2 only, same tracks and yes much preferred to simply sit and listen to the music! Went back to 155xs, and without wanting to sound pompous it just wasn't as tight or enjoyable despite the extra grunt.

I am blaming the 155 rather than the dacv1. As it stands, I shall be returning both the power amps and the Dac to Jordan. I'd still be very interested to try one of the larger amps, I think it's going to have to be a lot more meaty to justify the addition, I'm still interested in trying the dacv1, but only now if I'm confident in the amp.

Right now, now, I think the UQ2 is a spectacular bit of kit, Naim have excelled themselves. I also suspect that achieving a significant step up in either power or quality is going to be disproportionately expensive! Not an issue if it's worth it, I had fully expected to purchase the Dac and one of the amps but I think right now I'm just going to sit and enjoy listening to all my music again! ( it's been a Linn download of the Mumford and sons album, while I've been typing this.. and just on the unitiqute2!

sorry for waffling, my resulting opinions were absolutely not what I expected, so thought I'd share!

Is is anyone else using a separate amp with the UQ2?

regards, Ben

Posted on: 25 September 2013 by hafler3o

Originally Posted by BenW:

Is is anyone else using a separate amp with the UQ2?

regards, Ben

Used to but sold it (NAP 100). I liked the pairing a fair bit more than the 'straight' Qute2 but I had PMC DB1is on the end and they are less efficient (but still a lovely sound). Now it's Qute2 on it's own in the bedroom.

One question, did you switch off the internal power amp when listening through the outboard power amps?

I know a little of what you mean by loss of enjoyment, the Qute strikes a brilliant balance of detail vs. musicality, sometimes you can have 'too revealing' a presentation!

Posted on: 25 September 2013 by hungryhalibut

Why not just try the SuperUniti? I can't believe that the Qute, good as it is, is up to the job of driving the FB1s properly. The superUniti has got to be a more sensible solution than the Qute fronting the V1 and a power amp, where so much of the functionality is not used.

Posted on: 25 September 2013 by Justin9960

Hi Ben, I agree with a lot of your findings. Every now and then I disconnect my V1 & 100, and the Qute2 is realistically all I need. Let us know if things improve as it beds in.

Good luck.

Posted on: 25 September 2013 by hafler3o

Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

The superUniti has got to be a more sensible solution than the Qute fronting the V1 and a power amp, where so much of the functionality is not used.

Definitely agree on that point, too much redundancy (but great if something blows up!)

The SU is in a different league obviously but if you like pop songs that have been mastered for teen consumers with no discernment or eardrums then it's going to be an unpleasant experience.

Posted on: 25 September 2013 by hungryhalibut

How old do you sound!! I remember my grandad in the late 60s saying of the Beatles 'it soils the ears of mankind'.

I was simply thinking that the SU costs the same as UQ2, V1, 100.

Posted on: 25 September 2013 by Solid Air

Interesting to know how the NAP100 beds in, if you have it that long.

Have you tried turning off the Qute's amp? Also, did you try bi-amping the Qute and NAP?

I have a Qute1 and am thinking of adding a NAP100, so interested in anyone's experience.

Posted on: 25 September 2013 by hafler3o

Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

How old do you sound!!

Cheeky blighter!

Tonight my wife and I listened to Duffy's 'Endlessly' followed by Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures'. Duffy was 'like listening to nails being scraped down the blackboard', an awful cacophony of out-of-kilter EQ, Martin Hannett's production from 30+ years before was laid out in sparse glory. Sue told me to put Duffy on eBay!

Posted on: 25 September 2013 by hafler3o

^^ my point being the SU just made the bad sound bloody awful and the good sound great, whereas the Qute makes everything sound charming (if not as good as the SU when the SU's playing the good stuff, geddit?)

Posted on: 26 September 2013 by Somchie

Originally Posted by BenW:

Is is anyone else using a separate amp with the UQ2?

Ben, my current office setup is UQ2+NAP200 -> Ovator S-600 and I must say it sounds just lovely. I have thought about changing the UQ2 for a Dac V-1 and using my Mac Mini as a source but I am not that convinced it will sound any better. I have had a SU but IMHO UQ2+NAP200 sounds better, with my speakers and in my room. I have always believed the SU gets kind of out-of-control with playing loud, I do not have this issue with UQ2+NAP200 at all.

SU as a stand-alone solution is unbeatable though.

Posted on: 26 September 2013 by Justin9960

Originally Posted by hafler3o:

That is the whole point of the Qute, you listen to the music (isn't that the point) rather than search out the songs that make your system sound the best. I would suggest we have all done this before, almost trying to justify the upgrades (I did when I had a Ndac/155/152/Flatcap, and Weiss Dac202) which is still budget compared with most.

The Qute removes all this b%¥€cks! and you just enjoy the music, even those that are poorly recorded. Yes the SuperUniti might sound better to some (not to me) but my ears found the Qute more open and engaging. Each to their own!

Posted on: 26 September 2013 by pslosarc

I am running a UQ2 line out into a 252/300 and it is definitely up to the job. I have been wondering if I placed a V1 between the UQ2 and the 252 there would be a worthwhile improvement, but am not convinced. I think that the V1 DAC and the UQ2 DAC are probably on a par, and that if I dont intend to front my system with async USB, then the V1 is not for me.

Posted on: 26 September 2013 by hungryhalibut

Originally Posted by hafler3o:

Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

How old do you sound!!

Cheeky blighter!

Ha. Duffy sounds like Daffy Duck - horrible screechy voice. Whereas Joy Division is some of the best music ever. I've loved their music since seeing them live in the refec at Bangor Uni back in 79. A good stereo should make crap sound like crap, and not sanitise it to the point that it sounds good. You can't polish a turd.

Posted on: 26 September 2013 by hafler3o

Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

I've loved their music since seeing them live in the refec at Bangor Uni back in 79.

Lucky man.. I never saw them live, a major regret (along with never seeing Talking Heads) but made up for the latter by seeing David Byrne live twice. Red Lorry / Yellow Lorry played at our Poly., decided to miss them and get an education instead (no regrets there!)

Posted on: 26 September 2013 by hafler3o

Originally Posted by Justin9960:

Each to their own!

Get both and hit 'party mode'!

Posted on: 26 September 2013 by Roman Kozyrev

Hi everyone!
UQ2 for bedroom might become very popular solution now. How does it sounds on LOW volumes? What pair of speakers can be recommended for low volume mellow jazz?

Posted on: 26 September 2013 by hafler3o

Originally Posted by Roman Kozyrev:

Hi everyone!
UQ2 for bedroom might become very popular solution now. How does it sounds on LOW volumes? What pair of speakers can be recommended for low volume mellow jazz?

Hi Roman,

I have my Qute2 in the bedroom, low volume at night (20 to 23 on readout) using PMC DB1i mini-monitors. Really well balanced across the frequency range, still has bass well proportioned etc. and copes with all styles.

Posted on: 27 September 2013 by Justin9960

Originally Posted by hafler3o:

Originally Posted by Justin9960:

Each to their own!

Get both and hit 'party mode'!

If the SuperUniti2 has improved headphone SQ (as V1/SN2 etc) then I might do just that! Qute2 would then move to the study or bedroom. Particularly if the sound followed the SuperNait to SuperNait2 path (more open/faster etc).

Posted on: 28 September 2013 by pedromarmot

Originally Posted by hafler3o:

Originally Posted by Roman Kozyrev:

Hi everyone!
UQ2 for bedroom might become very popular solution now. How does it sounds on LOW volumes? What pair of speakers can be recommended for low volume mellow jazz?

Hi Roman,

hafler3o what speaker cable you use with your PMC speakers?

thank you very much.

Posted on: 28 September 2013 by hungryhalibut

It's in Hafler's profile: Linn cable, which is basically the same as Naim's NAC A4. I use Chord Odyssey 2 with my GB1s, which works very well too.

Posted on: 28 September 2013 by pedromarmot

Thank you very much.

Posted on: 28 September 2013 by hafler3o

Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

It's in Hafler's profile: Linn cable, which is basically the same as Naim's NAC A4.

That's the stuff! Thanks for replying on my behalf HH (too busy trying to suss French regs. regarding "fosse septique" replacement) It looks like the equivalent cost of a NAP 300 will be buried in our new front garden to keep Monsieur Maire happy

Pedromarmot, as soon as we've measured up mid Oct. I'll get some NACA5 or Chord O. for the new house layout (Linn K4 is likely to be too short unfortunately) and let you know if there's any sonic gains, by 'running it in' here. Now it's nearly midnight, time to swap my SU fuse around, I like to keep the b*gger guessing