Unitiqute 2 as streamer

In settings select 'No Speakers'. That should do the job I believe (But what a waste! Will Naim ever bring out the shoebox streamer?).

Regards

Neil

Set the volume on the UQ to 85

Yes, you can select no speakers, I have mine feeding a nap100, but if you don't need a preamp why jot look at one of their stand alone streamers which is where I aim to get via a nap200 and preamp in a year or two?

Thanks very much. Appreciate it.

Just to clarify,

UQ2 set to No Speakers will give you a fixed output at the pre-amp out?  So it can go into any regular integrated amp?

I suppose there may be an issue using the UQ2 with a Naim integrated amp where the remote control would control the volume of both units. Has anyone come across this issue? I'm using my UQ2 to stream into my Lehman Black Cube headphone amp via the pre outs with the UQ2 volume set and use the Lehman's volume control alone.

Do I need to set the volume for UQ2 to 85 like what Hifiman wrote earlier (if yes, why 85? Is that the max/optimum volume level?)?

Has anybody done any comparison between the UQ2 and Nait5i or any Nait5 for that matter?

I ran my UQ1 into my Nait 5i before I sold it just to test. Bigger beefier sound as expected (esp bass) but lost some PRaT in the doing. Sounded a bit sluggish, though bass much bigger and tighter. The new one might have a better bypass gain etc but you'll only know by hearing. Cable choice could make a difference. I used Chord Crimson's for my test.

Now running my UQ through a rebuilt CB NAP 110. Not much more wattage than the UQ but significantly deepened up the sound without losing any of the fun of the UQ. Using Chord Cobra RCA>DIN. They look real cute next to each other too. 

And oh, as long as you are in AV bypass mode to the 5i, then you just set 'no speakers' on the Qute and use the nstream or remote to control the Qute. No idea what this 85 is about.

I have a UnitiQute2 linked to my Nait5i into the tuner input. The speakers are turned off and the volume max set at 85.

I purchased the UQ a few weeks ago as an introduction to streaming and I’m very pleased with the result. Prior to purchase I listened to the ND5 XS, Uniti2 and SuperUniti. The SU with S400 speakers was fantastic, the NDS XS feeding a Nait5i and the Uniti2 did not sound any different to the UQ to my ears. I have Ariva speakers, the UQ connected to the speakers sounds good but lacks the power and depth of running it through the Nait5i. I plan to audition the UQ with the NAP100 and NAP200, both of which appear to be available ex-demo, I’m interested to hear how this would compare with my current setup.

I’m using a Synology DS114 NAS with a 1TB drive. I ripped using dbPoweramp to uncompressed FLAC on a Seagate USB drive and did a batch convert to convert the FLAC to WAV on the Synology.

I’m really impressed with the n-Stream app running on an iPad mini. This configuration has transformed listening to music, it is so convenient.

Going back to the original question, why get a Qute, which is an all in one, and use only a small part of it? For a bit more, you could get an exdem ND5XS, which is a dedicated source that will simply connect to the Nait and off you go.

I was new to streaming and had no idea if it was going to work! I managed to get a good deal on the UQ2 so decided to give it a go. If things didn’t work out I could move the Qute to my study to replace an old Denon unit. Another advantage of the Qute is the DAB and internet radio.

You are right about a dedicated source, I’m sure this would ultimately be the best solution, or maybe a SuperUniti !

David, I wasn't questioning your decision, rather I was making a suggestion to ZZtop. I can heartily recommend the SuperUniti, which is a neat solution that sounds really good.

it somehow seems more sensible than adding a power amp to the Qute. 

If you opt for the ND5XS you don't get an FM/DAB tuner unless you pay the extra.

The UQ offers so much for the money even if you don't use the inbuilt amp.

Richard Dane many months ago on another thread suggested the optimal volume level is 85.

I find optimum volume to be more like 90... also you can set the Q2 volume at start up to only respond to the Q2 remote and not the standard remote for other preamps. I use my Q2 as a streamer input to my 252/300 set up and it's really very good.

Have you tried one of the dedicated streamers into your 252/300 by any chance?  I'm looking to bring in a 202/200 at some stage and can't make my mind up whether to keep my UQ2 or sell it on and bring in a dedicated streamer

Unfortunately the cost to go from UQ2 to ND5XS is an additional 50%.  The better solution is definitely the nd5xs, but the additional cost could be prohibitive to some (me).  Wish they would make an entry level streamer , a UQ2 without the amp or analog input at a lower cost.  This seems unlikely. 

Thanks again everybody for the support. Like David, I've been offered a good deal for an ex demo UQ2. For streaming, I'm currently using Logitech Squeezebox Touch (with Arcam rDAC) feeding to the tuner input on my Nait5i. At the moment don't think I can afford the ND5SX or an SU, do you think its a good idea (sound quality wise) to let go the Nait & replace it with a power amp (entry level). Fyi, I also own a CD5i.

It all depends on your current relationship to your cds. I sold my 5i along with my CD5i and have never looked back and enjoying my collection more than I ever did. Keep in mind that if you were to keep the Cd5i and sell the Nait that you would have only RCA connects and not DIN into the Qute. 

I love the footprint that the Qute and another shoe box amp takes up. Be sure to have a good set of RCA>DIN cables, and a server that can transcode to WAV (or have your files in WAV). Decent ethernet cables and a switch also help with the sound. I say that if you can get the UQ at a good price than you have nothing to lose, whether you keep the Nait or not. 

No, because I want to hang on to my CDS3, so no more room on the Fraim. My Q2 sits by the side of my Fraim rack and just about matches my CDS3 for SQ when I play well recorded CD material in FLAC. Given that the music I like to play is 16 bit CD quality, can't see that a more expensive streamer would give me better SQ (the medium being the limiting factor) and would need to get rid of my CDS3 to get it on the Fraim.