Original Uniti Update

Posted by: Ellsworth on 18 May 2015

Afternoon all. Im sending my original Uniti into the dealer tomorrow for the 24bit/192kHz upgrade. I deliberated about upgrading to a Uniti 2 but Id rather spend the extra cash on a power amp upgrade as I think that upgrade route will offer the most flexibility - especially with the rate in which Naim are developing their streaming products.

 

So the question is apart from spotify connect, will the upgrade allow me to use multiroom too? Ive searched and the results to this specific question seem ambiguous. The dealer didn't know either! Im assuming it won't include the bluetooth upgrade too as that will need BT hardware? Thanks in advance.

Posted on: 18 May 2015 by Solid Air

Don't know, probably yes . . . but the dealer certainly should know before accepting your money. If it were me I'd want to know what I'm buying, and any dealer worth their salt should be able to tell you.

 

Defo won't do Bluetooth.

 

So you're planning to bypass the power amp section of the Uniti? To significantly better the Uniti power amp you'll probably need a NAP200 at least. There's a lot of waste in that approach, ie the original board of the Uniti and the redundant Uniti power amp section. Might be worth comparing it to a 172xs/155sx which has no redundancy, as well as a Uniti 2, Nait/ND5 and SuperUniti, maybe 2nd hand, before opting for the board upgrade.

 

Posted on: 18 May 2015 by Ellsworth
Thanks Solid Air. Ill push the dealer tomorrow morning when I drop it off. Main reason for the upgrade is to continue getting the firmware updates as my dealer reckons the older hardware is no longer supported by Naim. Ill use the spotify occasionally - I mainly stream FLACs to the system. At under 400 quid it seemed a useful cost effective upgrade?
 
Yes Im planning to bypass the power amp on the Uniti. I tested my unity with a NAP 250 and I was gobsmacked at the sound. My logic was that not only was I getting a much richer and deeper sound but the NAP 250 is a lifetime buy which I can add other elements too at a later date - such as a 172xs as you suggest. I bought the original Uniti as a lifetime investment and now its no longer supported!
 
Back on thread, anyone else know if multiform is included in the 24/192 board upgrade?
 
 
 
Originally Posted by Solid Air:

Don't know, probably yes . . . but the dealer certainly should know before accepting your money. If it were me I'd want to know what I'm buying, and any dealer worth their salt should be able to tell you.

 

Defo won't do Bluetooth.

 

So you're planning to bypass the power amp section of the Uniti? To significantly better the Uniti power amp you'll probably need a NAP200 at least. There's a lot of waste in that approach, ie the original board of the Uniti and the redundant Uniti power amp section. Might be worth comparing it to a 172xs/155sx which has no redundancy, as well as a Uniti 2, Nait/ND5 and SuperUniti, maybe 2nd hand, before opting for the board upgrade.

 

 

Posted on: 18 May 2015 by gert
Originally Posted by Ellsworth:
Main reason for the upgrade is to continue getting the firmware updates as my dealer reckons the older hardware is no longer supported by Naim. 

This is new to me. The firmware 4.1 cannot be applied to the uniti1 because of a bug that you will hit. See https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...date-failed-fault-61 But the german support had told me that in the next firmware version this bug will be fixed. They said that they already had a beta version of the new firmware and tested that it works with the old uniti... So I am waiting for it. 

 

"NAP250 and deeper sound"

This sounds very interesting. Do you mean deeper in bass or deeper in 3D depth somehow?

Posted on: 19 May 2015 by Doctor Fokker

I had my original Uniti upgraded to the 24/192 board, multi room works great with when used along with my Qute.

 

i thought firmware 4.1 could be applied to all the Uniti products including the original models, 4.1 does not support use of the n-link iPod cable.

Posted on: 20 May 2015 by Ellsworth
Hi Gert. Yes deeper 3D depth. Im not sure what the technical term is but the sound felt more 'luxurious'. It was staggering.
 
My dealer suggested the origional Uniti would not be supported with future software updates. I cannot confirm if this is true or not.
 
Anyway, the new board is installed. It took 1 working day to turn it around and cost £331 so Im happy with the service. I can confirm multiroom is now on my original Unity along with 192 capability and spotify etc. Im streaming via an apple macbook pro with asset upnp to an airport time machine acting as router and it works seamlessly until I play a 24/192 Flac and then it stutters a little. This must be due to the larger file streaming so I now need to find a way to pull a CAT 5 through my house to hard wire the Uniti. Very happy and thanks for the advice.
 
Originally Posted by gert:
Originally Posted by Ellsworth:
Main reason for the upgrade is to continue getting the firmware updates as my dealer reckons the older hardware is no longer supported by Naim. 

This is new to me. The firmware 4.1 cannot be applied to the uniti1 because of a bug that you will hit. See https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...date-failed-fault-61 But the german support had told me that in the next firmware version this bug will be fixed. They said that they already had a beta version of the new firmware and tested that it works with the old uniti... So I am waiting for it. 

 

"NAP250 and deeper sound"

This sounds very interesting. Do you mean deeper in bass or deeper in 3D depth somehow?

 

Posted on: 20 May 2015 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by Doctor Fokker:

I had my original Uniti upgraded to the 24/192 board, multi room works great with when used along with my Qute.

 

i thought firmware 4.1 could be applied to all the Uniti products including the original models, 4.1 does not support use of the n-link iPod cable.

 

4.1 can be installed on *ANY* Uniti Product that is already running 3.00 or later (if you are on earlier software to that then you should contact us first).

 

There have been *SOME* units that have exhibited a 'Fault 61' error when updated to 4.1 and they can be reverted back to 3.22 and this appears to be a software issue that 4.2 will resolve but otherwise 4.1 can be applied to *ANY* 3.00 or later unit.

 

24/96 units running 4.1 code will not have multiroom or Spotify Connect support but will benefit from the other 4.1 fixes and so I would recommend keeping your units up to date.

 

At this time we have no plans to roll off support for Qute1 or Uniti1 products - the only 'unsupported' facility is the n-Link connector that was used on the very earliest Uniti's and those units can be upgraded to full digital iPod and 24/192 spec if required.

 

Phil

Posted on: 20 May 2015 by Tim F

Good information Phil as to the continuing support of the older Uniti1's. Mine is a newer Uniti with 24/196 board, and I just find it to work fantasticly and have no reason to upgrade to anything else at the moment. Simple box with a lot of good music, I call it the Swiss Army knife of hifi!

 

Tim

Posted on: 20 May 2015 by Phil Harris

I think we do a lot of really good kit but IMO the Qute is one which stands out as definitely punching above its weight ... for a small box it does a lot and does it well.

 

Mind you I also really love my old v-Vi too!

 

Phil 

Posted on: 20 May 2015 by dayjay
Originally Posted by Phil Harris:

I think we do a lot of really good kit but IMO the Qute is one which stands out as definitely punching above its weight ... for a small box it does a lot and does it well.

 

Mind you I also really love my old v-Vi too!

 

Phil 

+1, value or money for my qute 2 is incredible

Posted on: 20 May 2015 by Bert

Phil Harris,

 

1. Firmware 4.1 had the daylight saving time bug (changin the time by 1 hour was not possible). Has this bug been resolved by version 4.2?

 

2. Can firmware version 4.2 be installed on my UnitiQute-1?

Posted on: 21 May 2015 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by Bert:

Phil Harris,

 

1. Firmware 4.1 had the daylight saving time bug (changin the time by 1 hour was not possible). Has this bug been resolved by version 4.2?

 

2. Can firmware version 4.2 be installed on my UnitiQute-1?

 

Hi,

 

Yes and yes...

 

Cheers

 

Phil

Posted on: 21 May 2015 by Bert

Phil,

Great news, thanks. Final question:

 

When will firmware 4.2 be released on your website so we can download and install?

 

Cheers, Bert

Posted on: 21 May 2015 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by Bert:

Phil,

Great news, thanks. Final question:

 

When will firmware 4.2 be released on your website so we can download and install?

 

Cheers, Bert

 

...when it is ready.

 

Cheers

 

Phil