Unitiserve Sound Card

Posted by: Timbo39 on 25 August 2015

I know the best answer to this may well be contact Naim support, but I'm only home at weekends so can't follow instructions/let them log on in Real time. I've had and loved a 2Tb unitiserve for three months used purely in a network server mode. Last weekend I tried to use it in CD play mode with a view to relinquishing my CD5 XS from its very occasional use. No joy - yes I set it to play mode. Looking at system statuses it permanently States that the sound card is initialising. Any thoughts from you guys? No fishy thoughts please ????about replacing it with Nas and Minimserver - SMWMBO hated the Nas route which I took first and months later demanded I bought the U.S. and whilst I was happy with that, I confess to preferring US in respect only of timing of fast percussion eg a hi hat at speed which just sounds more together to me. Not worth the cost, but helps me feel better about the expense! Thanks in anticipation but I shall cry if you flame me!

Posted on: 25 August 2015 by ChrisSU

If you play a CD rather than ripping it, the US can't play it over UPnP to a streamer. It can only send it to its digital output, so you'd need to connect that to an SPDIF input on a streamer or DAC. (Perhaps you already know that - I'm not sure it explains why you get the 'sound card initialising' message?)

Posted on: 25 August 2015 by rjstaines

I didn't think the US had a sound card; I thought this was how the HDX differed from the US. I remember upgrading the sound card and the memory in my HDX quite a while ago, but I don't remember there being any comparable upgrade for a US.

As Chris says, Timbo, you need to feed the digital out from the US into a DAC of some description (DAC, streamer, digital preamp, all-in-one, muso...)

Posted on: 25 August 2015 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

Originally Posted by rjstaines:

As Chris says, Timbo, you need to feed the digital out from the US into a DAC of some description (DAC, streamer, digital preamp, all-in-one, muso...)

... such as one of the digital inputs on your SuperUniti. You'll need a digital cable, with BNC connectors at both ends.

Posted on: 25 August 2015 by Timbo39

Thanks Guys. I did connect direct to my Superuniti but via optical cable, ensuring input enabled on Superuniti. Suspect sound card stTus is just a red herring then. other symptom is that its not just a matter of no sound coming out, n-stream won't even show its "playing", I'll have another play!

Thanks.

Posted on: 26 August 2015 by ChrisSU

The Unitiserve is a Windows computer of sorts, so you might want to try the good old fashioned trick of 'turn it off, then turn it on again', just in case it's having an internal wobbly.

Will the optical digital connection work if you do something other than play a CD, such as play a CD rip, download, or iRadio? If not, you might have a faulty optical cable?

Posted on: 26 August 2015 by Phil Harris

If it is reporting sound card initialising constantly then it will need to go back to your dealer I'm afraid...

Phil

Posted on: 26 August 2015 by Phil Harris

Originally Posted by rjstaines:

As Chris says, Timbo, you need to feed the digital out from the US into a DAC of some description (DAC, streamer, digital preamp, all-in-one, muso...)

It does have a sound card in it - it just doesn't have the high end DACs and analogue audio outputs of the HDX and outputs S/PDIF only.

Cheers

Phil

Posted on: 26 August 2015 by Timbo39

Thank you all for your replies. I think I've tried all the user suggestions already, but I'll have a final try this weekend and assuming no joy I will follow Phil's advice and take the 110 mile round trip to the dealer. Oddly enough even though it was purchased as a result of "domestic encouragement" I have grown to love the US and really don't mind the trip if it needs fixing -or the return trip to collect. That of course has nothing to do with the fact that it's an excuse to expose my lovely wife to a 272/250DR demo which I suspect could be the start of a new era!

Posted on: 27 August 2015 by nudgerwilliams

Originally Posted by Timbo39:

That of course has nothing to do with the fact that it's an excuse to expose my lovely wife to a 272/250DR demo which I suspect could be the start of a new era!

Ahh gotta love a silver lining to a problem!

Posted on: 29 August 2015 by Manu

The HDX has been launched a few years before the UnitiServe. Early HDX needed a new sound card and memory upgrade (mainly to play 192 files reliably). The UnitiServe have got this new card and memory from the begining.

A visit to Bryan is always worth it anyway.

Posted on: 11 September 2015 by Timbo39

Now then things are improving BUT .... So after leaving the unitiserve powered down overnight, the sound card error has disappeared and I can now play stored files via spdif to the SU. However, when I try to play a CD on the unitiserve by switching off rip mode, the CD whirrs and ejects. I've tried several CDs. Any ideas? Only reason for wanting this is to see if I can manage without my CD5XS for the extremely rare times I may need to play a physical CD!!