Qute vs NDX for Wireless Streaming

Posted by: Obsessed1 on 08 May 2011

I have a UQ connected to my main system which is used primarily for wireless streaming from a UServe in another room.  I also use the UQ for FM and internet radio (actually, more than I thought I would use it for these sources).

 

Both FM and iRadio sound very good, though not to the same quality as the LP12 or Ayre CDP.

 

As for streaming, the sound is very polite and more than adequate for background listening.  For critical listening, streaming seems somewhat compressed and lacking in dynamics compared to vinyl and cd/sacd.

 

My question is whether anyone has compared the NDX to the UnitiQute for streaming only wirelessly?  If I were to upgrade to an NDX would there be any appreciable step up in quality, or is the wireless streaming such a bottleneck that the NDX really wouldn't bring any appreciable (or at least a dollar-appropriate) increase in sound quality?  Streaming is via Airport Extreme.

 

(I do know ethernet connection is strongly advised but simply can't be accomodated in my house/system).

Posted on: 08 May 2011 by Steven Shaw

I would think an NDX would be better by a fair amount. Best think to do would be to go to a dealer and try and have a listen.

Posted on: 08 May 2011 by Obsessed1

Would love to give it a try, but the dealer hasn't brought in a NDX to try out.  I will see what I can do to pressure him to bring it in, but would love to hear others' experiences first.

Posted on: 08 May 2011 by DavidDever
What are you feeding the UnitiQute into? Have you set the Speakers size to "None" (if using into another preamp)? What about AV bypass on your preamp if this is the case?
Posted on: 08 May 2011 by DavidDever

Try using a current-model (dual-band 2.4 + 5 GHz a/b/g/n) AirPort Express, connected via Ethernet (be careful of the location of this device relative to sensitive mains leads) and see what you think.

Posted on: 08 May 2011 by Obsessed1

OK.  Was kind of wondering if I could somehow press an Airport Express into service.  I'm really keen to find out if someone has done a head-to-head of the UQ vs. NDX via analogue out. 

 

In answer to Dave's question, I have set speakers to "None" but I don't want to set the preamp to pass-through.  Volume on the UQ is set to the Naim-recommended 65 using UQ as a source.

Posted on: 09 May 2011 by BobV

I just listened to this comparison demo at my dealer Pro Musica in Chicago. 

 

The UnitiServe SSD was a constant,  serving a range of high-resolution files to the UnitiQute and the NDX with the digital output to the Naim DAC.

 

Some of the high resolution files included digital transfers of original vinyl.

 

 

The NDX was a winner without a doubt when A-B comparisons were made, but I must absolutely note that what Naim has achieved in terms of digital sound is spectacular regardless of whether one is listening to the UnitiQute or the NDX.  I really can no longer say that digital (at least done by Naim) has any deficiencies.  They've nailed it.

 

The choice between the UnitiQute and NDX is really about features and price.  I bought the UnitiQute.

Posted on: 09 May 2011 by DavidDever
Originally Posted by Obsessed1:

OK.  Was kind of wondering if I could somehow press an Airport Express into service.  I'm really keen to find out if someone has done a head-to-head of the UQ vs. NDX via analogue out. 

 

In answer to Dave's question, I have set speakers to "None" but I don't want to set the preamp to pass-through.  Volume on the UQ is set to the Naim-recommended 65 using UQ as a source.

Using AV bypass on the preamp will sound significantly better, from an impedance perspective. Don't be afraid–try it and see; this makes it an A-B-B+ demo, for sure, but will give the UnitiQute the best possible environment in which to function.

 

If, on the other hand, it's a non-Naim preamp with AV bypass or unity gain inputs, well–cannot help you there.

Posted on: 09 May 2011 by Obsessed1
Originally Posted by BobV:

The NDX was a winner without a doubt when A-B comparisons were made, but I must absolutely note that what Naim has achieved in terms of digital sound is spectacular regardless of whether one is listening to the UnitiQute or the NDX.  I really can no longer say that digital (at least done by Naim) has any deficiencies.  They've nailed it.

 

The choice between the UnitiQute and NDX is really about features and price.  I bought the UnitiQute.

So can I assume that while the NDX had better sound quality, for you, the increased cost was not worth the incremental gain over the UnitiQute?

Posted on: 09 May 2011 by Augusto Giusti
Try not to use Airport Express as it only can stream 16bits/44.1 so, any high resolution file is useless.
Posted on: 10 May 2011 by BobV
Yes, the NDX had better sound, but the marginal difference was not enough to overcome the additional all-in-one advantages of the UQ and cost.
Trust me, both sound fabulous with high resolution sources.   In a critical listening room comparison the NDX is better, but that's not 99% of my listetning. 
Originally Posted by Obsessed1:
Originally Posted by BobV:

The NDX was a winner without a doubt when A-B comparisons were made, but I must absolutely note that what Naim has achieved in terms of digital sound is spectacular regardless of whether one is listening to the UnitiQute or the NDX.  I really can no longer say that digital (at least done by Naim) has any deficiencies.  They've nailed it.

 

The choice between the UnitiQute and NDX is really about features and price.  I bought the UnitiQute.

So can I assume that while the NDX had better sound quality, for you, the increased cost was not worth the incremental gain over the UnitiQute?

Posted on: 10 May 2011 by Rich27
Originally Posted by Augusto Giusti:
Try not to use Airport Express as it only can stream 16bits/44.1 so, any high resolution file is useless.

Doesn't that only apply to the the digital output on the Airport Express? I would have thought if you were connecting the Airport Express by ethernet to your NDX or UQ you would get the max possible via upnp (which is I think 24/96).

 

Please could somebody confirm?

Posted on: 10 May 2011 by Tog

If you are just using it as a router for a SB or UPnP source - if you are using it to stream via DAAP then you are limited.

 

Tog

Posted on: 11 May 2011 by Steven Shaw
Originally Posted by Rich27:
Originally Posted by Augusto Giusti:
Try not to use Airport Express as it only can stream 16bits/44.1 so, any high resolution file is useless.

Doesn't that only apply to the the digital output on the Airport Express? I would have thought if you were connecting the Airport Express by ethernet to your NDX or UQ you would get the max possible via upnp (which is I think 24/96).

 

Please could somebody confirm?


Using the Airport express as a wireless bridge and feeding the ethernet from the airport to a naim streamer will allow hi res files to be played via UPNP.