Naim Uniti (1st gen) & Nap 100 - Is this partnership possible?

You could simply add a cd player, either via analogue in or optical/coax into the uq. Are you biamping with the nap100 or using it "solo"?

I am currently using a Uniti 1 with NAP250. There is a DIN preamp out which connects to the power amp. It's quite a neat solution although not as good a streamer as ND5XS.

jatr

Welcome back, Lewis. If you want to add CD, I'd just get a Rega Apollo, or whatever their latest is. I certainly don't see any point is swapping the Qute to the Uniti. Anyway, it wouldn't give extra oomph, as you would have to use the amp in either the Uniti or the 100. You need to think carefully what you are trying to achieve, to avoid lots of boxes and potential redundancy. Do you really need a CD player if everything is on a hard drive. Probably not. 

Thanks guys.

Well ideally I don't want another box, hence the concept of swapping out the Qute for the Uniti you see.  So even on the Qute, is it just using the power from the Nap 100 rather than the Qute too?  I have the Nap next to my Sondek and don't want to change the appearance you see, it's noce and neat.  Also re the connecting cable, the Qute uses a Din to phono, assume i'd need to get a din to din for the Uniti?  Hmm it's never easy is it!

I think your own suggestion of a Uniti makes total sense if you want a CD player. At 70W, a Uniti 2 has more power than either a Qute or a NAP100. (Maybe the Uniti 1 was only 60W?? Still more than a 100 though.) So everything you need in one box. Not sure if you're using a Stageline, but if so, it will power that too. 

The Unit1 is 2x50W

Ok cheers gents.  So are my old SBL's 4 or 8 ohms do we know?�� I assume the Uniti 1 would power them @ 50W per channel. So there's be no point at all keeping the nap 100 then? Perhaps I could use he finds towards a better phono stage for the LP12? Don't Naim do a fancy one above the stage line that looks pretty much like the Nap 100 (I'm sure they do but cannot remember what they're called). 

There is potential to throw the baby out with the bath water here. The amp in the uniti is basically a Nait 5i, so it's got to ge doubtful whether a Uniti is better than the Qute/100. Why not just add a CD player, if indeed you really need one?

Another thing to be aware ... if you swap from the UnitiQute 2 to the original NaimUniti (non 24/192 upgraded) you are going to find some functionality missing.  Not sure exactly but the Uniti v2 streaming hardware added functionality such as Spotify and lately Tidal.

+1 to Hungryhalibut (IMO)

Good point about missing functionality on a Uniti 1. I believe it can have a hardware upgrade to give 24/192, multiroom and Tidal if you want it, but it would be at a cost.

Regarding phono stages, depending on the spec. of your turntable, I would suggest that a Stageline would be nice, but that a Superfine, at over £2000 new, might be overkill. 

I'd get a Naim Uniti 2. I'm slightly biased having purchased one recently but it's a fair bit better than the 'original' better sounding CD player etc 24/192 there is Spotify if you must and Tidal too.. Oh and BBC Web Radio which is rather good.. 

If you look around you can get hold of an 'old' stock U2 for a good price.

thanks again guys.  Really I only use Spotify and the harddrive on my Qute, so as long as the Uniti 1 has the Spotify connect function that's all i'd need.  Thing is I can pick up a Uniti 1for under a grand, whereas a 2 is over 2K!  Hmm you've definitely got me thinking.  I didn't want to add boxes and I don't like things mismatching.  The other option is a unitiserve but then it's another box (albeit a small one).  What do we think to that?

Bad idea! Very bad idea indeed. 

Think about this - you have a great turntable and great speakers. Surely they deserve at least a uniti2? You could sell the Qute and the 100. But...

If you just want a CD player, how about a used CD5x? But why...

The Uniti 1 needs to go back to Salisbury to get an upgrade to run Spotify  and given the likely vintage of a Uniti 1 - I have a late one which I think was 2012 - and the cost of an upgrade (c £300) I would agree with Hungryhalibut add a CD player or swap to uniti2.

jatr

Lewis posted:

thanks again guys.  Really I only use Spotify and the harddrive on my Qute, so as long as the Uniti 1 has the Spotify connect function that's all i'd need.  Thing is I can pick up a Uniti 1for under a grand, whereas a 2 is over 2K!  Hmm you've definitely got me thinking.  I didn't want to add boxes and I don't like things mismatching.  The other option is a unitiserve but then it's another box (albeit a small one).  What do we think to that?

I like my Unitiserve, but they cost over 2K, which is more than you're prepared to spend on a Uniti 2. So in the context of your system, rather expensive. Also, you mention that you have a hard drive of some sort already, so don't you have that one covered already?

So are we 100% sure the Uniti 1 cannot do Spotify connect? 

Only 24/192 capable streamers can play Spotify Connect. If this one doesn't have it, it would need a hardware upgrade. 

ChrisSU posted:

Only 24/192 capable streamers can play Spotify Connect. If this one doesn't have it, it would need a hardware upgrade. 

Ok thank you

Thanks for all the advice guys. I think you've convinced me (and rightly so) to abandon the Uniti 1st gen idea. With regard to buying a separate CDP or would need a digital output to rub via the Qute right? I don't have space for a full size box but something like the Cyrus could work? Black to match the Naim obviously. What do we think? 

You can either connect to the Qute's analogue input or digital.  Its down to which you prefer.

The Rega Apollo-r is an alternative to the Cyrus which would match with the Qute.

Alternatively Cyrus will sell you a CD transport to connect to the digital input.

I still think a Uniti would be a good solution, but maybe a Uniti 2 would be worth hunting out. Then you have a CD player, the Spotify compatibility you want, and a fair bit of extra power which I suspect will get much more performance from your speakers. Of course there's nothing wrong with just adding a CD player, and it's a cheaper, easier short term solution, but then you have 3 non-matching boxes instead of one higher performing one. 

If you're patient you might get a good used Uniti 2 for under 2K. Then if you sell the Qute and 100, it won't cost more than adding a CD player.

(None of my business, but just out of curiosity, why do you want a CD player!)

Eloise posted:

You can either connect to the Qute's analogue input or digital.  Its down to which you prefer.

The Rega Apollo-r is an alternative to the Cyrus which would match with the Qute.

Alternatively Cyrus will sell you a CD transport to connect to the digital input.

Ok thanks. Well my analogue input is being used by the nap I think, I actually can't remember how many outputs I have in the rear. I also have a phone stage too hence why I thought the only available one is the digital out?

ChrisSU posted:

I still think a Uniti would be a good solution, but maybe a Uniti 2 would be worth hunting out. Then you have a CD player, the Spotify compatibility you want, and a fair bit of extra power which I suspect will get much more performance from your speakers. Of course there's nothing wrong with just adding a CD player, and it's a cheaper, easier short term solution, but then you have 3 non-matching boxes instead of one higher performing one. 

If you're patient you might get a good used Uniti 2 for under 2K. Then if you sell the Qute and 100, it won't cost more than adding a CD player.

(None of my business, but just out of curiosity, why do you want a CD player!)

i burned all my music to a hard drive but I find I just don't listen to it now. Spotify or Naim radio (radio paradise) is all I use. The physical act of searching out and putting on a cd means I'm more likely to listen to them. I used to have a CDP and did that, whereas now it's all digital I just don't tend to ever listen to them, it's bad!

A Uniti 1 does not have the Spotify connect and that's really important to me.  I guess a Uniti 2 would be a worthwhile upgrade but I've read these have had more problems than the first gen one, and also would it be THAT much more powerful than my nap 100 and Qute, which is already ridiculously loud for what it is!

Naim really ought to make a shoe box size CDP to match the Qute, I can't believe they don't!

If the music is all ripped I don't see why you just don't get on and play it. Why spend £800 or whatever on a CD player for no sonic gain. 

Lewis posted:

Eloise posted:

You can either connect to the Qute's analogue input or digital.  Its down to which you prefer.

The Rega Apollo-r is an alternative to the Cyrus which would match with the Qute.

Alternatively Cyrus will sell you a CD transport to connect to the digital input.

Ok thanks. Well my analogue input is being used by the nap I think, I actually can't remember how many outputs I have in the rear. I also have a phone stage too hence why I thought the only available one is the digital out? 

Naim really ought to make a shoe box size CDP to match the Qute, I can't believe they don't!

If you're using a phono stage then that will be connected to the (only) analogue input.  Your NAP will be connected to the pre-amp (analogue) output.

So yes the digital input makes the most sense - most CD players (including the Rega I mentioned) have a digital output. One (budget) option is to use something like a DVD player to spin your CDs connected to the digital input (but the Rega looks better IMO).

Other half width options include Pro-ject's "Box" range and second hand older Cyrus players and Musical Fidelity.