ND5XS vs Unitiqute2 as Streamer

What will this be plugged into?

I'm curious about this as well.  I have a XS2.  Ideally I want the NAC-N272 but that's a ways off. I've always been curious about the SQ between the ND5XS vs the Unitiqute2 going into a XS2, if anyone has done this.

I have an 82, 3rd Party PSU, and 135s driving Kudos Super 20

the issue is that UQ2 does not have a DIN output connector

the signal goes through preamp of UQ2 which cannot be turned off.

However this can be mitigated by using a RCA to Din cable.

I have tried the Uq2 as a source, and it is pretty good. 

If finances are an issue, UQ is a good streamer/source.

I think Edouard has tried the same into 552 and found the Uq quite capable. (look for his posts on this)

The UQ2 is very good as a digital source into a dac although there is a lot of redundancy in that set up.  I tried mine as an analogue source into a Nap100 where it was good and into a SN2 where it was less good. 

dayjay posted:

The UQ2 is very good as a digital source into a dac although there is a lot of redundancy in that set up.  I tried mine as an analogue source into a Nap100 where it was good and into a SN2 where it was less good. 

Agreed.

Prior to upgrading to the NAC-N 272, I temporarily used a Qute2 as a digital source in to a DAC-V1. This proved to be an excellent combination. 

Until funds allow, perhaps the answer is a 2nd hand Qute2 into the your DacMagic which I understand to be excellent for the money. 

Flummoxed posted:

dayjay posted:

The UQ2 is very good as a digital source into a dac although there is a lot of redundancy in that set up.  I tried mine as an analogue source into a Nap100 where it was good and into a SN2 where it was less good. 

Agreed.

Prior to upgrading to the NAC-N 272, I temporarily used a Qute2 as a digital source in to a DAC-V1. This proved to be an excellent combination. 

Until funds allow, perhaps the answer is a 2nd hand Qute2 into the your DacMagic which I understand to be excellent for the money. 

Could you tell me more about that set-up, UQ into DAC. I'm very interested in buying a sh DAC. The UQ pure as a a streamer and then NAP100 into DAC. How about the Naim app. Can it be used in that configuration?

How did you connect the DAC into the UQ?

I connected mine to a Hugo using a Chord Prodac V3 cable and then connected the Hugo to either a power amp or pre/integrated amp.  You use the Naim App just as you would for the UQ2 on its own and the tuner is digitised so you don't lose access to that.  Works really well into a SN2 and into a Nap100 for that matter although you lose remote volume with the latter

I demoed an ND5XS in 2013 into SN2. 

I then bought a UQ2 and an NDX (for different systems of course). 

The UQ2 has all the Naim magic and even if not using the internal amps, it provides a setting to use fixed line level output so it is certainly flexible enough. I might not hesitate to use it as a streaming preamp but as a pure source the ND5XS was comfortably better. There's a considerable difference in transparency on offer via the ND5XS proved you've got the gear to show it off. 

To me, this question is a no brainer.

Pallie posted:

Flummoxed posted:

dayjay posted:

The UQ2 is very good as a digital source into a dac although there is a lot of redundancy in that set up.  I tried mine as an analogue source into a Nap100 where it was good and into a SN2 where it was less good. 

Agreed.

Prior to upgrading to the NAC-N 272, I temporarily used a Qute2 as a digital source in to a DAC-V1. This proved to be an excellent combination. 

Until funds allow, perhaps the answer is a 2nd hand Qute2 into the your DacMagic which I understand to be excellent for the money. 

Could you tell me more about that set-up, UQ into DAC. I'm very interested in buying a sh DAC. The UQ pure as a a streamer and then NAP100 into DAC. How about the Naim app. Can it be used in that configuration?

How did you connect the DAC into the UQ?

I connected the Qute to the DAC-V1 via the BNC on both. The DAC-V1 then just receives the digital output which is unaffected by the Qutes volume control and uses it's own.

I hope that helps

Flummoxed posted:

Pallie posted:

Flummoxed posted:

dayjay posted:

The UQ2 is very good as a digital source into a dac although there is a lot of redundancy in that set up.  I tried mine as an analogue source into a Nap100 where it was good and into a SN2 where it was less good. 

Agreed.

Prior to upgrading to the NAC-N 272, I temporarily used a Qute2 as a digital source in to a DAC-V1. This proved to be an excellent combination. 

Until funds allow, perhaps the answer is a 2nd hand Qute2 into the your DacMagic which I understand to be excellent for the money. 

Could you tell me more about that set-up, UQ into DAC. I'm very interested in buying a sh DAC. The UQ pure as a a streamer and then NAP100 into DAC. How about the Naim app. Can it be used in that configuration?

How did you connect the DAC into the UQ?

I connected the Qute to the DAC-V1 via the BNC on both. The DAC-V1 then just receives the digital output which is unaffected by the Qutes volume control and uses it's own.

I hope that helps

Does it improve the sound of the qute? So in this way you can use the naim app? 

Pallie posted:

Flummoxed posted:

Pallie posted:

Flummoxed posted:

dayjay posted:

The UQ2 is very good as a digital source into a dac although there is a lot of redundancy in that set up.  I tried mine as an analogue source into a Nap100 where it was good and into a SN2 where it was less good. 

Agreed.

Prior to upgrading to the NAC-N 272, I temporarily used a Qute2 as a digital source in to a DAC-V1. This proved to be an excellent combination. 

Until funds allow, perhaps the answer is a 2nd hand Qute2 into the your DacMagic which I understand to be excellent for the money. 

Could you tell me more about that set-up, UQ into DAC. I'm very interested in buying a sh DAC. The UQ pure as a a streamer and then NAP100 into DAC. How about the Naim app. Can it be used in that configuration?

How did you connect the DAC into the UQ?

I connected the Qute to the DAC-V1 via the BNC on both. The DAC-V1 then just receives the digital output which is unaffected by the Qutes volume control and uses it's own.

I hope that helps

Does it improve the sound of the qute? So in this way you can use the naim app? 

To be honest I didn't compare the Qute straight in to my amp against using it as a digital source in to the DAC-V1, so i can't comment. However, I'd presume the DAC-V1 would be a significant improvement over the Qute's DAC and provide an overall increase in SQ.

Yes the Naim app worked well via ethernet. 

You can use the Naim app whichever way you use the qute.  Whether it sounds better using an external dac would depend on the dac used I guess.  To be fair both the dac v1 and the Hugo cost more than the Qute does. Incidentaly, imho, a tweaked Mac mini is a much better transport than a Qute into a dac

I'm using a Qute as a source into my XS2 and I am very pleased with the sound quality.  It's my first foray into streaming and the folks on the forum have been very helpful.  My plan is to use it later as an all in one - which I think is the beauty of it - when I move up to another streamer / DAC.   In my mind the Qute fed by my ipod is the equivalent of my CD5 in terms of sound quality.  I too thought about the ND5XS but didn't see one at a price that seemed reasonable in comparison to the Qute.  

There really is no contest - ND5XS wins.

UQ2 is OK, but on it's own.

By the way - I do hope you are planning on using ND5XS or UQ2 for more than just Spotiy / Tidal e.g. streaming from your home NAS.
Because if not, don't waste your money on either. They are far too good for that.

If you just want to stream Tidal and Spotify I think the Sonos solution might be a very acceptable option.  It is about 350$ USD and has an excellent control application for iOS devices.

On top of my CDS3/555PS, I have a Qute connected to my 552/300/SF Amati Anniversario

The Qute used as a source : streamer, FM, I.radio, usb, works really well, I would even say it sounds awesome, surprisingly good!

Needless to say that the Qute as an "all in one system", sounds fantastic, add 2 good speakers and you are done!

I had a comparative home demo Qute vs ND5XS into the 552/300/SF Amati Anniversario

Yes the bare ND5xs is slightly better, but the difference is really subtle, you can hear at time a difference if you are doing a serious listening. But frankly I wouldn't upgrade a Qute to an ND5XS.

Now if you are thinking of ND5XS/NDAC/XPS2, then it'll be a different game, and a different budget 

But bear in mind that the Qute can be upgraded with a NDAC or NDAC/XPS2