Olives vs Uniti

Having  a NAP 140 going spare, curiosity got the better of me so I tried it with the Uniti2 and I did prefer the combination rather than the Uniti2 on its own. Certainly not blind tested and probably just audio nervosa but I liked the combination. I've now replaced the 140 with a NAP200 which has improved things again. Speakers are Royd Minstrels. Having said all that I started from a lower base than your existing set-up so I would try the Uniti before getting rid of your existing kit, just in case!

I'm not sure how you intend to play the files from your hard drive but I stream mine from a uPnP server.

Thanks for the comments Paulinposset. I'm a novice when it comes to Uniti. I thought that the CD player did what it says; connect an ariel and the Uniti is a tuner and you can set stations and listen to them; connect an iPod and play directly from it. The hard part for me is the harddrive - I imagined that I could plug it into the usb connection and then select tracks from it via the Uniti that would be played by the Uniti without the need for any other kit. Am I wrong about this so that my harddrive full of flacs is not useable? Sorry to be so ill informed!

Nothing will beat separates. Uniti's are OK, but as a one box solution...

Adam Zielinski posted:

Nothing will beat separates. Uniti's are OK, but as a one box solution...

+1

"I imagined that I could plug it into the usb connection and then select tracks from it via the Uniti that would be played by the Uniti without the need for any other kit. Am I wrong about this so that my harddrive full of flacs is not useable?"

You can play files from an Apple iDevice or a USB stick plugged into the front socket but you can't play files from a USB hard drive. The hard drive has to be connected to a networked computer of some sort with uPnP software installed and the Uniti connected to the same network. That's when the fun begins!

An alternative that'll give a much better result than using a Uniti is to use a ND5 XS into the NAC 102.

very good advice, but seems he does want to finance the new unit with the sale of what he has and not to spend money.

Adam Zielinski posted:

Nothing will beat separates. Uniti's are OK, but as a one box solution...

-1

I went from top olive separates to Uniti then Superuniti and I am very happy - streaming means I am listening to more music than ever. I don't miss my CDS2 etc. in the slightest.

Three years ago, I sold a CDS2, 82, Hicap, 250 and NAT02 and downsized to a SuperUniti. It was the only one of the Uniti range that came acceptably close to the previous system. At the same time I ripped my 2,000 CDs and put them in the loft. After two years with the SU I moved up to a 272/250 - a sort of Uniti/separates hybrid. 

My advice would be that you should get the Uniti if you want fewer boxes, but not if you want better sound. 

You cannot plug your USB drive into the Uniti and play the albums - I've just tried it with my 272 and it doesn't work. What you'd need to do is get a NAS and transfer the albums onto it, keeping the USB drive as a backup. A NAS playing into the Uniti will sound better than its inbuilt CD player, so bear that in mind. 

I suspect a SuperUniti would better what you have now, and would replace everything, but then you'd need a NAS, and would need to rip all your CDs. 

Incidentally, if you sold the 102, the Hicap could go as well. With the sale of that and the 140 you could get a used 200, which would match the Uniti very nicely. 

So, if I had your system, would I swap it for a Uniti if I didn't want to reduce boxes or release cash? No, I wouldn't. A SuperUniti, on the other hand, would be a different matter. 

You could sell the cdx and buy a used UnitiQute 2 and use it as a source only you would need to rip your cd's but the UQ2 will play from a usb stick or a Nas, you could even sell everything accept the 140 and connect the UQ into that using the Qutes pre amp section. The Qute really is the most versatile piece of hifi of any brand I ever owned and it will enable all sorts of different combinations on its own as an all in one player and as I have already said solely as a source or as source and pre into a power amp.

Bob the Builder posted:

You could sell the cdx and buy a used UnitiQute 2 and use it as a source only you would need to rip your cd's but the UQ2 will play from a usb stick or a Nas, you could even sell everything accept the 140 and connect the UQ into that using the Qutes pre amp section. The Qute really is the most versatile piece of hifi of any brand I ever owned and it will enable all sorts of different combinations on its own as an all in one player and as I have already said solely as a source or as source and pre into a power amp.

i'm on this boat.

My dealer also advised me playing from a NAS would sound better than playing from USB. Perhaps I do not own resolute enough speakers but the differences are marginal at best. And the SU does play from USB a plethora of file types, including DSDs which sound incredibly good.

I'd be interested in their justification for that.  From a technical perspective, USB from a memory stick in the front panel with all other unnecessary cables disconnected should give the best sound quality.  However, with a properly implemented network, playback should be virtually indistinguishable (and this is certainly the case with my system now I've dealt with the RFI issues on the network).