Unitiqute vs Superuniti

I have owned both and no doubt the SU is better in every respect, particularly on analogue inputs. However, I recently upgraded other pieces in main system and put the 200 amp with the UQ and was stunned how good the combination was. Go for a used 200 and keep the UQ as streaming preamp. You won't regret it.

I own the SU for almost a year now and have tested it against a few other boxes, including UQ. SU gets you tighter bass and faster response especially on less sensitive speakers (the bigger the speakers the more difference in authority between the two) but sounds somewhat metallic in comparison to UQ which sounds warmer and more enjoyable in my view. UQ looks better too

My Qute (since departed) saw off my SuperUniti (long departed) due to being more open and musical and simply more fun to listen to.

So the Qute, the entry level in the Uniti family, sound better than the SU, the top on the Unitis box. A more powerful amp, a better pre amp section and a much better streamer board have no reason to exist, Naim make waste money to those Who want to invest more funds to get the best. Mamma mia what strange world the people audiophile

In my experience yes. I've owned both for some time, your experience may differ. Maybe it was a case of the SuperUniti having too much bass for my room!!

Kermit posted:

In my experience yes. I've owned both for some time, your experience may differ. Maybe it was a case of the SuperUniti having too much bass for my room!!

No, I have no experience with UQ, and I have no doubt about your experience anyway

I upgraded from a Unitilite to a Superuniti and the difference was massive in a positive way ! The Superuniti is an awesome bit of kit driving my Allaes.

( just my two penneth worth )

Nick

I've owned both (SU & UQ2) for 18 months. My experience is that the UQ gives a nice listen in the bedroom, teamed with Iotas, but can't hold a candle to the SU's performance. Night and day, chalk and cheese, call it what you will. The SU outperforms the UQ exponentially. Period.

In your opinion, of cause. Hopefully you are conscientious enough to realise that others will have their own conclusions.

I owned an SU very happily for two years, but would admit that it's not the most engaging or subtle thing Naim make, and I can quite understand how people may prefer the little Qute. One cannot say simply that X is better than Y, and that's that. What if people prefer Y to X? 

Kermit posted:

In your opinion, of cause. Hopefully you are conscientious enough to realise that others will have their own conclusions.

It's a forum. 'IMHO' isn't needed. It's a given that all posts are the opinions of the individual posting. There are undoubtedly those who prefer the sound produced by an iPod to that of an A&K 380 - I didn't state my preference was better than that of the contributor who prefers the sound of the UQ. Simply my opinion. Take it or leave it. I'll still sleep tonight.

Oh dear, I agree, IMHO isn't needed, but it is good etiquette to respect others opinion, rather than state your own as being the only opinion. But then I'm getting the feeling you and etiquette are perhaps not very familiar with each other!! Enjoy your nights sleep. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

I owned an SU very happily for two years, but would admit that it's not the most engaging or subtle thing Naim make, and I can quite understand how people may prefer the little Qute. One cannot say simply that X is better than Y, and that's that. What if people prefer Y to X? 

It would be interesting to know in what the SU is great and in what is not engaging. What did you like and what you disappointed in your experience.

In my experience I consider the SU a wonderfully refined piece of kit, powerful and versatile, when someone is disappointed then I am afraid that has not measured its high capacity with high-level speakers. I listened the SU with PMC 20/23 (good but modest) and fact 8 for a test: It seemed another world. I can understand that with modest speaker the UQ is more suitable. I would try a SU and a UQ with very good speakers, which one is the winner

Kermit posted:

Oh dear, I agree, IMHO isn't needed, but it is good etiquette to respect others opinion, rather than state your own as being the only opinion. But then I'm getting the feeling you and etiquette are perhaps not very familiar with each other!! Enjoy your nights sleep. 

Lighten up! Where did I state mine was the only opinion? Where and how did I disrespect(?) anyone else's opinion. Stop being so pompous and just enjoy variety of opinion and experience. 

Anto68 posted:

In my experience I consider the SU a wonderfully refined piece of kit, powerful and versatile, when someone is disappointed then I am afraid that has not measured its high capacity with high-level speakers. I listened the SU with PMC 20/23 (good but modest) and fact 8 for a test: It seemed another world. I can understand that with modest speaker the UQ is more suitable. I would try a SU and a UQ with very good speakers, which one is the winner

I had ART Alnico 8 speakers.

Timmo1341 posted:

I've owned both (SU & UQ2) for 18 months. My experience is that the UQ gives a nice listen in the bedroom, teamed with Iotas, but can't hold a candle to the SU's performance. Night and day, chalk and cheese, call it what you will. The SU outperforms the UQ exponentially. Period.

... is the right answer.

hafler3o posted:

Timmo1341 posted:

I've owned both (SU & UQ2) for 18 months. My experience is that the UQ gives a nice listen in the bedroom, teamed with Iotas, but can't hold a candle to the SU's performance. Night and day, chalk and cheese, call it what you will. The SU outperforms the UQ exponentially. Period.

... is the right answer.

Agree - I actually run both. 

But UQ is a nice little unit though. Quite cute

Adam Zielinski posted:

hafler3o posted:

Timmo1341 posted:

I've owned both (SU & UQ2) for 18 months. My experience is that the UQ gives a nice listen in the bedroom, teamed with Iotas, but can't hold a candle to the SU's performance. Night and day, chalk and cheese, call it what you will. The SU outperforms the UQ exponentially. Period.

... is the right answer.

Agree - I actually run both. 

But UQ is a nice little unit though. Quite cute

As someone who own's both....the SU is almost 3 times the cost of the UQ.  I remember going from a Rega 3 to an LP 12 and being amazed at all the things that I'd never heard before.  Would it be something like that or more subtle?   Maybe some more separation with instruments?  How does it sound with digital that is slightly compressed?

KenRose posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

hafler3o posted:

Timmo1341 posted:

I've owned both (SU & UQ2) for 18 months. My experience is that the UQ gives a nice listen in the bedroom, teamed with Iotas, but can't hold a candle to the SU's performance. Night and day, chalk and cheese, call it what you will. The SU outperforms the UQ exponentially. Period.

... is the right answer.

Agree - I actually run both. 

But UQ is a nice little unit though. Quite cute

As someone who own's both....the SU is almost 3 times the cost of the UQ.  I remember going from a Rega 3 to an LP 12 and being amazed at all the things that I'd never heard before.  Would it be something like that or more subtle?   Maybe some more separation with instruments?  How does it sound with digital that is slightly compressed?

Unfortunately I cannot quantify the difference. But like with all things Naim, one gets what one pays for.

I've re-read your post and what strikes me: why change your UQ? Is it broken? I certainly would not change mine for an Atom, just becasue this is the newest piece of kit.

If you are lookng for a 'night and day' improvement they only way to go is either a dedicated streamer and an amp or N272 with a power amp. That is probably not an answer you were looking for, though.

Kermit posted:

Anto68 posted:

In my experience I consider the SU a wonderfully refined piece of kit, powerful and versatile, when someone is disappointed then I am afraid that has not measured its high capacity with high-level speakers. I listened the SU with PMC 20/23 (good but modest) and fact 8 for a test: It seemed another world. I can understand that with modest speaker the UQ is more suitable. I would try a SU and a UQ with very good speakers, which one is the winner

I had ART Alnico 8 speakers.

Unusual system balance! £10,000 (min) speakers, £1,300 (or £3,800 SU) source and amplification? What was your rationale? What are you running through the ARTs now, or have those gone as well? Can't see any details of your system in your profile.

 Would it be something like that or more subtle?   Maybe some more separation with instruments?  How does it sound with digital that is slightly compressed?

Well as far as poor recordings go you will get to hear them in all their glorious poorness!

But it was ever thus, a radio programme of limited bandwidth and dynamics can be enjoyed if the right compromises are chosen in replay (a large mono radio). The Qute fails to drive larger speakers as well as the SU, sounding 'weak' in the bass instead of being able to take advantage of their extra sensitivity to bloom. The Qutes sound is cultured and softly rolled off at either end with limited attack. Certain material like Pan Sonic's track 'Voltos Bolt' will be relayed without the transient judder, dynamics or full-frequency assault that the SU is capable of. Swapping the SU and either of the Qutes in my listening room is simply not an option, I want to feel the organ pipes in Yes's 'Awaken' and the Qute cannot make progressive rock as tangibly exciting or unravel the multitrack complexities. I do love my Qutes and listened to some techno & grime on them this morning, they sounded great paired with PMC 20.21s but it is only side-by-side with the SU where the bubble of illusion is burst. I'm sure a 272/250DR would put the SU in the shade (maybe for other reasons) and that is how it should be. I look forward to my next hifi 'move' but for now the SU and sattelite one-boxers I have do very nicely for me.

hafler3o posted:

 Would it be something like that or more subtle?   Maybe some more separation with instruments?  How does it sound with digital that is slightly compressed?

Well as far as poor recordings go you will get to hear them in all their glorious poorness!

But it was ever thus, a radio programme of limited bandwidth and dynamics can be enjoyed if the right compromises are chosen in replay (a large mono radio). The Qute fails to drive larger speakers as well as the SU, sounding 'weak' in the bass instead of being able to take advantage of their extra sensitivity to bloom. The Qutes sound is cultured and softly rolled off at either end with limited attack. Certain material like Pan Sonic's track 'Voltos Bolt' will be relayed without the transient judder, dynamics or full-frequency assault that the SU is capable of. Swapping the SU and either of the Qutes in my listening room is simply not an option, I want to feel the organ pipes in Yes's 'Awaken' and the Qute cannot make progressive rock as tangibly exciting or unravel the multitrack complexities. I do love my Qutes and listened to some techno & grime on them this morning, they sounded great paired with PMC 20.21s but it is only side-by-side with the SU where the bubble of illusion is burst. I'm sure a 272/250DR would put the SU in the shade (maybe for other reasons) and that is how it should be. I look forward to my next hifi 'move' but for now the SU and sattelite one-boxers I have do very nicely for me.

Thank you for expressing my sentiments so eloquently.

Adam Zielinski posted:

KenRose posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

hafler3o posted:

Timmo1341 posted:

I've owned both (SU & UQ2) for 18 months. My experience is that the UQ gives a nice listen in the bedroom, teamed with Iotas, but can't hold a candle to the SU's performance. Night and day, chalk and cheese, call it what you will. The SU outperforms the UQ exponentially. Period.

... is the right answer.

Agree - I actually run both. 

But UQ is a nice little unit though. Quite cute

As someone who own's both....the SU is almost 3 times the cost of the UQ.  I remember going from a Rega 3 to an LP 12 and being amazed at all the things that I'd never heard before.  Would it be something like that or more subtle?   Maybe some more separation with instruments?  How does it sound with digital that is slightly compressed?

Unfortunately I cannot quantify the difference. But like with all things Naim, one gets what one pays for.

I've re-read your post and what strikes me: why change your UQ? Is it broken? I certainly would not change mine for an Atom, just becasue this is the newest piece of kit.

If you are lookng for a 'night and day' improvement they only way to go is either a dedicated streamer and an amp or N272 with a power amp. That is probably not an answer you were looking for, though.

First of all thank you everyone for your comments.  My UQ is not broken, but for some reason I don't get that "live music" feel that I hear in other people's systems.  My dealer is suggesting that my room is too big but I'm not sure that is the case.  Perhaps it is my Credo's, although others here seem to really like them.  I listened to a Muso at the dealer and honestly I thought it was more musical than mine.  I have a Muso QB that I brought down to compare to my system and my system is clearly better.  I don't think it's the speakers.  Perhaps I do need some more power.  Buying a used 200 was suggested by someone here but I'm not sure I want to go that route if buying a SU will get me a better front end.  In the old days it was suggested to put a full LP12 setup with a Nait.  Source first...but I'm not sure that rule works in this digital age.

I still believe in 'source first principle'. Works for me and has never let me down.

Perhaps an alternative to a SuperUniti worth considering: pre-loved NDX and a pre-lover SuperNait2.  This will give you: power, flexibility and upgradability (HiCap and XPS). 

The reason for the above is that N272 is still relatively new and not too many can be found on a secondary market. But if you manage to find one - go for it. It will work well with anything from NAP 200 to NAP 300.