Uniti Progress Update

No I was just nosing around when the Naim rep turned up to give a Nova demo to dealer several months ago. They were already playing 272/250 and just switched  to the Nova. My demo is tomorrow, and in the short term I want to put the Nova on my TVs stand.

Thanks Gazza, coincidentally my Atom/Nova demo is also tomorrow.

Would love to hear your thoughts after tomorrow, Eoink - please share!

Will do.

Eoink posted:

Will do.

There will be a short delay. The dealer's first demo Nova had a problem, the replacement hasn't arrived, so my demo is now set for the weekend.

Richard Dane posted:

Obsysian, I feel your pain, but it's all a question of space. At least your Nova plugs will now fit any of the big naim amps... 

Excellent news Atom gone and Nova in, bad news I assumed the pins would still work but turns out the width is less, so all ready to go and  ... all cables back to the dealer for another re solder job !

So all I can say for now it's a beast and noisy can hear the transformer hum.

Just to update anybody interested about my Nova demo/ speaker selection, today. I have heard the Nova twice before with a number of speakers from Focal n1 to PMC 25.26. The latter in less than ideal conditions.

Today myself and my daughter took our  Uniti core hdd to our dealer for a demo of Nova and speakers. We are starting from scratch, we have a Muso/core currently.

We listened to Russell K 120, then Kudos Super 20, we really enjoyed the 120,s. The Kudos Super 20, took a few tracks to come alive, my daughters Drake cd track bringing this tighter bass to our attention. We then enjoyed albums from Santana, Drake, Frank  ocean ,Mary black, SteelyDan, stevie ray Vaughan etc. This was repeated across all speakers.  

I have listened to  PMC 25.26 with the Nova before and felt they were lifeless, subsequently on booking the demo I was told they were not broken in. Today, the same speakers were amazing.

We then  listened to Russell k 150, a different presentation to the Kudos Super 20A, but did not inspire us like the PMC. 

To be fair taking the price differences, all these speakers are great speakers, it's down to the individual. For me and my daughter the PMC was just more involving, tighter bass, better presentation of the scale of the music we like.

Just for completion, I then asked for a NAP 250 to be added to the  Uniti Nova with a PMC 26.26 . This is a few hundred pounds more expensive than a 272/250, I have heard the 272/250 combo many times, and once against, just a Nova. This afternoon I did not do a direct comparison to Uniti Nova/250, as I had already decided to embrace the new technology.

As a long term admirer of the NAP 250, it immediately as one would hope tighten up the bass, basically everything.....

The  Nova does not look out of this place in this company. My Nova and PMC 25.26 are a couple of weeks away, and there is  still a serious upgrade path available for those with an ear for the journey. For those content with Nova and their own speakers, then enjoy a great amplifier from Naim capable of driving, speakers so called out of its class.

For all its foibles (problems unresolved) to take my spare Uniti core caddy  and spare hdd  with my music rips was perfect.

Gazza

PS I make no apologies I am starting a new apart from my Core/Muso. Years  ago I was CDS1, 282, 259,s, active SBL,s, but travel, career, family let it slip, either regret. Now retired, fired up, buying music again.

Gazza, thanks for taking the time to detail the demo and the journey your on. A wonderful read.....

It does sound like you are going to be enjoying your retirement and music once again!

Thank you, apologies for a few typos at the end, daughter distracted me me with her friends who are already have their ideas for the Muso, down in the garden bedroom/ office. Party time I guess, will miss the Muso though, a fine product. We did listen to QB today, very briefly, no contest, I gained Nova, but lost my MUso, oh well....

Most important, in the excitement of the Post, I forgot to mention my dealer near Felixstowe/Ipswich who were wonderful. I was more pushy on narrowing down the speakers, we know what we like when we hear it. I was considering more expensive cable options, they will make NACA5 work in our unique circumstances, saving me a few hundred pounds. The demo was with Naca5!

Will give an update once installed

Gazza posted:

Just to update anybody interested about my Nova demo/ speaker selection, today. I have heard the Nova twice before with a number of speakers from Focal n1 to PMC 25.26. The latter in less than ideal conditions.

Today myself and my daughter took our  Uniti core hdd to our dealer for a demo of Nova and speakers. We are starting from scratch, we have a Muso/core currently.

We listened to Russell K 120, then Kudos Super 20, we really enjoyed the 120,s. The Kudos Super 20, took a few tracks to come alive, my daughters Drake cd track bringing this tighter bass to our attention. We then enjoyed albums from Santana, Drake, Frank  ocean ,Mary black, SteelyDan, stevie ray Vaughan etc. This was repeated across all speakers.  

I have listened to  PMC 25.26 with the Nova before and felt they were lifeless, subsequently on booking the demo I was told they were not broken in. Today, the same speakers were amazing.

We then  listened to Russell k 150, a different presentation to the Kudos Super 20A, but did not inspire us like the PMC. 

To be fair taking the price differences, all these speakers are great speakers, it's down to the individual. For me and my daughter the PMC was just more involving, tighter bass, better presentation of the scale of the music we like.

Just for completion, I then asked for a NAP 250 to be added to the  Uniti Nova with a PMC 26.26 . This is a few hundred pounds more expensive than a 272/250, I have heard the 272/250 combo many times, and once against, just a Nova. This afternoon I did not do a direct comparison to Uniti Nova/250, as I had already decided to embrace the new technology.

As a long term admirer of the NAP 250, it immediately as one would hope tighten up the bass, basically everything.....

The  Nova does not look out of this place in this company. My Nova and PMC 25.26 are a couple of weeks away, and there is  still a serious upgrade path available for those with an ear for the journey. For those content with Nova and their own speakers, then enjoy a great amplifier from Naim capable of driving, speakers so called out of its class.

For all its foibles (problems unresolved) to take my spare Uniti core caddy  and spare hdd  with my music rips was perfect.

Gazza

PS I make no apologies I am starting a new apart from my Core/Muso. Years  ago I was CDS1, 282, 259,s, active SBL,s, but travel, career, family let it slip, either regret. Now retired, fired up, buying music again.

 

 

 

Thanks for the detailed explanation! So what made you go for the Nova rather than the 272? With the way Naim seems to be raising its standards of performance I am wondering if the Nova is better. For example in an earlier post you reported a lower noise floor with its pre-amplifier section. I know you quote a price difference between the two; but that would be expected since the 272 doesn't include power amplification. I wish I could audition some of these options; but being based in Czechia limits the possibilities! 

Nova is £4099 includes power amp at 80 watt. Nac272 is £3469 and is mostly sold with NAp 250  at £3680. The Nova I demoed with , and without a Nap 250, which was noticeably better. But the Nova, was quite amazing by comparison at its price point into speakers, valued at £7000 (pmc25.26).

Thanks Gazza, glad to hear your thoughts and experiences! Also your attention to total package of sound, irrespective of "price match" for amp / speakers: I appreciate that you chose what you like based on what you heard. Best wishes for enjoyment at home once it all arrives and settles in. 

Regards alan

The nice part was my 19 year old daughter was with me and played Drake and Frank Ocean, alongside my Santana etc. She put it perfectly the Nova/PMC 25.26 was the combination that when she closed her eyes, brought the artists into the room, like a live concert....her words not mine. The addition of the Nap 250 was, a step up in tightness and control, and was what I expected, but nice to hear it from my daughter. A bit of a bonding session, except for my poor old wallet.