Atom review

Phil Harris posted:

manicm posted:

So that preamp output on the Atom can be used for a subwoofer? 

Of course ... if you have a self powered sub then you would simply take a low level feed from the preamp out RCAs to the sub and it will track volume with the internal amp ...

I currently have a Qute set up with a pair of B&W DM302's and an M&K VX-7 sub in exactly this way and it's great fun to listen to.

Cheers

Phil

Hi Phil 

can you please kindly elaborate more on this subwoofer option. 

1. Can you please confirm if the atom has same option as qute 2 in the menu to select option to add a subwoofer 

2. What kind of benefit you get from adding the sub beside obvious bass. Will this lighten the load on the atom and allow it to drive kef ls50 better for example...opening the sound further?

3. Any specific subwoofer you can recommend beside the m&k you mentioned. Does it need tweaking at subwoofer level to identify best integration with stereo speakers? 

4. Any minimum speaker cable length with atom. I really need around 2m but read that 3-3.5m each side is better  

Apologies for all the questions and thanks in advance 

Obsydian posted:

Crabby posted:

Obsydian posted:

Just got better as speakers are either side of my TV which picks up Atom via Bluetooth, nice add on for movies.

Can' find a toslink sure that would sound even better.

Anyone tried the sound to TV via hdmi? 

You are the first one I see mentioning boosting TV sound (same as me). I am sure you can improve greatly on Bluetooth 

I was just thinking that but we need the HDMI version, I was greedy and grabbed the first Atom local dealer had.

Plus for me I do not and don' plan a 5.1+ type setup.

Do wonder though is it possible to add the HDMI module ?

I am sure it will work perfectly with optical inputs. In fact, I wonder why I bothered with an hdmi version to be honest (it takes one hdmi extra from the TV which which is not nothing) 

i guess I didn't want to regret and wanted all options 

Lol Crabby - we should swap.

My TV outputs HDMI ARC I was very not going to use that, but just watching my 3rd movie (home alone man day) and keep swapping back to the Atom via Bluetooth : )

I guess for those without a separate AV 7.1 mega amp and speaker setup and just a 2.1 or just TV speakers like me, then a very welcome surrise, the imaging and soundstage is sweet and best of all a bonus I was not expecting.

Now if the Atom could allow me to take call and notifications ; )

I tried sending audio via AirPlay from my Apple TV to the Atom when I still had it, and it worked rather well. Sounded very good and it even displayed film and shows poster art on the display.

I just realised that I can do the same by using Bluetooth on my SuperUniti. Minus the poster art obviously.

Obsydian posted:

Lol Crabby - we should swap.

My TV outputs HDMI ARC I was very not going to use that, but just watching my 3rd movie (home alone man day) and keep swapping back to the Atom via Bluetooth : )

 

why not use HDMI ARC for output the audio to your new Naim... that is what's therefore and should do an excellent job at carrying the  PCM, and it will almost certainly sound better than Bluetooth

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Obsydian posted:

Lol Crabby - we should swap.

My TV outputs HDMI ARC I was very not going to use that, but just watching my 3rd movie (home alone man day) and keep swapping back to the Atom via Bluetooth : )

 

why not use HDMI ARC for output the audio to your new Naim... that is what's therefore and should do an excellent job at carrying the  PCM, and it will almost certainly sound better than Bluetooth

That' my TV, the Atom as mentioned i went non HDMI.

DomTomLondon posted:

I tried sending audio via AirPlay from my Apple TV to the Atom when I still had it, and it worked rather well. Sounded very good and it even displayed film and shows poster art on the display.

I just realised that I can do the same by using Bluetooth on my SuperUniti. Minus the poster art obviously.

Not as good sq - airplay can do 16\44 Apple Lossless cd quality. Bluetooth on my system sounds vastly inferior, compressed and lossy. This is a big advantage for Naim's new Uniti range over the older all in ones.

Halloween Man posted:

DomTomLondon posted:

I tried sending audio via AirPlay from my Apple TV to the Atom when I still had it, and it worked rather well. Sounded very good and it even displayed film and shows poster art on the display.

I just realised that I can do the same by using Bluetooth on my SuperUniti. Minus the poster art obviously.

Not as good sq - airplay can do 16\44 Apple Lossless cd quality. Bluetooth on my system sounds vastly inferior, compressed and lossy. This is a big advantage for Naim's new Uniti range over the older all in ones.

True, it's not as good sounding. Most of what I watch is streamed from Netflix or Amazon anyway so audio is aleady compressed. But to watch uncompressed Blu-ray rips, an optical out would be my choice.