What are the Uniti Core benefits over external drive?

The core presumably depending on the source of them usb files would be better using the naim software etc? A dealer should be able to demo the difference.

dave-mac posted:

Too play ripped CDs, what benefits would I see if I were to connect a uniti core to an atom, vs connecting an external usb drive? As far as I can see, both sources would use the DAC in the atom?

with my nds, the files played on an external usb drive attached to it are not so good sounding as when played with uniticore/unitserve connected in spdif. But the differences are minimal. 

So i suspect that with an atom these differences must be very minimal.  If it is just to play ripped cds, the investment in the core is perhaps not appropriate. But to rip cds it is more convenient.

You have on the other side the possibility to use the core also as a nas, to stream high rez files stocked on it.  Using the app it is more friendly than playing files from memory stick or external drive.

But to be really sure, you can easily test this comparison at a dealer place.

I have a similar question. I have the following systems running at the moment: ND5XS (Android app, Synology DS716+), CD5Si, Nait5Si, Schiit Mjolnir 2, Audeze LCD-XC, Neat Motive SX1. Second system - Fiio x7ii, UnitiQute 2 Bluetooth, Neat IOTA. Third system - Bluenode 2, Monitor Audio.  I was wondering if a Uniti Core would be a replacement for my DS716+ which is also used as a Windows 10 PC back up solution (and at the moment my ripping solution using EAC, MP3 tag if needed). I was thinking to run the UC direct into the ND5XS via the digital connection and use the UQ2 via the network, (I wonder if the Bluenode would see the UC as a server) or would I be better with a dedicated Synolog for music only (there is a lot of traffic on my network from CCTV to the family streaming TV and music)? Upgrade path suggestions welcome!

If you are happy with a nas, getting a Core would be pretty pointless, unless you like spending more money to get less flexibility. When I swapped from a UnitiServe to a Synology the sound quality improved. 

That's intresting, I prefer the sound from the Synology in comparison to a Samsung T3 ssd pluged into the USB, I figured a UC would be an improvement. But I was unsure how to test that out at a dealer. Reading more on this forum about the Core it looks like it has some technical issues re tagging and ripping There is no real comment re sound qualty, strange, is n't that what Naim is all about?

I'm not sure how the Core would play into your Bluesound, as I believe that does not support UPnP, and also has no electrical SPDIF input, only Toslink. Also, not really ideal for backing up a PC!

Peter1480 posted:

I have a similar question. I have the following systems running at the moment: ND5XS (Android app, Synology DS716+), CD5Si, Nait5Si, Schiit Mjolnir 2, Audeze LCD-XC, Neat Motive SX1. Second system - Fiio x7ii, UnitiQute 2 Bluetooth, Neat IOTA. Third system - Bluenode 2, Monitor Audio.  I was wondering if a Uniti Core would be a replacement for my DS716+ which is also used as a Windows 10 PC back up solution (and at the moment my ripping solution using EAC, MP3 tag if needed). I was thinking to run the UC direct into the ND5XS via the digital connection and use the UQ2 via the network, (I wonder if the Bluenode would see the UC as a server) or would I be better with a dedicated Synolog for music only (there is a lot of traffic on my network from CCTV to the family streaming TV and music)? Upgrade path suggestions welcome!

for convenience and ripping, the core will be a good idea, but for sound quality, vs nas, the differences are minimal. If you want to improve the sound for less money, buy a good linear ps to your ds716+, if it have dc output at the back( 5v or 12v).

like hdplex, uptone audio, sbooster.....between 300 and 800GBP.   

Peter1480 posted:

That's intresting, I prefer the sound from the Synology in comparison to a Samsung T3 ssd pluged into the USB, I figured a UC would be an improvement. But I was unsure how to test that out at a dealer. Reading more on this forum about the Core it looks like it has some technical issues re tagging and ripping There is no real comment re sound qualty, strange, is n't that what Naim is all about?

there were a lot of topics on sound quality comparison between nas and unitserve. The core is a little better vs the serve on sound quality ( past topics too).  A nas, with a good linear ps, is similar in sound quality vs the uniticore.  But some prefer their nas, with asset or minimserver, other prefer the core.

If you have loads of CDs to rip, the Core makes sense. But if you get most of your music as downloads, and rip CDs only occasionally, it makes a lot less sense. It's all about personal preference. 

Many thanks re power supply French Rooster, that was the other thing I was thinking of the main system runs of an 8 plug Russ Andrews power block on a dedicated spur. I'll check out your suggestions. Chrissu the Core sounds less and less useful the more I find out. An oppertunity missed! I was hoping it was a Synology on steroids with a ripper built in.

Many thanks for your advice. I'll check out asset or minimserver, I'm using the SW that is built in to the Synology at the moment. I alead have over 15000 cd ripped and a substantial (3 TB) down load quantity of falc and DSD. Incidenely the Fiio x7ii with Fidue Sirius sounds stunning with DSD! But I still love my Naim Neat system.

Hi Peter1480,  if you are looking for SQ changes between Synology's native 'Media Server', the Syn 3rd party included package Minimserver & Asset,  you won't find any.     Different UPnP software is all about ease of use & browsing presentation. 

I personally use Syn's Media Server, I like its ease of use,  I don't have a need to have complicated art supported browsing & I like the way Synology support it with auto-upgrades etc..   I've tried Minimserver & whilst its pretty good w.r.t. transcoding (.flac to .wav) & transcoding gapless, plus it's browsing options,  it is better than Syn's Media Server.  However because I'm all .wav (DSD) & don't need to transcode, & because Media Server plays all that & gapless perfectly & because Minimserver got into bother with a Synology update a while back, all that made me (finally) pull the plug,  that said their is nothing wrong with it,  in many respects it is better than Media Server.     Asset is nice to use software & is what I would really like to use,  however it is not supported by Synology, this means Synology don't consider at all it with any of their upgrade planning,  so its 100% up to Asset alone to keep ahead of the posse.    It can be installed & its not difficult for someone who is a little IT savvy,  but when Synology run an update,  you might/will be in trouble waiting for Asset to design a fix.

Peter1480 posted:

Many thanks for your advice. I'll check out asset or minimserver, I'm using the SW that is built in to the Synology at the moment. I alead have over 15000 cd ripped and a substantial (3 TB) down load quantity of falc and DSD. Incidenely the Fiio x7ii with Fidue Sirius sounds stunning with DSD! But I still love my Naim Neat system.

a nas on steroids is perhaps the melco n1z/2, for about very approximate 7000GBP, with multiple linear ps, lan isolation, ssd drives....some here use it with an nds or chord dac in usb connection.  But with an nd5xs it would be perhaps not coherent.  

You have also the antipodes dx reference, with ripper inside, for the same money.  But difficult to say if it is really better in a naim configuration.  Also the aurender w20.

These 3 are state of the art server/nas, without dac....

For more less money, you can improve your network: linear ps on a dedicated switch, good lan cable to the streamer,  or also cisco 2960 switch.... and your russ andrews main.

It's all about preferences ... I for example like the fact that I have all my music stored on one location and have the possibility to rip a CD occasionally. Hence my choice for the Uniti Core / SSD. 

Also the fact that I do not have to worry about software installation and settings impact this choice a lot ...

What's the best way to use the core? Digital out or via the network? 

Finkfan posted:

What's the best way to use the core? Digital out or via the network? 

That depends on whether your player works better via a Network connection or S/PDIF.  Worth trying both ways. 

I have a 272. Currently use my laptop running asset as nas. I may have to home demo, if possible, a core via both connections vs the laptop 

Another thing to think about is that if you have a Core, or a NAS running a Upnp server,M you can simultaneously serve different music to more than one streamer, which is handy if you may get another streamer in the future (eg a muso or muso Qb).

best

David

Good point David. I assume you use both connections simultaneously on the core? 

You can if you want to, but the other way to do it is to just use Upnp to stream the music to whichever streamer. The Naim website is totally confusing about what you can do, but it says you can serve four upnp streams simultaneously at "full CD quality" and in another place it says you can stream to up to 12 streamers. Confusingly, both of these are called multi-room.

best

David

If you connect it to the network you can play different music on different streamers, or synchronise one or more. A nas will do this too. 

I'm following the advice here re upgrading power supples the issue I have is how to replace the power supply for my Synlogy DS716+ it has a 4 pin connection  like this. What is the 4 pin plug (in the circle its 10mm in diameter) called and how it is wired?

The plug looks like a Mini-DIN.       You need not be concerned how its wired because a new PSU will include an AC power lead & it will invariably be either a different plug or maybe hard wired.     Or is that the one you intend to use  !!!!!

Second point is I've tried two different PSU's on my Synology & I could not detect any difference.   Maybe its because my power supply is isolated behind a UPS & also loaded with ferrite, but really I did not detect any change.     

I asked about adding an upgrade power supply to my Qnap, and the advice was that as it's on the house ring main with a ups, and the stereo is on a dedicated spur, it was a large pointless exercise. As you have the system on a spur I'd suggest that you put the Synology on the ring main and forget about it. 

I would suggest that you approach the PSU 'upgrade' idea with caution. You may find there is a subtle change to the sound, which you may perceive as an improvement, or you may find it makes no difference at all. Lots of sellers will allow you to try one and return it for a refund, so there's no harm in trying.