DAC for a Unitiqute2 - is it a worth considering?

All you need is a phono to din lead and you can connect the Qute to your 52. 

As HH says.

I don't think you can take a digital feed out of the UQ2, so the option of adding an external DAC probably isn't viable anyway.

best

David

You could take a digital output into a dac, enabling you to pollute your lovely Naim system with the evil of Chord if you so wish. It's simply that a wire costs less and you can see if you like streaming through the main setup before committing serious money. 

Sorry - probably being dense here. What are you recommending I try?

I'm suggesting that you start with the simplest and cheapest option - plugging your Qute directly into your 52. 

Ah yes I see that there is in fact a digital output on the UQ2, but anyway I agree with HH.

best

David

Ok - point understood but advice I got from Naim support was that in that formation it would degrade the SQ as you'd be going through two pre-amp sections. From older threads I gather that you'd put it in speaker off mode, set volume to 84 and go. What I wasn't sure about was I think the 52's have a unity gain input - would that sound better?

You would use the preamp output of the UQ2, which is not volume control setting dependant (or maybe it is come to think of it....)

Personally I don't think the loss of quality from having two preamps in series would be an issue if you want to give it a try out and if you are going to spend real money on a quality DAC, you would probably do better to sell the UQ2 and use the two lots of cash to buy a used ND5 XS.

I would hesitate to sell the CDS3 by the way.  Maybe later when you are sure streaming is doing it for you, but not at this stage I suggest, as it's a CDS3 and not a lesser CDP!

best

David

Surely the preamp output is the one that IS volume control dependent? It's the other one that is fixed. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Surely the preamp output is the one that IS volume control dependent? It's the other one that is fixed. 

Yes I thought better of that and edited my post. I'm going to leave this thread to you.....

best

David

I used a UQ2 as a source connected to a 122x/150 system for about a year and it sounded great but as I was only using about a third of the Qute and so I traded it in for an ND5XS which wasn't streets ahead I have to say until I introduced an evil Chord Dac into the equation and then it did sound streets ahead.

Cheers Bob. You've part answered my question. Simply going on Naim support's advice that stacking pre-amp sections isn't ideal sound quality wise I was trying to ascertain whether it's worth my while auditioning a uq2 plus external dac option ( say dac-vi/chord whatever) against a (say ) nd5 option. The difference in cost between the two when you factor in the uq2 trade in isn't that big. I'm just conscious that I suspect dac technology moves on quicker than other areas so would seperating out the dec element make sense sound quality wise at the moment or not? I will audition but don't want to waste my time if there's a significant difference between the options.

Can't you squeeze in a s/h nDac between the UQ and the 52?

Certainly would consider it depending on price. Is an ndac the same as the currently marketed naim dac or an older model? I'm not familiar in this area?

Yes, it is the Naim Dac. It has no pre-amp stage nor streaming module. It trades for a bit over GBP 1000 s/h and would nicely complement your setup.

I use following setup:

UnitiServe >wireless> UnitiQute >digital> DAC-V1 >analog> 2 x Genelec 8030 or headphones. TV is connected to DAC-V1 via optical cable.

Very happy with this system and everything goes digitally via single cable from UQ to DAC-V1, even the FM radio. For control I use iPad and DACs remote.

Thanks for the advice folks. I'll try and get an audition of several options discussed.

Regards

Jeff

If you already have a Muso and a Unitiqute, you have already dipped your toe into streaming. What is the point of adding a streamer to your rather nice main system unless it's good enough to do it justice? Sure, you could get up and running with a Qute, but if you want a source that does justice to your amp and speakers then you need a top quality digital transport and DAC. An NDX, possibly with an external Naim or Chord DAC, would be a starting point.

I hear you but I am mindful that the ndx was released in 2011 I believe so suspect due for a refresh soon. That's a long time ago in terms of dac chipset technology which I appreciate is only part of the SQ equation. Hence my mulling over whether it made any SQ sense to use my UQ2 in some form for the moment and getting acceptable results whilst awaiting new developments to come to market i.e. How much of the SQ comes from just the streamer itself as opposed to the dac element? I get that there's always something new and shny round the corner so can't wait forever either. Luckily I'm walking distance from a Naim & Chord dealer so will try and arrange a listen of various options sometime soon. 

There is a digital out on the Qute 2 and you can connect a dac.  It makes a decent, although not great, transport and I used mine in that way for around six months before moving to a Mac Mini and Audirvana.  The downside is that you have a lot of redundancy on the Qute 2 although it does digitise the tuner etc so you don't lose it all.  

Jellyheadjeff posted:

I hear you but I am mindful that the ndx was released in 2011 I believe so suspect due for a refresh soon. That's a long time ago in terms of dac chipset technology which I appreciate is only part of the SQ equation. Hence my mulling over whether it made any SQ sense to use my UQ2 in some form for the moment and getting acceptable results whilst awaiting new developments to come to market i.e. How much of the SQ comes from just the streamer itself as opposed to the dac element? I get that there's always something new and shny round the corner so can't wait forever either. Luckily I'm walking distance from a Naim & Chord dealer so will try and arrange a listen of various options sometime soon. 

Given that the new streaming platform in the Unitis is pretty much guaranteed to be introduced into new Classic range products sooner or later, you have a point - I guess it depends how long are you prepared to wait?

My 2c,

 I would always recommend separating DAC and streamer. 

 Things are moving at a very fast pace at the moment, the new Hugo 2 should mean there will be a few older versions available at reasonable prices. This or the 2Cute  would be a good bet optical out from the UniQute.

 I think it would be quite unwise unless you have money to burn to buy any name classic digital pieces currently.

.sjb

Kind of my thoughts to be honest. Put in place something enjoyable in the interim that doesn't cost the earth and then go for something higher end when next generation classic or equivalent is available. Kinda feels like the classic range is due a refresh imho. Hence why I asked about a 2qute as they seem to be well rated by naimees but never heard one (and won't break the bank). Even cheaper would be a rasberry pi - how silly would it be to insert one of those with a reasonable dac (kali/piano or equivalent) on it as a dac between the uq2 and pre-amp? Bit of a short term waste of a uq2 but means I'd have a consistant interface but I've never heard one so may sound pants for all I know. 

If I did insert a dac of anytype what's the recommended connection interface between streamer and dac?

Regards

Jeff

[@mention:1566878603890139]

Just use the Qute as a streamer into your system.  Set the volume to 84 and turn off the amps.  Is it going through two pre-amps.... yes.  Is it wasting some of the capability of the Qute2...  Yes.  Is it a great place to start giving naim the chance to refresh the streamer line after the Uniti launch....  Yes.  Could you use it as a digital transport to an outboard dac...  Yes, but why jump in that water now.  

Try what you have now for free.  Just plug it in and use it.  If you find it lacking then look elsewhere.  

Point taken. I'll try and hunt down a suitable cable that's probably up in the attic following a house move. If I did do that is it better to go through two pre-amps or bypass the one on the 52 by using the unity gain input which I think I have?