Upgrade bug/ where do I go from a superuniti

I went the 272/250m route.  I first got the 250DR and used that with my SU.  I then got myself the 272 and then a 555.  After that is was new speakers followed by cables.

Putting the 250DR on the SU was a worthwhile upgrade in it's own right and sets you up ready to upgrade either retaining a streamer solution like the 272 or going for a dedicated pre amp

alanbass1 posted:

I went the 272/250m route.  I first got the 250DR and used that with my SU.  I then got myself the 272 and then a 555.  After that is was new speakers followed by cables.

Putting the 250DR on the SU was a worthwhile upgrade in it's own right, although probably only true VFM if you are going to replace the SU in time (which you are so should be all good).

Laudable, but doesn't take into consideration OP's desire to continue with CDs as opposed to streaming.

Yes it does - the dedicated preamp option. 

Thanks HH - I noted that on my first reply and edited it to include the Pre route as well (before TIMMO hit the post button!).  However, the 272 is a very decent pre amp in it's own right and internet radio is worth having.  But if Streaming is totally out then the dedicated pre is the way to go and getting an upgraded power amp first would improve the sound of the SU whilst waiting for the next upgrade

Hungryhalibut posted:

Yes it does - the dedicated preamp option. 

Why bother with a 272 if not interested in streaming? Surely better off going the 282 route?

Get a CDX 2 and a SuperNait plenty of future upgrade options but a great combo on their own. It is a system I have heard a lot and will sounnd great with those Q900's you have.

Due to a lucky coincidence, after 12 years of all sorts of buying and reselling and trying everything, and tons of mental energy flushed down the toilet, not to mention the money, I now have a CDX2 and a SuperNait. It is a combo that I have not only heard a number of times, but bought a number of times. I agree with Bob the Builder, but these times are – rightly so, from a certain point of view – dominated by pushing newer (streaming) products, and it seems that CDPs and plain integrates are Stone Age. Too bad.

There are various options - add a 250, then sell the SU for a 282 and Hicap - but is the Cyrus up to it, and is iRadio important? Then there is swapping the SU for a SN2, but again is the Cyrus up to it, and does iRadio matter? Then there is weaning oneself off the ritual of playing CDs once they are all ripped. Then there is getting a Nova and continuing with the Cyrus......

I'd be really interested to know how that Cyrus CDi performs with the SU, and how the two differ, i.e CD vs streaming rips on SU.  I had a Naim /  Cyrus combo for a while before deciding to go all Naim, and it was an impressive performance, especially considering the price of the complete system as was, but just didn't quite work for me.  Naim source and Cyrus amp was too airy and polite for my liking; lacked a bit of oomph and solidity.  And as oomph at least was something the all Cyrus system didn't lack at all, I concluded that most of the bombast came from the CD player.  Since matching with a Naim amp the energy and enthusiasm is great, which lead me to suspect that a Cyrus source with a Naim amp would be somewhat over powering.  That was a much older CDP though, I had a CD8X which was released well over 10 years ago.

I have nothing but good things to say about the SN2, and general opinion seems to indicate a significant improvement vs the SU, so that combined with a CDX2 should be lovely, but as already suggested not convinced it would be a great match for the CDi.  272 with a 250 would give great flexibility, but if CD is to rule in your camp, a dedicated pre would probably give better results and VFM.  Plus, if streaming is a nice-to-have, but very much secondary, there are relatively inexpensive ways of having that on the side, but with a noticeable, though not embarrassing, compromise in sound quality.  

Then there's just speakers to worry about, which is an unfathomable minefield of differing performance, and disagreement on what works.  Good luck with that bit.  

Thanks.  I had a complete cyrus system and it was very detailed but very bright almost difficult to listen to.  Adding the Su mellowed everything.  The streaming although practical is takes away the ritual and I find gets used less and less. I never use the radio at all. On my ipad with headphones I check out new music via spotify and then buy the cd. The combination of cyrus and su i find is more detailed with more space. I know this will start lots of other discussions which I will remain neutral about. .... this whole exercise started because I get the impression that the su is going to be left behind with the new uniti range.

Richard walker posted:

Thanks.  I had a complete cyrus system and it was very detailed but very bright almost difficult to listen to.  Adding the Su mellowed everything.  The streaming although practical is takes away the ritual and I find gets used less and less. I never use the radio at all. On my ipad with headphones I check out new music via spotify and then buy the cd. The combination of cyrus and su i find is more detailed with more space. I know this will start lots of other discussions which I will remain neutral about. .... this whole exercise started because I get the impression that the su is going to be left behind with the new uniti range.

If you want to play CDs and don't bother with the radio, then the SN2 sounds ideal. Then you could try the CDX2 against the Cyrus and see what you think. That keeps everything nice and simple. To significantly better the SN2 you are looking at a 282, Hicap and 250DR. It would be worth trying to hear the two options to see if you think it's worth the extra. A good used set would be £5,000 to £6,000; twice the price of the SN2. 

I didn't find my Cyrus set up bright generally, but then I had relatively warm and mid-range focused speakers with it.  Still, I would say it could all get a little crashy with complex rock music at enthusiastic volume, and it was pretty rubbish with classical; just lacked the separation, detail and insight to unravel that kind of thing properly, and something that I found Naim kit did much better.  Seems like your combo is working pretty well though from what you've said there.  Which leads me to motive for upgrading.  Is there something specific you seek to address and are not quite happy with?  Yes, there are new Uniti products, but so what?  It's not like your set up is going to function any less well because of that.  I don't mean to state the most obvious of points, yet just have.  

I've got the same dilemma, wondering about SU upgrade but not wanting to increase the box count, will the replacement offer significant improvement or would it be just a vanity purchase of the latest gizmo?

John132 posted:

I've got the same dilemma, wondering about SU upgrade but not wanting to increase the box count, will the replacement offer significant improvement or would it be just a vanity purchase of the latest gizmo?

Vanity and Hifi, that's a rare mix, or at least a narrow field of appreciation.  I recommend new sunglasses.

Richard walker posted:

Thanks.  I had a complete cyrus system and it was very detailed but very bright almost difficult to listen to.  Adding the Su mellowed everything.  The streaming although practical is takes away the ritual and I find gets used less and less. I never use the radio at all. On my ipad with headphones I check out new music via spotify and then buy the cd. The combination of cyrus and su i find is more detailed with more space. I know this will start lots of other discussions which I will remain neutral about. .... this whole exercise started because I get the impression that the su is going to be left behind with the new uniti range.

I think the SuperUniti still has plenty of life left! I recently purchased mine after decided to return the Atom. I have a audiolab CD player connect via coaxial, for when I want to spin some discs. I don't really find a difference between the CD source and streaming from my NAS. It all sounds very good.

I might try a 250DR in a year or so, if I find it a worthwhile upgrade.

If you want to stick to a one box solution perhaps waiting to hear the Star vs the SU might be an option if you can get to a naim dealer.

A fundamental question: how many boxes can the OP imagine owning, to playback a CD?

• 2 boxes? > SN2 and CDX2 would be a good start
• Or perhaps up to 6-7 boxes....

Timmo1341 posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Yes it does - the dedicated preamp option. 

Why bother with a 272 if not interested in streaming? Surely better off going the 282 route?

Streaming is almost free vs 282 road if you think the price level.... one always can change their mind and maybe even use radio/Tidal some time.... 

I think if it were me, I would probably buy a pre-loved CDX2 and keep the SU for the time being. You could add a NAP 250DR when funds permit and leave the question of the pre/streamer for later.

best

David

Been thinking about this and I'm a bit confused by what the OP's objective is.

As I understand it, the new Uniti series is really about the new streaming engine and form factor. If the OP isn't bothered about streaming then I don't really see why he would be worried about the SU being "left behind"  - as I understand it the SU amplification in it is based very closely on the SN2 (likely compromised a bit by cramming so much in the case) and should be well up to handling a source of the quality he has? Plus of course I think we can all rely on Naim to support legacy equipment given their track record.

If the question is more about upgrading CD performance then I would have thought CDX2 and PSU would be more obvious than switching the SU for 282/250... But then I wouldn't want to lose streaming from my system.

JedT posted:

 If the OP isn't bothered about streaming then I don't really see why he would be worried about the SU being "left behind"  - as I understand it the SU amplification in it is based very closely on the SN2 (likely compromised a bit by cramming so much in the case) and should be well up to handling a source of the quality he has?

The SU amp is no match for a Supernait - if the OP doesn't want to stream, selling the SU and buying a used SN would cost little or nothing. If he went for a SN1 he might even make a small profit. 

It's all about the whole package and must be heard before purchase. But in any case I think a SN1 would be a very odd upgrade path from a SU. Imho of course.

best

David

Timmo1341 posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Yes it does - the dedicated preamp option. 

Why bother with a 272 if not interested in streaming? Surely better off going the 282 route?

Using a SU or 272 with a Naim CD player lets you control both from your iPhone/iPad, whether you stream or not.  282 would need an ND streamer, if this is important to you.

Nick

Good evening. Thanks for all the advice. I am now tending to consider a supernait 2 which I can try with the superuniti and also try on its own.

What should I pay for a used version ? I have looked on fleabay and there is a large range. Can anyone recommend an exdemo somewhere ?

This

Max_B posted:

Due to a lucky coincidence, after 12 years of all sorts of buying and reselling and trying everything, and tons of mental energy flushed down the toilet, not to mention the money, I now have a CDX2 and a SuperNait. It is a combo that I have not only heard a number of times, but bought a number of times. I agree with Bob the Builder, but these times are – rightly so, from a certain point of view – dominated by pushing newer (streaming) products, and it seems that CDPs and plain integrates are Stone Age. Too bad.

Hi Thanks. A supernait one or 2 ?

I would go for the SN2 seen these go between £1700-2000 on the used market.