Advice on next move: Core with ND5 XS and Nait XS2 or possibly Superuniti

Superuniti is great and kept me happy for years but the Nova is better if you can afford it both in terms of sound quality and future proofing. Going to an all in one would enable you to trade in some of those boxes.

What digital sources do you want to use? If you just want to play your (ripped) CDs and downloads, your Core has a very good SPDIF digital out. Connecting this to an NDAC would put your system at a higher level altogether. Then an amp upgrade to a Supernait would be nice if you want to go further. The downside of this is that you wouldn’t have any web streaming built in. 

Other than digital radio, I don't do any streaming.  So the Qute handles the radio and the kids' ipods right now.  The Core would be my main source of digital music.  If and when my CD5 dies I would look at transports.  So maybe three digital sources.

Ian Brown posted:

Other than digital radio, I don't do any streaming.  So the Qute handles the radio and the kids' ipods right now.  The Core would be my main source of digital music.  If and when my CD5 dies I would look at transports.  So maybe three digital sources.

So the usual question arises, do you really need a Core and a CD player?

That's a fair question.  The Core is the future, but my wife still enjoys the CD Player and until she comes around to the new tech it will stay.  

Just hide a few of her favourite CDs after you’ve ripped them, she’ll soon get used to it. 

I have a NAS with approximately a 1000 CD's sitting downstairs which is directly connected via ethernet cable to the ND5 XS. The ND5 XS is connected to my XS 2 and I am quite happy with the setup and the music. Basically in my living room I have a three shelf rack holding the two Naim boxes. Took care of the clutter.  The ND5 XS also is used for the TIDAL service quite a bit to listen to music that others are playing or new releases prior to making a purchase. I have listened to some on-line radio stations but not to often.  My wife is starting to enjoy the ease of finding her CD's via the iPad vs looking for and handling the CD's.

Good luck with your decision.

Ian Brown posted:

That's a fair question.  The Core is the future, 

Of what?

What are you wanting it to do?

Hi Ian -

The SuperUniti is really a very nice box and, used, is a very good value now (esp in Canada, where I don’t see the same activity on Naim gear as we read about here in the forum). It is running used at (much) less than half price for a new Nova. Trades and demo units are likely to be pristine. Like the Qute, you will be fine for iPods via front USB; in-home streaming via Core (or NAS) works fine and at CD quality of sound; internet radio (check out Radio Paradise) is great. It is a much better performer than the Qute and has more network functionality than the v1.

The future move from CD to streaming (intranet or subscription internet) for your wife will depend more on the interface than anything else, I think: chez moi, a few demos and explanations of the Naim app, creation of favourites, etc., worked really well... but what really changed things was access to Tidal, where a lot more availability of older material and access to all the new releases (plus ability to download to iPhone for car, running, travel) was the clincher.  We are moving next to Roon, and the browsability and function of that interface and experience appeals even more to my partner than to me. 

I don’t have the same experience with the Naim separates as others, so take that into account... but I can say that the one-box solutions have worked really well for our situation. Good luck with your planning and decision!

Regards, alan

If I had a Nait XS I’m not sure I’d want a SuperUniti which, while excellent, sounds very different. For the price of a Nova you can get a used 272/250DR. Swap the Stageline for a Rega Fono and hide it somewhere. Put the flatcap on the CD5 and sell the rest. Rip all the CDs, get the family used to using the app and then sell the CD player. End up with two boxes (plus the Fono) that sound better than the current system and do everything. That’s what I’d do anyway. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

If I had a Nait XS I’m not sure I’d want a SuperUniti which, while excellent, sounds very different. For the price of a Nova you can get a used 272/250DR. Swap the Stageline for a Rega Fono and hide it somewhere. Put the flatcap on the CD5 and sell the rest. Rip all the CDs, get the family used to using the app and then sell the CD player. End up with two boxes (plus the Fono) that sound better than the current system and do everything. That’s what I’d do anyway. 

Can you really get a used 272/250DR for, what £4500? When I've look it is more like 2750 per box

Hungryhalibut posted:

If I had a Nait XS I’m not sure I’d want a SuperUniti which, while excellent, sounds very different. For the price of a Nova you can get a used 272/250DR. Swap the Stageline for a Rega Fono and hide it somewhere. Put the flatcap on the CD5 and sell the rest. Rip all the CDs, get the family used to using the app and then sell the CD player. End up with two boxes (plus the Fono) that sound better than the current system and do everything. That’s what I’d do anyway. 

Can you really get a used 272/250DR for, what £4500? When I've look it is more like 2750 per box

BTW - sorry for the hijacking but can anyone comment on 

272/250DR vs SU/250DR

Obviously the 272 can be given a PSU and the SU can't but bare what are the difference?

HH's advice is solid, as usual. i went from a Nait to a Supernait to my current 282/250 -- were i to do it again, i'd go straight to the separates. (note: you can power both the Stageline and your CD5 from the Flatcap, so it's not necessary to get another phono stage, though you really can't go wrong having a cartridge and phono stage from the same maker, if possible.)

Leaving amp question to one side, the Core has an SPDIF output that can feed a DAC directly, so rather than an ND5XS you could get a Hugo or n-DAC etc

Much on the forum about bith of these DACs, and various people's preferences, including compared with ND5XS, although less on the forum about the quality of the  Core's sound used in this mode into any given DAC compared with other options like ND5XS - but it is something I'd explore if I had a Core.

JedT posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

If I had a Nait XS I’m not sure I’d want a SuperUniti which, while excellent, sounds very different. For the price of a Nova you can get a used 272/250DR. Swap the Stageline for a Rega Fono and hide it somewhere. Put the flatcap on the CD5 and sell the rest. Rip all the CDs, get the family used to using the app and then sell the CD player. End up with two boxes (plus the Fono) that sound better than the current system and do everything. That’s what I’d do anyway. 

Can you really get a used 272/250DR for, what £4500? When I've look it is more like 2750 per box

I sold my two year old 250DR for £2,250, and I’ve seen 272s for less. So yes, you can. 

Hi HH

What are you using now?

hi Ian, Sell cd 5 as is way behind ND5Xs , keep the hicap and swap the xs for a supernait2 .I would not bother superuniti  just get the streamer and match the core. The hicap could be used with either sn2 or stageline ,your pick. 

One more vote for the Nova - or maybe Star, if CDs are a must. The Nova should be an upgrade soundwise is quite reasonably priced and  you keep one box and are done. 

Still owning a few thousand CDs I went the streaming / digital file route years ago and never looked back. The file based system can be used in cars and on mobile devices as well, making it the most versatile system imo. Other than the change from vinyl to CD the further loss of the "haptic' does not bother me and is compensated by the ease of use (apps on tablet and mobile phones).  Wife and child handle our Naim with ease and the collection of hi-res files grows steadily and often sounds superior to CDs (of the same mastering).

The only thing that is definitely needed on top of the Naim is a good NAS to safely store and manage your digital collection. Or you subscribe to a quality streaming service like Qobuz and are also done as long as they exist ... 

Some great points.  Used prices here in Canada are such that I can pick up a demo Superuniti for about the same as a used 272.  HH's advice about a rega fono makes sense.  Letting the CD5 and the Hicap go make sense - that would seriously reduce the box count.   It's a wealth of options after that.

I am glad to hear people are are content with the quality of the DAC in the ND5 and / or the 272.

Any experience with the 172 and the quality of its DAC vs the ND5 XS (I justed spotted a demo one for about what the ND5 XS would cost me).

I think the 172 is a great option, and if you can find a good used 200, I would take that combination in preference to a Superuniti. A 272 is better, of course, but now that the 172 is discontinued, you might get a good deal. Bear in mind that the internal DAC in all of these combination units can’t be bypassed, so if you want the option to try such things, separates are the answer, i. e. NDX or ND5XS. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

JedT posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

If I had a Nait XS I’m not sure I’d want a SuperUniti which, while excellent, sounds very different. For the price of a Nova you can get a used 272/250DR. Swap the Stageline for a Rega Fono and hide it somewhere. Put the flatcap on the CD5 and sell the rest. Rip all the CDs, get the family used to using the app and then sell the CD player. End up with two boxes (plus the Fono) that sound better than the current system and do everything. That’s what I’d do anyway. 

Can you really get a used 272/250DR for, what £4500? When I've look it is more like 2750 per box

I sold my two year old 250DR for £2,250, and I’ve seen 272s for less. So yes, you can. 

Stick around for a wee while.

someone might get a good deal on a used 300DR in the near future...

ChrisSU posted:

I think the 172 is a great option, and if you can find a good used 200, I would take that combination in preference to a Superuniti. A 272 is better, of course, but now that the 172 is discontinued, you might get a good deal. Bear in mind that the internal DAC in all of these combination units can’t be bypassed, so if you want the option to try such things, separates are the answer, i. e. NDX or ND5XS. 

The 172xs/used 200 combo is stupid good for the money. Going for under 3k USD.

As has been stated ASFAIK it is only the separate streamers ND5, NDX that can have their dac bypassed so if you are the type of guy who always asks himself 'I wonder if that would sound better' then I would take that into consideration and go ND5XS I had this streamer for a couple of years and it is a very capable player and of courses matches well with your Nait.

If you are the type of guy who is not going to ask himself the above then I would get a SuperUniti it has enough inputs for  your TT and your CD and allows you to lose the Qute and the Nait then you have only 3 Naim boxes. Personally I would keep the stageline although not Rega running off the Flatcap it is a better phone stage.

TOBYJUG posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

JedT posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

If I had a Nait XS I’m not sure I’d want a SuperUniti which, while excellent, sounds very different. For the price of a Nova you can get a used 272/250DR. Swap the Stageline for a Rega Fono and hide it somewhere. Put the flatcap on the CD5 and sell the rest. Rip all the CDs, get the family used to using the app and then sell the CD player. End up with two boxes (plus the Fono) that sound better than the current system and do everything. That’s what I’d do anyway. 

Can you really get a used 272/250DR for, what £4500? When I've look it is more like 2750 per box

I sold my two year old 250DR for £2,250, and I’ve seen 272s for less. So yes, you can. 

Stick around for a wee while.

someone might get a good deal on a used 300DR in the near future...

I already did, a 2006 300, fully serviced and upgraded to DR spec in December 2016 for £4000.