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

Posted by: Ian Brown on 07 November 2017

Hello everyone,

I am stuck on where I should go next with my system.

At present I have a the following:

Nait XS2 with flat cap, CD5 with hicap, Rega TT and TT supply, Stageline, and a Unitiqute V1 as a source.  Harbeth PSer as speakers (the little ones).

I have a Uniti Core at my office that I plan to bring home and integrate into my system.

On the used/demo market here in Canada I am seeing Superunitis and the occasional ND5 XS.  Either way I would replace the Qute.

The box count is getting a bit crazy and so the SU has real appeal.  I heard a Uniti at TAVES and was really impressed.  

I'm leaning towards the ND5 XS but I do not want to add a a DAC or power supply because I simply won't have the space.  Is the DAC in the ND5 XS could enough for the Core?  (At my office I run the Core through a Moon 230 HAD which I preferred to the DAC V1)  No one seems to question the quality of the DAC in the SU - most seem satisfied.  

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

 

 

Posted on: 09 November 2017 by Huge
Michael Mccullough posted:
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.

And a used 272  / used 200 make an excellent combination with great potential as a point from which to upgrade.  This combination will easily outstrip a SuperUniti.

(The SU is in a similar class to the ND5XS / Nait XS, but on 1:1 comparison, I distinctly preferred the latter.)

Posted on: 09 November 2017 by longmanjon

I would agree with HH, I also looked and SU again and then 172/200 but in the end took the plunge and went for a 272/250 currently non DR as I couldn't stretch the budget that far but it can be upgraded later and the sound compared to a SU is vastly superior.

Posted on: 10 November 2017 by Massimo Bertola

I'll post more on this, but having heard a Core and a Nova a few days ago, I'd get rid of everything bar the Core and buy a Nova. Certainly never a SuperUniti, which is the grandfather of the Nova and not even a very recommendable one. I think the Nova sounds miles better than any of the things you mentioned, and you'd be ok with 2 boxes.

Max