Uniti Nova vs. Star

Snait39 posted:

ChrisSU posted:

Snait39 posted:

Mike-B posted:

100% Chris,  I just don't get it,  why anyone with a laptop or PC & DVD r/w drive & 1/2 an ounce of computer savvy would want a £2000 Core vs a £200 NAS is beyond me.    

Because I would really like to have the core in the rack for his haptic and style also for convenience, not to mention that the core sounds better than the NAS at my dealers place.

Costwise I would agree but if I am in searching for a budget solution I would not with Naim.....

Fair enough, but in terms of cost, Core + Atom = Nova, and I don’t believe for one moment that it could compete on sound quality with a Nova fed from a regular NAS. 

This may be.

I am really happy decided for the star and looking forward to receive it mid of January.

So no more thoughts and headache which version or combination would be better 

Good luck with your Star, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!

ChrisSU posted:

Snait39 posted:

ChrisSU posted:

Snait39 posted:

Mike-B posted:

100% Chris,  I just don't get it,  why anyone with a laptop or PC & DVD r/w drive & 1/2 an ounce of computer savvy would want a £2000 Core vs a £200 NAS is beyond me.    

Because I would really like to have the core in the rack for his haptic and style also for convenience, not to mention that the core sounds better than the NAS at my dealers place.

Costwise I would agree but if I am in searching for a budget solution I would not with Naim.....

Fair enough, but in terms of cost, Core + Atom = Nova, and I don’t believe for one moment that it could compete on sound quality with a Nova fed from a regular NAS. 

This may be.

I am really happy decided for the star and looking forward to receive it mid of January.

So no more thoughts and headache which version or combination would be better 

Good luck with your Star, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!

Thats kind, thanks a lot!

spurrier sucks posted:

No quarter posted:

Max_B posted:

Mike,

to begin with, the Core rips, a NAS doesn't. So to the £200 of the NAS please add whatever sum your PC & DVD r/w drive cost. Are we still so far from the Core, also considering the convenience and the excellent sound quality (which I have personally verified)?

Max

I agree Max with all your points about the Core,I own one,and also own a computer with ripping capabilities.The thing is,my computer resides in my bedroom,and my Core sits on my Naim Fraim,next to my speakers,listening chair etc.Who wants to walk in and out of the bedroom every time I want to rip a new CD?The whole ripping my CDs process was quite enjoyable to me,listening to the new rips as they finish,filing them away in a box,all the while,sat in front of my System[b],people do not have their computers in their listening room do they?[/b]

I have a laptop or two that I can take into any room then transfer the files to my NAS via my network. I can understand the no fuss approach of the Core but I don't have an issue with ripping to a NAS. Both ways work and having a choice is always nice. 

No fuss

Is there any reasonable explanation why Star has no DIN preout (RCA only)? Nova has one.
Isn't in Naim's interest to encourage people to use their own power amps?
Web page for Star even claims: "In true Naim style, the new Uniti Star can be upgraded with one of our external power amplifiers, such as the NAP 200."
It fails  to mention that SNAIC4 from NAP 200 won't suffice and you will need additional DIN 4pin to RCA cable. I would not call that true Naim style.
There is also a lack of powered input for Stageline (but this has started with Superuniti) actually encouraging possible Stageline owners, not willing to invest in extra power supply, to look for non-Naim alternative phono stages.

I guess it was a decision based on sound quality and the space available, and some differentiation of product. One for Naim to explain.

interesting post [@mention:1566878603946398] .. I have the Star and have been pondering my choice.  I listened to all three in the range and admittedly was blown away by all and could hear the step up in range to the Nova, much more fuller and powerful sound.  I got the Star due to price and CD player convenience and do love the sound quality but  have questioned whether I should have just got the Nova (top of range) and be done with it (does that ever happen??).

FYI, using a QNAP with Asset for uPnP music source.

Am I reading this correctly? Did someone suggest Nova outperforms NDX + SN2 + HicapDR?

Mike-B posted:

100% Chris,  I just don't get it,  why anyone with a laptop or PC & DVD r/w drive & 1/2 an ounce of computer savvy would want a £2000 Core vs a £200 NAS is beyond me.    

I want a Core because it would cost less than wiring my home with ethernet. I currently use a wifi bridge between my server and NDX. This works fine 99% of the time but that 1% is starting to grind my gears.

If the Core worked then it would already be on my HiFi rack. Really a shame it is currently garbage.

Kevin,

No need to wire the whole house — as long as the NAS and NDX are wired to the same switch, you could Wi-Fi the switch to the rest of your network with a bridge, like an AirPort Express or similar non-Apple device; Ubiquiti?

Nick

Hi Nick (or Richard)

I have recently bought a Nova which I am very impressed with and currently use via Wi-fi. I have a Core on order and was thinking of using it directly connected by Naim DC1 to the Nova as I don’t have Ethernet in the hifi room and the router is elsewhere. However,  your latest post reminds me that I did wonder if I could connect the Nova and Core to a switch and then connect the switch to an older Airport Express I have in my ‘spares’ drawer.  Is this a good solution - it would also allow easier Roon integration I assume? Your advice appreciated

Bob

Personally I prefer the sound via Spdif from Core to Nova, though you lose the album artwork on the Nova screen. Will wait for others to comment on your suggestion.

I also did not have ethernet in my Hifi room, but was able to get a cable in trunking put around the outside of our house from router room to hifi room, cost for this to be done was about £140.

Shropshire Hills posted:

Hi Nick (or Richard)

I have recently bought a Nova which I am very impressed with and currently use via Wi-fi. I have a Core on order and was thinking of using it directly connected by Naim DC1 to the Nova as I don’t have Ethernet in the hifi room and the router is elsewhere. However,  your latest post reminds me that I did wonder if I could connect the Nova and Core to a switch and then connect the switch to an older Airport Express I have in my ‘spares’ drawer.  Is this a good solution - it would also allow easier Roon integration I assume? Your advice appreciated

Bob

The best solution would be to run Ethernet to the Nova.

I use power line adapters without any issues to a qnap Nas.  Sounds great to me.

Shropshire Hills posted:

"............   I did wonder if I could connect the Nova and Core to a switch and then connect the switch to an older Airport Express I have in my ‘spares’ drawer.  Is this a good solution - it would also allow easier Roon integration I assume? Your advice appreciated

Yes, a proven good solution

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I will have fun comparing the alternatives once the Core arrives - it’s been on order for a few weeks so hopefully here early in the New Year. The Nova seems ok with Wi-fi - mainly Tidal streaming with occasional drop outs which I assume are Tidal and not Naim. I use a Ubiquiti router connected via Netgear switch to a Plusnet Modem and Wi-fi is a lot better than using the Plusnet modem/router

Bob

Shropshire Hills posted:

I have recently bought a Nova which I am very impressed with and currently use via Wi-fi. I have a Core on order and was thinking of using it directly connected by Naim DC1 to the Nova as I don’t have Ethernet in the hifi room and the router is elsewhere. However,  your latest post reminds me that I did wonder if I could connect the Nova and Core to a switch and then connect the switch to an older Airport Express I have in my ‘spares’ drawer.  Is this a good solution - it would also allow easier Roon integration I assume? Your advice appreciated

With the older Naim streamers, this was an effective workaround as the WiFi performance of the streamers was often unusable. With the new streamers, however, the wireless performance seems to be a great deal better, perhaps because they have 802.11ac WiFi - some old streamers were still using 802.11g! When you get the Core, it obviously needs a wired connection as it has no WiFi, and if you want to use UPnP, you just need to connect it to your router - either directly or via a switch, as it's physical location will be less important.  If you use it with SPDIF, it only needs an internet connection for updates, and for metadata retrieval while ripping, so wiring it to an Airport Express or similar should be fine for this. 

Justin_Clark posted:

interesting post [@mention:1566878603946398] .. I have the Star and have been pondering my choice.  I listened to all three in the range and admittedly was blown away by all and could hear the step up in range to the Nova, much more fuller and powerful sound.  I got the Star due to price and CD player convenience and do love the sound quality but  have questioned whether I should have just got the Nova (top of range) and be done with it (does that ever happen??).

FYI, using a QNAP with Asset for uPnP music source.

Hey, there is no need for doubt in my opinion.

It all about liking. I found out, that the star and nova are absolute on par in terms of sound and none is better than the othter.

It is only the question which one you do like more.  The Nova seems to have more weight and power but the star have more life and some glare and a faster sound signature in my opinion.

The old question, that the more expensive unit is the best, not for me and is all about which unit brings you nearer to the music.

Enjoy and have fun with your star and the thoughts about the nova will go.

(or you really like the sound print of the nova more than you know what to do :-))

Yes I think you are right, all to easy to get hung up on what you think you need...

It is an excellent amplifier and really pleased I've got one.

Max_B posted:

I compared the Nova to the SN2. The only thing they have in common is the weight (around 13 kg.). Different is an insuperable barrier, as a word or as a concept; there will always be someone who finds more weight, authority, control in the SN2 (I don't know the impact of the PSU, but having DR regs for the preamp the way I see it is that the difference with/without is lesser than on a SN1), and those who will find the greater agility, airiness, the better articulated and less heavyweight bass of the Nova very refreshing. I have owned, once, a SuperUniti, and I sold it after less than one week (to a perfect a**hole, I hope he's reading this now, I made a promise reach his ears that the first time we'd meet again he better change sidewalk) and after having heard a Nova for three days I wouldn't want a SU for free.

This is not promotion: it's my humble work to lend a hand to a very deserving product that is encountering hesitation and resistance to become a hit because it belongs to a 'son of a lesser God' line of products.

Best

max

 

 

I've not heard a Nova but did trial the Atom for a week. As good as it is, I preferred the sound of the SuperUniti, so the Nova must be as good as a Statement if you say you would not want the SU even if it was free...

Max_B posted:

...... I have owned, once, a SuperUniti, and I sold it after less than one week (to a perfect a**hole, I hope he's reading this now, I made a promise reach his ears that the first time we'd meet again he better change sidewalk) .............

Best

max

 

 

Hi Max,

what did the poor "a**hole"  lad do wrong to recieve your warning to change sidewalks if you would meet again?  

Did he force you to sell it to him? Were you disappointed in the sales price in hindsight?

Shropshire Hills posted:

Hi Nick (or Richard)

I have recently bought a Nova which I am very impressed with and currently use via Wi-fi. I have a Core on order and was thinking of using it directly connected by Naim DC1 to the Nova as I don’t have Ethernet in the hifi room and the router is elsewhere. However,  your latest post reminds me that I did wonder if I could connect the Nova and Core to a switch and then connect the switch to an older Airport Express I have in my ‘spares’ drawer.  Is this a good solution - it would also allow easier Roon integration I assume? Your advice appreciated

Bob

Hi Bob, it may depend on the quality of your wireless access point controller(s), and how well they implement the Wi-fi transport protocols, but you may find the new Uniti series work absolutely fine via Wifi. Naim have used apparently quite improved the Wi-fi circuitry and control over the earlier classic streamers.  So I would check first before automatically assuming a wired connection is better... it is a little bit of a myth around these parts perhaps based on the earlier Classic series streamer Wi-fi performances.... correctly implemented Wi-fi can be as effective as wired Ethernet and often a lot more convienient... in which case wired Ethernet is best left for joining the Wifi access points together.

However if going the Wifi Route, don’t rely on a single basic access point stuck in the corner somewhere bolted on to your broadband router. Use proper cooperating Wifi access points that overlap in your listening area... that way you can get the benefits of balancing and optimum performance. Ubiquiti make consumerish grade Wifi access points that are excellent and cost effective.

Simon 

Many thanks for your helpful comments. I am currently using the Nova with a CD head unit and also with Wi-fi for Tidal CD quality streaming and it seems fine so I will follow your suggestion re Wi-fi when the Core finally comes (although the amount of problems people seem to be having with the Core software makes me wary and I may return it and go the NAS route)

I have just one larger Ubiquiti attached to my router via a switch - unfortunately in the manner which you don’t recommend - “bolted” to my Plusnet Broadband router. It seems ok for now but I have read your earlier posts about Ubiquiti ‘mesh’ setups and I may follow that approach if my current setup falls short 

Finally I would like to say how pleased I am with the Nova - great music coupled with good design and very versatile 

Bob