Uniti vs Classic series sensitivity to mains?

Posted by: YiannisK on 15 January 2018

Following some really (really) bad luck with a recent Nova purchase (various faults and had to return it), I am again considering a naim purchase. This will either be another Nova (hopefully better luck this time) or a Supernait 2. I need to carefully audition the latter but I seem to recall strong advice and caution about mains contamination. In fact I remember discussing the Supernait 2 with a friend (who owns it) telling me (emphatically) that it has to be plugged in a separate power strip and certainly not alongside devices such as TV, Apple TV, PS4 etc due to their switching PSUs introducing noise to the Naim.

His caution went a bit like this: "If you plug your Apple TV or PS4 on the same power strip as you Naim, you will end up injecting noise to the Naim. This will end up as a hardening of sound and everything will sound more harsh". 

Strange thing is that while I had the Nova at home (2 weeks in total) I had it plugged in the same power strip as many terrible devices (Apple TV, TV, Virgin box, etc etc) with no issues at all. The sound was smooth and if anything a bit too warm with my dynaudio speakers.

Is the Supernait 2 indeed susceptible while the Nova (and other Uniti products) staying immune to this mains noise?

Cheers

Posted on: 15 January 2018 by Huge

It's complicated, somewhat unpredictable, it applies to most amplifier brands, not just Naim (for instance I had that problem with an Audiolab 8000s, but I don't have the problem with my current Naim 272/300DR system), and not all switched mode power supplies create a problem in the first place.

To see if you have a problem with a device interfering with your audio system (Naim or not!):
Turn of everything else in the house that's electrically powered...
Play something on the system...
Turn things back on one by one and see if anything causes a hardening of the sound or an increase in 'background clutter'.

If you find something that interferes try putting clip-on ferrites onto it's cable(s) and try moving it to a different socket in the house.