Uniti Star and Nova: external power amplifier

Posted by: Emme on 06 June 2018

For what I know, I asked to Naim support, both all-in-one share the same streaming section and the same preamp section.

It seems that the only differences are the power amplifier stage and the cd-drive.

So, if I understand well, If I intend to add an external power amplifier, there would be no sound quality difference between the two... even the Star would be better for the ripping opportunity.

Strange, I miss something....

Posted on: 06 June 2018 by Richard Dane

Alberto, I think the Nova has a better power supply and regulation. So there will be a difference...

Posted on: 06 June 2018 by Mercky

Richard Dane posted:
Alberto, I think the Nova has a better power supply and regulation. So there will be a difference...

which presumably has the biggest impact on the power amp stage perhaps?

Posted on: 06 June 2018 by ChrisSU

If you intend to buy an external power amp, why are you considering an all in one player?

Posted on: 06 June 2018 by Obsydian

I must admit i do want the low box count and went for the Atom, then Nova, but now looking towards an NDX2/SN2 or 272/250.

So i suppose some may get bitten by the upgrade bug, but don't want to ditch everything, adding an amp, that may not be the best thing to do short term, but longer term works (with a seperate pre)

Posted on: 06 June 2018 by Huge

Mercky posted:
Richard Dane posted:
Alberto, I think the Nova has a better power supply and regulation. So there will be a difference...
which presumably has the biggest impact on the power amp stage perhaps?

It likely has as much (and probably even more) impact on the DAC and preamp.

Posted on: 06 June 2018 by Tastiehastie77

ChrisSU posted:
If you intend to buy an external power amp, why are you considering an all in one player?

So we can hide the ugly black boxes....and have something pretty, and functional on display, with all the power we need.

Posted on: 06 June 2018 by ChrisSU

Tastiehastie77 posted:
ChrisSU posted:
If you intend to buy an external power amp, why are you considering an all in one player?
So we can hide the ugly black boxes....and have something pretty, and functional on display, with all the power we need.

What I meant was, if you plan to add an external power amp, why buy a box that already has one, with all the design and performance compromises that necessarily involves. Better, I would think, to go for a 272 (or wait for it’s successor running the new streaming platform) for example.