Suggestions for the best system or combination please

As you already have a 250.2,  the obvious is to go for the forum favourite combo of 272/250.

A 172 or 272 would be the easy option here, but you might also want to consider what functionality you want from your source. The new range of streamers caters much better for web based streaming services, most of which simply did not exist when the old streaming platform was developed. If you just want to stream your own music from a NAS, that is not so important, but if you also hope to use Tidal, Spotify, Qobuz, Roon, etc. etc. one of the new generation streamers may serve you better. 

If you have a good Nas, you can load Bubble upnp and listen to Qobuz and Tidal via upnp on a 272 very happily, and possibly with better SQ than using Googlecast on the new platform. As for Roon, no idea. 

Thanks for your replies. Very helpful.

So it looks like the Unitis have more functionality than the nacs. In that case it would make more sense for me to sacrifice a little bit of the “musicality “ from the nac /nap combo for more up to date functionality from the Uniti. And it’s fewer boxes too. I would be sorry for see the 250 go. Even though I’ve only scratched the surface of its potential. 

To integrate services other than those directly supported by the older Naim streamer architecture I just use a Google Chromecast Audio connected to the 272 using an optical fibre.  This way you can have the better SQ and keep access to music from other streaming services / tablets / computers etc..
(I've also found that with a decent WiFi signal CCA is perfectly stable up to 24/192, so there's no problem with Hi Res either).

Why don’t you hang out for the 272 replacement and keep the 250; that way you’ll have something superior with all the later functionality, no idea about when it’s due or pricing

Mercky posted:

Why don’t you hang out for the 272 replacement and keep the 250; that way you’ll have something superior with all the later functionality, no idea about when it’s due or pricing

Waiting for the 'next best thing' is a losing proposition if one wants to improve NOW.  There is ALWAYS something next...better...coming.  

@Christian, you are running with two thoughts simultaneously - sound quality, and implementation of playback (control software).  (Three if you count the 'number of boxes' issues.)

If you want better sound, yes you need to upgrade your hardware. That's the easy part.  If you want to minimize box count (which is a noble endeavor!), you MAY need to sacrifice a little sound quality to do so. But I submit that you're very likely to be quite happy with a nice low box count Naim system.  So if you want to keep that 250, a 252/Supercap might give you the best sound, but its 3 boxes for just pre/power.

Which will you prefer - 272/250 vs. a Nova or Star? No idea; I've never heard a Nova or Star.  Worth a listen!  

The advantage of the 272 is that you can probably find a nice used one at a price worthy of used, vs new, equipment.  And the reviews here are quite uniform that it sounds wonderful.  But the Nova/Star will give you access to a somewhat newer choice of software interfaces right off the bat, such as Roon.

hungryhalibut posted:

If you have a good Nas, you can load Bubble upnp and listen to Qobuz and Tidal via upnp on a 272 very happily, and possibly with better SQ than using Googlecast on the new platform. As for Roon, no idea. 

Indeed, there are always workaround solutions to get the old streamers working with new services. I've done that with my NDX, adding an Airport Express for Airplay, LMS for Qobuz and Radio Paradise FLAC, Roon, and so on. There comes a point, though, when you may as well admit that if you want these services, and want them to be well supported now and into the future, a 10 year old platform with software and/or hardware workarounds is probably not the best idea. 

The 272 is now the last remaining product in Naim's range that still runs on the old platform, so it seems likely that it will be updated sooner or later. Still great for local streaming, but I would think twice about buying one now for any other purpose.

Streaming devices get superseded so quickly compared to other items like amplifiers. Even the Nova/Star would be overtaken by new products within a few years. Not as bad as televisions or computers which get obsolete within months but still quicker than I can remember for Naim products. 

Unless one is only into CDs the lifespan of systems based on streaming is only a few years. Frightening. 

Christian Smith posted:

Streaming devices get superseded so quickly compared to other items like amplifiers. Even the Nova/Star would be overtaken by new products within a few years. Not as bad as televisions or computers which get obsolete within months but still quicker than I can remember for Naim products. 

Unless one is only into CDs the lifespan of systems based on streaming is only a few years. Frightening. 

 

 

We obviously have very different views of the world.

My 2008 Panasonic plasma tv (60") is far from "obsolete."  The picture is still beautiful, I connect my Apple TV to it via HDMI, and 120 months after I bought it I'm still wondering about how it's obsolete.

My NDS I've owned half as long - since 2012.  Six years.  It was just now superseded in Naim's lineup. It's far from "obsolete."  No issues playing my redbook, hi res and DSD music files.  From a server controlled by a Naim app that works better than it ever has thanks to continued development by Naim.

To answer the question in your original post. "Am I being unrealistic?"  Yes. 

Bart posted:

Christian Smith posted:

Streaming devices get superseded so quickly compared to other items like amplifiers. Even the Nova/Star would be overtaken by new products within a few years. Not as bad as televisions or computers which get obsolete within months but still quicker than I can remember for Naim products. 

Unless one is only into CDs the lifespan of systems based on streaming is only a few years. Frightening. 

 

 

We obviously have very different views of the world.

My 2008 Panasonic plasma tv (60") is far from "obsolete."  The picture is still beautiful, I connect my Apple TV to it via HDMI, and 120 months after I bought it I'm still wondering about how it's obsolete.

My NDS I've owned half as long - since 2012.  Six years.  It was just now superseded in Naim's lineup. It's far from "obsolete."  No issues playing my redbook, hi res and DSD music files.  From a server controlled by a Naim app that works better than it ever has thanks to continued development by Naim.

To answer the question in your original post. "Am I being unrealistic?"  Yes. 

I think you are missing the point slightly. ‘Playing music files from a (local) server controlled by the Naim app.’ is exactly what the old streamers were designed to do, and they still do it very well. What they are not so good at is supporting the increasingly popular range of web based streaming services that many people now like to use, none of which were even available when they were first developed. If they had been, I’m quite sure the original platform would have been developed differently in order to better support them. That is what the new streamers do, and why they have some of their key features, such as increased buffer size, built in support for Roon, Airplay and Chromecast, etc. 

It all depends on what you want. One doesn’t have keep up with all the new services if one doesn’t want to. Of course, Naim need to keep up with what’s going on in the world or they won’t sell anything but as long as something one has meets one’s needs it can trundle on until it finally conks out. 

The OP needs to decide if the new functionality such as Googlecast and Roon are critical. 

Christian Smith posted:

So it looks like the Unitis have more functionality than the nacs. In that case it would make more sense for me to sacrifice a little bit of the “musicality “ from the nac /nap combo for more up to date functionality from the Uniti. And it’s fewer boxes too. I would be sorry for see the 250 go. Even though I’ve only scratched the surface of its potential. 

If you want the the updated functionality of the new streamers, you can still use your 250 if your speakers really benefit from it, as the new Unitis can, like your Unitiqute, be used with an external power amp. Also, if you are prepared to wait, the entire streamer range is being updated to use this new platform, so if you want separates, that will still be an option. It looks like the 272 will be the last Naim streamer to get this update, so you might have a longer wait for that. Alternatively, this update means that there will be good deals to be had on the old models, so if (as per the conversation above) you stream mainly from a NAS with your own music files stored on it, that might still be a good option to consider. 

This is interesting. Obviously I would like to have access to the new services available. But my point was that these were not even on the agenda a few years ago when we were mostly interested in getting the best CD player and the best pre/Power combination which would last us for decades once the final personal goal is reached. 

At the moment I’d use Spotify. But the other services are new to me.

currently listening to the 250-2 in action. It brings a smile to my face listening to an acoustic guitar piece. Would the Uniti nova/star give me the same pleasure or would I notice a slight come down ? I remember my wife said without any prompting “the sound is so much clearer and enticing “ when I used it for the first time. She had never commented on my system before.

To be honest I would want to keep the 250-2 as a starting point. I am now happy to part with every other part of the system????

ChrisSU posted:

Christian Smith posted:

So it looks like the Unitis have more functionality than the nacs. In that case it would make more sense for me to sacrifice a little bit of the “musicality “ from the nac /nap combo for more up to date functionality from the Uniti. And it’s fewer boxes too. I would be sorry for see the 250 go. Even though I’ve only scratched the surface of its potential. 

If you want the the updated functionality of the new streamers, you can still use your 250 if your speakers really benefit from it, as the new Unitis can, like your Unitiqute, be used with an external power amp. Also, if you are prepared to wait, the entire streamer range is being updated to use this new platform, so if you want separates, that will still be an option. It looks like the 272 will be the last Naim streamer to get this update, so you might have a longer wait for that. Alternatively, this update means that there will be good deals to be had on the old models, so if (as per the conversation above) you stream mainly from a NAS with your own music files stored on it, that might still be a good option to consider. 

I think I’ll do that and wait to catch some good deals. 

Thanks for the many suggestions you all have provided.

I'm not a big fan of Spotify sound quality, so personally I would be looking for an alternative such as Tidal or maybe Qobuz, which offer lossless subscriptions. Other than that, I would get yourself to a dealer and have a listen for yourself. You might be happy with a Nova without the 250, as it has a lot more power than your Qute, but my guess is that you will want to keep the 250 whatever you eventually decide to use in front of it.

To riff off of what Chris said, you'll hate the sound quality of lossy Spotify streaming.

And as HH said, those extra features are only critical if you'll use them and find them advantageous over what's possible with a 2 year old Naim streamer player.

I'm itching to try Roon, but will do so with a barely-$200 little box that i'll plug into the back of my NDS.  No need to pitch the NDS merely to add Roon.