Where do I go next ?

I guess that all depends on your budget. If you think the 100 can drive your speakers adequately, a simple step up would be to add a streaming preamp like a 172 or 272. It’s tempting to suggest changing your 100 for a 200, but I think upgrading the source and preamp should come first. 

Finer details you get by looking at your source and pre-amp, try to make your investments there and try to maximize value by getting pre-loved material. A significant upgrade could be a 272 with 200.

Hi 

Thanks for your replies, looking at cheaper options at the minute as not long purchased speakers and another major spend would not go down well, would adding a Dac to the Unitiqute make a improvement or would that just be a sideways move

I would not hesitate at adding a fine DAC - plenty of options available presently. From personal experience I can vouch for using the Unitiqute (UQ1) as a digital source into a DAC, however, you will need to have quality interconnects (Naim's own DC1 BNC-BNC digital cable and a good DIN-DIN or RCA-DIN, depending on your choice of DAC). As always, make your long-term plan first in terms of what you wish to end up with and try to test before you commit either way. A pre-loved 272 might be the better option as mentioned already if you were to sell your UQ and avoid the DAC route altogether.

If you want to add a DAC, you will need either a preamp, or a DAC that can function as a preamp, to work with your 100. For example, a Naim V1. 

Thanks again for the replies , would I not be able to place the dac between the UQ and the Nap100 and use the UQ as a streamer / pre amp 

You could, but as stated above it would need to act as a pre-amp for the NAP.  A DAC-V1 would fit the bill, and is actually the natural partner for the NAP 100, and you could use the digital out of UQ2, making it streamer only.

None of the Uniti players allow you to route the signal out to a DAC, then back in to it’s preamp. In the Naim world, you need separates to do that. With the V1, and some non-Naim dacs, this wouldn’t matter, as long as you choose one that gives you a preamp/volume control function. 

How about a used 202 and HiCap stick with the 100. Fix the UQ volume at 85 and feed this into the 202.

Thanks again for the replies so for example I could not connect a Dac like the Chord Qutest between the UQ and the Nap 100 using the digital out of the UQ 

Tinytim posted:

Thanks again for the replies so for example I could not connect a Dac like the Chord Qutest between the UQ and the Nap 100 using the digital out of the UQ 

No. You could use a Chord Hugo version 1 or 2 though.  Or Naim DAC-V1, Audiolab M-DAC etc etc.

The Qutest has a fixed output, so you would have no volume control. As Songstream says, other DACs do have this, so there are plenty of options. 

I suppose you could use a Qutest to feed the analogue input of your UQ2, and in the spirit of 'source first' that might actually bring some benefit, but  it wouldn't be the route I'd take.  Plus, you'd need something to feed the digital signal to the DAC.  Can the UQ2 feed digital out to an external DAC, and receive it back via analogue?  Anyone?  I can't work that out.

Whoops!  Just spotted [@mention:36201736949470193] already answered the questions.  So, again, no to the Qutest as an option.

I would first add one or two Powelines to the UQ2/100 combo, and only play the variable output DAC option afterwards, Hugo or VEGA. This is in fact what I was planning to do on my all more recent UQ2. ????

Chag -

Thanks guys for the advice , nothing is as simple as it first seems 

I would add an oder Nac something like a 32.5 /HC would fit in with the shoebox UQ and 100,  feed the UQ as a source into the 32.5 /Hicap and that would then go into the100 it would cost you north of £500 but it would cost less than a Chord Qutest.

That would not be an option I’m afraid , should a picture of it to the better half and they were not amused 

Well I'm afraid then that short of another Uniti product like a Uniti 2 perhaps or even moving away from Naim you have very litle choice.                                                                                                                               

Tinytim posted:

That would not be an option I’m afraid , should a picture of it to the better half and they were not amused 

How many do you have?

Chag -

I used to have a UQ 2 running Dyn Focus 160s,and wanted an upgrade.I bought an SN2,used the UQ2s digital out into a Hugo 1 as my source.This sounded good,but I ended up ditching all of that for my current 272/250,which is much better,with no redundancy.I would get a 272 first,add a 250 when you can afford it.Either trade in the UQ2/100,sell it,or use it in a second system.The Dyns will reward you with a better source,and more importantly a better preamp.I wish I would of skipped all the steps in between,and saved money doing it.

TinyTim,

I think the answer to your question is the Doctors.

Upgraditis can be a very dangerous disease if not caught early enough and for many is incurable.

The first symptom is usually lots of itching that requires plenty of scratching.