UnitiServe + nDac OR UnitiServe + ND5XS

Posted by: dis on 25 February 2012

Having now caught the Naim bug well and truly, I am now looking at moving upwards. I am just loving the sound I now get, and can't wait for it to be even better . . . 

 

I currently have CD5XS +HiCap+PL ,  152XS / 155XS , NACA5, Rega5 

 

Using the source first approach the cd is the first for an upgrade. As my wife is on my back about never being able to find a particular cd, I figure ripped cds is the way to go. So far I am looking at  the above options which are about the same cost.

My research tells me that the SQ I would get from the UnitiServe + DAC combo is better than a CDX2. So for slightly more $ I get better SQ and the whole stored music thing.

However the second option has the advantage of the controls and screen, but SQ not quite as good as the above combo.

So, given that when the planets align I will move up to Classic series and S400s -

1. am I right  (SQ aside) that the only advantage of ND5XS over UnitiServe is the controls + screen ?

2. SQ : how much better will the Uniti + Dac be over the Uniti + ND5XS  ?

3. SQ : how much better  would the SSD version of  the Uniti be? Would the extra $ (including external hard drive cost) be better spent elsewhere on the system ?

 

I have a trial of both arranged at the dealer, but value forum feedback. Forum served me well advising HiCap (over Flatcap) and PL purchase, which have improved SQ for sure.

On a general note, how have people found the change of mindset from playing CDs to stored files ?

 

Cheers

David

 

 

 

Posted on: 25 February 2012 by GerryMcg

Hi David,

 

I use Unitiserve with the Dac (+555ps), and am delighted with the SQ. Firstly the Unitiserve will enable easy and accurate ripping of your CD's, which the ND5XS will not do.

 

As for the lack of a screen, I use the nServe app on an iPod and this a great app - even if there was a screen on the Unitiserve I would not use it. The app for the ND5XS, is nStream which is generally regarded to be inferior to the nServe, although i have no doubt it will be improved in time.

 

I heard the ND5XS yesterday and was very impressed by it. Although I believe that the internal DAC is not quite as good as the external one. However the S/PDIF output of the Unitiserve is supposedly a weak link, although I found the Unitiserve/DAC/555PS combination to easily exceed the SQ of my CDS3/555PS.

 

I use the SSD version which I was advised was preferable to the HD version.

 

Difficult for me to recommend one combination over the other, as I have not heard the ND5XS in my system. I susect their may not be too much difference SQ wise, but I can wholeheartedly recommend your first option. In particular if you have a large number of CD's to rip, the Unitiserve would be a real benefit.

 

 

Gerry

 

 

 

Posted on: 25 February 2012 by dis

Gerry

Thanks for your reply ! has clarified a couple of things in my mind.

I am tending towards the UServe + Dac like you.

-Better  app - my dealer tells me nServe on the iPad is even better.

-better dac - thus SQ

 

btw - how much better did you find the SQ after adding the 555ps.?

cheers

David

Posted on: 26 February 2012 by james n

David - The Unitiserve is a very neat turnkey solution to ripping and storage and a very high quality source if you need a S/PDIF into the nDAC. Used as a UPnP server with a ND5 / NDX etc its poor value for money compared to going the computer / NAS route - the money saved could be spent elsewhere in the system to more benefit. Ultimately though once you have decided on the nDAC or the ND5 then you'll have a better idea of where you want to go with source.

 

The mindset change ? - i've found it fantastic. Having my whole library at my fingertips via my iPhone / iPad has made me listen to my system a lot more. I've probably bought more CD's since moving to computer / streaming audio. 

 

Good luck in your upgrading. 

 

James

Posted on: 26 February 2012 by GerryMcg
Originally Posted by dis:

 

 

btw - how much better did you find the SQ after adding the 555ps.?

cheers

David

It is a huge improvement, over the bare DAC and the XPS2 powered DAC.

 

Gerry

 

Posted on: 26 February 2012 by Bart
Originally Posted by james n:

David - The Unitiserve is a very neat turnkey solution to ripping and storage and a very high quality source if you need a S/PDIF into the nDAC. Used as a UPnP server with a ND5 / NDX etc its poor value for money compared to going the computer / NAS route - the money saved could be spent elsewhere in the system to more benefit. Ultimately though once you have decided on the nDAC or the ND5 then you'll have a better idea of where you want to go with source.

 

The mindset change ? - i've found it fantastic. Having my whole library at my fingertips via my iPhone / iPad has made me listen to my system a lot more. I've probably bought more CD's since moving to computer / streaming audio. 

 

Good luck in your upgrading. 

 

James

+1 to all of this, from another uServe/nDAC/XPS-2 owner.  I really think that the most value for money in the uServe is obtained when you use it as a digital source as well as a ripper and storage device.  I have not been able to compare the sound against that of Naim's streamer boxes, so if the SPDIF output of my uServe is not as good as from a Naim streamer -- I can't hear it

Posted on: 03 March 2012 by dis

Thanks all for your feedback!

Had a demo at the dealer yesterday. Clear cut result - UnitiServe+Dac sounded far better than the UnitiServe +ND5.

The difference was so marked I decided on the spot that the superior SQ would have to take priority over a screen.

So am trading in the CD5XS and wait with bated breath for the new rip + stream to arrive. Just the small matter of getting some cable wired to the router, purchasing the external hard drive (have opted for the SSD). . .

May have to wait a while for PS upgrade though, as I'm thinking the next $ are probably better spent on the Pre. 

cheers

David

 

 

Posted on: 04 March 2012 by Steve Crouch
David As another Userve dac 555ps user, I would strongly recommend cat6 over 5e. This finally settled the decision to sell my cds3. Good luck and enjoy
Posted on: 04 March 2012 by dis

Steve

thanks for your tip here.

I assume Cat6 is a higher spec cable than Cat5 which is listed by the dealer ? 

 I'm a bit new to the whole thing here - so bear with me..There is:

*Cable between UServe  and router to collect meta data 

*cable between UServe(SSD) and external hard drive to store and relay back rips

*lead between UServe and Dac,  included is a  DC1 for this?

* lead from Dac to Pre.

What do you recommend for all these  ? I assume the CAT6 refers to the first two ?

I will get the dealer to do the install, but an independant contractor will install the ethernet.

Nice to hear of your good experience with a similar set up. Hopefully the bare UServe and Dac will   sound great (did at the demo).. Did you compare with and without the 555 ?

Cheers

David

Posted on: 05 March 2012 by GerryMcg
Originally Posted by dis:

Steve

thanks for your tip here.

I assume Cat6 is a higher spec cable than Cat5 which is listed by the dealer ? 

 I'm a bit new to the whole thing here - so bear with me..There is:

*Cable between UServe  and router to collect meta data 

*cable between UServe(SSD) and external hard drive to store and relay back rips

*lead between UServe and Dac,  included is a  DC1 for this?

* lead from Dac to Pre.

What do you recommend for all these  ? I assume the CAT6 refers to the first two ?

I will get the dealer to do the install, but an independant contractor will install the ethernet.

Nice to hear of your good experience with a similar set up. Hopefully the bare UServe and Dac will   sound great (did at the demo).. Did you compare with and without the 555 ?

Cheers

David

Hi David,

 

Re the second connection the external hard drive(which should be  NAS) is connected by Cat5/5e or 6, direct to the router and not the Userve. I use Cat6 myself for the ethernet connections. The DC1 is agood choice for the Userve to DAC connection and you can use the supplied Naim interconnect for connection of the DAC to the pre-amp.

 

Regards

 

Gerry