unitiqute + DAC?

The real reply is - if you are using a Qute as a Qute (i.e. using it to drive a set of speakers as a one-box audio solution) then it doesn't...

However if you decide to ignore the Qute's built in power amps you could take the S/PDIF output from the Qute into the DAC and take a line level output from the DAC into an existing HiFi - not really the Qute's intended purpose but you could do it if you wanted to.

Phil

Phil: are you saying that there are no sonic benefits from UQ digital out to nDAC and nDAC line-in to UQ?

quote:

not really the Qute's intended purpose but you could do it if you wanted to.

Phil,

Your policy/roadmap, call it what you will, is going to push users down this direction. If you have the nDAC and you want to add streaming files and iRadio to it in a Naim way, ie. not messing around with other vendors products, then the Qute seems the only relatively cheap way to do this. I certainly want this functionality as I know many others do and just listening to the Radio 3 Proms at 320kbps the other night was further proof of the huge scope for iRadio.

But nobody in their right mind is going to pay £3000 to add the NDX to the nDAC - that just doesn't make any sense if you already have the nDAC.

Regards,
Craig.

quote:

Originally posted by Phil Harris:
The real reply is - if you are using a Qute as a Qute (i.e. using it to drive a set of speakers as a one-box audio solution) then it doesn't...

However if you decide to ignore the Qute's built in power amps you could take the S/PDIF output from the Qute into the DAC and take a line level output from the DAC into an existing HiFi - not really the Qute's intended purpose but you could do it if you wanted to.

Phil... as a company Naim need to get a grip on what they are suggesting as setups as David (in another thread) suggested this would be a suitable setup. Many people are (a) asking for a streamer to use with their DAC and (b) suggesting the NDX is too expensive and (c) asking for a pure (digital output) streaming device and the reply along the lines of... if you ignore the poweramp the Qute is already that and to produce a Qute without DAC/analogue stage (alongside the existing device) would increase its cost (economy of scale) and not improve performance.

Eloise

quote:

Originally posted by Phil Harris:
The real reply is - if you are using a Qute as a Qute (i.e. using it to drive a set of speakers as a one-box audio solution) then it doesn't...

However if you decide to ignore the Qute's built in power amps you could take the S/PDIF output from the Qute into the DAC and take a line level output from the DAC into an existing HiFi - not really the Qute's intended purpose but you could do it if you wanted to.

Phil

Thanks phil
As a DAC/282/150 owner the unitiqute is probably not for me then. Im lookin to replace my sonos with a high end 24 bit source and thought maybe this was the solution. What is the naim solution right now?

quote:

As a DAC/282/150 owner the unitiqute is probably not for me then. Im lookin to replace my sonos with a high end 24 bit source and thought maybe this was the solution. What is the naim solution right now?

I guess UnityServe.
This is the only dedicated digital transport in Naim range.

quote:

Originally posted by Phil Harris:
The real reply is - if you are using a Qute as a Qute (i.e. using it to drive a set of speakers as a one-box audio solution) then it doesn't...

However if you decide to ignore the Qute's built in power amps you could take the S/PDIF output from the Qute into the DAC and take a line level output from the DAC into an existing HiFi - not really the Qute's intended purpose but you could do it if you wanted to.

Phil

Is it possible to connect qute to DAC then from DAC back into qute?

Physically, yes. Won't work though as you can only use one input at a time. You would need for example to set Qute input to iRadio to act as a source, then being picked up by the DAC. To listen to the DAC output though, you need to change input on Qute, at which point it stops being a source to the DAC...

quote:

Originally posted by Eloise:

quote:

Originally posted by Phil Harris:
The real reply is - if you are using a Qute as a Qute (i.e. using it to drive a set of speakers as a one-box audio solution) then it doesn't...

However if you decide to ignore the Qute's built in power amps you could take the S/PDIF output from the Qute into the DAC and take a line level output from the DAC into an existing HiFi - not really the Qute's intended purpose but you could do it if you wanted to.

Phil... as a company Naim need to get a grip on what they are suggesting as setups as David (in another thread) suggested this would be a suitable setup. Many people are (a) asking for a streamer to use with their DAC and (b) suggesting the NDX is too expensive and (c) asking for a pure (digital output) streaming device and the reply along the lines of... if you ignore the poweramp the Qute is already that and to produce a Qute without DAC/analogue stage (alongside the existing device) would increase its cost (economy of scale) and not improve performance.

Eloise

Uhh, that was already said. For the price, I don't understand the rip-off Britain mindset vs. the free pre/power thrown in for good measure!

One other thing–make sure that the UnitiQute's 75-ohm digital output is set to native, rather than 96kHz.

Up-sampling is an extra feature that is a byproduct of the otherwise high-quality input receiver / sample rate convertor IC used in the Qute (but not the NaimUniti), but is not required nor recommended when using the Naim DAC.

Makes a great stepping stone to an NDX as well.

quote:

Originally posted by John Bleasdale:
Physically, yes. Won't work though as you can only use one input at a time. You would need for example to set Qute input to iRadio to act as a source, then being picked up by the DAC. To listen to the DAC output though, you need to change input on Qute, at which point it stops being a source to the DAC...

What is the preamp out for? Just trying to establish what upgrade options the qute has before mine arrives in a fortnight!!

quote:

Originally posted by bigsplice:

quote:

Originally posted by John Bleasdale:
Physically, yes. Won't work though as you can only use one input at a time. You would need for example to set Qute input to iRadio to act as a source, then being picked up by the DAC. To listen to the DAC output though, you need to change input on Qute, at which point it stops being a source to the DAC...

What is the preamp out for? Just trying to establish what upgrade options the qute has before mine arrives in a fortnight!!

you can use an external power amplifier, using the preamp out. Of course this is pure analog connection. I've connected my Qute to Nait XS and don't have to change anything in the current setup. You'll need additional RCA cable for this purpose - not provided with Qute.

quote:

Originally posted by bigsplice:
What is the preamp out for? Just trying to establish what upgrade options the qute has before mine arrives in a fortnight!!

I use the pre out on my Qute to the AV input of my 202. I've set that to Unity Gain, so for all the stuff coming from the Qute (UPnP streamed music, FM & DAB, possibly soon to be using some of the digital inputs for an old CD player / CD Recorder or a MiniDisc)

I then have remote control of all the input switching and volume from another room using my iPhone. Although the Qute is very good, for me, this is all for background stuff.

Then when I want to unwind, I press Aux2 on my 202 and spin some vinyl.

John

quote:

Originally posted by okli:

quote:

Originally posted by bigsplice:

quote:

Originally posted by John Bleasdale:
Physically, yes. Won't work though as you can only use one input at a time. You would need for example to set Qute input to iRadio to act as a source, then being picked up by the DAC. To listen to the DAC output though, you need to change input on Qute, at which point it stops being a source to the DAC...

What is the preamp out for? Just trying to establish what upgrade options the qute has before mine arrives in a fortnight!!

you can use an external power amplifier, using the preamp out. Of course this is pure analog connection. I've connected my Qute to Nait XS and don't have to change anything in the current setup. You'll need additional RCA cable for this purpose - not provided with Qute.

okli
you say connect to poweramp but then say connected to xs (integrated) do you mean power or pre?

When John sets the AV input on the Nait xs to unity gain, he is bypassing the volume control on the xs and essentially using the xs as an external amp to the Qute sources and pre-amp.

bigsplice - you're right - I used the wrong terminology, but
the setup that connon price describes is exactly what I have - there is a switch on the rear panel of xs to bypass the volume control. My old CD player will be connected to the digital in of Qute soon and I hope that the only remote I need is the Qute's one resp. the nStream application (can I control the cd player?). I'm using xs as my only amplifier - the boxes are connected directly to it.

Hopefully Phil hasn't answered because he is busy working on a variant of the nDAC with built in streaming.

Dear naim fans, this is my first post here, I`m Gustavo Villa from Chile.

I would like to ask if there is no risk to use the unitiqute only as a streamer and leave the amplifier unused with no speakers connected?.

I`m planning to use a unitiqute as a streamer + Naim DAC (With XPS), all togheter will be my main source.

Also Is there any noticeable sonic difference between NDX in comparison to Unitiqute both used with a Naim DAC? any expereicne with that?

Thanks to all

Kind regards

Gustavo

quote:

Originally posted by AllenB:

quote:

Originally posted by gustavo:
Dear naim fans, this is my first post here, I`m Gustavo Villa from Chile.

I would like to ask if there is no risk to use the unitiqute only as a streamer and leave the amplifier unused with no speakers connected?.

I`m planning to use a unitiqute as a streamer + Naim DAC (With XPS), all togheter will be my main source.

Also Is there any noticeable sonic difference between NDX in comparison to Unitiqute both used with a Naim DAC? any expereicne with that?

Thanks to all

Kind regards

Gustavo

Hi Gustavo (& welcome!)

No problem using the UnitiQute just as a streamer, I am doing that right at this moment with my home-loaner unit, through the nDAC. My Qute is now on order, it really is that good as a streamer only.

Qute + nDAC + XPS will be a great source IMO.

No experience with the NDX in the home yet by anybody I believe, but have a read of my tests on my other thread regarding the part upgraded HDX v Qute. It surprised me, and my instinct tells me that a NDX and Qute through the nDAC will sound the same. Of course, without the nDAC, the NDX should comfortably out-perform the Qute, that will be down to the internal DAC's.

Cheers

Allen

Hi all
qute warming up a treat after 3 weeks and considering still using just as an all-in-one, maybe adding a powerline. Allen's findings in his recent post make great reading and gives a good indication of the qute's potential as a streamer only. options aplenty right now, just want naim wants i guess!
Waiting with interest for some more reports/reviews of the unitiserve and also how potential buyers are looking to integrate them into their current set-ups. For me, still very reluctant to sell my naim DAC because this is a wonderful product but its not really needed with a qute unless i use between unitiserve and qute. some have suggested that qute/DAC/naitXS is better path than adding unitiserve to qute. the "source first" approach would favour the latter option but something tells me qute/DAC/ nait XS option would be better bet.
All food for thought as always.
Cheers

Paul

quote:

For the price, I don't understand the rip-off Britain mindset vs. the free pre/power thrown in for good measure!

In the specific case of the Qute, the qualification of for the price is probably fair enough in the narrow context of the Naim alternatives - although the Qute is still around 70% more than the new Marantz streamer. Not apples vs apples I accept, but that's a big enough difference to suggest to me I'm not getting the amp's in the Qute entirely for free.

However, the mindset probably comes from saturation marketing from commercial organisations telling us stuff is free, when "free" is convenient shorthand for no extra charge. Free and no extra charge are NOT the same thing.

In the specfic case of Naim's distributed audio product range, it's quite clear from this forum their customers are confused and/or frustrated by the product offerings/pricing. As far as I can tell one can't put together a system from the current range that performs server, streamer, internet radio and DAC functions without significant duplication of one of those functions or additional unnecessary functions (if you want to add this to an existing hi-fi system) such as the free amps in the Qute or the amps in the Uniti.

And that's before you get to my personal bug-bear which is that I want a system that doesn't need a digital hub (such as the nDAC) AND an analogue hub to get music out of my speakers.

Olly

quote:

No problem using the UnitiQute just as a streamer, I am doing that right at this moment with my home-loaner unit, through the nDAC. My Qute is now on order, it really is that good as a streamer only.

Hi Allen - is there an option to power off the internal amp (like the n-Vi) when using it in this mode ?

James

quote:

Well, similar to the n-Vi, there are settings for speakers, and you can select 'none', although the manual doesn't specifically state that the amp sections are disabled.

Sounds promising

James

quote:

Well, similar to the n-Vi, there are settings for speakers, and you can select 'none', although the manual doesn't specifically state that the amp sections are disabled.

Allen, I believe if you select 'none' and speakers don't sing it means the amp is shut-down