Connecting my laptop to the Uniti

Why not run some UpNP server software on the Sony and connect via an ethernet cable....?

Allowing the Uniti to do the streaming bit without the potentially flakey router in the middle....

Are you running completely wireless (both Unity and laptop wireless)? If so, try connecting preferably both, but at least one device to your router via an ethernet cable.

Or run a crossover ethernet direct from laptop to Unity (you'll have to set IP addresses manually).

Eloise

Buy a decent wireless access point, eg. Apple Airport Extreme or Time Capsule. Use this to run your wireleless network. Use the BT HomeHub for Internet access only. Problems will go away.

Another thing to try is changing the wireless channel on the bthomehub, in case interference is an issue:

http://bthomehub/

-> settings

-> Change wireless channel

It's easier for me to connect the laptop directly to the uniti than it is to connect my laptop to the homehub using an ethernet cable. Will I not get better sound quality by connecting my laptop directly to the uniti anyway?
I have tried changing the wireless channel on my homehub but it didn't make any difference. Can someone please tell me which is the best cable to connect my laptop directly to the uniti and which sockets I should use. I'm thinking of using the chord optichord with minijack and toslink connectors using the optical out and optical in scokets. Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.

Also to reply to PureHiFi, I was told by Naim advisor that you can't connect directly for laptop to uniti using an ethernet cable without having a router in between.

quote:

Originally posted by bowiecokemirror:
Also to reply to PureHiFi, I was told by Naim advisor that you can't connect directly for laptop to uniti using an ethernet cable without having a router in between.

Hmmm why not - how does it know you have a router in between - it can do this by counting hops, but why on earth would it - surely you could make a little private LAN with only the Uniti and Mac on it - you may have to manually configure the IP address of the Uniti (unless it can rendez-vous) and you won't have Internet access, but I can't fathom why it would refuse to work.

You would need all the UPnP junk, which a hiFace and S/PDIF cable could eliminate.

You might need a crossover cable, but it should be possible.

I was told by a Naim advisor on the phone you couldn't connect laptop to uniti directly without router, but maybe your right you can.
Regardless I would prefer to use an optical cable, so which cable do I use and what connectors do I need on the cable? Also which sockets do I use on the uniti and the laptop?

To answer your question, both the Chord Co. Optichord or Wireworld SuperNova are available with Minijack terminations.

Both offer MJ - Toslink, allowing you to use one of the Uniti's rear Toslink inputs. Never had reason to compare front jack with rear Toslink inputs, but maybe someone else can help with that choice.

Personally, I would go for MJ - TOS, keeping the main connection round the back on the Uniti and out of harms way.

NB - this will not allow you to use UPnP replay, so your music choice would have to be made via the PC itself - but I guess you realised this

Another option - HiFace USB/SPDIF & wire digital interconnect - we've had excellent results with this too.

Tony @ Basically Sound & Vision

Thanks Tony, just the advice I was looking for. I have ordered 5m chord optichord cable as I think I will find it easier to control my music from the laptop. Thanks again, you've been very helpful.

So lets do some math:

Uniti £2k

Access point to feed the uniti, about 19 quid.

Get a decent router.

No problem - glad to help.

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
Why buy a Uniti if you are not going to beam??
Pointless if you are not going to use the thing for what it was built for??

To give the OP his dues, surely one of the uses the Uniti was built for was a combined DAC / Integrated Amp, as well as streamer / amp. Having said that computer - Uniti via SPDIF is rather inelegant compared with computer to Uniti via Ethernet streaming.

To the OP, have you considered investing in an Atom type mini computer (something like a Dell Zino with large HDD), or a NAS with UPnP server software, and using your Laptop purely as a control solution? Add a good Ethernet switch (not hub or router) between the two also wired back to your wireless router.

Eloise

quote:

Originally posted by bowiecokemirror:
I was told by a Naim advisor on the phone you couldn't connect laptop to uniti directly without router, but maybe your right you can.
Regardless I would prefer to use an optical cable, so which cable do I use and what connectors do I need on the cable? Also which sockets do I use on the uniti and the laptop?

The reason I suggested that you use a direct ethernet connection was that I looked up the spec's of your laptop and I could not find any reference that it was equipped with a digital audio output (either Optical or Coaxial)...

However maybe the spec sheet I looked at was wrong...a quick read of your laptop manual should clear that one up and also identify the port location for you.

You can directly attach the uniti to a computer via an ethernet cable, both would need to have the IP address set to a static IP address within the same range and you would need to run some UpNP server software on the laptop...which you probably already have setup.

If you did it this way it would also help identify if the router is causing the dropouts you suffer.

Thanks for the advice everyone, but I've got my chord optichord cable and it seems to be working fine as I do have an optical out socket. Having a wired connection is not a big problem because my laptop and uniti are not far apart and the cable doesn't really get in the way. I don't really have sufficient knowledge with computers to set up an ethernet connection and there is no point I guess unless it will result in better sound quality.
I bought my uniti because I wanted a compact unit mainly to play cd's with, I only occasionally use my laptop for convenience.

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
Why buy a Uniti if you are not going to beam??
Pointless if you are not going to use the thing for what it was built for??
Its like having a wife or girl friend and getting another bloke in to sort her out 20 times a week

LOL

We have sold a good number of Unitis now and whilst the majority are connected to a network for either UPnP &/or iRadio, some are used solely as a single box CDP, radio & amplifier.

Different customers choose to use their gear in different ways. And that's the beauty of the Uniti. If you don't want to use an input (of which it has many), you can de-select it, but it's always there for future needs.

Maybe the OP will move towards UPnP in the fullness of time (& I suggest he should investigate it further), but for now, the Optichord is doing the job and he is (hopefully) enjoying the results.

quote:

Originally posted by Eloise:
Uniti via SPDIF is rather inelegant compared with computer to Uniti via Ethernet streaming.

Why so - it is easier to make work and saves having a NAS and an IP network and UPnP (which I'm no fan of) in the listening room. It is just another way to do things.

quote:

Originally posted by Eloise:
Uniti via SPDIF is rather inelegant compared with computer to Uniti via Ethernet streaming.

Really?? I must be missing something. A PC/Mac directly into the Uniti via spdif seems as elegant as it gets.

Unless by "elegant" you mean, slightly convoluted, requires a network of some sort, and more boxes.

That said, I would wonder if the SONY Laptop or any other "stock" digital output of any computer is bit perfect or can be made to be bit perfect (allegedly Mac's are ok).

-Patrick

I have tried UPNP using my BT Homehub but, as I've mentioned previously, the signal sometimes drops out. Also I find selecting music easier on my laptop than the uniti (with it's small screen and slow scrolling) as I'm always sat right next to it on the couch. Most of my cd's were ripped using iTunes which means I can't play them through windows media player as well using UPNP.

Maybe a better router would allow me to stream wirelessly without problems but it seems like too much hassle and extra clutter. The reason I bought the uniti was to reduce clutter and go for simplicity.

I was told by the Naim advisor it would be best to have ethernet connection to the router and then wireless from there to the uniti for UPNP use (wireless over both legs doesn't work as well apparently). Because of the position of the laptop, router and uniti relative to each other, this would be messy and awkward.

Anyway I'm happy with the setup and sound using the chord optichord cable and enjoying my music, surely that's all that matters.

quote:

I have tried UPNP using my BT Homehub but, as I've mentioned previously, the signal sometimes drops out. Also I find selecting music easier on my laptop than the uniti (with it's small screen and slow scrolling) as I'm always sat right next to it on the couch.

I agree

quote:

... router ... seems like too much hassle and extra clutter. The reason I bought the uniti was to reduce clutter and go for simplicity.

I agree again.

Seems a totally sensible approach to me.