Naim streamer...on radar?

quote:

I can't see a "UnitiStream" selling for less than the price of a UnitiQute.

Probably right ...but maybe the DAC inside might have some upgrades since other peripheral hardware and circuits will not be part of Naim's assembly costs.

They could even just use blanking pieces for the unused holes in the Unitiqute box
regards
Geoff

my dealer as no idea when the qute will be for sale, it is my view there will not be a stripped down version of it, guess they will think customers who only dig out will still buy it . any turbo version will not occur till the streaming platform as settled

quote:

Originally posted by jon honeyball:

Ideal for you, maybe. But its quite a high cost entry point.

Why not follow on the logic demonstrated on the Unity range?

Uniti -- has everything

UnitiQute -- chop the CD drive off

"UnitiStream" -- chop the CD drive off, chop off the power amp stage, leaving fixed level line output.

So you want a Uniserve with an internal DAC, and no ripping drive? AM i correct there?

You dont think that will have a high cost entry point?

The DAC is $3500, the Serve is what $2500?

Do you really think combining the two into one box will be less $ than the sum of the parts AND at the same time outperform it?

We are taking about 1 box versus 2. With the 2 box option having a ton a flexibility.

Is ONE extra box really that big of a deal? If so, get a Linn player. Just dont expect to be able to connect anything else to it.

I just noticed that the crappier DS players have digital output. Interesting...... That would imply a two box source.

Good lord. Naim finally introduces a true streamer with and without internal hard drives. And the fact that they didnt jam a DAC inside is pissing people off. And that they added a ripping drive is doing the same.

I wish they hadn't included all of the unnecessary Tuner and Phono inputs on my NAC 102. What a waste. Where is my pure preamp without all the bells and whistles?

quote:

So you want a Uniserve with an internal DAC, and no ripping drive? AM i correct there?

Reread what I actually wrote.

A unitiqute without power amps.

quote:

Reread what I actually wrote.

A unitiqute without power amps.

Splitting hairs....

Is there a difference between the two?

quote:

Reread what I actually wrote.

Do you care to re-read my post and address my question?

"The DAC is $3500, the Serve is what $2500?

Do you really think combining the two into one box will be less $ than the sum of the parts AND at the same time outperform it?"

I am addressing your comment on the "high cost entry point".

FYI, I am not arguing for the sake of it. I am trying to understand if I would actually want the same as you.

thanks,
Patrick

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:

quote:

Reread what I actually wrote.

A unitiqute without power amps.

Splitting hairs....

Is there a difference between the two?

I would see the "UnitiQute without poweramps" as an Entry level source component (think 5i CD or CDXS level) as opposed to a UnitiServe - Ripper + DAC as being high end component (CDX plus). So yes there's a difference.

Eloise

it doesn't matter but.....

Qute - Amps = Serve + DAC

no?

What am i missing here?

I am just talking about function and the stuff inside the box. I dont want to discuss relevant performance and high end products when we are comparing two imaginary products.

I would suggest it won't have Uniti in the name...

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
it doesn't matter but.....

Qute - Amps = Serve + DAC

no?

What am i missing here?

I am just talking about function and the stuff inside the box. I dont want to discuss relevant performance and high end products when we are comparing two imaginary products.

I think you are very confused about what is inside Unitserve and what it does.

qute-amps is an endpoint player of material from over the network. it has no cd drive, no ripping, no storage (either local or nas).

unitiserve is a server. it is ripping engine with cd drive, and storage (either locally internally (not the ssd version) and NAS).

The fact that unitiserve has a digital output is, in my humble opinion, a major mistake by Naim because unitserve + DAC kills off the HDX (and NS01). Who will pay 4k for an HDX when unitiserve + DAC does the same (and more) and is better (ok, minus the fiddly local screen, but we have ipod/ipad for that). Who will pay 6k for HDX + DAC?

And what of the NS01? Remember that unitiserve does all the netstreams stuff, so all the naimnet functionality too.

Unitiserve should have been an over-the-wire only server, but instead people are (not surprisingly) connecting it up to nDAC. Which is fine, but some might view it as gun/foot/shoot. (im sure Naim will disagree, but variety is the spice of life and all that...)

I am not confused. I know exactly what is in there. I am not going to waste any more time arguing with you about anything.

The whole point of the Serve is its digital output.

i will stop talking with you about it. We obviously do not communicate very well.

<shrugs>

Hi Jon

Interesting point you make. Do you think the Unitiserve and a dac is the closest Naim will get to providing a "purish" streaming service? Just curious as am trying to understand where Naim is going. I want to move from my CDX2 to a file based streaming system but not sure where to go? HDX doesn't really appeal to me to be honest and Linn products seem quite clear in their offering to the consumer.

We will make an announcement during September on a Streaming product.Qute will start shipping next week.

Fantastic news Paul,
many thanks for the info!

Ralf

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Stephenson:
We will make an announcement during September on a Streaming product.Qute will start shipping next week.

So this is the announcement of the announcement!

Excellent!

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
it doesn't matter but.....

Qute - Amps = Serve + DAC

no?

What am i missing here?

I am just talking about function and the stuff inside the box. I dont want to discuss relevant performance and high end products when we are comparing two imaginary products.

I would think in terms of functionality yes that would be true Patrick (forgetting the UPnP server on the UnitiServe and radio on the UnitiQute.

As you say, performance wise totally different question. Like comparing a CD5i to a CD555...

Eloise

[QUOTE] We will make an announcement during September on a Streaming product.

__________________________________________

Great news !!

With strong products from other companies already available Naim should not only announce an announcement. I think they should come up with details regarding what it does and the price. I strongly consider selling my CDX2-2/DC1/DAC and buying a Resolution Audio Cantata Music Center. This is a CD player, DAC (coax, AES and toslink inputs), true asyncronous USB-DAC , streamer via ethernet plus a great pre amp with true analog volume control in one box. And I once compared their predecessor called the Opus 21 CD player in a 100 percent Naim system and it was great and convincing even directly compared to CDX 2/XPS2. Both the Opus 21 and the Cantata use the very same DAC chip (BB 1704) that Naim uses with CD5XS, CDX2-2, CDS3, CD555 and DAC. The German review magazine AUDIO just tested the CANTATA and they liked it a lot (Naim DAC got 125 points lately by AUDIO and Cantata got 135 points). And it looks great, too. My demo is booked...

at last some one with no blinkers, the first company to produce a line output /dig out secure streamer/audio player will take the orders.

John R. The RA only streams via UPnP. Make sure your cool with that.

quote:

at last some one with no blinkers

horses without blinkers often run all over the place and fail to reach the winning line ahead of the field - patience is a virtue hard to come buy (with apologies to Jorma Kaukonen for distorting his lyric).

BTW isn't the Uniti an audio system in one box.

I couldn't careless how many points a magazine gives in a review (how do they arrive at those?) - ever since I heard a system lovingly put together by the guys from Hi-Fi Comic, which sounded dreadful beyond belief to me - great TT, shocking WAD value amp and abysmal PJC speakers.

So if you're thinking of changing then you need to do the audition and check out the functions and make sure it is right for you. I notice the Resolution Audio Cantata Music Centre has no Bluetooth interface. Would you need a Wadia iTransport to use it with an iPod? UPnP ... not again. Hopefully you could hide it in a cupboard as it looks horrible; it is not even black

Lets us know how the audition goes.

quote:

Originally posted by kifco:
[QUOTE] We will make an announcement during September on a Streaming product.

__________________________________________

Great news !!

i guess its will be the top streamer....naim never launched the NS REF streamer. maybe that´s it ?

quote:

Originally posted by kifco:
[QUOTE] We will make an announcement during September on a Streaming product.

__________________________________________

Great news !!

I wonder the effect (desired?) on the trend of ADS & KDS sales to "naimees" in the meantime!

Rooster

As a satisfied DS owner this news hasn't caused any regretfull thoughts I am afraid. I assume the time to actual placement in any HiFi addicts hands will be similar to other items of late ( uniqute etc?). I reckon by then I will have lived with and loved the ADS for quite some while. I am getting too long in the tooth to waste valuable listening time waiting for the Naim equivalent ( if that's what it is!).

regards
Geoff