UnitiServe (Who has pre-ordered?)

Interesting result, Ultramanzero. For some reason I also thought UnitiServe was not for playback. Looking forward to playing with it later in the week.

quote:

Originally posted by graham halliwell:
...
For some reason I also thought UnitiServe was not for playback.....

????? It is only for playback!

What else did you think to do with it?
Ripping is a side issue IMO.

Unless you mean this dreadfull UPnP thing that it supports .

-
aleg

whoops! I meant direct CD playback!! I originally was under the impression, as was Ultrananzero, that CD drawer only for ripping. S

Graham, when u playback the CD directly, it seems there is some kind of buffer or RAM acting in there. When u push the eject button in the middle of a song you can still hear the music for half a sec after the CD is physically out from the drawer.

Still early days with the UnitiServe, but first impressions are very positive. Using it initially with Uniti via both UPnP & DigIn - very good. Works superbly with the n-Serve app (updated HDX app).

Viewing the "touchscreen" via web browser everything is presented the same as HDX, even the switch between CD Rip & Play mode. Must say that this facility wasn't clear within Naim's dealer release notes, hence the doubt in Graham's previous posts. Have been waiting to get our hands on the Serve to check this facility out as we have had enquiries from customers who are interested in knowing whether this was included. (Ultramanzero - will check out the buffer Q too.)

Going to try it with DAC tomorrow (the acid test) and also as a server to other network players - should be an interesting day.

I think that this product will prove rather popular, as will the equally long awaited Qute.

Ultramanzero,
many thanks for your first impressions about the Unitiserve. These are extremely good news for me!
SPDIF seems not to be the bottleneck...

I´m curious to reed more sound expieriences.

Tony,

Good info! What type/brand of digital cable are you using to connect the UnitiServe with the Uniti?

I just received confirmation mine is shipped and should arrive Friday or Monday.

Sitting here at home with UnitiServe-SSD, which arrived at NAIM Inc this afternoon.

1. AC mains lead utilizes ferrite ring in (serialized) custom plastic housing. This feeds a 12VDC 4A switching power supply.

2. Units run 1.5a SP1 system software.

3. SSD units are dead quiet, even when ripping drive is active.

Everything else about the units should be familiar to anyone with prior experience of HDX / NS0x etc.

Same timing here, they arrived this afternoon at Dimexs too. Playing with one at home now.

David - did the HDX-SDs arrive in the same shipment?

A really late night last night, enjoyed UnitiServe + nDac till 4 in the morning.

So far I experienced one problem: I cannot change the Genre of an album through DTC, For HDX I usually do it through the touch screen, can anyone help? Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Ultramanzero:
A really late night last night, enjoyed UnitiServe + nDac till 4 in the morning.

So far I experienced one problem: I cannot change the Genre of an album through DTC, For HDX I usually do it through the touch screen, can anyone help? Thanks!

That's the advantage of early buyers .
No help available yet.

In the German Manual it says you can change the genre of albums by some menu option. Because there is no english reference manual yet I can only show you the German version. But maybe you recognise the location of the menu:



I'll give you a small translation of the first two menu options:

quote:

Maintaining Genres: allows the deletion, adding and changing of the genres in the music directory of the UnitiServe.

Assigning genres: starts a menu sequence which allows you to assign a genre to music. The options to select the music are "Imported last", "Show albums" and "Show Interpreters". Titles can be selected as a group or individualy. Existing genre assignments can be changed by selecting "Show Genre".

-
aleg

quote:

Originally posted by Develyn:
Tony,

Good info! What type/brand of digital cable are you using to connect the UnitiServe with the Uniti?

I just received confirmation mine is shipped and should arrive Friday or Monday.

Good news Develyn - I am sure you will be impressed.

Used Naim DC-1 with BNC-RCA adapter on Uniti end as our demo cable is BNC-BNC. Can be ordered in any config to suit your requirements.

Initially tests on the DAC whilst setting up for a demo are very impressive. Just going to swap amps (from 202/FCXS/200 to 282/SC/250) in readiness for demo and will have a better listen after demo has finished. Will report back then.

@Billy Rubin: Yes, HDX-SSDs also on same.

quote:

Originally posted by Ultramanzero:
A really late night last night, enjoyed UnitiServe + nDac till 4 in the morning.

So far I experienced one problem: I cannot change the Genre of an album through DTC, For HDX I usually do it through the touch screen, can anyone help? Thanks!

Can't be done through DTC (TTBOMK) but can be done through the web browser screens.

Had an all too brief listen to the Serve before closing up the shop via DAC/282/SC/250 & Fact-8s - superb. The music was just asking to be listened to. Shame I have to head home now. Looking forward to more time with the Serve tomorrow.

BTW English reference manual is on the disc in the box with the Serve Quick Start guide.

Thanks Tony and Aleg, I will try to use the web browser!

To my ears Serve+dac sounds better than HDX, others may have different opinions of course.

I did not compare Serve+dac and HDX+dac though as I thought using only the digital output of the HDX is a waste.

Just to keep everyone updated from my original post to start this thread, I have UPS delivery confirmation for August 10th. I'm located in the USA.

Another couple of weeks for western Canada.

Sure wish they would publish the english version of the manual. I'm not supremely confident that I'm going to be able to integrate the NAS.

Could someone confirm whether the Serve can be used to playback via the CD transport without ripping?

I didn't think was possible but posts above seem to indicate otherwise?

Thx

quote:

Originally posted by Jack:
Could someone confirm whether the Serve can be used to playback via the CD transport without ripping?

I didn't think was possible but posts above seem to indicate otherwise?

Thx

Confirmed that Serve can play CD without ripping by switching autorip function off via menu.

Just went to the Hong Kong hifi show and the UnitiServe is already available now! And the price is right (for a Naim streamer).

quote:

Originally posted by Manu:
Same timing here, they arrived this afternoon at Dimexs too. Playing with one at home now.

Hi Manu did the 'Qutes show up also??

Thanks Tony......looks like the CDX may be going!

Managed to have a listen to the UnitiServe SSD yesterday, for those that are interested.

The system comprised of UnitiServe SSD, nDac, 282, Hi Cap, 200 with PMC Fact 8's, with Naim digital I/C, Hi Line and standard mains cable. This is a system I am familiar with and works very well in our larger dem room; it sings. Control of the system was via iTouch, (lovely), with web browser on laptop with Netgear NAS. The UnitiServe and nDac had been playing on several systems since Monday, so everything was nicely warmed up.

During the day several people had popped over to have a listen, so my listening was casual (sometimes the best way). Chris Jones had been played, Leonard Cohen's '10 Songs', Kit Downes 'Golden' - and a favourite of mine Duke Ellington's 'Blues in Orbit'. I'd noted and commented that the system was sounding relaxed but engaging and very musical. Something was happening that drew me toward putting everything else to one side. Vocals (Jones and Cohen) sounded particularly present with copious amounts of detail, grain and texture. Timbre sounded true and vibrant. There was an effortlessness about the sound I'd rarely recalled at this level, but memory isn't really to be relied upon in these situations. So far, so good.

At the end of the day we managed to grab some 'sit down and listen' time. 'So What?' was chosen from KOB, and 'Hazey Jane 2' by Nick Drake (this last track I've often had problems with; its very dense arrangement can often sound confused and lackluster on many systems, I find it takes a well ordered system to sort it out).

Again I was drawn to the effortlessness and musicality of this system. Details were presented in their own space without a big show. Punches were pulled in the bass on KOB; variations in pitch and attack easy to follow. Ride cymbal appeared large, with plenty of harmonics and not placed in the HF as can often happen, even on a system of this calibre. Hazey Jane seemed less hazy; brass instruments occupied their own space more so than usual. The weaving guitar lines easier to follow.

So, what were we going to reference it against? Unfortunately our HDX was unavailable, but we had a CDX 2 (latest spec) waiting. So the reference was CDX2/nDac, a very fine and popular combination.

Now some of you aren't going to like this, and I know many are going to disagree and possibly tear me to shreds, but with the CDX2/nDac as source all the finer points I'd noticed during the day seemed to diminish. Not disappear, but diminish. That ride cymbal was more in the HF unit. Hazey Jane was a little bit more hazy and more difficult to follow. Those guitars sounded less sorted. The brass that had been so pinpointed and harmonious sounded blended and homogenised. Overall the sound was more 'uptight', less present, image and depth more two dimensional. To me the nServe sounded more like a band being monitored live through speakers, the CDX2 like playback.

OK, I know its early days, but I'm excited about what I'm hearing. In the words of one of today's customer listeners, 'digital playback really is coming of age'. Its easy to use with iTouch, and easy to rip and set up. Unfortunately I didn't have time to listen to rip vs direct nServe CD playback. Only a couple of caveats; I hope a front panel reference grade finish becomes available for those using this with reference gear, (as opposed to Uniti), and I must get around to changing the feeble cheap 13 amp plug fitted on the P/S. Oh, and the ability to export those fine rips to iTunes would be nice, although I understand the legal implications from Naim's point of view.

Congratulations Naim.