UnitiServe (Who has pre-ordered?)

Posted by: Develyn on 13 July 2010

I've been told my UnitiServe should arrive within 10 days.

Who else has pre-ordered? Have you received any time frame for arrival?
Posted on: 08 August 2010 by Manu
Powerbench:
no more Qute that the rest of the world...

Obsessed:
Yes, short on SSD, but I have hard disk version Winker
Posted on: 09 August 2010 by powerbench1
Thought maybe maybe... that the Qute was shipped out with the Unitiserve. Waiting patiently....sold off my entire system in 2 weeks DOH!! (and broke even) Winker
Posted on: 09 August 2010 by Plinko
Graham, did you use the German or the Italian manual to setup the Unitiserve?
Posted on: 09 August 2010 by Develyn
I think the manual is included on a cd in the box that includes the english version.
Posted on: 09 August 2010 by graham halliwell
"English reference manual is on the disc in the box with the Serve Quick Start guide"

I'm looking forward to some of you reporting back on your findings, see if they agree with mine. As I said, early days yet, but mightily impressed with what I have heard so far.
Posted on: 09 August 2010 by Plinko
quote:
Originally posted by Develyn:
I think the manual is included on a cd in the box that includes the english version.


i was just joking...been trying to examine the manual before i decide to buy, however, only German/Italian versions are posted online.
Posted on: 09 August 2010 by Develyn
Just received mine today via UPS. Only thing done so far is removed the staples from box. Will setup tonight and report sometime soon.
Posted on: 10 August 2010 by oscarskeeper
Has anyone yet tried HDX vs Unitiserve in an otherwise identical system - ie both through dac or dac/PS?

Surprised, thought there would be loads of peple anxious to try...
Posted on: 10 August 2010 by Basically Sound
quote:
Originally posted by oscarskeeper:
Has anyone yet tried HDX vs Unitiserve in an otherwise identical system - ie both through dac or dac/PS?

Surprised, thought there would be loads of peple anxious to try...


Waiting for a new, latest spec HDX to arrive from Naim (hopefully in the next few weeks) to allow this comparison to take place. Looking forward to it and will post our opinions as soon as we can.

On the subject of the UnitiServe manual, quite why Naim haven't put the English version on their Manual Download website page, only they know (probably an oversight). But once you have accessed the "front screen" via a web browser, the operation is identical to the HDX and easy enough to set up without reference to the full manual. Email the shop and I will happily forward the manual to anyone who's interested.
Posted on: 10 August 2010 by ramona.c
There is a quite critical report from yeti.fro about his HDX home demo on the current thread "Naim streamer...on radar?".
Hope the UnitiServe will manage network shares quicker and don´t loose connectivity, needing rescan...
This is very important for me, thinking of my current lossless library. As far as I understand, it is NOT possible to store files from existing rips (on my PC) on the UnitiServes local HD (HD-downloads/HDCD-rips, etc.).
Overall, I would like to store ALL my current music on one place (f. e. UnitiServe), without the need to run my PC or (another) NAS.
Clearly, having a really secure backup, NOT on a NAS, but on a resting HD in my bookshelf...
Posted on: 10 August 2010 by pcstockton
Ramona,

That 12hour issue has something to do with his network/server, not the HDX itself. I would put tons of cash on that bet.

I imagine the connectivity issue also points to a underperforming network.

-patrick
Posted on: 10 August 2010 by David Dever
quote:
Originally posted by ramona.c:
There is a quite critical report from yeti.fro about his HDX home demo on the current thread "Naim streamer...on radar?".
Hope the UnitiServe will manage network shares quicker and don´t loose connectivity, needing rescan...
This is very important for me, thinking of my current lossless library. As far as I understand, it is NOT possible to store files from existing rips (on my PC) on the UnitiServes local HD (HD-downloads/HDCD-rips, etc.).
Overall, I would like to store ALL my current music on one place (f. e. UnitiServe), without the need to run my PC or (another) NAS.
Clearly, having a really secure backup, NOT on a NAS, but on a resting HD in my bookshelf...

Best way is to create multiple sharepoints, adding newest music into new sharepoint which will not require re-scan of existing sharepoint (as would be necessary were one to dump new files into a previously scanned and online folder).

A bit of care goes a long way, as no server is omniscient without perennial sharepoint scanning (be it every ten seconds, five or fifteen minutes).

Music Stores do not suffer from this issue, being managed actively from the server itself.
Posted on: 10 August 2010 by ramona.c
Thanks David an pcstockton,
clearly, it will be a good idea to make new rips with the UnitiServe to it´s internal music store.
For some cases (HD downloads, etc.), it will be helpful, Naim can implemet a ALBUM IMPORT to local music store-funtion, I think.
Posted on: 10 August 2010 by ramona.c
quote:
Originally posted by ramona.c:
Thanks David an pcstockton,
clearly, it will be a good idea to make new rips with the UnitiServe to it´s internal music store.
For some cases (HD downloads, etc.), it will be helpful, Naim can implemet an ALBUM IMPORT to local music store-funtion, I think.
Posted on: 11 August 2010 by Basically Sound
Good news (well, for my email server anyway Big Grin) - all six language versions of the UnitiServe Reference Manual are now available from the Naim website. Oversight in the Naim website dept for which they have duly apologised.
Posted on: 16 August 2010 by pylod
any news how it sounds or compares to hdx or the hdx with dac ?
Posted on: 21 August 2010 by rjstaines
Has anyone figured out how you migrate your music from the HDX to the Unitiserve? (that's assuming you are minded to move from one to t'other).
Posted on: 21 August 2010 by rjstaines
quote:
Originally posted by pylod:
any news how it sounds or compares to hdx or the hdx with dac ?


Out of the box Unitiserve against well run in & upgraded sound board/memory HDX (both thu nDAC) - Unitiserve is flatter, less exciting... BUT - eagerly waiting to hear after a few days of 24 hour playing of Unitiserve (so have not quite yet ordered Unitiserve to replace my HDX)
Posted on: 21 August 2010 by Harry
quote:
Originally posted by ramona.c:
Hope the UnitiServe will manage network shares quicker and don´t loose connectivity, needing rescan...


For what it's worth my HDX sees and mounts shares in a few seconds and has never lost connectivity with one. I wouldn't want all HDXs to be tarred with one brush unless they all deserved it. My biggest thumb twiddle is boot time. I don't know if the RAM upgrade will reduce this but I will find out soon. It's still not a great set back when a couple of minutes of hanging around is a prelude to uninterrupted music all day long.
Posted on: 22 August 2010 by rjstaines
quote:
Originally posted by AllenB:
I take it you guys do not leave your HDX's / Serves's on 24/7 as generally recommended with the rest of the system. Being driven by a computer inside, do / can they just go to sleep /hibernate?


My HDX has been on pretty much full time for the last 18 months. It doesn't go into & out of standby particularly gracefully and besides, the RAID backup processing happens overnight, so 24/7 it will stay!
Posted on: 22 August 2010 by David Dever
quote:
For what it's worth my HDX sees and mounts shares in a few seconds and has never lost connectivity with one. I wouldn't want all HDXs to be tarred with one brush unless they all deserved it. My biggest thumb twiddle is boot time. I don't know if the RAM upgrade will reduce this but I will find out soon. It's still not a great set back when a couple of minutes of hanging around is a prelude to uninterrupted music all day long.

SSD version is significantly faster–most of the boot delay is now largely a result of network negotiation, not storage spin-up.

Using a UnitiServe-SSD (with DC1-BNC-RCA digital interconnect) into a SUPERNAIT as I type–dead silent operation....
Posted on: 22 August 2010 by Harry
quote:
Originally posted by AllenB:
I take it you guys do not leave your HDX's / Serves's on 24/7 as generally recommended with the rest of the system. Being driven by a computer inside, do / can they just go to sleep /hibernate?


No they don't. I put my HDX on stand by over night. Every other Naim component stays on 24/7. This may or may not preserve HDD life. When my SSD equipped HDX comes back from Salisbury I will be more inclined to just leave it.
Posted on: 22 August 2010 by Harry
quote:

SSD version is significantly faster–most of the boot delay is now largely a result of network negotiation, not storage spin-up.


Mighty happy to hear that. Thank you David. Looks like I'm in for a few treats when mine comes back.
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by rjstaines
Well the Unitiserve has been running for a week now and still doesn't match up to the HDX, it's just got a flatter sound stage and less transient response (well that what my ears hear anyway).

Plan B then is save up for the SSD upgrade for the HDX. I read somewhere this could be a dealer upgrade... anyone else read this, or is that a load of hooee?
Posted on: 30 August 2010 by Harry
SSD is a factory upgrade. Mine is in at the moment. RAM and sound card upgrade to bring an older HDX in line with currently shipping versions is a dealer upgrade. If you want all three (as is the case with me) the factory will take it.