Uniti & nDac ?

There is no digital out of the Uniti. Cannot be done. But with a UnitiQute, digital out=yes.

Though I should note that one can't take the signal back into the UnitiQute with the DACed signal.

But is Qute/DC1/DAC ($5,850 USD) better than NDX ($4,750 USD)?

Good times!

I hope so..... in the magnitude of about $1100

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
I hope so..... in the magnitude of about $1100

Not necessarily....$1,100 might just be the cost of the extra casework. One case = big cost saving.

quote:

Qute/DC1/DAC ($5,850 USD)

Wouldn't quite a few bits of the Qute become superfluous - approximately $1,100s worth.

I'd be worried if the Qute/nDAC wasn't better than the NDX standalone. It does seem the cheapest all Naim way of driving the nDAC, albeit with some redundancy for some people. Which way would the floating/chassis switches on both products be set?

quote:

I'd be worried if the Qute/nDAC wasn't better than the NDX standalone.

Well, if I'm honest, it wouldn't keep me awake at night. I do like the idea of not having redundant bits though, but have got used to having superfluous power supplies when I attach a 555PS to CDP or nDAC.

You misunderstood - surely I can use the dac if I forego the UPnP bit - attach a Mac via Halide Bridge to the nDac then nDac to Uniti.

Tog

quote:

Posted Sun 14 November 2010 08:15
Is there any mileage in using the nDac with a Uniti?

There isn't a great deal of info about the Uniti's Dacs although I gather there are two.

How would I connect it to the Uniti?

Tog

There are digital inputs in the Uniti which although are not as good as the nDac are certainly usable to hook up the mac you are thinking of in the manner you describe.
If you go the route of the nDac then you can use it's analog output into the Uniti simply bypassing the digital input of the Uniti.

Is it worth it? IF you already own a Uniti AND you don't want to use the UPnP feature I suppose then you could conceivably come up with a better signal from your Mac although you will still be putting it into an all in one unit which as good as it is is still a compromise. Frankly, I see the nDac in front of a Nait XS at a minimum.
In other words use the Uniti as it was intended, as an all inclusive piece that you can use either UPnP or hook it up into the SPDIF input with the bridge and Mac as you describe.

I agree with realhifi, that the Uniti amp is not match to nDAC. A year ago I compared Uniti vs Nait XS and bought XS - the difference was hearable. Now I compared Qute with Nait XS, specualting with the idea to sale my XS, because Qute provides everything. (Un)fortunately, my Nait XS is still at home and Qute is connected to it and I think XS will remain here for a long time.

Hello okli.......If you are able, try the nDAC with the Qute connected; it's quite a revelation. I swear it took 30 sec to realise the improvement and just a few tracks to decide we had to have one.
Regards
Peter

Yep - if I'm honest I thought as much - love the Uniti but wondered about an upgrade path.
Out of interest does anyone know anything about the Uniti's Dac - beyond the sales blurb that is...?

I have now tried a number of combinations - optical to Mac, UPnP from Imac etc etc ... Seems like I may have to consider the Serve ...expensive though it is. ...David will probably say I told you so ....

Tog

quote:

Originally posted by Peter_RN:
Hello okli.......If you are able, try the nDAC with the Qute connected; it's quite a revelation. I swear it took 30 sec to realise the improvement and just a few tracks to decide we had to have one.
Regards
Peter

Hi Peter,

I'm aware of the improvement with nDAC, but this will stay for some time on my wish list only (hmm, if someone wants to make me really happy for Christmas, I hope (s)he is reading this forum :-).

I think that if you have nDAC, you need something higher than Uniti on the amplification side after it. I think this was the question Tog asked here.

quote:

Originally posted by Tog:
Seems like I may have to consider the Serve ...expensive though it is. ...David will probably say I told you so ....

Tog

expensive this way is on the dark side - serve + ndac + hmm, 500 serias amps? ;-)

Expensive but are you happy with the serve and how does it work with network music files?

Tog

Tog, I'm afraid I can't help here - I don't own serve. As I purchased Qute I was searching for a streaming player + tuner, compatible with my NAS equipped with media server. Of course, serve was introduced to me by my dealer, but I had to go the a.m. way - serve + dac. As I already had my NAS and a workstation for ripping, serve didn't offered me any additional advantages in SQ/storage/rip station and it'd require another component (DAC). As a newcommer to the streaming solutions, I decided to go with Qute as a very attractive working solution for the moment and an excellent price. This would give me upgrade options for the future, using Qute as a second room system and building main system "from scratch" as the streaming technology becomes more mature. So, actually I'm "testing" currently with Qute and the other solutions would be too expensive just for tests.
On the other side, if you go for serve I'd like to here your opinion about metadata support and control software in serve - if the naim way here around their netstream API is superior to UPnP, this will be enough reason to start to rethink my options...

quote:

Originally posted by Tog:
Yep - if I'm honest I thought as much - love the Uniti but wondered about an upgrade path.
Out of interest does anyone know anything about the Uniti's Dac - beyond the sales blurb that is...?

Tog

Hi Tog
Here is one suggestion you might consider! The NaimUniti DAC is seriously good and I have used it to feed my SB3, DVD player, and it definitely improves the sound of the SB3 and DVD player. Recently I bought a EE Minimax DAC (tube) and fed my Uniti's analog input, using the EE Minimax DAC as a pre-amp, and I must say that this combo sounds very good, much better than the Uniti's DAC. My source is the SB3 and the music through the EE Minimax DAC also sounds better than the Uniti's UPnP. Just a thought!

As I reported on the Uniti 3.0 thread, I had the chance to listen to a few interesting combinations: first(while waiting for the upgrade to be done) I listened to HDX/DAC into 282/250.2 and Ovator S400, really good sound. When my Uniti was upgraded, the dealer hooked the Ovators on the Uniti and played HDX into Uniti, using Uniti's DAC (over DC1). I was suprised to see how well my Uniti drove the S400. Then we listened to HDX/DAC into Uniti. This was a clear improvement, so to the contrary what some people said here, the Uniti is well capable of revealing the improvement with the DAC. Finally we listened to HDX/DAC, Uniti/250.2 with S400. Again, the Uniti was able to show the difference. I think, the Uniti may be a little bit underestimated. (now with 3.0 you can even completely shut down the poweramp and use it as pure preamp).
When I left the dealer I had the DAC purchased and I do not regret it at all. So in my experience, Uniti and DAC make sense (I use a NAP 200 as poweramp, but after hearing the 250.2 I will probably upgrade to it).
When people report that Qute with nDAC sounds really good, I think the same will be the case with Uniti and DAC as I think soundwise the Uniti is above the Qute.
(This is of course my personal experience)

quote:

I think the same will be the case with Uniti and DAC as I think soundwise the Uniti is above the Qute.

I didn't think the Uniti did digital out.

quote:

quote:
I think the same will be the case with Uniti and DAC as I think soundwise the Uniti is above the Qute.
I didn't think the Uniti did digital out.

Of course not, but using the Qute as an integrated solution is in my opinion not as good as the Uniti. This is different of using the Qute just as a streamer into a DAC into
whatever.

GMISCOL

I would like to know how you shut the Uniti poweramp down. Steve Hopkins says that you cant!

I have had mine upgraded to V3 and cannot see any options.

I thought that if you attach a Naim power amp - the Uniti shifts to Pre mode. I don't think there is a shutdown instruction.

Tog

DeepPurple

it is in the system settings, but I can't tell it by heart. Will check this evening and report back

quote:

I too had a thing about redundant bits, especially with the HDX. The way I see it is would I be prepared to pay the price of a Qute for a Naim stand-alone streamer?

Well I own a Qute.

'nuff said.

Allen, I thought you were going to end up with nServe