Let's get connected - Uniti & UnitiServe

Hi Prubast

I don't know the answer to your first question and I think the answer is yes to your second one.

Moreover though, I am not sure this direction will give the best sound quality from the userve..

My dealer strongly recommends the Ethernet output over the digital out. He argues that it is first and foremost a computer optimised for upnp play-back and not a cd player.. I know the n-serve app is better than n-stream but this is being addressed by Naim with a release next month, according to Paul Stephenson.

Lastly, the u-serve should be sited away from the hifi, if possible. Some members, for example, have it placed in a different room or in a cupboard. Mine resides under the telly.

Atb

Ray

Thanks Ray.

Just wondered on the sound quality front as many people report excellent results using the UServe with DAC / Supernait via coaxial / toslink. (presumably also meaning that their UServe is situated near the hifi?)

On the NSteam front I just hope that quick wins like the home button, FF / Rewind tracks, track queing / removal of battleship grey icons are included in the update. - currently this interface is not  in the same league as the Naim sound & build quality and hopefully it won't be to difficult to "Borrow" some ideas from their competitors (Sonos iPad app springs to mind!)

Hi Prubast...I have my Unitiserve connected to my Unity via optical link (true colours) I know bits are bits but to my ears it sounds closer to cd replay quality...the units sit about one foot apart..the only issue I could rise is that when listening to v.quiet music I can sometimes hear the Unitiserve "working"...no big deal for me really.....it also eliminates the possibility of network failure etc.  The only thing outstanding for me are updates...the serve is still on 1.5 ...I am a bit loathe to update given the problems some seem to be having !...I presume a (failed) update can't delete the harddrive in the unitiserve ?...I am not yet fully backed up as need to look into NAS storage..any suggestions on that front..also how do you back up the unitiserve without desktop client (am on mac) ...does the NAS just "see" the unitiserve?   Steve.

Hi Steve, 

Thanks for the info - I think I will try to borrow a cable from my dealer and give it a try. 

I have the US SSD version which is silent but has no internal storage, this means that I store all my ripped music on a NAS (I use RAID 1 storage where the data is written identically to the NAS' two hd drives , thereby producing a "mirrored set of data for back up).

In case of theft / spillage / lightening strike etc, I also use an external usb hdd that I use to back up the NAS. (I know it seems like overkill but I have lost my music once before) 

You can also back up to NAS with the standard US  -  via web browser interface (I assume you mac people can use this instead of the DTC?) I understand that the original update from 1.5 to 1.6 provided functionality for automated back up to NAS - perhaps an incentive to take the plunge!  

I imagine you would have to go some to delete your music during an update but suggest you contact naim technical support if you have any doubts. Link to updates section of the naim website below

http://www.naimaudio.com/updates

Me again ...phew! Took a flyer...put disc in unitiserve...machine read it for 10-12 seconds ..& then ejected it...left it alone for ten mins or so,software showing as 1.6 on iPad , put into standby and then back on...all ok ! Nothing lost ,everything works.    Where do I find the 1.6c update ? Can't see it on the updates page ?

Round 2 

http://www.naimaudio.com/news/...-playerserver-update

Thank's for that !

Although I would recommended the Ethernet - if you are going to connect direct then I'm 100% in agreement with Steve - the TCI Kukri glass optical cable (Toslink) is superb and will free the Uniti from computer noise - if you can't find one and they are quite hard to find the Wireworld Supernova would be my choice. 

I use a Mac Mini rather than UServe, but I firmly believe the principle is the same and a good quality optical is the way to go. 

Thanks Guido - both units are connected via Ethernet to a gigabit switch at present. Sounds like this would be your recommended option?

Just for interest are there any specific reasons why you favour this over direct connection with optical?

My reason is the rendering is all done inside the Uniti so that there is no S/PDIF between the the point where the music becomes PCM (digital music) and the digital to analogue conversion. So all the noise and any jitter is left behind. To me this gives the purest signal for the DAC. Whether you can hear the improvement is another matter, but I would not expect any other method to improve the sound. So you have it optimised. 

I have an main and office system - with the main I use the Mac Mini in to the Naim DAC/555PS with a Wireworld Supernova 6 optical cable

In the office I have a Vortexbox (poor man's UServe in some respects) and I go Ethernet in to a UQ [via a Juniper Switch]. I have found this gives the best sound with the UQ, but it is not dramatically better than other ways. So my view is if you use Ethernet now then stay with it - Simon (in Suffolk) recommends some inexpensive ferite clamps on the Ethernet cable to kill off any RFI so you may want to try this. I have two on my Ethernet cable. 

I think I'm right in saying that Naim did not originally intend folk to use the S/PDIF from the UServe, but to use it in the way you have; that said peoplke obtain fine results from the S/PDIF with a good cable, but in your case why pay £120 for a Supernova if what you have works a treat 

[nServe is probably better than nStream, but that should be temporary as Naim will surely improve nStream for the NDS and Uniti users will benefit too]. 

Guido - thanks for the comprehensive explanation. Gonna definately stick with Ethernet now and put my £120 towards something more enjoyable

New N stream next month! Can't wait.

Hopefully it will at least match the functionality of my 2008 Sonos CR100 remote.

A Queue would be nice.

Me again.

Must say I really enjoy the u-serve.

When I bought my first ndx, I tried streaming on the cheap with a pc and Asset/dbpoweramp which i found a really frustrating experience.

After a quick flirtation with a cdx2.2, and having missed the Internet radio, the dac functions and the slightly softer presentaion of the ndx a lot, I  jumped into streaming properly with mysecond ndx and a userve.

It took only a week to rip my 250 or so cd collection and am now listening to music more than ever which has got to be the best indicator of all.

Ray

Yes, loved the browser interface for the UnitiServe. N-stream on the other hand? My opinion is already plain enough.