Nait XS plus ND5 XS or SuperUniti?

With ND5XS and Nait 5XS you've more options to upgrade with power supplies and power amps  

But is this the route you want to take?

Looking at your post the system will reside in a study where I presume space is limited? Remember the SuperUniti will not only give you fantastic sound (arguably better than ND5XS & Nait XS) but will provide you with a one box solution for streaming, USB playback, iPod dock, Internet radio, DAB/FM with numerous digital/analogue inputs for whatever else you have lying about. You may also want to look at the new Uniti 2 that will also provide you with a CD player in addition to the above for a little less money. 

Yes perhaps the Uniti family doesn't provide you with as much scope for upgrading but remember this can be an expensive road and leave you with a lot of boxes!  I know many people on this forum have traded high end Naim separates for a one box SU/Uniti/Qute and are extremely happy with both the sound & extra space!

Spot on one box or upgrade path.

Me i know what i want and were i'm going 

Thank you Steve and Prubast for your comments.  You have both hit the nail on the head.  I understand I would have more upgrade possibilities retaining my Nait XS (a Flatcap XS power supply for example might be affordable one day but an XP5 XS for the ND5 XS probably not and certainly not as well).  Whilst space is restricted, either solution reduces the number of boxes I have today.  So I guess what I need to do is take my speakers down to my local dealer with a USB stick of music files and listen to both options and the Uniti 2 to determine which to go for.  Is it fair to assume that the streaming circuits and DACs in the options are basically the same?

As a slight aside, I don't know if you have found this but I never seem to get the timing of my purchases right, I buy just as the model changes or a key feature I want is unavailable, which was very definitely true of Naim CD players that lacked a digital out that was essential to me in the days before ipods.  This time all 3 options have only recently been introduced so the timing should be okay.

I listened to both the Superuniti and the NaitXS/ND5XS and for about the same money, the Superuniti  was clearly superior in terms of sound quality and drive.  The combo sounded thin and a little polite in comparison. 

Not sure about the Uniti2 - the gap between the Super and the uniti seems to have shrunk!

Thank you CSI_Basel, your experience of having compared the sound of the two combinations is very interesting.  I will book a demo slot for the end of the month at my dealer.  I don't think I will go down the Uniti 2 route as the main point is to move my CD collection to a server and stream it.

What music source did you use for your demo?  Did you take your own tracks on a USB stick?

Thanks

Al

Demo is a must ... I recently listened to the ND5 with both the Nait5i and the Nait XS against the SuperUniti. Personally, I preferred both the ND5 pairings to the SuperUniti ... The ND5 is now on order.

Thanks gazla.  Demo it will be, hopefully at the end of the month.  I am going to see if I can try 3 options with my Spendor speakers that cover all the comments above:

Nait XS + ND5 XS

Nait XS + Flatcap XS + ND5 XS (on basis that I might afford the power supply some day)

SuperUniti

I will report back my findings.

Cheers,

Al

Al

Will look forward to your demo i'm prob looking at ND5XS next year.

Still stuck in wanting to put on a cd or record on to listen to  music  

Used the dealer Unitiserve with his music with the Superuniti and then he switched to the same music on cd and played that through a cdx2 and the streamed version was more exciting.

I'm going back next week with some of my own rips on a USB and then the dealer will rip the disc onto the Unitiserve so I can compare if the Unitiserve version is really better...

Hi CSI_Basel,

I would grateful for any feedback from your demos next week.  I have sent an email to my dealer (whom I have been with for 15 years) to book a demo on 1 June when I have a day off, hopefully for the 3 options.  I will update the forum after.  In the meantime I will be looking for some hgh definition files to take along of music I really know and love to compare with the Apple lossless rips from CD I have made using dbpoweramp.

Hi Steve,

I recently bought a record deck (Rega Planar 2) to be able to play those records stored in the attic.  But I have to admit getting up every 20 minutes to turn the disc over was quite a pain.  And also the sound was so different to the same CD.  What I will miss with the CDs is the album cover notes and booklets so I daresay the CDs will remain in my study even if the music moves to a NAS drive.

Cheers,

Alan

I was in your situation. With a Nait XS in my hands wondering if I should go to ND5XS. Ended moving to Superuniti. 

There are several reasons for which I prefer the Superuniti. Sound is IMHO better, upgrade not possible is an advantage as I can be quite tempted to upgrade, the digital volume knob with big screen indicator is great (don't know if can be done through ND5XS), no need for expensive interconnect cable, FM standard (option in ND5XS). 

Only thing missing is that if you want a turntable you have to buy a separate PSU as Superuniti can't power a stageline.

Otherwise I couldn't be happier with my setup.

SUPERUNITI> Proac D18 with NACA5).

Hello Everybody... I was/am in exactly the same situation as the OP.

Sonos-CA DAC-NaitXS setup and waiting for years for Naim to come up with an XS streamer or a CD-less Uniti... and they did both things! - Now im stuck in a dilemma...

I once demoed the SuperNait at home and although it was impressive it was overpowering for a small room driving a pair of Neat Motives 2 so I wonder if the SuperUniti will feel the same...

My intention is to reduce box count so the argument to go for ND5 XS because it can be expanded has little mileage with me (no plans to add any power supply or anything) and I REALLY like my XS...

My local dealer has not got a ND5 XS to yet so Im eager to listen to your experiences . As soon as I get a call from them I'll go collect it for a home demo and post my findings....

Update - I have booked a demo for afternoon of 1 June to hear the the three combinations I asked for.  My dealers view is to keep my Nait XS (and save losing value on it) and add a Flatcap plus the ND5 XS, particularly given my small listening area (it is small and I had real problems finding standmount speakers with bass that did not resonate really strongly with the room at certain frequencies, my dealer took back the original Proac Tablettes I bought and let me home demo models from ATC, PMC, AE and Spendor before settling on the Spendors).

Luis, thanks for your comments and particularly your point about the Stageline.  I do understand the "upgrade not possible" being an advantage.  I have been to two Naim roadshow demos and at each one they have demonstrated the benefit of added power supplies and my ears can hear a difference.  But my finances are unfortunately finite and whilst on one hand it is good to know you have the option to upgrade on the other hand you are left with a feeling that you are not getting the best out of what you have just bought.

Alonso, I know how you feel, as I said in an earlier post usually my timing for purchasing is all wrong, this time it seems I am purchasing at the right tme but there are one too many options.  If I go for the ND5 XS it will not be because I intend to upgrade it with the power supply.  However I might someday add a Flatcap to the XS, which like you I really like.  Provided I can stack the boxes I am not too concerned about having 2 or 3 Naim boxes as I get rid of other bits and I already have good quality interconnects. Please let us know how your home demo goes, it may be before my demo.

Cheers,

Al

Thanks Kage

Like you I sit half way there with the nait.  I am looking forward to the demo.

cheers

Hi Alan

I've recently returned to vinyl from running every thing from a laptop into a surround sound system.

What i found was all the time i had a remote in my hand i never got to listen to whole albums,just kept flicking from track to track.Since going back to vinyl and cd based system i now listen to the whole album.

One of the sales advisers at my dealer tried to convince me to go for ND5XS instead of CD5XS by showing me the ipad app saying it's so much easier to change tracks or just put it on random play.

The getting up every  20 minutes i actually find enjoyable .

Hi Steve

That is a really interesting take.  Until recently, I would have jumped at a good CD player and had thought about a CD5 XS.  But as I have a collection of DVD-A and SACDs I needed a universal player and use that as a transport for CD so having 2 disc spinners seemed excessive.  With discipline the ND5XS can be used like a record deck/CD player to listen to whole albums or playlists or random tracks plus it gives me a route to other high definition formats (though I have to admit I am not sure what is available in the UK other than Naim's label) and it can be used as a Dac.  So to me it seems like the flexible future ... and I don't have to get up every 20 mins to turn the disc over!

Cheers,

Alan 

I will be looking at a streamer in the future. I do think it is going to be the way forward and for me ND5XS will be the one, it does seem to support every thing i'm likely to want.

I think what put's me off at the moment is having to upgrade the computer and loading up over 1000's CD's in .flac or apple lossless

Will proberly have a serious look next year after a speaker and support upgrade.

Have fun with your demo and i look forward to your post after wards

Steve

If you've decided to keep the NaitXS, consider the NDX instead of the ND5XS. The NDX is ahead of the ND5XS, even with the psu xp5xs PSU attached to the ND5XS.

I heard the NDX at the Naim roadshow evening and agree with you it definitely was a step up on the ND5 XS (both had added power supplies) clearer, more air and space around the instruments and voices. Unfortunately I cannot afford the extra 1,000.  I decided to take the opportunity of hearing what the Flatcap could do for the Nait, which might be a possible separate purchase in a year or two. 

Al

Expensive day...Superuniti + Unitiserve!

My dealer is in Konstanz so gave me a chance to drive there (90 mins) and stay a couple of days. I ripped a couple of cds to a USB key and took along the CDs. The dealer ripped the CDs to the Unitiserve and we listened via a Superuniti. 

The difference is subtle but it is there especially on female voices. 

Delaer made a very good offer because he only had 2 1tb Serves left so I took it. 

Just got back an hour ago so I think I'll leave unpacking until tomorrow. Anyway we tested the superuniti at the dealer. 

Gff did not object too much at the price tag. Luckily because I live in Switzerland I get the German tax taken off (19%) and then I pay the Swiss tax (8%). Dealer said half of his customers live in Switzerland..

Thank you for your update, I am sure you will be very pleased with your Superuniti and Unitiserve, a very neat solution.  We pay 20% tax here in the UK so 8% is a bargain.  I now very much look forward to my demo in a couple of weeks.  So sit back and enjoy the music.

Cheers,

Al

Hi Craig,

I could not agree with you more about the value of home demos, particularly when you can have the kit for a few days.  When I moved from a bigger room to my current much smaller study, the system sound changed very significantly too.  My dealer was brilliant letting me try speakers to find ones that interacted the least with the room (and that was after I had bought a pair following their demo in my room only to find out subsequently that there were problems with strong bass resonance from various cd's in my collection).  I also later had the Nait on home demo and the amp so impressed me over my then Musical Fidelity pre/power that I sold them and bought the Nait, which my dealer described as a sideways move but one I have never regretted.

As for the range of comments, I think that is just very human and what makes the forum so interesting.  We all hear differently, have different end to end kit combinations, different listening environments, which as I say above I think has a very big influence, different musical tastes and different perceptions of what we think sounds right anyway.  But the comments have been very useful and I have learnt a thing or two that will help me decide.  I will also have the option to borrow the kit to try out at home too.

Cheers,

Al