Nait XS plus ND5 XS or SuperUniti?

I had my demo today, took along some music on a USB stick (FLAC file rips from my CDS) and listened to two set ups into my Spendor S3/5se speakers.  The dealer did not have a Flatcap though so just tried:

1) NDS XS + Nait XS (the amp I own already)

2) SuperUniti

Starting with my dealers choice of track into 1) and then replaying through 2) there was a considerable and surprising audible difference in presentation between the two set ups.  1) was very clear and clean, bass was really sharp and well defined.  2) had a bigger warmer sound with more bass and effortless scale but was not anywhere near as clear and clean to my ears.  Both though were very musical but had different takes.  I did not expect this, I thought  they would have very simlar sonic traits being from the same family.  This was confirmed when I spent the next hour listening to various tracks first on 2) then on 1).

So conclusions?  First, you have to listen to the options, all the discussions in the world can't replace listening.  Second, I can understand why the SuperUniti is a very appealing product, it sounds big and musical and is a great one box system.  But for me combination 1) is the clear way to go.  My listening area is small and the SuperUniti's warmth would overwhelm it.  I much prefer the cleaner sound from the XS pair, I can hear more of the micro detail in the music making.  I have therefore ordered a ND5 XS with tuner module. Just have to keep ripping those CD's to my NAS server!

What also is obvious from playing with the system control on a ipad is how these devices really open up and simplify the access to your music collection.  I have no doubt I will listen to lots of things now that would likely remain on the shelf.

Thank you all for your comments, it has made the last few weeks very enjoyable.

Cheers,

Al

You have to keep in mind that the dac in the ND5XS is not of the same standard as the one in the superuniti. So before too long you'll be thinking of the ndac and thats the start of a slippery slope...

The big sound of the superuniti appeals to me as i have a large living room (7x5m) and i'm hearing new sounds in some very familiar cds and that for me is the fun part of upgrading. Listening to your old discs and hearing something new 

Just to support Trantula's point. The DAC in the ND5 XS is more sophisticated than that in the SuperUniti. For example, there are six mono op-amps in the ND5 XS, but just three tiny stereo op-amps in the SuperUniti.

Your DAC point is interesting and has prompted some comments.  But there is no chance of now considering the ndac believe me!

I do agree that it is fun relistening to old discs and hearing new things.  My friends who don't seem to have much interest in hifi always remark when they listen on my system to a familiar piece of music that they hear things they never knew existed and that is on top of their comments on the clarity, punch, depth etc.

Hi, picking up on your and Tarantula's point about the DAC, I assume that whilst the architecture of the DAC borrows heavily from the ndac, it is implemented slightly differently in each of the SU, NDX and ND5 XS, which all use the same Burr Brown single DAC chip but maybe different components around it like the op amps.

I have seen comments suggesting that owners for example of a Naim CD5XS might find the input to the ND5 XS useful.  That does seem a little odd, one would have expected a dedicated CD player of similar price to have at least as good as if not a better ability DAC. 

Cheers,

Al

I was thinking of initially getting the ND5XS, but the dealer recommended the Superuniti to me and told me that the Super had a better dac than than the ND5XS. I did query this, but he was very insistent that this was the case. 

Not a surprise - much more profit for him. He is talking bollocks though so let your ears be the decider (and consider a better dealer in future)

James

I would ask the dealer why the Burr-Brown PCM 1791A DAC in the SuperUniti is better than the Burr-Brown PCM 1791A DAC in the ND5 XS. Is that the SuperUniti has a 40 bit SHARC DSP feeding the DAC whereas the ND5XS has a 40 bit SHARC DSP feeding the DAC? 

Once again, if the dealer was insistent that the SuperUniti had a better dac than than the ND5XS then he must be right and not completely clueless as I would have assumed. 

My recommendation is the same leftfield one as Alsono and James - ask him to let you listen to both combinations and go for the one that you find suits you the better. 

I can't believe some of the things I'm reading lately about dealers - can't make up NACA5, can't get a SuperUniti to work with a Mac, think two identical DAC chips are different, think the moon is made of Cheddar cheese (when I know for a fact it is Emmental, I mean where do you get the holes in Cheddar) 

Naim has some excellent dealers so don't be put off by a few who don't quite match up. 

I mean... listening experiences are totally subjective so if he'd wanted to 'push' a sale based on that, at least that would've been so relative that it would've made it difficult to argue, but basing that decision on the superiority of a component? is quite naive to say the least.

What I'd say are powerful arguments in the SuperUniti vs ND5 XS dilemma could be

a) A reduction of box count (in favour if the SU)

b) The fact that someone might like the sound of their Nait XS already and just wanted a better source without changing the whole amplification stage (in favour of the ND5 XS)

c) The upgrade path in terms of power supplies (not available on the Nait XS + ND5 XS)

d) A personal and very subjective preference in favour of either alternative (SU vs Nait/ND5)

Well, to answer this question once and for all: Neither.

Do Rega Saturn + Nait XS. :-)

or

NDX + Nait XS.

or

UnitiQute

I have heard the ND5 XS with Nait XS in comparisson to the SU wit Dynaudio Focus 340?

The ND5 XS with Nait XS was more on the detailed and dynamic side while the SU was more on the warmer side with less details.

What is better? From my first impression i would take the ND5 XS but I really didn't know what happens when comparing both a long period of time. Maybe the SU is more long term capable.

Im running the nd5xs with the nait xs. Its just superb. Its even better than the ndx/naitxs. The XS series components just have great synergy. With efficient speakers the extra 20W of the superuniti apm wont matter.

Ignore the monkey above. That was me in a different life.

Morning! Yours is the system combo I've always dreamed of (I already have a Nait XS being fed by Sonos via Cambridge Audio DAC).

May I ask you a few questions?

1. What speakers do you use?

2. What is the size of your room?

3. What music do you mostly listen too?

ToteN Hosen

Sorry, was not aware about the is is well in german.

Usally I would not "correct" such a kind of typemissmatch (do enough by my own) but in this special case the m instead of n give a different meaning to it.

Yup. Mine's turned off, but I have 'Check spelling' enabled.

John.