unitiqute upgrade strategy

Posted by: joacim bengtsson on 11 September 2012

Hi all,

I have sold all my olive kit.

Now I am left with an unitiqute´+ NAP200 into Royd RR3.

(short history, can be skipped)

A couple of months ago I bought into streaming with an Unitiqute. I tried the qute together with my olive system (CDi/ NAC72/ HiCAp/ NAP140). But found the Qute quite good in its own.
Not long after I found an ex-dem NAP200 for a resonable price, and connected it to the Qute playing into my Royd RR3. I thought the NAP was a very good upgrade and worth the price I paid.

I still think the olive system was more emotional and on some records quite a bit better sounding, better separation and more grip and drive, authority maybe (hifi-ish is not my native language). But the convienience of the qute made me sell the olive kit.

From here I really need some good advice.
As it is, I have some 1400 GBP to spend on the setup. (I know I could keep the money, buy music etc, but I have a "principle" to reinvest the money i get from selling back into the system.
I also have a pair of Royd RR1, which might get some 300 - 400 pounds for, so theoretically I have some 1700 GBP to spend.

-I am not into CD, streaming will remain my only source for music, exept for spotify, internet radio etc.

-I will probably try to buy second hand, since it is better value.

-Mainly I would like to have some more of the "swing" and attack of the olive kit back, if at all possible with the newer black boxes.

-In the long run I cant see myself moving higher than 202/ HiCap/ 200 and streaming source, maybe just a bit if I find the right box at the right price...

-I have never owned a nait, but might consider one if it fits the oveall scheme and budget.

-I would rather not get caught in an upgrade path that begs for multiple expensive power supplies to give good performance.

What alternatives do I have to "uppgrade"?

-Adding a pre-amp...

will this make the Qute better? Or, since the analogue out is post volume contol, is the Qute indifferent to the pre-amp?

- Adding an ndac...
well, this will also require a pre-amp, but might be a good option?

How important are the pre-amp in a streaming set up?

- selling qute...

and buy a better streamer, well this also reqires a pre-amp.

- selling NAP200...

and buy a integrated amp (supernait) + powersupply.

- Selling the Royds...

buy different speakers, will that give back some of the sparkle...

- buy accessories...

Powerline, fraim etc.

Comments on the above or indeed other suggestions are most welcome!

All the best
Joacim

Posted on: 11 September 2012 by Develyn

FWIW-I currently have a Qute and am auditioning (in home) a SuperUniti this weekend. If it blows me away, will upgrade and sell the Qute.

Posted on: 11 September 2012 by joacim bengtsson

Develyn,

Sounds interesting, would appreciate if you post your findings here or in a separate thread, Superuniti is one of the boxes I am thinking of as a nice simple system.

/joacim

Posted on: 12 September 2012 by matpip

Try the new NAC-N 172XS and see if it brings significant improvement over the Qute, or just wait for a higher specced NAC-N.

Posted on: 12 September 2012 by Pev

+1 for Superuniti. Trading in Qute and Nap200 will leave change from your budget for a speaker upgrade. I went from 7 box olive system to SU and am totally happy.

Posted on: 12 September 2012 by RaceTripper

I answered in your other thread, but to summarize, I went from Qute/NAP250 to a 202/HC/NAPSC/250 and traded the Qute for a ND5. I just didn't like that the Qute had no fixed line-out, making it inconvenient as a source only device.

Posted on: 13 September 2012 by joacim bengtsson

Hi,

Thanks you for your replies, all makes good sense i belive.
Racetripper, I am particularly interested in how (convienience aside) the sound quality compared between running the NAP250:2 directly from the qute vs through your naim pre-amp?
For me, the solution with unitiqute as source only would be an interim solution, before I later add an ND5XS or NDX.

/Joacim

Posted on: 13 September 2012 by RaceTripper

Joacim....

I listen to analog source (turntable) probably 95% of the time. Going from Qute as a pre to the 202 was a huge step up for me for playing analog records. I can't say how much of an improvement I got with digital source from Qute with 250.2 to ND5/202/250 but there is improvement. Once I got my 202, I didn't keep the Qute for very long before getting the ND5. I also had the pre-24/192 version.

My system has changed a lot over the past 18 months or so. I would have also considered keeping the Qute and adding a DAC between it and the 202, but that would have been more costly. As it is I spent more on digital than I really needed to given how little I use it. I have twice into the analog front end that I put into the ND5.

Posted on: 13 September 2012 by joacim bengtsson

RaceTripper,

It seems the qute is not ideal as a source...
I will bring my Qute and audition a second hand Supernait this week-end.
Hopefully the Snait will bring what I am looking for in the amp section. Or I keep the NAP200 and add a NAC202 that should be better, though more expenisive...
When amps are sorted I will try and look into the digital front end. Since the qute does not appear to be ideal as a source, I will have to get either the ndac or sell Qute and buy a ND5XS (or better) to get the best out of the digital replay.

/joacim

Posted on: 15 September 2012 by joacim bengtsson

Well, the Supernait audition did not happen this week-end... Still very interested though if anyone has any experience in Unitiqute connected via analouge to pre-amp, does a better pre render better sound quality? /Joavim

Posted on: 26 October 2012 by Develyn

SU blew me away, needless to say, it's found a permanent home. As good as the Qute is, it has to go.

SU=9

Qute=7

Posted on: 26 October 2012 by Neill Ferguson

I've just ordered a Unitiqute and rather looking forward to getting it if I take to stream I'll switch it out at a later date for the superuniti or a majik DSM.