Hello!
Me and my wife, we have a little problem: In our working-room we have a great sounding Naim-system (NAC 152 / NAP 155 / Flatcap / ND 5 XS / XP 5 XS, MB Quart Speakers) that we enjoy daily. In a little side-room (12 sqm), my wife has her TV-Set including a 7.1 Surround system plus a separate HiFi-unit (Marantz Amp + CD, Dynaudio Speakers).
Over the years, my wife got accustomed to the Naim-Sound and now wishes to have a second Naim-system in her TV-room - a smaller and cheaper one, but not the smallest one available.
For us, there are the following options:
1) For to save money, we think about connecting our ND5XS (working-room) to a new NAIT XS (TV-room) via a 5m signal cable (cinch; the DIN-plugs are connected to the NAC 152).
Advantage: we only need to buy a single NAIT XS; stepping on the upgrade-path is possible
Problem: switching between DIN / Cinch (ND 5); very long signal cable (loss of sound)
2) UnityLite or Unity: Very good all-in-one-systems, but we could not step on the upgrade path
3) NAC N-172 + NAP 155: Are there any experiences with that combination? How does it sound compared with UnityLite/Unity2 ? No upgrading possible.
4) NAIT XS + a second ND 5 XS: Maybe the best solution in sound and upgrading options, but very costly and maybe a little decadent because of having two ND 5 XS in one household...
What do you think? What is the best compromise between a superb sounding and expendable Naim-system and a not-so-expensive-but-high-quality solution for the side room?
In two weeks, we will ask our dealer for a demo. But at the moment, we feel a little helpless...
Thank you and best regards
Frank
Posted on: 28 November 2012 by Bart
Frank, where is the music that is played on the ND5XS? Is it on a networked storage device (nas)?
If so, I'd be tempted to get the UnitiLite and be "done with it" for a second system. Get the Naim sound and free yourself from the upgrade path stuff with that second system. Save upgraditis for your main system!
Posted on: 29 November 2012 by Captain Frank
Bart, this is a good idea and we have been discussing it elaborately this morning. Your point to save upgraditis for our main system is convincing. For we have a NAS that delivers music to the ND5 and a Sonos Connect Amp (kitchen, bathroom), there should be no problem connecting another device like a Uniti.
We now have to make a decision about which member of the Uniti-Familiy would be sufficient. The best choice would surely be a SuperUniti, but the most expensive also....
Posted on: 30 November 2012 by NickSeattle
Frank,
To expand on my earlier suggestion, I like your #1 option best with the modification that you NOT use both analog-outs on the ND, which is said to degrade sound quality of both if they are used at the same time; and it is fiddly to switch between the two.
Instead, I would leave the DIN-DIN between the ND and the NAC. Then use another DIN-DIN from Tape Out on the NAC to any DIN input you like on the Nait.
At the distance of only 5M you specify you might occasionally like to have a streamed source play in perfect sync in both locations, which is not guaranteed with your other options. Tape Out is reputed to sound "pretty good"! I can attest. Of course, it should be, to be suitable for recording.
On the other hand, isolating the two systems reduces the risk that they might interfere with each other in some way, especially with grounding. Troubleshooting a system that is off-song is easier in isolation.
ATB,
Nick
Posted on: 01 December 2012 by Captain Frank
Thanks for your help!
Pev, that's a good point. We seldom listen to CDs and always do stream music from our NAS. Secondly we have a Marantz CD, which is quite good, but surely far behind a CD 5i or CD 5xs. If we go for a all-in-one solution, the options would be UQ or SU. UQ surley is a very solid and sonorous device (like naimUnT said), but it's physically too small and wouldn't fit optically in our room (my wife likes big HiFi-components and big floorstanding speakers - we luckily don't know strange things like the WAF...). In this case, we would go for a SU, despite it's higher price.
Nick, that's a good idea too. The advantage is not to spend extra money for a second streamer, and the sound in the side-room would benefit from the XP 5 XS which empowers the ND 5. Going for that solution, we would purchase a Nait XS, which is a brilliant amp. There are only two things, that could be slightly problematic: First, a 5m signal cable might have a bad influence on sound; and second a Nait XS would push us on the upgrade-path. But the price difference between a Nait XS and a SU makes a Flatcap affordable...
Best regards
Frank
Posted on: 01 December 2012 by NickSeattle
Cheers Frank. Why not try Tape Out to the existing Marantz system now? All it costs is a DIN>RCA to find out if the NAC doesn't like it. Or maybe the 152 gives you an RCA Out option?
I do find I need ground loop isolators in-between when my AV system is attached to my Naim system. They're inexpensive, and not everybody needs them. Touching the Cable-TV system seems to be the usual culprit.
Nick
