UnitiQute 24/96 discontinued!
Posted by: Poggy on 18 December 2012
Went to place my order for one at the weekend and been told today it's discontinued with no more stock at Naim. V. frustrating!
$-why pay for what you do not need? -There are some who have no interest in 192/24 -the price difference is uninviting - what a shame if true.
Were there really two distinct models? Once a board to support 192 was available, it would seem 'dumb' to me to carry models with both the old and new specs.
I can't buy a 20 meg hard drive either 
Prices go up.... no big deal. I sincerely doubt the extra couple of hundred makes you decide to do anything but perhaps looks further up the range. Products evolve.... move on.
-Patrick
Went to place my order for one at the weekend and been told today it's discontinued with no more stock at Naim. V. frustrating!
Not sure where you're based but have you tried a Google Shopping search for 'Naim UnitiQute 24/96' and gone from there?
If one isn't still available somewhere, i'll eat your hat.
I thought the demise of the 24/96 Qute was a foregone conclusion once the Qute 24/192 came out. I'm surprised it stayed around this long. There hasn't even a choice in the US. The 24/192 has been the only option since it first became available.
With the addition of the UnitiLite, the range was over-saturated anyway.
Perhaps this should be a warning to all those who dispute the short product lives of Naim's streamers/hard disc players. Who wants to fork out that kind of money for a soon to be obsolete product? I would say you had a lucky escape Poggy.
Peter
Perhaps this should be a warning to all those who dispute the short product lives of Naim's streamers/hard disc players. Who wants to fork out that kind of money for a soon to be obsolete product? I would say you had a lucky escape Poggy.
Peter
Really? Does the Qute 24/96 stop working now that it's obsolete? Good thing I sold mine last year. God forbid I would have had it in my rack when it become obsolete and obliterate itself in a puff of smoke. 
I wouldn't give up. You may be able to locate one secondhand. I sold mine this past March or so. I have seen others for sale here and there.
Really? Does the Qute 24/96 stop working now that it's obsolete?
My guess is that within a very few years, with the rate of change in the digital world, the answer to that will be yes.
Peter
Really? Does the Qute 24/96 stop working now that it's obsolete?
My guess is that within a very few years, with the rate of change in the digital world, the answer to that will be yes.
Peter
The only real difference between the discontinued Qute and the current one is support for ALAC and 24/196. Your statement is probably equally applicable to both.
As long as either one works they will play all my files. If I have the former I can always convert ALAC and 24/192 files to a compatible format. Otherwise, any changes to digital streaming that break one, will break the other as well. Not to mention the former Qute can be upgraded to current spec.
I still see no good reason not to get a former Qute for less money if one can be found to buy. I had one. It's a great device.
How do streamers slow after three years? Are Naim streamer products that bad they break and become unusable after such a short time?
I expect to use my ND5 XS for a lot longer than three years. Even if there are newer formats that become available, the old ones will be around for a long time and there will always be conversion tools.
Usually people tend to load the new software updates and old hardware in many cases is not just capable to cope (i.e. performance will "slow" down). I also hope that I can use my NU (24/96 board) still more than two years but I have accepted the fact that I may have to replace it sooner than my previous equipments (Pioneer micro system lasted 14 years until it broke).
Usually people tend to load the new software updates and old hardware in many cases is not just capable to cope (i.e. performance will "slow" down). I also hope that I can use my NU (24/96 board) still more than two years but I have accepted the fact that I may have to replace it sooner than my previous equipments (Pioneer micro system lasted 14 years until it broke).
Naim firmware updates are not forced.
I have an Arcam AVR300 that is closing in on 10 years. One of the digital inputs is flakey, but it works well otherwise. I stopped applying firmware updates about 5 years ago. I don't plan to replace it until it stops working altogether.
I expect to have my ND5 XS for the next 10-15 years or more, perhaps with a recap service in 10, just as I expect to continue using my 202/HC/250. I suspect at some point, Naim streamer firmware updates will stop being applicable to this device, but it should still work for my digital files.
Usually people tend to load the new software updates and old hardware in many cases is not just capable to cope (i.e. performance will "slow" down). I also hope that I can use my NU (24/96 board) still more than two years but I have accepted the fact that I may have to replace it sooner than my previous equipments (Pioneer micro system lasted 14 years until it broke).
This is exactly right. As new streaming protocols, file types etc. develop then new software to manage them will become available. A simple computer/DAC solution will likely support new software for longer than a Naim streamer will. When the computer does require replacement then the cost will be a lot less than buying a new Naim streamer.
I don't dispute for one minute that the Naim streamers sound superb. One cannot get away from the fact however that one is "locked in" to using Naim software, and one is thus utterly dependant on Naim to continue to provide software support for the product in question. Unlike a computer solution, where there is a wide range of software available for download from various sources, and some of it free at that.
The digital audio world is in a state of rapid flux - it is the nature of the beast. Unlike the analogue world which is much more stable and where many products from decades ago are as viable today as when they were first launched.
Yes I accept the argument that an out-dated streamer may continue to stream current files that the owner has, but this is rather like only owning a VHS Cassette recorder that will continue to play an existing collection of VHS tapes. Since (to my knowledge) there have been no new releases on VHS for many years, this is rather limiting to say the least.
As I said some time ago, none of this need be of any particular concern to those with deep enough pockets to splash out on a new Naim streamer every few years, but to many I suspect it is, or should be, a cause for concern.
Peter
Poggy,
Maybe your dealer could try getting one from another dealer who has remaining stock?
Surely Naim must have a clue as of who might have some stock left in UK...
I'm delighted I managed to get mine a few weeks back! No way I could have afforded (or even wanted) the 192 version. £995 was a giveaway price when you factor in what you are getting in the box 
Usually people tend to load the new software updates and old hardware in many cases is not just capable to cope (i.e. performance will "slow" down). I also hope that I can use my NU (24/96 board) still more than two years but I have accepted the fact that I may have to replace it sooner than my previous equipments (Pioneer micro system lasted 14 years until it broke).
This is exactly right. As new streaming protocols, file types etc. develop then new software to manage them will become available. A simple computer/DAC solution will likely support new software for longer than a Naim streamer will. When the computer does require replacement then the cost will be a lot less than buying a new Naim streamer.
I don't dispute for one minute that the Naim streamers sound superb. One cannot get away from the fact however that one is "locked in" to using Naim software, and one is thus utterly dependant on Naim to continue to provide software support for the product in question. Unlike a computer solution, where there is a wide range of software available for download from various sources, and some of it free at that.
The digital audio world is in a state of rapid flux - it is the nature of the beast. Unlike the analogue world which is much more stable and where many products from decades ago are as viable today as when they were first launched.
Yes I accept the argument that an out-dated streamer may continue to stream current files that the owner has, but this is rather like only owning a VHS Cassette recorder that will continue to play an existing collection of VHS tapes. Since (to my knowledge) there have been no new releases on VHS for many years, this is rather limiting to say the least.
As I said some time ago, none of this need be of any particular concern to those with deep enough pockets to splash out on a new Naim streamer every few years, but to many I suspect it is, or should be, a cause for concern.
Peter
I think you're over-pessimistic on this, but only time will tell.
Having said that, my SU or UQ will never drop as much percentage value as my car or tv, so I'm not worried really.
I have some 10 year old Naim kit ... It works as well as ever and Naim will service it
I have some 10 year old Apple kit ... It works as well as ever, but Apple does not support it
I'm not sure that a computer is future proof - my work PC is Lenovo and i doubt it'll last 2 years - the build quality is abysmal and it has no redeeming features, it is even worse than an iBM stinkpad i once had to use. Of course, i have had well built PCs ... the best by far were from Sony and Fujitsu.
However, i would still put my faith in Naim having greater longevity.
To Canadian readers:
It is not discontinued in Canada...