Superuniti vs ND5XS+NaitXS

I haven't tried the ND5XS/NaitXS combination, but I replaced my old 92/90 pre/power amp late last year with a SuperUniti, and it's been fantastic.

I've connected my existing CD player (an Arcam Alpha 8) into the SuperUniti, but as I recently added a UnitiServe SSD for ripping duties (backed up by dbPoweramp), and I can see a day when I won't need the CD player.

Probably in a couple of months when I've ripped my CD collection...

"Superuniti vs ND5XS+NaitXS"

I think the Superuniti is a great one box solution!

I think the real advantage in getting the ND5XS is the upgrading path : Dac + Power supply...

In the end it may be quite expensive, and you'll end up with many black boxes just for the source...

For less money you could get a UnitiQute and use it as a source on the NaitXS, and have the same upgrading path as the ND5XS, I bet it'll sound just as good.

If one day you change your plans, the Qute will fit nicely in a spare room, as like the SU it's a one box complete system.

It you have no use for a spare room, it'll be easy to sell the Qute, and you won't lose much money.

In term of power the Superuniti should have more juice than the NaitXS...

Regards,

Edouard

Dear Jacquou,

Both set ups are wonderfull and have supporters here on the forum, though sound and detail differ for both combinations. An audition can only tell you. Personally I would opt for the ND5XS and in the same time add a FlatCap XS to your amp.

Cheers,

Iver

I would also suggest having a listen to the Nait5i with an ND5XS. I preferred this combination to the Superuniti.

"I have only heard the ND5 XS + Nait XS v's Uniti Qute and much preferred the ND5/Nait combination for clarity of music replay and both streaming from a Uniti Serve."

Jason,

The NaitXS has quite more power than the Qute.

What were the speakers?

cheers

I tried out both combinations back to back at a demo recently, the Superuniti was not as good and the ND5XS and Nait XS Combo. The latter had more clarity, presence, and better dynamics. Listening to the Superuniti didn't really do it for me, it has a mainstream sound (in my opinion),and sounded a little like my current Cyrus 6 setup.

I'm a big fan of the SuperUniti, it is amazing what a one box solution can do nowadays, not so many years ago we would have needed 3 or 4 boxes to do what the SU now achieves, and for many people a one box solution is all they want, but like has already been said on here, personally I prefer the Nait XS / ND5 XS route, having the more substantial upgrade path is great for when you are ready but more importantly I find going the Nait/ND5 combo really does give a more open, clean and detailed presentation which in turn gives a more immersive listening experience.

I would definitely get a demo of the XS system before taking the plunge.

+1

You could also try a unitiqute with a power amp 200/250

Thanks to all for the feedback, I appreciate!

I went back to my Naim dealer in Boston. Unfortunately he only has the Superuniti as a Naim network player. It's kind of hard to make a blind decision. I had the chance though to be able to borrow from the same dealer a Naim DAC for the WE :-) The sound is pretty good! I'm actually currently listening the latest Patricia Barber downloaded in HiRes (192KHz/24bits) and really enjoy it. Just for that kind of possibility, I'm ready to make the move to the digital world :-)

The DAC is not as convenient as the network player though. The thing that I really like with the latter is that you just plug it to the network and that's it, you sit down with an iPad/iPhone and enjoy. 

So I think I will tick with the idea of the network player vs DAC.

Still need to figure out which way to go, all-in-one or multiple boxes ...

Sorry, that's just my sarcastic way of saying that I feel the Superuniti to be the better of those particular choices for me 

@jobseeker

Just get a 250.2 to pair with your SU and "burn out" the competition.... 

Yip

I did indeed add a NAP250.2 and experimented with using the 250.2 alone and also bi-amping. However, it was just an experiment. The SU was bought as a one-box solution and that is now how I use it after satisfying my curiosity. After all, Naim does remind us that it is a 'reference-level' component

Never had any regrets at all about my SU purchase - so musical, so elegant solution... easy to set up and powerful enough to fill my large room with music

Thanks to jpr, Paul, Iver and Maxi Me,

just the comparison that I was curious about!

And jobseeker, thanks for your stronghold in the SU camp, showing how relative everything is (just naimUNT is still missing here...).

Cheers,

10-box-count-Stefan

In some ways, I'm more curious about the DAC-V1 / NAP100 / ND5XS possibilities.

Is the SU's amplifier equivalent to SN or 202/200 or any chance of 282/250.2?

And the dac at par or better relative to a bare Ndac?

I think the preamp part of SU and SN are pretty close, the SN being a tad better.

regards,

Edouard

Not sure how this translates to SQ but it's interesting to compare the analog inputs sensitivity of the different preamps:

- Supernait 75mV

- Superuniti 170mV

Quite different for products that are supposed to share the same circuitry.

The SU is a great all on box solution. I didnt like its analog inputs too much though...

All in all, i prefer the nd5xs/naitxs combo.