Having bought a Qute2, Dac-V1 and Nap100 earlier this year, I had plans that the V1 and 100 would form my main system and the Qute would perform headphone duties in the bedroom. From picking them up and unboxing them, the disappointment I felt with the V1 was equal to the joy I felt with the Qute2. The Qute ended up as my main system in the lounge performing speaker and headphone duties, with the V1 and 100 sitting unplugged on the spare bedroom floor. From thinking how I was going to sell them both, I gave them one last chance. This second chance was paid back within 3 weeks, once the V1 opened up, and got a grip on its bass. I then added the 100 to the Qute, and connected the V1 to my iMac via cheap USB cable for headphone duties. Whilst it was a lot better I still preferred headphone listening with the Qute (more open and enjoyable). After a couple of weeks I changed the cheap USB cable for a TCI coral SPDIF cable and plugged in an Apple TV, which instantly gave the width I was craving, at the cost of depth.
However the final piece of the jigsaw was received last Thursday in the form of a Dc1 cable. This allowed the Qute2 to perform as a dedicated streamer, into the V1, and Nap100. The sound this produced from the headphones was a HUGE jump (soundstage, clarity, depth, scale). Finally today, I pushed the Motive 2 speakers back against the wall as we were having photos taken to put the house on the market. WOW, this has tied everything together, and the speakers are singing in the same way as the headphones. From a very small outlay of a used Dc1 cable, music is now pouring from my speakers, and I am loving it!!
Thanks Naim. A budget system, giving high end results.
Posted on: 10 September 2013 by hungryhalibut
Glad to hear it's all worked out in the end. I wonder how the Qute, V1, 100 stacks up against my SuperUniti, which costs the same.
Posted on: 10 September 2013 by Justin9960
Hi Nigel, I ask myself that question. The sole reason of going this route was that I value headphone listening over speaker listening, but wanted a product the allowed me to utilise it in both situations. I would imagine the SuperUniti would sound better via speakers, but the Qute/V1/100 would sound better via headphones.
Are you still pleased with your U'Serve/S'Uniti system, not missing the olives??
Posted on: 10 September 2013 by badlyread
Cannot imagine that it does Nigel. Less grunt and not 'reference'. The transformer in the SU is huge. And using all 3 is leading to a lot of redundancy. Not to mention cables.
Stop wondering Nigel. Sit back and enjoy the simplicity of your amazing one box solution. And the music.
Regards
Neil
Posted on: 10 September 2013 by hungryhalibut
It's merely an abstract 'wonder'. To answer Justin's question, I still think the system is excellent, and don't miss the olives at all. I now have only about 30 CDs to rip - the end is in sight at long last.
Posted on: 10 September 2013 by Justin9960
That's the worst bit, once its done you can fully enjoy things. If the SuperUniti2 has the same headphone amp as the V1 (as SuperNait2) then I think I would consider a change. Particularly if there is a powered output for Stageline.
Enjoy.
Posted on: 10 September 2013 by hafler3o
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:
I wonder how the Qute, V1, 100 stacks up against my SuperUniti, which costs the same.
I can 'kind of' give an answer there! Remember the pinch of salt is the different speakers, lack of a DAC V1 in the chain and room acoustics:
Having played from the same rip, at the same time via multiroom setting on n-stream
SuperUniti - PMC twenty.22 vs. Qute2 - NAP100 - PMC DB1i
is a resounding win for the SuperUniti. In fact the difference is far greater than I would have expected. What surprised me was I'd heard both systems separately before in the house and I'd have said they were much closer than that, the SuperUniti continues to amaze me with it's ability to find all the details I've never heard before and yet make space for the music.
OTOH the Qute2 is such a 'fun machine', civilised and mannered, which the SU does not do well on, the SU is more about explicitness in presentation. For me neither have all bases covered, and maybe it's not even possible to have ALL your cake, even if it's baked by Naim...
Posted on: 10 September 2013 by hafler3o
Originally Posted by Justin9960:
the Qute/V1/100 would sound better via headphones.
.. and Justin I'm sure the DAC V1 gives a boost over the straight Qute/NAP combo, Nick at Audio-T mentioned this as a worthwhile upgrade but I eventually decided to go for broke!
