Qute plus 155xs - thoughts?

Posted by: minnow on 24 September 2013

Hello,

 

wondering if anyone has tried or has experiences they can share about this combination?

 

I am looking to upgrade - the uniti2 I've listened to and it is a major improvement with my ES11s.  I could certainly live with it for a very long time , but the jump is huge in dollars terms.

 

So looking/thinking about exploring other options - starting with the 155xs and maybe ending up with nac 172 and nap 155xs in the next couple of years.

 

So, I would be interested in hearing from others in similar situation, in particular those that own or have owned the 155xs.  How does its 60 watts sound?

 

BTW I have listened to the Qute with the NAP 100 - very nice it was, but it sounded like an incremental improvement only.  Felt like a side ways move.

 

regards

m

 

 
Posted on: 24 September 2013 by PG

Not heard the Qute with a 155XS, but went from a Qute to NAC172/155XS after auditioning a Super Uniti, Linn Majik and Nait XS/ND5XS. For me the 172/155 whilst not as good as the Nait/ND5 was not light years different, but was a big step up from the Super Uniti and very different from the Linn.

 

Others will not agree but for the money and with my Rega RS3 speakers the 172/155 does it, but I felt it important to demo all the options first before spending any money.

Posted on: 24 September 2013 by analogmusic

if I were you, I would aim for at least NAP 200...

 

it's a very fine power amp.

Posted on: 24 September 2013 by Tog

+1 for the 200

 

Tog

Posted on: 24 September 2013 by Solid Air

Don't own either amp, but in audition the 200 seemed much better than the 155xs - more meat, more foot-tapping, more humming along.

 

Did you try the Qute/NAP100 bi-amped? I don't think that would work with the 155xs or 200. But it sounds great to my ears and saves a grand on the 200 

 

Posted on: 26 September 2013 by minnow

Hello thanks for your thoughts everyone. Seems 200 is the logical choice or an SU. Unless i change my speakers to something that responds to  a lesser amp. 

Posted on: 26 September 2013 by Jasonf
Hi Minnow,

I demoed the Qute with the 155/152 combo and it sounded very good pulling streams from a U-Serve via ethernet.

But I also demoed the ND5 with the same amp/u-Serve combo and it was better than the Qute. But as usual, I suspect that you have budget issues to contend with. So as far as the 155xs is concerned it is a very fine amp and your plan to integrate the 172 sounds like a reasonable plan to me.

As far as the 200 is concerned, I have not heard it and I am sure it brings a little more of everything to the table, but I am assuming your budget pops its head up at this point, so I would demo the 155 without hesitation and buy in confidence that you will enjoyed it.

Synergy is always good, at least to start with, you can always consider the 200 at a later date.

How the 155xs responds to your ES11's....you should demo for sure, as during my demo, the Qute/152/155 combo drove a pair of Ovator 400's with ease to significantly high volumes in a medium size room.

Jason.
Posted on: 29 September 2013 by minnow
Hi Jason - that' good advice, I have heard the Naim xs which i assume is similar to the 155xs given the output the same power.  On this basis I guess the leap to the Nap 200 and the Uniti2 from the xs models would be similar (assuming that the impact of pre/power vs integrated combination across both would be similar).
 
Naim has an awful lot of options.  I do wonder for how long they can continue - it can make upgrading a bit confusing...choices, choices, choices!
 
In part for this reason, and also in part because I don't think i made the best choice with the Qute and my speaker combination despite spending ages thinking about it, I am also going to explore some other options before leaping agin.
 
The Linn Majik DSM and the Primare i32 both look interesting.
 
m
Originally Posted by Jasonf:
Hi Minnow,

I demoed the Qute with the 155/152 combo and it sounded very good pulling streams from a U-Serve via ethernet.

But I also demoed the ND5 with the same amp/u-Serve combo and it was better than the Qute. But as usual, I suspect that you have budget issues to contend with. So as far as the 155xs is concerned it is a very fine amp and your plan to integrate the 172 sounds like a reasonable plan to me.

As far as the 200 is concerned, I have not heard it and I am sure it brings a little more of everything to the table, but I am assuming your budget pops its head up at this point, so I would demo the 155 without hesitation and buy in confidence that you will enjoyed it.

Synergy is always good, at least to start with, you can always consider the 200 at a later date.

How the 155xs responds to your ES11's....you should demo for sure, as during my demo, the Qute/152/155 combo drove a pair of Ovator 400's with ease to significantly high volumes in a medium size room.

Jason.

 

Posted on: 01 October 2013 by longmanjon

Jason, dont bother with the linn majik, i had one probably last year and there is no comparison to the sound orf the qute. the qute on its own sounds pretty damn good, but adding an amp to it will give you the extra you need. i drove allaes with mine, and then added an amp which gave it some extra power. but the sound is so much cleaner than the majik will give you.