Recommendation please UQ2 vs Ulite

Posted by: KstSwe on 19 November 2013

Hi,

I am a new user here, my first post.

 

I bought recently a Naim DAC-V1 to be used between Sono and Rotel amp with B&W PM1 speakers.

Not really happy with the sound and have tried some other solutions but still not happy. Thinking of getting something else to stream from my Synology nas the FLAC filesand just use Sonos for Spotify etc.

 

After a lot of research here I come to the conlusion with my limited budget that I could go for a solution and get rid of DAC and AMP. Dac goes to computer to be used with headset.

 

So I have 3 options and I just want your input on what you think is the best route.

 

1) UQ2 with or without the old Rotel amp (RB985 -MKII) Bonus, There is a radio and Digital out

 

2) UnitiLite with 50 watts amp so i get rid of Rotel. Bonus CD but no digital out but bigger amp.

 

3) Naim NAC-N 172 XS , no cd , no digital out, bonus is more flexible for future upgrades. but requires the Rotel.

 

What would you recommend, I am limited to this kind of budget.

Thank you all for your support.

 

Btw, I may in the future add a sub to the speakers and I have an old CD player if necessery.

 

Best regards

Kenneth

 

 

Posted on: 21 November 2013 by Sloop John B
Originally Posted.

. I am not in your league regarding music , more inte Trance so thats why I think the dealer would go crazy if I ever demoed anything

 

 

 

 

Coming from a city with one hifi dealer, I understand that there can be difficulties,  but the dealer is there because you want to buy something from him, not the other way round. Tell him you were advised by the erudite on the Naim forum that you need a home demo to see if the Qute suits your speakers. Tell him you are writing a full report of your findings so that he can benefit from being mentioned here. Of course I accept it may be a cultural thing I may not understand but for good or ill money talks as the late lamented JJ sang. 

 

Posted on: 22 November 2013 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

Kenneth,

 

Wise words from John.

 

Nothing wrong with Trance. The dealer is there not to judge your musical tastes, but to help you get the most from your music.

 

Since nobody can photograph how we hear music, you are the only one who can judge whether a system speaks to your way of hearing your music. I may love the way track X sounds on component Y, and you may find the complete opposite. Both of us are right.

 

Your dealer is your closest ally in guiding you to the components that correspond to what you seek in music replay at home. Spend a few hours at the store, listen to the Qute and the Lite and the 172 and whatever else the dealer proposes to see which you prefer, pick a couple of likely candidates, then listen again at home, in your room, with your speakers, with your loved one.

 

When you listen, see if one component makes you forget about the sound and draws you in to the music more than the other. The one that calms the audiophile brain is usually the better bet, and if you find one that silences it completely, marry it.

 

All we can do here is describe our experiences. The only gurus I know of are made by a Swedish company.

 

Jan

 

Posted on: 22 November 2013 by Kevin Richardson

Get a used 200 + 172 for about the same cost of UnitiLite?

Posted on: 23 November 2013 by Kevin Richardson

One last thought.  If you like the V1 you will be disappointed by the UnitiLite.  The v1 is 10 x better imp.