SuperUniti vs NAC-N 172XS

I auditioned Linn Majik, SuperUniti, Nait XS/ND5XS, NACN172XS.NAP155XS.

The all in ones were good, but not as good as the separates, the NAIT XS/ND5XS was very good, but for me I could not justify the extra over the cost NACN172XS/NAP155XS combo. To my ears this was better than the all in ones, and gave me all I wanted. As others will say, need to audition.

If your speakers don't require the extra grunt of the SU, and based on musicality alone, I'd say it's going to be a shootout between the ND5/XS and 172/155XS. Both will be elegant solutions. Personally, I think the former will come out ahead. And at a higher investment, so it should...

Thanks. The only criticism I have of my Uniti is of a lack of puff with Spendor A5. I feel they need pushing to get the sound I like hence the step up.

Out of interest PG - what speakers did you audition?. I was thinking of floorstanders like Spendor D7 or PMC Twenty 23

When I was looking at purchasing a Naim system, I demoed the SU and compared it wih the 172XS paired with a Nap 200. I felt that the SU was a little warmer and the separates a little more clinical. That said, the separates had more control. Just my $0.02 worth.

Hi, I have Spendor A5 speakers. I auditioned PMC Twenty 23 and they were replacing Rega RS3s. I was going to audition Spendor A6R and PMC Twenty 24, but when I saw the size of these they were immediately rejected.

I found the PMCs really nice, but for me, they lacked something in terms of fullness (some disconnection from mid to bass, but room plays a big part in that), the Spendors had everything.

My room is 5x4 mtrs and the Spendors are about 60cm from the corners, but close to cabinets (not down to floor). You are right they are quite hard to drive and others here would not go for the 155XS. Generally I have the volume set higher than I did with the RS3s but a great deal depends on the tracks that are playing. The bass is impressive, and can be powerful if that is how it is on some of the tracks I listen to, mainly electronic stuff (synths).

I have downloaded the Linn stuff and it sounds fab....and even.

I think a NAP 200 would be worth having, but I am not going to change as this system goes loud enough for me. Generally listen at 40.

I am more than pleased with going for the separates over the SuperUniti.

I heard the SU against the N 172 xs/nap 100 and Nap 200. Speakers were Dali Epicon 2.
Only the System with Nap 200 was adequate with SU. 172 xs with Nap 100 was far behind the SU. I Am verry happy with my new SU.
Wiesi

I have a SU and I am thinking of adding a Nap 250. I hear that would be an awesome combination.

Well - I've just brought an ex-dem Nap 200 and will hook it up to my Uniti. When funds allow I will dem the N 172 XS with NAP 200 and maybe in the future upgrade the Spendor A5s - have to do it bit by bit

I use a NAP 200 with the A5's, it is a good match, the A5's do need the grip of a good power amp to get them under control.  My system is fronted by an NDX/282/HicapDR.

If you like what the A5's do and they work in your room I would look at bringing the level of the source and pre up.  The A5's are tricky speakers to get working properly but are perfectly capable of showing up improvements downstream. Improving the speakers in your existing system will make it sound different, but not necessarily better.  

In my system I feel I would still look at source improvements first, although I could be tempted by a pair of Kudos C20's if teh right deal presented itself!

Richard

Thanks Richard. Yes I'm hoping to see a good boost with the NAP 200 to the A5s. As I said when funds allow I will demo the NAC N172-XS with NAP 200 and if I see a noticeable improvement over the my Uniti 1 then I'll look to purchase that. Maybe in the future I'll upgrade the speakers. I was speaking to Hi fi lounge and they said the Spendor D7 really sing - but at that price they dam well should

I have heared once the N-NAC 172 XS only with line out as a streamer in comparison to ND 5 XS on a Nait XS.

As well the SU in Comparisson.

The more detailed presentation comes from the ND5 XS. The SU was in the middle an the N-NAC was last.

IMHO to less details.

The SU gave much more details in comparison while musicality was better.

Maybe this comparison doesn't show the whole picture of teh N-NAC 172 XS because his pre amp was not used........

I recently bought an NAC-n 172 xs partnered with a NAP 200 into Spendor A6s.  I listened to a range of options within my budget including a uniti2 and a SuperUniti.  I felt that the SU and 172/200 pairing delivered more dynamic transients than the Uniti2 and you certainly didn't have to work at hearing the difference (although I was still very impressed by the uniti2)  The SU and 172/200 were much more closer and tbh I had to work hard to make out the differences.  If I were doing a blind listening test I doubt I could have consistently said which was which.

I wont be doing any more listening tests now.  The system sounds great and I won't be visiting a hifi shop again for many years.  Except to update my vinyl sources!

Well done. A lot of peaople are wasting time with comparing instead of listening to music at home.

I tried ND5XS with supernait 2 and 172/200, I bought the 172/200. The ND5XS was a little more detailed but long term I prefer going separates route.

On first hearing the 172 it seems a bit soft around the edges and not so sparkly up top. I have had the 172/200 for about 6 weeks and it's starting to sound great after making speaker placement adjustments.

Buying the 200 amp will allow a pre upgrade if/when Naim make a more up market streamer/pre.