Time to build a new system...advice please ??

A trip to your local dealer to consider options is probably the best place to start. Decide whether you want one box or several, and whether you want to stream from a NAS, or play from a computer into a DAC. I'd choose 1, but I'm biased. 4 will probably be a bit better and give more scope for upgrades, but is that what you want? There is no point to 3 if you want to leave those pesky CDs in the loft. As for 2, I've not heard it, so cannot comment. 

Given that you have the Nait, adding an ND5xs may be the simplest approach. 

I've not heard the combos you mention but I find it interesting with the current naim products as 1,2 and 4 are different ways/ numbers of boxes of getting to roughly the same place in functionality and possibly sound quality. Superuniti has more power if you have/might have current hungry speakers while I suspect the separates may give better resolution (+ XS2 has good headphone stage). Usual advice you'll need to audition at the dealer maybe 1 or 4 v 2 to start with to see if the extra outlay is warranted  . Option 3 obviously wont give you the streaming solution as it stands. I can't advise on Unity gain.

I assume you will need to rip your CD's for streaming which will mean a form of ripper /nas and further investment in time and money. Lots of advice already on the forum but I use a vortexbox appliance which has been flawless at much lower cost than many alternatives. Best of luck.  

If you have a PC handy, consider the Dac V1/Nap100. I myself prefer it over all your four options. I've owned 1, 3 and 4.

Thanks for your comments, auditions will follow if I can find a local dealer that can help.

 What I've found with demos is that to do a fair test all the kit needs to have been on and is warm. A recent demo of the uniti 2 against the 5si combo was disappointing  as the uniti was cold and just didnt  sparkle.......perhaps because it was cold or perhaps because the 5si combo was better.

 Point being how do you really know how well kit will perform from shortish demo when certain variables come into play.  I've  been out of hi fi for 10 years.....it was complicated then, now it's worse ( even when sticking to one manufacturer) when did it all get so complicated!

Ideally you'd try the options at the dealer, and then take your favourite home for the weekend. That enables you to listen to lots of different music and get a better idea of whether you want to live with it long term.

In your case, I'd reflect on how you want to interact with your music collection, and whether you want a computer in the mix. If you live near me, you are welcome to listen to my SuperUniti.

Option 4 would be my recommendation. I am not too inclined getting an "all in one" streamer as the technology is still evolving so it will get obsolete faster. As a streamer+amp, you are only at risk of half the equation getting an early replacement.

Alternatively, why not consider a DAC-V1+ NAP100 ? It is certainly more future proof but you need to have a connected PC/Mac to operate it.

That's a very kind offer, I'm new to this forum, it's clearly populated by some generous people.  I'll hazard a guess however ... you're somewhere on the coast and I'm as inland as you can probably be !

One thing about home auditions however I've found is they infer a degree of indebtedness to the dealer, i borrowed a second hand amp a while back, felt afterwards they expected a sale and didn't seem to like the fact i was considering other options.....perhaps I just got them on a bad day ?

Shop around. In my experience, some dealers can be more forward, or expectational regarding demos. If you feel pressure, maybe find a dealer that makes you feel more comfortable with a home demo. Hopefully you have various dealers that can provide the demo gear you want.

Thanks again all.

its been a distraction at work today as I've made a few calls and will be out auditioning soon.

Funnily enough the two recomendations are the two most expensive being the super uniti and nd5/nait xs2 combo.  The latter being voted the preference by two out of three.

its a case of budget and boxes......what I need is a fairy godmother to make sure I make the right decision.

any thoughts on me having to run it through my MA rx6's, at least say for the first 12 months?

The MAs will be absolutely fine, for as long as you want.

When I bought my SuperUniti, the other option was the ND5xs/Nait XS combo. The dealer suggested that in his view it was a little better. So why didn't I buy it?...... The ND and the Nait are both upgradeable with power supplies, and from experience I found that Naim boxes that can take power supplies only sound truly right (to me) if they have those supplies. So, I'd then want the XP5xs, and a flatcap 2x. Then there's the option of a Hiline. Then, if I wanted to optimise the system with Powerlines, I'd need three. Alternatively, I could get the SuperUniti, add a single Powerline, and that's it. Done.

Before I had the SuperUniti, I had a multibox olive setup, with CDS2, 82 and 250. A hard act to follow, but eight months on I don't miss it a bit. The thing is, once you get the new system set up, you can't compare it to anything and you just get on with listening.

So either of the potential systems will be great. Just think about your attitude to boxes, leads and upgrades, and go for one or the other. Alternatively, you can agonise as you permutate countless options and end up in a complete muddle.

The SuperUniti has a wonderful digitally controlled volume knob too........

Sage like advice thank you!

You know you are absolutely right but the verdict remains open.  I'm also in luck a dealer nearish by can demo options 1,2 & 3 so a trip is on the cards.

Thanks everyone.......i'll report back in a couple of weeks

Just one point I'd like to add to suggestions already made.

Dac V1 doesn't necessarily need a computer.  Coax out from a Sonos Connect would make a streaming system with a small footprint and very nice streaming interface, if you don't want high res or a computer attached to your new system.

Was reading today that Chord make very big claims for the effect of their Anthem Tuned ARAY digital cable on Sonos - can anybody vouch for this?

Olly

Having spent 20 mins looking into sonos I've just read in a thread that it won't stream 24 bit and therefore isn't going to offer the same performance as the nait streamers.   Having said that I don't know what real world benefit 24 but offers......perhaps someone could enlighten me.

while still to audition option 4 seems to be edging it over option 1.......let's see what happens

Update

Currently enjoying home audition of superuniti. Thoroughly enjoyable (after a few frustrations setting up network connections etc) but can't help to think that it's little round for my tastes. Haven't yet had the opportunity to listen to the nait xs2 and nd5 xs but from what I understand it could be a bit tighter less off a full sound.  

How much my current thinking about the superuniti  is down to my speakers ( monitor audio rx6's) I don't know.... It proves the benefit of a home audition.  After a few more days with the uniti I'll try and find a nd5 nait xs 2 combo to try.  I've also heard good reports about the nac 172 and nap 200 combo... A third system to consider? 

Having a  treat evening with the superuniti,  good wine, some sultry Van Morrison playing a little louder than I should with the kids asleep upstairs and to cap it all watching MOTD and Man U have got stuffed by Stoke.  The perfect night for a Liverpudlian ?

Please do update us with your ND5 + XS2 audition, I'm also torn between your choices...

Will do.  Superuniti goes back tomorrow. Noticeable improvement having now been warmed for 5 days bur still missing a little something.  Demoing the nait xs2 and nd5 xs tuesday.........will let you know how I get on

Please let me know what you think. I previously had a Superuniti and I'm now considering the xs combo so it'd be good to hear your thoughts. 

Richy, just back from my audition which was fascinating.  

Nac 172 and nap 200 combo, great grip on the base really held the tracks together with a beautifully broad soundstage but sadly missing a but of detail middle and upper ranges. Very easy to listen to but missing that little something and if you're into upgrade paths there's nowhere to go

nait xs 2 and nd5xs, greater detail (quite a big difference in fact) but light in the base, doesn't have the grip the nap 200 gave the other system. Sound stage much narrower, but better focused. Upgrade path no doubt will give greater clarity and detail but there's simply no way to replicate the grip of breadth of the sound the nap 200 gave. 

Having compared the two side by side for nearly 2 hours flipping from one system to the other (very helpful and accommodating dealer) I was really frustrated as I knew there were compromises and inevitably having heard both systems I knew I wanted the benefits that both offered.

Que suggestion from dealer.... The nd5xs and super nait 2.  OMG, what the F***!, wow.  The best of both of the above and more, I was instantly chilled, stopped listening & just started enjoying every little nuance of tracks I'd been listening for the previous couple of hours...... I then broke away from my demo tracks and started browsing my collection listening to tracks I hadn't heard for a long while as if a veil had just been lifted.

i fear my wallet will take the extra bashing but having now listened to the following combo' si thing I've found my sweet spot ( funnily enough it's also the most expensive of the lot)

in order from worst to best my raking of the options auditioned over the last month or so is

5th place.         uniti 2 .....disappointing

4th place           cd5si and nait 5si...... Surprisingly good but no streaming option so canned.

3rd place         Super uniti good but lacking any real sparkle

Equal 2nd place ( can't split them) Nac 172 and nap 200   and  nait xs 2 and nd5xs.... Great but with compromises 

1st place by a country mile nd5xs and super nait 2.......just need to try them with my current speakers as can't afford to change them as well at the moment.

I would stretch to a NDX/Supernait2 if I were you. Even if it means waiting and saving for a while...

Maybe look for a s/h or demo NDX?

Referring to HungryHalibut view and your own MM on boxes that can take PSU

the question is does the NDX sound right without XPS or XP5 PSU?

Having heard the NDAC, many times, it never really convinced me as I had the nagging feeling it needed an XPS2. Maybe hearing it with XP2 meant I could never really be satisfied with it bare again.

that's the reason I bought V1 as no PSU can be added to it, therefore Naim had to make sure it sounded best in class without PSU upgrade. I note the PSU of NDX and V1 are almost the same in terms of VA (210 for V1 and 220VA for NDX)

PS : I am using Squeezebox touch USB out into V1 and am streaming.

Decision taken and nd5 and supernait 2 on order.  Time to start ripping cd's in prep.

Decision taken after  realisation that I've got to stop somewhere and had to avoid any further temptation if I'd auditioned a NDX.  On reflection the nd5 and supernait 2 was such a revelation when compared to  all the other systems I tried.  The jump up in performance over the super uniti, nd5/xs2, nac172/nap200 etc was so substantial that once listened to there was no going back.  My dealer has apologised as he realised that my budget was already stretched.......am I glad he did suggest it as a final,option, oh yes.  Within just 60 seconds it was so clear in my mind that this combination was square in the purple patch.

yes it may sound even better with the ndx, yes it may sound better with various power supplies, but oh yes its going to sound soooo great. I'm now off to seek out all that music I've missed over the years.......any suggestions?  What would be the first track you would play?  Is it time for a fresh thread ??