CD5XS and a Unitiqute. A fair comparison?

Posted by: Northern Soul on 21 February 2014

Hi all,

My system is as follows:

CD5XS, UNITIQUTE, NAITXS, Neat Motive 1 (foam bungs installed), speaker cable is NAC A4.

 

The UQ was initially bought for listening to DAB and internet radio - it is connected to the AV input on the NAIT, using the pre-out on the UQ. I have been very happy with it so far and like the fact that at some point in the future I can use the UQ as a stand-alone system elsewhere in the house. 

 

I have recently ripped some CD's to my PC using Windows Media Player to create lossless WAV files and have been streaming to the UQ wirelessly (using a wired connection is not possible at the moment). Today I did a SQ comparison between the CD's and the WAV's and found that I preferred the sound of the CD's, but could not really define why, so I asked my wife to have a listen and give me her thoughts (her ears are better than mine). She also preferred CD replay, commenting that the UQ sounded good, but the CDP sounded richer and gave a feeling that the musicians/vocalists were there 'in the room' with you.

 

I am very much sold on the idea of streaming and love the n-stream app, so I am keen to improve upon the sound quality that I am currently getting. 

 

So, my questions are this: Are the listening results in line with what I should expect, given the equipment I am using? Is it a fair comparison? What, if anything, can be done to improve the sound from the UQ? Or should I start saving up to buy the ND5XS? (on the assumption that it will equal or better the sound from the CDP)

 

Any thoughts or suggestions you have would be very much appreciated.

 

Andrew

 

Posted on: 22 February 2014 by KRM

You are asking whether it's fair to compare a source to a system when the source costs twice as much.

 

The answer is no. However, the answer is yes for people who don't own an amplifier.

 

Keith

 

 

Posted on: 22 February 2014 by KRM

On a more constructive note, streaming sounds better than CD when the playing field is vaguely level,   in my experience (CDX2 vs NDX). Streaming sounds more analogue (real).

 

Keith

Posted on: 22 February 2014 by Clive B
Originally Posted by KRM:

On a more constructive note, streaming sounds better than CD when the playing field is vaguely level,   in my experience (CDX2 vs NDX). Streaming sounds more analogue (real).

 

Keith

Keith,

Are you planning to go to the Bristol show maybe tomorrow? If so , would you like to share a lift?

Posted on: 22 February 2014 by Edouard

Bonjour Andrew,

 

We did once with 2 friends a short SQ comparison between the CD's and the AIFF ripped cd's version on a few tracks.

Streaming source was the UnitiQute, connected directly to a 552 input, CD source was a CDS3/555PS.

Amp was a 300, and speakers were Sonus faber Amati Anniversario.

On this high end system, the 3 of us had a hard time to hear a real SQ difference between both sources, we looked at each other as it was quite unbelievable...

Of course one can argue that the comparative demo was too short, but still the Qute as a source was pretty impressive!

 

I have a friend who did the same comparison on a system like yours, and his conclusions were different. My guess is that depending on the system, the result may vary by quite a margin...

 

Anyway, I doubt that a bare ND5XS will change the result in SQ. I have friend who swapped his Qute for the ND5XS and he was not impressed with the result he got. Now if you add the NDac to the party, that could be a different story. In your case you could very well have a NDac between your Qute and your amp...

Just my 2 cents,

 

Regards,

Edouard

 

 

 

 

Posted on: 22 February 2014 by Northern Soul

Thanks for the replies.

 

Keith - It seems that the results of my comparison were to be expected , the UQ could not better the CD5XS in sound quality terms. You do get what you pay for I suppose.

 

Edouard - Interesting to note that a bare ND5XS may not necessarily be the answer here. I hadn't even considered a DAC, it might be worth looking into. It seems that a proper demonstration of the various options available might be the answer. Upgrading Naim equipment in the analogue age was far simpler.

Posted on: 22 February 2014 by KRM

Hi Clive,

 

I only just spotted your post.

 

I did go to the Bristol Show today and had a jolly time.

 

Keith

Posted on: 23 February 2014 by nitrous

If you buy an nDac, both CD5xs and qute will get an upgrade!

 

The CD5xs will probably still be better though

Posted on: 23 February 2014 by analogmusic
Dear Edouard
 
Even more amazing, considering that with the UQ, you are listening to the preamp of the UQ (and not the direct DAC output) as the output is a preamp out, not a line out.
 
 
 
Originally Posted by Edouard:

Bonjour Andrew,

 

We did once with 2 friends a short SQ comparison between the CD's and the AIFF ripped cd's version on a few tracks.

Streaming source was the UnitiQute, connected directly to a 552 input, CD source was a CDS3/555PS.

Amp was a 300, and speakers were Sonus faber Amati Anniversario.

On this high end system, the 3 of us had a hard time to hear a real SQ difference between both sources, we looked at each other as it was quite unbelievable...

Of course one can argue that the comparative demo was too short, but still the Qute as a source was pretty impressive!

 

I have a friend who did the same comparison on a system like yours, and his conclusions were different. My guess is that depending on the system, the result may vary by quite a margin...

 

Anyway, I doubt that a bare ND5XS will change the result in SQ. I have friend who swapped his Qute for the ND5XS and he was not impressed with the result he got. Now if you add the NDac to the party, that could be a different story. In your case you could very well have a NDac between your Qute and your amp...

Just my 2 cents,

 

Regards,

Edouard

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on: 23 February 2014 by Edouard
 

"Even more amazing, considering that with the UQ, you are listening to the preamp of the UQ"

 

Analogmusic,

 

When the Qute is in source, I can tell you that the 552 is the master of the ceremony, I have no doubt about that, it's SO obvious from the music you get

regards,

Edouard

Posted on: 23 February 2014 by analogmusic
Bonjour Edouard,
 
I meant comparing the UQ as source to CDS 3 as source
 
The UQ is truly amazing... even when the signal is going through it's preamp first !
 
from the UQ2 manual 
 

"Note: The preamplifier output is taken after the UnitiQute
volume and balance controls so peripheral equipment
connected to it will respond to UnitiQute volume and
balance control changes. The output always reflects the
selected input signal."

 
Originally Posted by Edouard:
 

"Even more amazing, considering that with the UQ, you are listening to the preamp of the UQ"

 

Analogmusic,

 

When the Qute is in source, I can tell you that the 552 is the master of the ceremony, I have no doubt about that, it's SO obvious from the music you get

regards,

Edouard