the one thing I wish was better on the Qute...

Tom,

I've always wondered, what kind of CD players do American FM stations use?

Denon DN-951FA CD Cart Player

Those were used for a long time, but for the last 15 years or so it's all on computer

Thanks Tom. Interesting. 

Sorry I can't offer advice on the qute sound but I'm sure someone here will. Cheers!

A couple of things that made a big difference to the sound quality of my UQ (v1) were Audioquest ethernet cables (cinnamon), and transcoding to WAV (vs just sending the FLAC originals). A separate amp also makes a difference (a NAP110 in my case) but the above tweaks will get you far. 

The other thing to consider is that the Qute may just sound different, and that's the way it is. Charles's suggestions are both well worth trying.

Try a NAP 100, I found it helped with the sound.  Don't waste money on expensive cables.  The information sent is digital and it either gets there 100% or it doesn't get there at all.  There is no 99.9999% of information getting through.  It's all or nothing.

What is it about NAIM that is making me want to buy more?  

Not even kidding: Ever since I got the UnitiQute, I keep thinking things like...

"That would be good to get a NAIM V1 DAC..."

"I bet it would sound even better with a POWERLINE..."

"If only I could get a NAP100, then I'd be done upgrading..." 

I think about it during the day while I'm at work! lol

Is this crazy? or is it normal for Naim owners?

Tom

Yes, it is crazy.  Yes, it is completely normal.

Or not, in my experience it brings no further happiness, just a constant desire to get the next thing. True happiness comes with buying a product/system and listening to the music, not imagining how much better upgrade A would make etc.

Be content with what you have, and just enjoy the music.

Zen, from a guy with an Ernie avatar.  I love it   Really!

i completely concur. Having been up and down the ladder I have a very little system now that brings exponential joy considering the monetary outlay. To the music!

Bart, you need to swap the "a" for an "e" and you would be my best buddy!! I have thankfully learnt this hobby of ours is complete bollocks if we let. The hobby should be about the music, not the constant box swapping.

Good luck!!

There really is a "special" factor about this Qute...

It's not my imagination, it's not because I've read the reviews, there is just something about the Qute that makes me want to continue to listen. I don't have the experience that 99% of the people on this forum, so this is just my little opinion. 

It doesn't make me go "wow, this is SOOO AWESOME" lol, instead it just has something about it that sounds so PLEASING that it makes me want to listen and listen and listen....

Glad I didn't judge too quickly because things changed for the better after a week...

Would like a little more power though, but for most of the listening I do while working, this is perfect!

Tom

Tom, as the risk of repeating myself, I have to agree.  I have a much more expensive system downstairs, but I do not "mind" listening at all to the Qute upstairs!

Sometimes while listening to it, I imagine totally downsizing the home into a small apartment.  If I only owned the Qute for replay, I could be Quite happy -- definitely.

Hey Bert, I mean Bart, I totally agree. Tom the addition of a 100 adds more power, but in my view, it robs the Qute of its contagious sound. Worth trying to see what you prefer!

Tom

I'm not familiar with the Fritz speakers listed in your profile, but I found that simple Rega speakers pair wonderfully with the lower end of the Uniti line. I had a UnitiLite and some old Rega ELAs and piano/acoustic guitar/vocals all sounded great with this combination. If I were in your shoes I might try finding some second hand Rega RS1s or RS3s and see if the richness you've been missing is found. They are affordable, easily obtained in the US, and if they aren't to your liking you can likely resell the them for what you paid.

I tried the Rega RS1's when I first bought my Qute, and vastly preferred what I ultimately purchased, my Dynaudio X12's.  I thought that the Dynaudios just did more of everything in a more pleasing way.  They were a few hundred dollars more than the RS1's however, I think.

Welcome to the forum.  Who is the Naim dealer in NO?  I bought my first high end speakers from Wilson Audio, uptown New Orleans, late 1970's.  Once they get you hooked on the Naim sound, they know they will see you back for more.

I'm running a nad d3020 at work with rega rs1. Less than $1000 outlay and love it!

being class D it doesn't care as much about the quality of power - or so I believe.

Justin, the consequence of offering advice like this has serious consequences for ALL of us !

Consider this:   If every Naim system owner heeded your advice and stopped upgrading, Naim sales would plumet, as would their profits. The result would likely be a dramatic reduction in research & development, in investment in production facilities, in software development and in staffing levels to name but a few.  They would probably even have to let Phil Harris go...

...you see how such an innocent suggestion can have far reaching consequences ?

I earnestly encourage you to start right now saving for your next upgrade,  and pray too that further upgrades continue to flow from those wonderful Naim folks for time everlasting *...

Roger.  

*... well the next 30 years or so, by which time most of us here will be pushing up daisies.

Ummm, I see your point Roger!! It just amazes me how people very quickly want to trade their latest purchase for the next best one, and then sell them as they have accumulated too many boxes. I realise that every market relies on people who have to buy new or have the latest. I learnt a couple of years ago after my wife grew tired of her very "flash" BMW Z4 which had everything on it, along with a very powerful engine. She sold it and bought an (inferior and cheaper) Mini John Cooper Works, well what a car, so much more fun than the Z4. I am a great believer that sometimes less is more. I enjoy my Qute2/Motive 2 system more than other (a lot more expensive) systems that I have heard. A lot of them have sounded "better" but they have all been less enjoyable and fun to listen to. Each to their own, there is as they say "nowt as queer as folk".

Regards

Justin

(PS - a works cooper - got good taste your missus, Justin ! )

Thank you kind sir!!

It's good to know that the Qute/Neat system is better than £20k's worth of Rega and Art......