Userve - so many questions so few answers?

Posted by: Rustyneedle on 30 January 2015

Firstly Fitz55 I am sorry you have had so many issues with your Userve and apologies for creating another thread,but hopefully it will encourage other relatively trouble free owners to comment on their experiences and the merits of the Userve and Naim will hopefully renew their interest in this product and not allow it to go into extinction.

Cards on the table

2010 was the year I decide to enter the world of streaming, being an absolute novice in this area I decided on the Userve SSD,my aging CD player had failed and I saw no point in purchasing a new one.Which I think made me, and many others, Naim's target market for Userve,backward compatible,it played CDs,but also forward looking into the world of Nas drives,downloads and the like,which I could build on.

Having owned a Userve from its introduction it seemed the perfect addition to the streaming and digital replay of my music system which now also has a Synology NAS,Sonos Z90,2x DC1,nDac,555ps,Hi-line.

Basically I'm very happy with the Userve and hopefully am one of the silent majority,but I should add I have had my share of issues

Failed power supply

Discs that are not ripped

Discs that won't eject

Finally wouldn't read discs and had to be returned for repair.

At that repair Naim kindly updated the software for me, as I had never felt confident to do it myself,which was compounded by the experiences of fellow members.

I am still contemplating whether to attempt the 1.7b update as again some members have had issues.

I have to admit that if this was another brand of equipment I probably would have given up and bought something else,but other than the above,one of the reasons I bought the Userve,when I could have bought a less expensive alternative,was confidence that it's Naim and they will get it right,but I have to admit that after reading fellow members posts my confidence is beginning to waver.

Probably Naim's most unreliable product to date,aging software and it could get phased out,is the impression I am left with from the Forum.

It reminds me of the VHS/DVD combi I had and time passed that by.

I sincerely hope that Naim doesn't see it that way.

Posted on: 30 January 2015 by ChrisH

Hi rustyneedle,

I guess the problem with any Forum or feedback channel is that the satisfied users don't often post, but I seem to remember that there was another post a while ago praising the Unitiserve.

From my perspective I bought an original Uniti so I could dip my toe in the water with streaming, so to speak.

I fully expected to carry on playing CDs with the occasional flirtation with streaming.

I very quickly realised this wasn't going to happen, so wanting the best and most straightforward / seamless streaming experience, I bought an original 1TB Unitiserve.

Until I got my network sorted out I did have some connection issues pre Unitiserve, but this all disappeared afterwards.

Ok, the power supply did go on me a few years ago, but otherwise it has been rock solid.

For the tech savvy, there are many other simple and less expensive ways to do this, and I could go that way now with the knowledge I have gathered over the last few years.

But as I sit here today, I'm not sure that I would, because I like how it works and what it does.

I would like the Unitiserve to be developed further, along with nStream, as someone else mentioned recently it would be the perfect partner for a Naim streaming system, indeed as it is marketed to be.

If it could be made with a meshed network to be perfect for all networks/ all comers, and clear the reliability issues that some have reported, it very well could be.

Posted on: 30 January 2015 by rjstaines

Hi Rustyneedle, go with the 1.7b software upgrade, it's a walk in the park really. It'll be a few minutes of terror after the CD disappears into the unit, but you'll be glad you did afterwards. It's a bit like that bloke who just climbed the frozen part of Niagra Falls. After all, what is there to lose?

Posted on: 30 January 2015 by David O'Higgins

It's a little over 2 years since I got a Userve 2TB and ripped my 2000+ CDs. I connected it directly to my 552, using an Arcam Rdac initially, followed by a Naim V1 DAC. This was not as good as my CD555, but very musical nevertheless. I then started downloading 24bit music and the sound of most of it was such a revelation that 6 months ago I traded the 555 for an NDS, connected to the US and a NAS via a switch.

I am delighted with the result, and amazed that I actually did it.

While I had some early issues with the US, Naim sorted them efficiently. This is an extremely well thought out solution, with the US at its heart. While there are cheaper ways of achieving a thoretically similar result, I don't think any other solution can match it for the combination of convenience and sound quality.

Posted on: 30 January 2015 by hungryhalibut

I have a UnitiServe. What a boring thing it is. It's ripped over 2,300 CDs. It stores my Hidef downloads. It plays all the music. It's never gone wrong. There's nothing to whinge about. Bugger.

Posted on: 30 January 2015 by ChrisSU

I have had absolutely no reliability issues with my Unitiserve. I did have to figure out how to set up a decent network before I got to that stage, but mine has never failed to rip a CD and eject it, then stream it to my Superuniti.

I should add here that I'm actually on my second US, as the first one was completely fried by a lightning strike through my phone line, but I can't really blame Naim for that.

Posted on: 30 January 2015 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

I have one of the newer 2TB UnitiServes with the self-healing upgrade. It works like this : there's a sudden power outage, then the power is restored and the US sits there blinking frantically (it's Morse code for "you turned me off in the middle of something, now it's back to the shop and make it snappy"). Take a deep breath, switch it off, go for a long walk, let it cool down. Restart, and there it is, operating as normal.

Phew.

Posted on: 30 January 2015 by Bart

We've had two power outages recently, and each time my 2tb uServe restarted just fine on its own. My Synology nas needs to me to push its front panel button; the uServe is happy all by itself.

Posted on: 31 January 2015 by PaulC

Similarly - I have had one of the newer 2TB UnitiServes for the last 18m or so. To date it has performed flawlessly (other than if power supply gets dislodged - even then it boots up again with no problems).

CDs are ripped easily and (relatively) quickly with only very occasional problems finding the correct artwork.

It serves perfectly (via Cat5e) to ND5XS, Uniti and Unitiqute and (via wireless) to several Sonos players.

Great item Naim!

Posted on: 31 January 2015 by Rustyneedle

ChrisH,

It seems we are on the same wave length,but I am finding I am buying more CDs,I subscribe to Spotify and love to search the different Genres listening to new music from just about everywhere,then the CD is only 'one click away',as they say.

Also the bargain hunter in me trawls that huge cyber store with it's Marketplace and very often I can purchase a cd for pence + postage.

Yes,I could pay extra and get cd quality downloads,but this suits me and I'm 'old fashioned' and like the hard copy.

For me the Userve is integral to my enjoyment of listening to digital music,but Naim could enhance it for me by incorporating Spotify and making updates to the software more fool proof.

As to the resolution of Spotify,well that's for another thread.

Posted on: 31 January 2015 by Rustyneedle

rjstaines,

Thanks for your words of encouragement,but my take on it is 'if it's not broke don't fix it',however I am aware that if there is an update at sometime I feel I will benefit from I will have to make multiple updates.

Naim brought my Userve software up to date when it was returned for repair,so at the moment I only have the 1.7b to do.I have downloaded 1.7b,opened the zip file to find what I believe to be the update and the instructions in various languages,burnt the update to a cd and then 'chickened out' of putting said disc into Userve. That for me is the point it could all go horribly wrong.

I feel sure I'm not alone in this and that Naim have fully thought through the operation and updating of the Userve, but possibly not how some of their customers may get things in a muddle,it's the human element.

Other manufacturers have overcome this,my Sonos,Apple TV,Blu-Ray player,iPad & phone all have up to date software,because they have factored in the human element.

Personally I think that is one aspect that would put potential customers off,it would me now.

I also think the Userve's perceived reliability would go up.

Naim must be aware of this but are possibly busy doing other things and the Userve is low priority.

I am going on holiday,but when I return I will try to muster up the courage to put the update cd into the slot,I'm trembling as I contemplate it.

Regards

Posted on: 31 January 2015 by Camlan

2tb Unitiserve. No problems or issues and thank God for Zoverstocks. Ok probably could have achieved the same result more cheaply but just look at the number of NAS problem threads on this forum and go figure.

Posted on: 31 January 2015 by ChrisH

Bang on, Rustyneedle..

I have also never bought as many CDs as I do these days even though I don't have a CD player any more.

The bargains that can be found in charity shops and the interweb just mean I would rather have them in my collection, ripped and stored away.

The beauty of the rip and forget Unitiserve!

Posted on: 31 January 2015 by Rustyneedle

Thank you all for your contributions thus far.

I hope it encourages Fitz55 to 'hang in there',as I will do.But,

I do hope it emphasis's my point, the Userve is flawed (as is its users) but the silent majority love it and Naim (would we be this forgiving of other brands?)

Please Naim sort it out,it might be a transitional product and not a big revenue stream,but it encouraged me in part to purchase an nDac,555ps,DC1 cables.

I should love to partner it with a Statement Dac,Heh Heh.....mischievous or what!

Posted on: 31 January 2015 by Richard Sellicks

Brought my Unitiserve in September 2010 the only problem I've had is the hard drive failed and Naim returned it with 2TB drive fitted at no charge. I've more than quadrupled my CD collection since selling my CD555