All The 2's Experiment...

Posted by: GraemeH on 15 June 2015

I'm about to try SN2 HC2(DR) UQ2(24/192) 2Qute as an experiment as I think the UQ2 (thanks Dave***t) should be a good quality dedicated streamer with all other functions disabled.

 

I totted up the investment I'd made in hires over the years and was a bit shocked to see how much was sitting unused through the Sonos Connect. If the UQ is better into the 2Qute then it will be my primary source - Sonos for family use and party mode!

 

Besides, I miss the naim app...

 

G

Posted on: 15 June 2015 by dayjay

Funnily enough Graeme, I have just sold my UQ2 which I had feeding my Hugo into my SN2, no HC DR though.  It is good but a Mac Mini was a considerable improvement for a lot less money.  I'll be posting off my UQ2, with regret, to its new owner tomorrow.

Posted on: 15 June 2015 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by dayjay:

Funnily enough Graeme, I have just sold my UQ2 which I had feeding my Hugo into my SN2, no HC DR though.  It is good but a Mac Mini was a considerable improvement for a lot less money.  I'll be posting off my UQ2, with regret, to its new owner tomorrow.

Hmmm...looked at the Mac Mini solution but wasn't taken by it. I saw your UQ for sale and nearly emailed you as I wasn't sure if it was the 24/192 version. Mine arrives tomorrow and will fill a nice gap next to the HCDR.

 

Always good for a back-up should I need to downsize!

 

G

Posted on: 15 June 2015 by dayjay
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Originally Posted by dayjay:

Funnily enough Graeme, I have just sold my UQ2 which I had feeding my Hugo into my SN2, no HC DR though.  It is good but a Mac Mini was a considerable improvement for a lot less money.  I'll be posting off my UQ2, with regret, to its new owner tomorrow.

Hmmm...looked at the Mac Mini solution but wasn't taken by it. I saw your UQ for sale and nearly emailed you as I wasn't sure if it was the 24/192 version. Mine arrives tomorrow and will fill a nice gap next to the HCDR.

 

Always good for a back-up should I need to downsize!

 

G

Yes it was the 24/192 version.  They are a brilliant device and I'd liked to have kept up but I just have nowhere to use it where it wouldn't be wasted.  I used mine with a Chord prodac v3 which worked very well. I'm sure you'll be happy with it - the radio is great to and its digitised so can be used via the Hugo

Posted on: 15 June 2015 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by dayjay:
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Originally Posted by dayjay:

Funnily enough Graeme, I have just sold my UQ2 which I had feeding my Hugo into my SN2, no HC DR though.  It is good but a Mac Mini was a considerable improvement for a lot less money.  I'll be posting off my UQ2, with regret, to its new owner tomorrow.

Hmmm...looked at the Mac Mini solution but wasn't taken by it. I saw your UQ for sale and nearly emailed you as I wasn't sure if it was the 24/192 version. Mine arrives tomorrow and will fill a nice gap next to the HCDR.

 

Always good for a back-up should I need to downsize!

 

G

Yes it was the 24/192 version.  They are a brilliant device and I'd liked to have kept up but I just have nowhere to use it where it wouldn't be wasted.  I used mine with a Chord prodac v3 which worked very well. I'm sure you'll be happy with it - the radio is great to and its digitised so can be used via the Hugo

It does seem quite versatile and, from what I've read, very good as a 'source only'. I'll be using a DC1 BNC-BNC into 2Qute.

 

Fingers crossed!

 

G

Posted on: 15 June 2015 by dayjay

Let us know what you think once you've got it up and running

Posted on: 15 June 2015 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by dayjay:

Let us know what you think once you've got it up and running

Sure.

 

G

Posted on: 16 June 2015 by GraemeH

Everything up and running and sounding wonderful. The Unitiqute 2 has everything possible disabled other than the digi out and digi 1 in (for the SC). The Chord 2Qute/MRCU PS sounds sooo good with this feed. A tad more refined again than the SC W4S - more 'comfortable' to listen to and more focussed, amongst other things.

 

The SC will definitely be on second tier duties although still making a good account of itself for the money.

 

I like the way the SN2 volume is then displayed numerically through the UQ2!

 

No regrets at all about slotting this pint sized performer into streaming duties.

 

G

 

 

 

Posted on: 16 June 2015 by dayjay

Glad you like it Graeme, they are a brilliant device.  The radio used to always surprise me by how good it sounded too

Posted on: 16 June 2015 by Bart

In a lot of ways, my Qute2 is my fav. piece of Naim kit!  I listen to it as much as my bigger system.

Posted on: 16 June 2015 by Dave***t
Glad it's worked out so well!

If it can work that well in that setup, it makes me wonder if that's why there hasn't been the standalone Naim streamer I've seen a couple of people wishing for - for the price it'd cost after R&D etc., you may as well buy a qute that you can always use more fully should the situation arise.
Posted on: 16 June 2015 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by Dave***t:
Glad it's worked out so well!

If it can work that well in that setup, it makes me wonder if that's why there hasn't been the standalone Naim streamer I've seen a couple of people wishing for - for the price it'd cost after R&D etc., you may as well buy a qute that you can always use more fully should the situation arise.

Completetely my thinking Dave. I think something about the power supply being directed solely at the streaming circuitry when all else is disabled gives the UQ2 an unexpected quality into an external dac.

 

G

Posted on: 17 June 2015 by Huge
Originally Posted by Dave***t:
Glad it's worked out so well!

If it can work that well in that setup, it makes me wonder if that's why there hasn't been the standalone Naim streamer I've seen a couple of people wishing for - for the price it'd cost after R&D etc., you may as well buy a qute that you can always use more fully should the situation arise.

It would cost almost as much as the UQ2, it would still be 90-95% of the cost (you'd only save the components cost of the pre- amp, volume control, power amp and speaker connectors).

Posted on: 17 June 2015 by dayjay

I've been very impressed with the mac that has replaced my Qute, although it has been a fairly steep learning curve and a leap of faith moving away from the Naim app.  Wat, which of the drop down options are you using for room correction if you don't mind me asking?

Posted on: 17 June 2015 by dayjay
Originally Posted by Wat:

In Audirvana under Audio Units I use Apple: Parametric Equaliser (three times) at different frequencies (I'm not sure if its accurate, but using adjustment @ 118 Hz improves improves things to my ears in my room). I'll move to Dirac Live at some stage, but need to set aside some time to do this properly. 

Interesting, I will have to put some time to one side and have a play.  Thanks.  Apologies for drifting OT Graeme.