Spotify>NDX>Naim DAC/555>552DR>UQ2 Analogue-in
Posted by: NickSeattle on 18 June 2015
into NACA5>Vienna Haydns sounds pretty good in my office -- thought you would want to know. 
The Best of BoDeans, playing.
Nick
The Best of BoDeans, playing.
Slash & Burn? What a great Best Of
How far is the UQ2 from the 552?
How far is the UQ2 from the 552?
Fifteen feet in-wall to a Denon AVP-A1HDCI, then ten feed from there, through the wall to the Qute2.
Nick
What sort of cables are you using from the 552 to the UQ2?
How does the sound compare using that long analogue link rather than using an Ethernet cable from the UQ2 to your switch / router and letting the UQ2 connect to Spotify itself?
Hi, Brian and Huge.
The run from the 552 to the Denon is generic DIN > RCA adapter into bulk RG-6; from the Denon to the Qute is Monster in-wall-rated line-level.
To my ears, the Analogue-in is as good as, or slightly better than the native streamer in the Qute, which, itself, is wonderful, wired or wireless -- which is why I posted. My impressions indicate that the benefits of better sources are not overwelmed by compromised cabling, such as it is in my system. I have noted this before, and continue to be amazed. This goes for UPnP AIFF and WAV streams from my NAS and MinimServer, too.
Nick
How does the sound compare using that long analogue link rather than using an Ethernet cable from the UQ2 to your switch / router and letting the UQ2 connect to Spotify itself?
On a more careful A/B test of Spotify playing e.g. "Ghost" by Ella Henderson, drum-hits are dramatically more believable, and "air" is obviously more present via the Analogue-in versus Spotify built-in the Qute2, such that I would always choose the Analogue-in, for SQ, over running Spotify on the Qute2, or via Party Mode -- the only down side is no music data is displayed on the Qute2.
"Very Early", by Chick Corea and Hiromi off the Duet album is more exquisitely articulate.
I believe in the differences cables can make, but it needs to be kept in perspective. In my system, I think the quality of the rather special Denon AV-Pre is a factor in minimizing signal loss, along with professionally-installed wiring and terminations at all points.
as ever, I am sure improvements could still be made.
Nick
Thus, my conclusion is that Spotify and streaming functions on-board the Qute2 do not fully exploit the potential of the amp. One wonders if the Spotify and streaming functions perform better when the amp is disabled, and it is used as a digital source into a different amp.
Still, the Qute's on-board FM has rekindled my interest in the medium. I would love to compare the NDX to the NDX-FM to hear if it adversely impacts streaming SQ, and hear how the FM section compares to that of the Qute2, and the purportedly superior NAT05 XS.
Nick
How does the sound compare using that long analogue link rather than using an Ethernet cable from the UQ2 to your switch / router and letting the UQ2 connect to Spotify itself?
I believe in the differences cables can make, . .
Connon dropped by with a(n) SL IC, and swapped it for Lavender between the CD555 and 552 . . . (Connon reads The Forum.)
I DID say I believe in the difference cables can make! Wow! Articulation and realism in spades! Within the primary system, and in satellite systems, too. Wish it weren't true.
Zoot Sims, "Getting Sentimental" -- incredible!
Nick