Uniti 2 upgrade choices

Did you try bi-amping using the NAP 200?

It might be the solution you're looking for whilst retaining the functions offered by the Uniti2.

I thought about bi-amping when I did the demo but the power outputs are different for each amp, plus as my demo proved the NAP is clearly superior to the power amp in the U2.  Because my speakers are single wired there are probably some other reasons why it wouldn't work too well but I'd be happy to be proven wrong.  

Ah OK - I didn't know that your speakers are single-wired. Biamping isn't an option then.

I would do nothing and keep the uniti2. But if you MUST upgrade then

Out of all the options - 172/200 DR is the one I would go for. 

The reason is the NAP 200 which is quite a fine power amp. and apparently even finer since the DR upgrade, regardless of whether powering up a preamp or not.

It will also set you nicely for a NAC 202 or a NAC 282 and keep the 172 as a streamer/source. Yes I know, but it is always good to leave the option to upgrade.

Superuniti is a dead end. 

these combos 172/200 DR and 272/200 DR are pretty good value for money compared to what was available 6 years ago.

Also you can look into 272/100 to hear how that sounds.

I would get a 272 and a used 200. Assuming you can get the 200 for £800 and smile nicely at your friendly dealer, you can get the pair for £4,000 or less. It's better than any of the combinations suggested. In my view there is no point getting a new 200DR if you are not powering a preamp, which you are not. 

Personally I think this is rather too dismissive to the SuperUniti which, as it's a single box, packs more in for the price than the other options suggested.  You get a lot more amplifier, a much better power supply and the SHARC DSP, but of course you do lose the CD drive.  And if you cannot imagine being able to upgrade again, then you could even regard it as an advantage that upgrading isn't a part of any SU's future.

To me the SU sounds fantastic and I think you should listen to one if you can.  By the way, the latest version has Bluetooth, which while of little interest to many of us is demanded by some wanting to stream from their smartphones, means that there are ex-demo non-Bluetooth SUs coming up for sale, which can save quite a bit of money compared with a new one.

Best

David

@analogue music

That all makes sense, expecially keeping the options open for a better pre-amp with the 172/200 just in case the miracle does happen.  

In the short term I may well play with the speaker option again but the C10s really are special and the 200 proved that they deserve a better amp.

@Hungryhalibut

Whatever I decide I certainly won't be ruling out used/ex dem models so the 272/200 may well be the best choice.

@David Henson

I've actually never heard a SuperUniti so I'll keep an open mind until I have.

it is all good with Naim you can't really go wrong with any naim product nowadays.

I had a SuperUniti for over two years, and it is a very fine system. Before buying it I listened to it against the Uniti 2, which was what I was planning to get, but the SU was sufficiently better that I bought it. Very recently I've swapped to a 272/250DR and it is miles better than the SU - the gap between the 272/250 and the SU is much bigger than that between the SU and the Uniti 2. Of course, the 250DR is better than the 200, but nonetheless a 272/200 will be very significantly better than the SU. That's my reason for tabling it as an option to consider if you have the funds, which it appears from your list of options that you do, more or less. 

Buying used/ex dem certainly opens up the options.  In your opinion, is the 172/200 enough of an upgrade over the U2 for now, then possibly putting the money saved towards a used/ex dem 272 at some point in the future?

I would say probably not, but that's without hearing it. The 172 does not seem to be hugely popular, so selling on at little loss might be tricky. It's better to go straight to where you want to go it at all possible. One option, of course, is simply to add a used 200 to your Uniti, then swap the Uniti for a 272 when funds permit. That way, the only loss you make is on the Uniti. That's what I'd do if I wanted the 272/200 but couldn't afford it in one jump. 

Hungryhalibut's advice makes the most sense and it's what I would do - add a 200 first and use the Uniti 2 as a preamp, then swap the Uniti 2 for a 272 when funds permit. As I noted before, this would enable you to retain the functions you're already used to - CD playback, streaming, Internet radio etc.

However, the Superuniti is no slouch either and I'd recommend an audition first before dismissing it outright.

I know how much better the sound is with the 200 and upgrading in two steps certainly eases the financial strain so all things considered that may well be the best option.  Thanks for making things clearer.  

If I ever upgrade my Uniti2 this is the route I will go, but probably to the 250DR. Then probably Powerline, SL cables and then Fraim in that order. I think I can sneak many of these things past the financial controller if done casually over time - certainly the Powerline and SL cables are most easy to hide.

By this time my Uniti2 will be starting to get old enough for me to look at the 572 that'll be out by then... So I should be able to finish at a 3 box solution which will see me out, as well as giving me a spare Uniti2 for the kitchen...

Alternatively, my kids will require financial support in buying their own places and this will never happen...

However, it's nice to have an upgrade route in mind and very interesting to hear that you found adding an external amp to the Uniti2 made a significant improvement to the sound. I assumed it would, but you are the first I've seen to confirm this.

It's good that you've got your upgrade path all mapped out.

I selected those 3 options because they were around the same money when buying new.  The fact is to get to those levels my upgrade path will have to include selling/trading in my current equipment and hopefully finding ex-dem bargains.  Having said that, I can live quite happily with the U2/C10s whilst I wait for them to come along, knowing that when the do the improvements will be well worth the wait.

A final thought, is the pre-amp in the Uniti2 good enough for the 250DR? 

I'm assuming that it'll be good enough for a start, given that I already enjoy the U2 as it is. It is possible to get better without a doubt but I don't feel I'm slumming it with just the U2, so adding the 250DR as a first step to more precise control of my 926's should be more than acceptable.

If you consider you're now asking the U2 power supply to only do the preamp and streamer bits then I'd expect an improvement here too. I'm not expecting it to be anywhere near the dedicated pre-amps, or the 272, but I'm happy that it'd be worth a demo.

The other option is to buy everything all at once - and I don't have the funds or interest in investing that much money all at once at the moment. Basically, if I do find any spare cash around then I can play at a gentle upgrade route for a few years knowing that the DR amps and SL cables are new, so likely to be around for a while, before seeing what Audio Replay looks like in another 5 - 10 years time. I'm guessing that amps and speakers will still be an option, so no risk really :-) Front ends - not so sure...

If they do genuinely manage to ban copying of music onto NAS drives then I may find myself wanting CD replay still, as well as streaming. Certainly electronic 'snooping' on everything we do is starting to grate already so I may want to just get 'offline' for music replay - rather than find umpteen emails offering me the latest suggestion based on my listening habits...

To the OP, I think a 200 would be the more "measured" upgrade right now, and also in the context of your total upgrade budget (current or future).  Especially considering the excellent deals available on used-but-young and ex-dem models.

They won't.  The worst that will happen is some sort of artist levy, basically a special tax on storage media as in certain european countries.  A rubbish idea but not the end of the world as we know it.

I think my 'main box' upgrade path has been decided (200 then 272) so many thanks for all your replies guys.  

That's good, I'm sure it's the most sensible approach to take. 

If you can stretch to 250DR... do it. The 200 can't be your 'final' preamp and you'll get upgraditis in no time.

Indeed, the 200 cannot be anyone's final preamp. It's simply not an option. 

It could easily be your last preamp - in fact, if you manage to turn it on while connected to a source and a power amp, it might be the last thing you ever listen to.....

HH and Chris have already said it all.......

To follow your train of thought why stop at the 250 when for a few grand extra I could get a 300?  The answer (as ever) is finances.  If I go for a cheaper front end then a 250 becomes a possibilty but I think HH is right, I'd have a better balanced system by spending the money on a 200 now then upgrading the Uniti 2 to a 272.

Unlike HH I wouldn't recommend a 272. Sure it's new, but I believe streaming preamps are meant to introduce new customers to Naim who would then move on to the classic streamers and preamps like NDX and 282. Get 250DR and save up for a better preamp like 282 or 252. In the meantime you can always use the Uniti 2 as a source (though it is a pretty weak source, until you get funds for an NDX or DAC).

Naim is not cheap, if you want to invest in this brand, be prepared to spend. If you're not, then stop at something like Superuniti or Supernait 2.