Superuniti or NAC82, NAP200 + Hicap - Please Vote!

It's tempting to be pedantic, and suggest the Superuniti because it includes a source, and can therefore produce music, but as for the amp in a SU - why would you think it had a cat's chance in hell of competing with a 3-box amp like that? 

Because so far the Superuniti is the best Naim I have heard including a  282/250.2/HCDR.

Its warm musical and powerful. However I have a 200 on the way...to pair with 82 and an Olive HC.

Unless the 282/250/HC was faulty, or using a crap source, I find that hard to believe!

CDX2...yep...maybe the pre was due for a service because the 250.2 sounded better with a 72 than with a 282!

My experience of Naim gear is limited compared to many forum users, but I've generally found that you get what you pay for in the Naim hierarchy, and a CDX2/282/HC/250 costs about ten grand more than a Superuniti. On that basis, I think I'm on pretty safe ground saying that either it leaves the SU in the dust, or it's faulty. I haven't heard a CDX2, but I'd be very surprised if it couldn't convincingly beat a SU with just a 202/200 and no PSU.

What's the background to this question? Is it purely academic or have you been offered a chance at a SU or a 82/200 at a decent price?

Given that the 82 is old, it and the HC will need to have been serviced recently. If the 200 is of similar age ditto. That said, I would expect an Olive generation, serviced and recapped 82/HC/200 to beat a SU by a fair margin as an amplifier. If not or not serviced then bets are off.  But your mention of 282 and 202 makes me think this might be academic issue. Bearing in mind that the SU is designed to lower your box count and stream whereas the other separates are not but offer a huge amount of flexibility in upgrade paths, it is a bit like comparing apples and marsh mallows. Sure, you can do a SQ comparison but they are very different products beyond that and would not expect them to compete for the same user necessarily. 

How did that happen?

C.

You can destroy a Naim system's sound with poor setup, more so with a multibox one than an integrated. Put the CDX2 on a steel rack with maybe glass shelves firmly coupled, have all the power cables touching the rack, plug the whole lot ino a power strip along with a DVD player with a switching mode power supply, should do the trick.

Totally agree with last post. Correct set up, high quality furniture and good cable dressing will bring the best out in any system. Assuming the the 82 ,200 and hi cap are in good fettle they will significantly outperform a super uniti

Can I vote for topic subject lines that are a little more descriptive than just "Please Vote!".

Thanks guys. I will let you know my findings. These 2 combos are my top preferences so far.

Didnt pay a whole lot for any of them but I am enjoying true hifi sound.

Agreed.

Mikeybaby, I've edited your thread title.  Hope you don't mind...

OK I'll bite As a newb who is having rack issues is this a list of right things or are you being sarcastic? If you are serios I'll have to dig my DVD player out

a CD5XS/82/HC/250 should knock to pieces a Superuniti - surely?

If this is going to be a thread about how many 4-box systems can sound better than a Superuniti, it's going to last a loooooooong time 

Thanks for the edit Richard. I like that better..

How about adding my 200 to the SU? Would that make a difference in your decision?

I'm running my SU with a NAP200 at the moment, and it's certainly an improvement. There's more clarity to the sound, less background noise, and a bit more detail. It's a new DR version though, which is going to sound a bit different to a used 200 if that's what you're considering.

actually, on S400, 172/200DR is superior to SU. ...at around the same money...

as i said before, to me it seemed that S400 favour the pre+power architecture...

a somewhat explanation will be that generally the all in ones, and source + integrated tend to sound a little more polite than corresponding pre+power, which have a faster, more direct and more lively sound.

and the Ovators S400 seem to sound a bit slow if not driven by pre+power...

don't take this as a general rule, is just what i have observed in this case.