unitiqute upgrade

That's quite an upgrade, I was expecting you to say nap100!

I am not known for doing things by halves... :-)

UQ/250.2

I would have thought this is a very unbalanced setup but I do understand the ATC issue

Recently I tried a Nap 150X on my UQ on ordinary speakers, not a win/win IME

sure more power and hifi but less enjoyment and magic

You may want to throw a used DAC V1 between the two. 

b_lund posted:

UQ/250.2

I would have thought this is a very unbalanced setup but I do understand the ATC issue

Recently I tried a Nap 150X on my UQ on ordinary speakers, not a win/win IME

sure more power and hifi but less enjoyment and magic

Sorry, I dont get that. UQ preamp is good, as is its power amp. You can tell that from the sound quality. 250/2 has very good power amp. I cannot understand why pairing a good preamp with a very good poweramp is going to result in a lesser result. 

I wouldnt disagree that purchasing a new UQ and 250/2 might not be the best value for money. But I have the UQ, have had it from new, and use it and love it every day. A used 250/2 is good value, especially with the DR upgrade to come. 

Given where I am starting from, this is the right route forward. I just dont get this "unbalanced" thing.

charlesphoto posted:

You may want to throw a used DAC V1 between the two. 

Why?

I think it sounds like a great idea Jon, interested to know your findings. I too have the same UQ Mk1 192 version but only used for streaming duties into Hugo. Flashback do a RCA phono to 4 pin DIN for £25 I may buy two and try between my UQ and NAP110 monos.

Interesting - I have UQ1 and need to send it for repair - how much is the update to include the newer boards? I think I would consider using my 250 that's in the main system with the UQ if/when I go for a better amp in main system (rather than trading it in) - I would perhaps not get great value for it so it can make sense on that route also

Mine came as a MK1 192 so not sure how much the upgrade is, Jon may know

im not sure what else you get with the 192 upgrade board -- possibly tidal? dont know -- Naim Service will be able to say. For certain if you are going to have repair or service, then getting the board upgrade would seem to be sensible.

found on the forum: 

"Yes - you need a 24/192 capable unit to access Spotify Connect / TIDAL / Multiroom Master / BBC HLS Internet Radio functionality ...

 https://www.naimaudio.com/conn...1591/say-hello-tidal

 "Further Information

 Compatibility of Older Products

 Original NaimUniti and UnitiQute models and early NDX models are compatible with this new update but will only gain the new features (HLS BBC Radio support, TIDAL, Alarm Clock) if they are 24bit/192kHz capable."

 So, yes its worth doing. And can be done by your dealer -- cymbiosis did mine for me several years ago?

Thanks - I don't think audio T in Preston do repairs. My nd5 needs repair too!  So when I have the energy to dig the boxes out (buried in the loft / eaves) I will be driving into town...

i want to get the upgrade done but would probably not get round to it if there weren't the faults making me do it!

I recently emailed Naim about upgrading my v1 Qute to 192 boards / current spec and was quoted £250 + VAT

worth doing, especially with a service and firmware upgrade (which can, in my experience, be fiddly on the earlier RS232 UQs)

jon honeyball posted:

I have the very lovely unitiqute 1 with the 24/192 upgrade board. Love it to bits, use it most days. Its connected to an equally lovely set of ATC SCM11 monitors which have really impressed me. But at some 85dbW they are a touch on the insensitive side. And the UQ can start to struggle when giving it some beans.

So I have secured a nice previously-run-in 250/2 as a poweramp upgrade from Cymbiosis. Just waiting for the special cable to come from the factory -- needs to be 2 phono to 1 XLR. At 100 quid for the cable, I doubt it will be super lumina, but if Paul or Dougy or Trevor are reading this, then I'd be happy to try out.... :-)

Plan is to send the 250/2 back to the factory for DR upgrades at some point (I think its one of those which can be done)

I had the same idea, relatively speaking not much more than nap200. I'd like this to be my next upgrade. Very interested to hear about the outcome.

jon honeyball posted:

b_lund posted:

UQ/250.2

I would have thought this is a very unbalanced setup but I do understand the ATC issue

Recently I tried a Nap 150X on my UQ on ordinary speakers, not a win/win IME

sure more power and hifi but less enjoyment and magic

Sorry, I dont get that. UQ preamp is good, as is its power amp. You can tell that from the sound quality. 250/2 has very good power amp. I cannot understand why pairing a good preamp with a very good poweramp is going to result in a lesser result. 

I wouldnt disagree that purchasing a new UQ and 250/2 might not be the best value for money. But I have the UQ, have had it from new, and use it and love it every day. A used 250/2 is good value, especially with the DR upgrade to come. 

Given where I am starting from, this is the right route forward. I just dont get this "unbalanced" thing.

Jon, There's nothing like expectations

sometime they are making us blind

I hear what you are saying and I fully understand the UQ is a lovely piece of kit (on its own it is for me)

The natural partner to Nap 250DR is 272/282/252, the natural partner to UQ is a Nap 100 which I haven't heard, but as expressed above, my 150X was non successfull at my place in my setup.

I know a lot in here use separate poweramp on UQ, someone before me has expressed dissappointments, others are over the moon which I hope you will be too

For what it's worth I use my unitiqute both v1 and then updated to V2 linked into my 252 / 300 / spendor A9 using RCA to Din  as both a streamer and tuner and its one of the most useful and cost effective pieces of equipment I have invested in.  I have also used it on its own with the spenders and love it..  However I have never used a seperate power amp.. 

I'll probably buy a nac-n 272 at some point in the future, to break out another full system. but there is no rush

I'm more than happy with our unitiqute into our system, as SOUNDSGOOD mentions above - most useful and cost effective addition to our system. But have never used its internal amplification......

Alba1320 posted:

Have you tried the 272, Jon? If so, how do you rate is as a S/PDIF DAC and as a pre?

I'm curious about 272 because of its volume control (I've always had problems with volume control due to the combination of the potentiometer and high input sensitivity in Naim's traditional pre-amps, plus I tend to listen at quite modest SPLs), but being used to CDS/52, I'm guessing a significant hit in performance with 272?

not the new one, no -- it wouldnt go into my main system anyway, but be used for secondary uses like the UQ