Advice on Naim Streamers

Depends on sensitivity of the speakers. I use the ATC SCM11 monitors in one setup, and these are exceptional small monitors but fairly low efficiency at around 85dB/watt. The Unitiqute was just struggling to give real rocknroll volume levels, but the addition of a 250/2DR gave it the horsepower it needed

Two thoughts -

• That's quite a big room for the little Harbeths. 
• They are revealing little speakers that need a decent source. I'd be setting my sights higher than those sources you've listed. 

What is driving your speaker choice ?

James

Thanks! I think the sensitivity is 83.5db. It appears the other tow streamers may have the needed horsepower for my room.

what are the key differences between the Unitilite and Uniti 2 that I should consider?

James,

The problem with the big room is the location choices for the speakers.

It is not a normal room, so I am left with bookshelf placement only. The size of the

shelves can handle a speaker about the size of the little Harbeth's. The other factor

is my wife's preference not to have floorstanders; so I am between a rock and a hard spot!

What source(s) would you suggest?

Ah ok -  understood - WAF is rather important for domestic harmony 

I'd look at the Superuniti or perhaps if you could stretch to a couple of boxes then a 272 / 250 or NDX / Supernait 2 combo. Worth taking a listen to a few combinations to find the one that does the business for you so good luck in your quest (and welcome to the forum too)

James

Hi Seattle,

Another Seattle Naim listener here. I would recommend the microrendu into DAC V1 with at least a NAP 100 or amp of your choice that suits the Harbeths. The microrendu will get you to NDX/NDS levels at a 1/10th of the price. Of course you will need a NAS or a dedicated pc to serve up the music/radio/etc to the rendu, but that's the case with all.

Best, CP

Hi Seattle

The Harbeth's are domestic speakers but they're derived from BBC near field monitor design.  They're designed for close listening, particularly in small rooms - you won't get room filling sound from them, they're not designed for that.  Used in the right way they are special speakers, but they're not right for every location.

The only solution for large sound from small main speakers is to use speakers with reasonable maximum volume level and use a sub.  These types of speakers usually also have a medium or higher sensitivity (about 87dB/W or more).  You also need at least a mid-level power amp (the UQ2 will probably struggle in a large room).

Hi Seattle,

for a fairly large room as yours and bookshelf speakers as the only choice, I would suggest the Sonus faber Elipsa Auditor and one of the beefier Unitis like the Uniti 2 or Superuniti. The DAC V-1 with a NAP 100 should work well, too. Unless you plan to listen a very low levels and/or in a very nearfield setup you will need power to fill all that space. The smaller Unitis might not provide enough of it. The Elipsa Auditor will work on a shelf, has a higher efficiency than the P3 and should be able to give you a higher output level overall. You may have to buy a used one though, as have been phased out of production (at least to my knowledge).

Hi Mulberry,

A great suggestion on the speakers. Sadly I am stuck with a 12" height limit.

Any other thoughts?

Seattle

Why not just add streaming capability to your existing system?  

My livingroom is about half the area you quote. I'm not sure the little Harbeths are big enough or efficient enough for a UnitiQute/Lite in that room. A larger more efficient speaker of a slightly lower quality (I have Focal Chorus 806W driven by a Qute) will probably render more enjoyable listening. My higher quality PMCs just could not 'deliver' in my livingroom in the same way on the Qute.

I would get a UnitiQute with some large efficient speakers (quite a few are made for SETs or low power solid state amps) or go SuperUniti and keep the Harbeths until you can tradeup for one of their bigger bretheren.

Qute pre-outs to your existing system is an option too (but I don't know what that is). Having owned 2 Lites, 2 Qutes, an SU (and a NAP100) I believe the best options pound per sound are the Qute and SU.

Hi

I've a living room of about 40 m2, which is about 2/3 of your 650 sq feet room. 2 B&W CM1's do all the hard work. I had the same problem as you, classical bookshelves were build in and the natural place for speakers was on these bookshelves. CM1's have no problems of filling the room with massive sound. As long as detailed listening is not really needed, these speakers can do the job. Another problem I have is that they loose powers sub 50 hz, which means that the lower organ tones loose power. Jazz is fine.

I do think that these speakers perform so well because they are powered by a Supernait (1). A bit oversized amp but can drive the CM1's in any direction it likes. For streaming I use a simple Chromecast Audio which feeds an optical port of the Supernait.

If I had to buy something again, I would probably go for the SuperUniti, however the Qute is an absolutely wonderful thing as well. Qute would do better on efficient speakers.

Go to Hawthorne or Tune Audio and ask what they think and how to go about doing what you wish.
Or you could do what I did regarding streaming and build a nice little Raspberry Pi streamer to hook to your DAC. Costs less then $100, easy to do, small, several OS's available for free on line, you can use the Linn Kinsky or Kazoo apps to control them from your smart phone or tablet.

As to the speakers, if you're restricted to 12"s it will be hard to find anything to fill the room unless you play your music softly.