New Addition To Naim Digital Line-Up

Cassette Deck?

Might this be an XS type streamer that a lot of people are waiting for? It surely would seem the most obvious and fitting addition to Naim's product line at this stage. I can't see it being an NDS, not so close to the launch of the NDX, Naim will want to saturate the premium end of the market with the NDX as best they can first before launching anything better.

Just guessing of course...

Hi Guy

Funny you should say that, it’s a subject I have a question about and think you may be just the person who may have a solution/suggestion about. Another thread though I guess.

Regards

Peter

I'm very interested in an entry level streamer, an ND5i if you will..., for about £750?

A better Unitiqute?

SN 2 and Series 5 streamer are almost definite, as will be seen...

Yes Peter, a Dolby S capable Naim Cassette Deck is what we really all crave so we can forget all this digital stuff once and for all - I'd be more than happy to start copying my digital music to tape (Naim metal tapes, of course). I've had enough of all this ripping and streaming, which seems so last year.

My market research indicates this would be a big seller. I did a survey. I said Guy do you want one and I said yes please. So that is a 100% return. 

I think this would ensure perfect music forever

UnitiVision: with Blue-Ray Player and HD streamer

My bet is on a preamp with an integrated DAC and DS. Something around the price point of a NAC 202 + £500... And it will be the replacement of the NAC 202.

Bye.

New remote control for Linn DS streamers ?  (I wish we could post anonymous messages )

Nah - they'll replace the amp entire line up in a year or two, as per 1989 and 2002.

Steady now AMA steady, you are bordering on heresy there you know.

Still, it is another great British company, so you may be forgiven…….eventually.

Mind you, if Naim were to borrow their ‘Songcast’ feature this would imho make a huge improvement to, and make more viable, the multi room streaming solution. The idea of having two or more streams (of the same music) that are not in sync: is not appealing to me.

Peter

Well Guy I’m with you, so does that make it 200%?

We are listening a lot now to FM and would like to record for a couple of hours in decent quality, oh, and a start/stop timer would be useful.

O happy days.

I fear I might be getting old.

Peter

As suggested by others above, I also think it will be a UnitiQute XS.

All of the functionality of a UnitiQute, but in an XS chassis with 60 Watts per channel.

Followed shortly by the SuperQute....

Hook

You might be right there Hook. Thinking about it, it does seem plausible. Maybe it's too early still for an NDXS, such a product just might cannibalise NDX sales at this stage too...

You are probably right TP.   If I were Paul, that is how I would think too.

Still, I am pretty sure that the lion's share of NDX owners are using its analog outputs.   So a new, digital output-only version may only cut into only a small portion of NDX sales (those few of us only using it as a digital transport for a DAC).   But the announcement did give me pause to think a bit... 

It would surprise me if Naim were able to produce a product that delivered as good a digital output as the NDX, and did so at a significantly lower price.   AllenB, Aysil and others have done the comparisons between the digital outputs of the NDX, UnitiQute and UnitiServe, and in their reference-level systems, they heard better sound quality when it was the NDX deliverering the S/PDIF signal to their DAC/555PS. 

Oh well, who knows.  Hopefully Naim will drop a hint or two in the next couple of weeks.  In the meantime, it is always fun to speculate!

Hook

I would hope for just the Qute without the amp section (Qutette)

My guess would be a Uniti Range DAC.

The nDAC already seems to be right in the Uniti range price-wise.  Given the capabilities and relatively low price of the nDAC, and the success of the internal DAC of the NDX, I dont see a new Naim stand-alone DAC on the horizon.

I personally would LOVE a stripped down digital output.  Ideally this is a Serve without ripping/drives.   Or it could be a Qute without amps.

In the Serve example above I would like a legit PSU and digital output on par with Qute.

For the Qute I simply want it as is but without amps.

Either way, 1/2 case Naim digi out.   $$$$$$$$$$$$

-Patrick

Hmm, It might be affecting the visual look only. Just see what happened with the preamp's entry level offering. In 9 years we had NAC 112, 112x, 122x and now 152XS... Clearly, the evolution of the product line-up would never be put on hold for cosmetic reasons.

Bye.

My guess was based on something that I am not waiting for and that would add only a little to the current product line and would be easy to produce from current products.

My mood is not great today

My hope more than a guess (which is probably the same thing) is for a S or 555 level streamer. I think if anything that development is likely to be lower in the hierarchy because value units will generate more income than angel dust. Maybe a Pe/DAC or XSDAC? The two events which I could possibly get to clash with work commitments which is the universe's way of telling me I've already spent enough. Which is a shame. 

I hope for a more mid-price "nDAC XS", and I don't agree that the nDAC's price is "relatively low" -- relative to what, your own private golf course?

I listen only to digitally sourced music (no vinyl) and realize that an nDAC would be the perfect upgrade to my system -- I still don't wanna pay £2000 for a(n)y DAC...