Ex demo purchase
Posted by: timpd on 08 December 2016
i recently bought an ex demo unitiserve from a Naim dealer. I didn't ask what the serial number was and they did not advertise it. I assumed it would be 12-18 months old but while registering it find it is 4 years old. Is that acceptable for ex demo? More like secondhand to me. It works fine but I was surprised to say the least.
Tim
timpd posted:It has 1.7b so should be fine. I have tried editing some album titles but after a few seconds it says it's not allowed. It's not many and only a couple that won't download at all. It does sound good and is simple to use which is all that matters.
You can only edit CD rips, not downloads, which should be edited on your computer before transfer to the Unitiseve. Also, you can't edit an album while it's playing (even if it's paused.)
timpd posted:It has 1.7b so should be fine. I have tried editing some album titles but after a few seconds it says it's not allowed. It's not many and only a couple that won't download at all. It does sound good and is simple to use which is all that matters.
Album editing is only permitted on CD rips and only when the encoding process has finished. If your US makes an MP3 copy it will take several minutes before you can edit metadata.
There also a other reason why it will not allow an update - the NServe app is frozen. Just exit it, close it and re-start. The edits may actually appear. If not just edit again.
I've bought a ex-demo kit before (both my CD5XS and Flatcap XS) and both came with full manufacturer's warranty. It's not "second hand" - you are the first owner and you are buying as if new; the shop doesn't own the gear in the same way we do, but you benefit from a reduced price because it's been out on the shelf and demonstrated. My own view is that the saving is worthwhile and the runnining in has already been done too!
Not editing while it's playing seems to be the answer. Thanks for everyone's input. Tim
There seem to be a lot of UnitiServe demos out there for sale. Might be smart to grab one. What will the new model do for me that the old one will not? I am totally new to the streaming thing.
Skip posted:There seem to be a lot of UnitiServe demos out there for sale. Might be smart to grab one. What will the new model do for me that the old one will not? I am totally new to the streaming thing.
I ordered one of the new ones, the Uniti Core, yesterday so when it arrives I will be able to tell you!
The serious answer is "quite a lot", but whether the new things (or the things it does better) are relevant to any particular owner is another point. The Core is quite a bit cheaper than the UnitiServe's list price but I expect there will be lots of Unitiserve bargains to be had over the next 12 months or so.
best
David
Skip, an interesting question. In essence they do similar things, but it's in how they do it where the differences lie. From what I can surmise the Core is a complete re-think and tackles many of the Unitiserve's weaknesses head-on. For one, the hard drive is user-swappable. For two, gone is the less-than-ideal arrangement of a computer switch mode "brick-in--lead" power supply, to be replaced by a linear supply with a rather serious looking toroidal transformer. And that's just for starters..
To add to what Richard says, everything is newly thought through. It no longer uses Windows XP, you can use an internal disc (HD or SSD) or not as you choose, so the operating system is not stored on the HD as in the Unitiserve. It maps any music it finds in shares on your network. It has the computing power to handle larger numbers of simultaneous streams and bigger file formats. The server is controlled by the same app as everything else, so no need for Windows desk top controllers or n-serve or anything. It should be more reliable and a HD failure will be something you can fix yourself, so less travelling to Salisbury during its life.
best
David
David Hendon posted:Skip posted:There seem to be a lot of UnitiServe demos out there for sale. Might be smart to grab one. What will the new model do for me that the old one will not? I am totally new to the streaming thing.
I ordered one of the new ones, the Uniti Core, yesterday so when it arrives I will be able to tell you!
The serious answer is "quite a lot", but whether the new things (or the things it does better) are relevant to any particular owner is another point. The Core is quite a bit cheaper than the UnitiServe's list price but I expect there will be lots of Unitiserve bargains to be had over the next 12 months or so.
best
David
David, any idea of when they will start shipping to dealers waiting for one myself.
I know they are building them in the factory and my dealer says the end of next week for their first delivery, but I don't know whether that is realistic or not and presumably it depends when the dealer ordered in the first place. It's clearly imminent anyway!
best
David
Christmas.
Pete
In the US, the warranty section is very specific about ex-dem units. It's quite involved but basically you get an extra year that the dealer was supposed to have it on demo. A 4 year old ex demo unit would not have the full 5 year warranty. Call NAIM to see what your specific situation is.
The first Cores shipped last Wednesday
Pcd posted:Not via Lapland I hope ??
It depends whether you have been naughty or nice