uniticore versus unitiserve

ct posted:

I haven't seen an answer to this during a forum search but apologies if its already covered......

Having just returned to hifi after a "new family" induced layoff i have bought a unitiqute 2 and am now considering a further purchase of either a uniticore or unitiserve.

My question is, has anyone ever heard the two of these side by side and has an opinion on the relative sonic performances of each?

Thanks

To the best of my knowledge, Jan-Erik Nordoen was the only one who reported sytematic SQ comparisons between the Core and the Serve in this forum. His protocols are not anymore available, I am afraid. Please see also https://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/what-is-the-difference-between-unitserve-and-uniticore?page=1. Best, nbpf

Do you really need a server that costs more than your stereo? Have you considered a good nas for £400 or so? It will sound just as good. 

ct posted:

I haven't seen an answer to this during a forum search but apologies if its already covered......

Having just returned to hifi after a "new family" induced layoff i have bought a unitiqute 2 and am now considering a further purchase of either a uniticore or unitiserve.

My question is, has anyone ever heard the two of these side by side and has an opinion on the relative sonic performances of each?

Thanks

unitserve is no longer produced.....

Why not start out with a few months of Tidal hifi and see if a Nas may also end up being to old school and too expensive?

Claus-Thoegersen posted:

Why not start out with a few months of Tidal hifi and see if a Nas may also end up being to old school and too expensive?

 

two reasons for me:

1. nds/ ndx/nd5x have not mqa possibilities.  You can't stream hirez files on tidal with naim gear.

2. i find that streaming locally is a little better than tidal, for 16/44.  But streaming highrez on local nas or unitserve is even better than streaming flac 16/44 on tidal.

A Core seems to me to be disproportionately expensive with a Unitiqute. For about the same cost, you could get a Synology NAS and replace the Qute with a used Superuniti.

ChrisSU posted:

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A Core seems to me to be disproportionately expensive with a Unitiqute. For about the same cost, you could get a Synology NAS and replace the Qute with a used Superuniti.

or perhaps even better: uniti nova or star:  It is like the superuniti but can also rip cd and stock, so you don't need a nas.

Keler Pierre posted:

ChrisSU posted:

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A Core seems to me to be disproportionately expensive with a Unitiqute. For about the same cost, you could get a Synology NAS and replace the Qute with a used Superuniti.

or perhaps even better: uniti nova or star:  It is like the superuniti but can also rip cd and stock, so you don't need a nas.

I chose the Superuniti because 

a) It fits the same budget as the Core

b) It exists!

ChrisSU posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

ChrisSU posted:

---

A Core seems to me to be disproportionately expensive with a Unitiqute. For about the same cost, you could get a Synology NAS and replace the Qute with a used Superuniti.

or perhaps even better: uniti nova or star:  It is like the superuniti but can also rip cd and stock, so you don't need a nas.

I chose the Superuniti because 

a) It fits the same budget as the Core

b) It exists!

i understand, if you take a second hand superuniti. And you are right, nova and star are only on pre-production.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Do you really need a server that costs more than your stereo? Have you considered a good nas for £400 or so? It will sound just as good. 

I really don't agree with the latter part of the sentence.

I bought an NS01 having done an extended demo against the UnitiServe. I then used it as a glorified DDC, accessing my NAS and feeding the result into my DAC via SPDIF.

When my NS01 died I had it repaired and in the meanwhile tried the microRendu. My thoughts were that the NAS would equal the NS01 in terms of serving up my files, and so I did a quick demo and then sold the NS01.

Over the following weeks I became increasingly dissatisfied with my system. I increased the RAM on the NAS, and played with settings and loaded software - services, to no avail.

I do agree with the start of the sentence.

I do not think you need to spend a fortune on an expensive server. the solution that has worked for me is to use a Raspberry Pi 3 powered by a LPSU. On this I run Logitech Media Server, which has a Quboz plugin and is mapped to my NAS - as well as another device which is better than the NAS for hosting files.

M

i dont know the microrendu, but it doesnt appear to have SPDIF output. so I am finding it hard to see how your comparison works between NS01 and microrendu.

Cheers for all the input, as usual, its quite interesting to read alternative thoughts

My plan was to upgrade my system in the usual way, as time and finances allow, the end result being an NDX (or NDS should the opportunity present itself) with suitably chosen components to bring out the best from this.

Although I wouldn't say i'm a technophobe, I will  more than happily admit this isn't my forte and that I would find dealing with the inevitable software and hardware glitches in trying to set  up a NAS rather than enjoying music frustrating, hence the appeal of a more "plug and play" alternative (to my understanding at least) with the Naim solution

So, with the future in mind i had thought the balance of the system wouldn't be too out of kilter with a core or serve, but I was slightly puzzled by the price disparity between the old and new options  and would therefore value thoughts and input if anyone has anything to add to that already said?

ct posted:

Cheers for all the input, as usual, its quite interesting to read alternative thoughts

My plan was to upgrade my system in the usual way, as time and finances allow, the end result being an NDX (or NDS should the opportunity present itself) with suitably chosen components to bring out the best from this.

Although I wouldn't say i'm a technophobe, I will  more than happily admit this isn't my forte and that I would find dealing with the inevitable software and hardware glitches in trying to set  up a NAS rather than enjoying music frustrating, hence the appeal of a more "plug and play" alternative (to my understanding at least) with the Naim solution

So, with the future in mind i had thought the balance of the system wouldn't be too out of kilter with a core or serve, but I was slightly puzzled by the price disparity between the old and new options  and would therefore value thoughts and input if anyone has anything to add to that already said?

if you have a lot cds to rips or continue buying cds which can be rare, i would go for the core.

If not, qnap 251 nas with good linear ps.  But there is a lot more solutions like innuos zen or zenith, melco, cad audio....or even stock unitserve hdd( with ssd you need a nas).

Mr Underhill posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Do you really need a server that costs more than your stereo? Have you considered a good nas for £400 or so? It will sound just as good. 

I really don't agree with the latter part of the sentence.

I bought an NS01 having done an extended demo against the UnitiServe. I then used it as a glorified DDC, accessing my NAS and feeding the result into my DAC via SPDIF.

When my NS01 died I had it repaired and in the meanwhile tried the microRendu. My thoughts were that the NAS would equal the NS01 in terms of serving up my files, and so I did a quick demo and then sold the NS01.

Over the following weeks I became increasingly dissatisfied with my system. I increased the RAM on the NAS, and played with settings and loaded software - services, to no avail.

 

I do agree with the start of the sentence.

I do not think you need to spend a fortune on an expensive server. the solution that has worked for me is to use a Raspberry Pi 3 powered by a LPSU. On this I run Logitech Media Server, which has a Quboz plugin and is mapped to my NAS - as well as another device which is better than the NAS for hosting files.

M

Interesting what device  is  better than a nas?

Claus

I do not know the current price of a Unitiserve, but since it is discontinued I would expect the price to reflect that fact.

On the other hand the Userve has a few features not found on the Core. Control from  windows, if run as a player using psdif to a dac, and internet radio.

Claus  

Claus-Thoegersen posted:

On the other hand the Userve has a few features not found on the Core. Control from  windows, if run as a player using psdif to a dac, and internet radio.

The Core also has an SPDIF output - in fact, there seems to be some optimism that this will be one of its strengths, with its improved PSU.

ChrisSU posted:

Claus-Thoegersen posted:

On the other hand the Userve has a few features not found on the Core. Control from  windows, if run as a player using psdif to a dac, and internet radio.

The Core also has an SPDIF output - in fact, there seems to be some optimism that this will be one of its strengths, with its improved PSU.

So does my HDX

jon honeyball posted:

i dont know the microrendu, but it doesnt appear to have SPDIF output. so I am finding it hard to see how your comparison works between NS01 and microrendu.

I use a Singxer F1 DDC to convert USB > SPDIF.

The comment was wrt the NAS vs another server solution. I found the NAS to be ultimately a poor solution, but found another and cheaper solution.

As always these things may be context based and YMMV.

M

Claus-Thoegersen posted:

Mr Underhill posted:

...... - as well as another device which is better than the NAS for hosting files.

M

Interesting what device  is  better than a nas?

Claus

I use three 512GB Patriot Mega USB sticks in a StarTech USB extender that is FPGA controlled. This consists of two boxes, a REX and a LEX, each of these is powered by a LPSU.

I find all these to give incremental gains ....but, they are additive.

M