Upgrade to streaming / sell off the over-amplification

Price range?

Any other limitations / restrictions (new only or s/h OK etc.)?

Crispin_Hill posted:

Dilemma:

I took the CD5 off my system some years ago. Now I have  NAC112x / NAP150x / FlatCap1 (2001) / DAC v1 which all runs off to Dynaudio Contour 1.1’s.

Purpose: study room to play the lossless music on my PC and more recently of course, play Tidal / Spotify.

My “amplification” is great but excessive. I’d like to trade up or sideways.. keep the DAC V1 (which is also use for my Audeze LCD1 headphones).

 

Here's the problem I see with modern streaming products - they won't last or be supported like the classic ones.

Uniti 2 is officially discontinued but there seem to be good deals around, especially since the price hike for the newer Uniti series:

http://www.nintronics.co.uk/Ba...kEAQYASABEgI8ffD_BwE

(never heard of this company so can't endorse)

https://www.naimaudio.com/product/naimuniti-2

I got the new Uniti Nova after A/B test with the Atom.  The Atom is very capable but I got one with a display fault which was returned.

My classic Naim kit is a Nac-72 pre, active SBLs powered by a pair of old 250's and numerous Hi-Caps.  Also have an older Naim CD player/Hi-Cap combo I rarely use and can't even remember the model.  I was mainly an analogue lover with a Linn Sondek LP12/Ekos/Arkiv (or AT OC-9) and a Pink Triangle Anniversary.  CD never persuaded me, but the sheer convenience of streaming and  increasing HD content is a big change, though I'm yet to be convinced I enjoy digital sources over objectively inferior analogue sources.

When you say this is for the study, is it your main system?

Yes, there are older solutions I'm not familiar with, but I think the current Uniti range is lacking a pre/streamer device to hook up to existing/new external power amps.

Crispin_Hill posted:

Dilemma:

I took the CD5 off my system some years ago. Now I have  NAC112x / NAP150x / FlatCap1 (2001) / DAC v1 which all runs off to Dynaudio Contour 1.1’s.

Purpose: study room to play the lossless music on my PC and more recently of course, play Tidal / Spotify.

My “amplification” is great but excessive. I’d like to trade up or sideways.. keep the DAC V1 (which is also use for my Audeze LCD1 headphones).

I’d like to have 1-2 boxes on my desk for a “does it all and fairly well” package. I know I could add a NAP100 (instead of the 150/122/flatcap) but “think” I should be future proofing and have streaming capability. I think a Uniti 2 is the best solution. If I sound confused it’s because I am.

1) do you agree uniti2 makes sense?
2) who knows if a FlatCap would benefit / work with a Uniti2?
3) DAC v1 and Uniti2 - are they a compliment?

 

1) If your current 3-box amp is set up properly and working as it should, it will outperform the amp in the Uniti 2 by some margin. 

2) You can't add any PSU upgrade to a Uniti

3) Not really. If you have a computer source, the V1 is a good option. You don't need a separate preamp with it - I would consider selling your 112/150/Flatcap and looking for a good used NAP200.

On the basis of how you describe your dilemma, I’d agree with Chris. As the system is in your study and you use a PC for music, it seems that all you need is your V1 and a power amp. Your existing 140 can be connected directly to the V1, which should sound better than going via the 112. If you want more power for your speakers, a used pre-DR 200 would be ideal. Either way you get to lose two boxes. The Uniti seems pointless, and includes a CD player you don’t need. 

If you have a certain amplification, you might not get so much from selling it off. So I would suggest you just stay at what you have and just make the change to streaming. 

So the revelation for me from your considered responses are:

1) I only needed a power amp... perhaps my existing 150x is enough

2) the 112x and FlatCap are not helping my equation and can be sold off

3) my PC is acting as the “streamer”... I think?!

....this is my “whilst I’m working music system”. I have kids so frankly don’t have opportunity for critical and uninterrupted listening. My living room is a qute(1) with NSATS abd NSUB. Good enough. 

Not sure I’m clear in my mind what a “streamer” will add if anything on my study solution. I think there are things like SOtM and whatnot that I could add to this system in case I want to break away from my reliance on the PC as a source.

oh and on behalf of my wife, thanks for the suggestion of zero spend upgrade! :-)

Yes, your 150 could be all you need! If it drives your speakers well enough, try using it with just the V1 as a preamp. It will probably sound a little different, so you may or may not prefer it. Then you can decide if you want to sell the 112/Flatcap - and possibly put the cash towards a 200.

If your computer provides all the streaming functionality you need, there's possibly no point in adding a streamer. Computers can be electrically noisy, and there may be scope for some improvement to yours as a source, but the V1 does a pretty good job here. Much as I like spending other people's money, you may be OK with what you've got!

Connect your PC with the USB input of the DAC v1. Keep the rest as it is now. Your PC will not become a streamer, the software on your PC will just push or send the signal to your DAC. 

After you have this working, you can look for alternatives to upgrade the sound or lower the box count. 

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Great! I have a plan - thanks so much for the inputs