New Uniti Series with external power amps

So are you saying a standalone Nova is that DARN good, adding 2 x 250s old tech doesn't give you much improvement...

I do find the Nova presentation very different (as in a positive) and ver big improvement versus classic series.

Not quite.  The 250s were controlling active SBLs, but are not currently.

I just hooked up each in turn, oldest first, neither having been used for 18 months or more playing to old EPOS ES14s which the Nova itself has handled well.

The older NAP 250 had a right channel buzz/crackle so I suspect needs re-capping/servicing.  Then swapped to the newer (!) 20 year old NAP 250 which gave a completely different more solid presentation to the Nova but maybe less transparent/detailed, though also bear in mind limited listening late in the evening with a NAP 250 that's not even warmed up yet at conservative volume levels.

The query really is what's the pedigree of the integrated power amp in the Nova compared to standalone power amps, and initial impressions are that it's very good - I guess I'd have been interested in a Nova lite without the integrated power amp to hook directly to the classic NAP 250 kit, with the likely pre-amp and digital circuit benefits of the Nova over the Atom.  I initially got the Atom as a second room lifestyle player but couldn't resist the Nova once I'd done an A vs B demo after the Atom was RMA'd for a display fault.

Early days, but having seen a few people posting positive results with Atom/Nova hooked up to separate power amps it's an interesting question how good the new Uniti series are if used as pre/source alone.

How does the power amp in the Nova compare with a SU? Obviously the preamp and streaming client are different but not sure the power section is?

With a SU and a (recently recapped) olive 250 I have found that the 250 seems to drop the noise floor a bit and broaden the sound stage but I'm unclear if this is because of the superior power amp or because switching off the SU internal power amp improves the power supply to the preamp/DAC etc.

I'd certainly argue that its not really a fair test in your system until you recap the 250s.

JedT posted:

How does the power amp in the Nova compare with a SU? Obviously the preamp and streaming client are different but not sure the power section is?

With a SU and a (recently recapped) olive 250 I have found that the 250 seems to drop the noise floor a bit and broaden the sound stage but I'm unclear if this is because of the superior power amp or because switching off the SU internal power amp improves the power supply to the preamp/DAC etc.

I'd certainly argue that its not really a fair test in your system until you recap the 250s.

Thanks for the reply.

The 'online manual' for the Nova is very tedious to navigate and the lack of a proper manual is frustrating.

I take your point about the power supply for the SU potentially improving for the pre-amp if not powering the power amp section, but is there a specific option to disable the SU power amp?

All I've done is hooked up the 250 to the DIN pre-amp out on the Nova - whether or not this would automatically power off the Nova's power amp section I'm doubtful, unless simply unplugging the speaker cables does so.

The SU has an option to turn off its power amp when using a separate one. 

Thanks HH - is that a physical switch or something in the Naim app menu?  I assume the Nova does not have this option or perhaps detects speaker load automatically and disables if none are connected.  It would be interesting to know for certain about the new Uniti Series in this regard.

You do it from the settings menu, controlled by the remote. 

Alley Cat posted:

Thanks HH - is that a physical switch or something in the Naim app menu?  I assume the Nova does not have this option or perhaps detects speaker load automatically and disables if none are connected.  It would be interesting to know for certain about the new Uniti Series in this regard.

All detailed in the SuperUniti manual, a really useful booklet. It's a real shame Naim have chosen not to produce the same for the new Uniti products. I'm about to exchange my UQ2 for the Atom, and am not at all impressed by the so called on line manual and FAQs.

They were handing out shiny leaflets on the new range at Audio Show East, so they can do printed material when they want. Much rather have a comprehensive manual or even pdf.

Hungryhalibut posted:

You do it from the settings menu, controlled by the remote. 

No such option for the Nova then unless it's eluding me :-(

Maybe the wizard thing can answer it. Failing that, a call to Naim. It would seem a strange omission. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Maybe the wizard thing can answer it. Failing that, a call to Naim. It would seem a strange omission. 

I wondered about the wizard - assumed it was a rehash of the initial installation wizard, and I don't recall many options there but may give it a whirl.

Alley Cat posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Maybe the wizard thing can answer it. Failing that, a call to Naim. It would seem a strange omission. 

I wondered about the wizard - assumed it was a rehash of the initial installation wizard, and I don't recall many options there but may give it a whirl.

Tried the wizard - detected already paired remote and ethernet, then options for unit name,  unit being a UPnP server, Chromecast steps and that was about it.

Odd - it's under the "speakers" menu on the SU (and UQ I think) that you can toggle between internal amp, external amp and both (biamping). 

Without dragging us off topic too much I finally got round to trying NAP250 alone rather than SU/NAP250 (formerly NAP180) biamping my Linn Majik Isobariks. I know Naim is a bit sceptical about passive biamping but the Isos are designed with it in mind. Still have to say that for now I do prefer the non-biamp set up. Again it's the noise floor/detail that seems to improve with no loss of bass grip. Suspect the 250 is able to cope with all the demands of the speakers and the SU is benefitting from cleaner power.

I have discovered that the new Uniti Nova pre-outs are always on, however, I'm not sure about the turning off of the power amp.  Due to the design of the new Unitis it maybe that it has to stay on, but I'm sure a call to Naim should give the answer here.

Thanks Richard

JedT posted:

Odd - it's under the "speakers" menu on the SU (and UQ I think) that you can toggle between internal amp, external amp and both (biamping). 

 

AFAICT there is no Speakers Menu on the new series.

wait  there a preamp version for existing customers soon  .bookies odds  1:4

Considering the backlog / delay to Nova production you may have to wait a few years 

Tog posted:

Considering the backlog / delay to Nova production you may have to wait a few years 

Really? I was told 2 weeks delivery time ...

Some dealers have them in stock...

JedT posted:

 

Without dragging us off topic too much I finally got round to trying NAP250 alone rather than SU/NAP250 (formerly NAP180) biamping my Linn Majik Isobariks. I know Naim is a bit sceptical about passive biamping but the Isos are designed with it in mind. Still have to say that for now I do prefer the non-biamp set up. Again it's the noise floor/detail that seems to improve with no loss of bass grip. Suspect the 250 is able to cope with all the demands of the speakers and the SU is benefitting from cleaner power.

That's really interesting but makes sense.  Just seems (currently?) no option to enable/disable internal power amp unless it's doing so automatically - I guess I could hook up a secondary pair of speakers to the Nova speaker outs to see if they still work with the pre-out to the 250 used, though it wouldn't tell me if the Nova still has power out active with no 'load' connected.