UnitiQute not so cute after all

if i was u, i would simply hardwire the qute (not use wifi) and also forget about the screen - if i can use the phone to control the unit.

also btw which upnp are you using? not sure if the connection drops are due to upnp.

i only bought my qute 3 weeks back. hardwired it to my router. i dont even have a nas but playing from external harddisk/laptop (again hardwired to router).

downloaded trial version of asset upnp.

connection has not dropped even once. 

and once i downloaded naim app on my phone, i dont use the remote either.

sound is fantastic hooked to both the dali mentor menuets and neat iota.

after a long period of audiophile experimentation i have found one thing i know i can live with for a long long time.

i plan to buy another qute soon. not v2 - but v1 192 khz.

vtpcnk posted:

 

i plan to buy another qute soon. not v2 - but v1 192 khz.

Have to admit, as I've enjoyed this little box of tricks so much, I'm also considering buying a second UnitiQute for a dinning room / kitchen system (in preference to a Mu-So / QB).

Vtpcnk - I'm curious, why the pref for the V1 over the V2? 

Brubacca posted:

Looks like you are getting sorted out. I think the wifi issue may be the networking standard used on the Qute. I am not sure, but I thought that the Qute 1 was only Wireless G, not N or AC. I may be wrong about that.

I use a wireless bridge in at my system and then wired into my Qute 1. 

Agreed.  If I were forced to use Wi-Fi and could not get the onboard working well, I have had OK results Ethernet-wiring e.g. the Qute to an AirPort Express bridged to the network.  This at least gives you the ability to put the Qute where it looks and functions best, while putting the AE in the best place for signal, at whatever length of CAT5e you find necessary.

The AE has the advantage of being dedicated to its primary function, as now does the Qute.

Back in the 70s, Mom and Dad had a Marantz receiver in a console cabinet in the Living Room.  It looked great where FM was poor.  On a different wall FM worked great.  They decided to sacrifice FM for decor.  Of course, in those days, putting up an outdoor antenna would never be considered — too expensive/complicated.  L O L.

Tastes and values vary.

Nick

>Vtpcnk - I'm curious, why the pref for the V1 over the V2? 

reasons :

1. v2 is atleast 300 dollars more in the used market.

2. i don't need bluetooth.

3. v1 192 khz and v2 (prior to bluetooth) - apparently the  only difference is the dac chip - wolfson Vs burr brown.

4. which dac chip is better is very subjective.

4. i heard it from a source i would trust in this particular issue that "there is no hurry to convert a v1 192 khz to v2".

apparently, from v1 92 khz to the v2 is a big leap. but not so much from a v1 192 khz to v2.

>I've enjoyed this little box of tricks so much

i beg to differ. i think there are benefits to be had with an integrated system - where the source input/dac/amp are in one box. the natural synergy would be hard to beat with a system where all three are separate.

i am willing to bet that the qute would outperform systems way pricier where the streamer and dac and amp are separate.

Well, I know for sure the NDX-FM/nDAC/555/552DR sound better through the Qute2 Analog In than the Qute does using its onboard streaming abilities.  One would hope so, though.

Takes no glory or credit away from the Qute, IMHO.  Just proves it is a better amp than you might know.

Nick

vtpcnk posted:

if i was u, i would simply hardwire the qute (not use wifi) and also forget about the screen - if i can use the phone to control the unit.

 

I would always use the app in preference to the remote/front screen, except that there are a few settings that can only be done this way. A firmware update would also be difficult without the screen.

A last update to set the record straight. My initial comment about the dealer ignoring requests was a typical 'user error' from my part, as I was contacting the ..wrong dealer (from whom I got other equipment).

Naim helped me locate the actual one from my unit's dets (Peter Tyson) and I can confirm that after market service is exemplary. The qute is on its way to being great again.

>NDX-FM/nDAC/555/552DR

is that a streamer plus dac plus amp?

and how much do they cost?

vtpcnk posted:

>NDX-FM/nDAC/555/552DR

is that a streamer plus dac plus amp?

Yes, but only preamp, no power anp  

vtpcnk posted:

and how much do they cost?

A lot!

vtpcnk posted:

>Vtpcnk - I'm curious, why the pref for the V1 over the V2? 

reasons :

1. v2 is atleast 300 dollars more in the used market.

2. i don't need bluetooth.

3. v1 192 khz and v2 (prior to bluetooth) - apparently the  only difference is the dac chip - wolfson Vs burr brown.

4. which dac chip is better is very subjective.

4. i heard it from a source i would trust in this particular issue that "there is no hurry to convert a v1 192 khz to v2".

apparently, from v1 92 khz to the v2 is a big leap. but not so much from a v1 192 khz to v2.

Ah, I assumed it would be their respective secondhand values, but also curious as I have no experience of the V1 ‘Qute. For use daily use, I really value the Bluetooth facility to stream podcasts directly from my iPad / iPhone, so it will be another Qute2 BT I would guess - unless a SuperUniti BT comes along at a decent price.

vtpcnk posted:

I am willing to bet that the qute would outperform systems way pricier where the streamer and dac and amp are separate.

I would not challenge this assertion had I not wired my main Naim system Tape-Out in the Living Room to the Qute2 Analog-In in my Office.  I have the choice of listening to the streamer onboard the Qute, using Party Mode over the LAN, or playing the NDX upstairs everywhere via analog.  The last option sounds the best to me by a clear margin.  Party mode is worst of the three, but still OK.

This is good news for me because I prefer all rooms play the same source most of the time.

Nick