Should I change my UnitiServe to a Core

I use BNC DC1 and went back to it from Chord Indigo but there are others here who don’t like DC1 so perhaps it’s down to personal choice. Some DC1s come up on a certain auction site from time to time so you could save some money on new and experiment.

Ravenswood10 posted:

I use BNC DC1 and went back to it from Chord Indigo but there are others here who don’t like DC1 so perhaps it’s down to personal choice. Some DC1s come up on a certain auction site from time to time so you could save some money on new and experiment.

so you use the core in spdif. In this configuration, the core is better vs the serve undoubtedly.

I have. Belden 1694a, tried a Naim DC1 which was marginally better, but I must say I borrowed a True Signals audio cable......much more coherent, dynamic, a lovely cable. Not many dealers as yet, but they do a mail order, deposit and return.

ChrisSU posted:

MangoMonkey posted:

Since you have the NDS, don't.

I made the switch. Most pointless spend of money ever. Plus, you won't get much for the unitiserv when you sell it.

The uniticore is ahead of the unitiserv when it comes to spdif digital out. This is interesting if you're using it with a 272, NDX etc. Even there, it's a pain due to lack of automation. You'll have to switch back and forth on the buggy app and can't control volume in one place - same as  unitiserv really..

Why is this any different for 272 and NDX compared to NDS?

I guess because the NDS's streaming section is superior? I don't know. With the 272, and the Unitiqute2 , the Unitcore's spdif out has a tonne more detail - much more so in the UQ2, than with the 272. With the NDS, I'd go with ethernet.

I guess it depends on how good the streaming card in the units are...

Having said that, again a stupid move by Naim, IMHO - they could've just put in a streaming section in this unit to allow it to do spotify, tidal, iradio etc. - for folks who just wanted digital out. and given it a small screen...

but maybe that would be the nova? dunno. anyway - I'm not holding my breath for the ND555 - if the uniticore is anything to go by, the ND555 is several years away...

Ravenwood & Gazza

Thanks for your suggestions. I will try a DC1 first and then may trial a True Signals cable - interesting write upon Signals website

Their interconnects( not Spdif) is reviewed in Hifi choice this month...gets 5 stars. I have heard their speaker cables with Nova and new Neat Iota Xplorer as a system.......they seemed well suited. I just picked up their Cat7 to try after being disappointed with AQ Vodka. Any competition in this cable market which decreases prices is welcome IMO. Best of luck.

Interesting article on True Audio on Signals Website. They make high end data cables for the Military and even draw their own wire. They havearecently ventured into HIFI with some interesting cables including speakers and digital interconnects. Might be worth a trial 

Shropshire Hills posted:

A question to those who use spdif out from core  to Nova,272 etc can you recommend a good interconnect? I have had a Nova for a few months and it’s very good and especially now I added a 2nd hand 250DR. I am tempted to get a Core to rip my CDs, especially now my ageing Meridian 200 transport is starting to show its age. Initially at least I will use an spdif interconnect. Naim’s DC1 seems the obvious choice unless there are better alternatives 

Bob

I use a Nordost Heimdall 11 interconnect between my Core and 272...sounds really good to me,but I have not tried any other cables here.Take that for what it is I guess,but it does sound a little better than UPNP.I am still hoping for internet radio and tidal to be added to the Core,if that is even possible.

Apologies to the OP if I am off topic discussing the pros and cons of spdif vs upnp although hopefully this is still relevant. If I had a good stable ethernet and nas setup I would probably go with upnp for its flexibility and integration with the Naim app. However, I rely on wifi, and I am attract d by the simplicity of a direct wired connection and the lack of worry about which ethernet cable is best and choice of switch etc

I never succeeded in backing up my collection on my Unitiserve and I didn’t like the idea of the complex mechanisms available to do it.  I lost patience when I had a power cut and the Unitiserve stopped working, needed to go back to Naim and I had to start again.

The Core is easy to back up and it has been very reliable so far.  It has an irritating habit of going into a deep sleep when I don’t want it to and I have followed forum advice to power down and up again which is tedious since I need to access the rear of the unit and it usually has to be done twice before it works.  

Apart from that problem, I really like it but I can’t tell the difference in the sound between the two units which is what I would expect.  A costly change for a small benefit but I couldn’t put up with the idea that the Unitiserve was unstable enough to pack up completely when there was a power cut needing to go back to Salisbury with the same fault likely to occur again.

Did someone just post about the imminent demise of cd's? OK so this info is a year or so old.  Globally, 39% of all music sales are physical CDs and vinyl, but in Japan, the figure is double that. It helps make Japan the world’s second biggest music market, selling more than ¥254 billion($2.44 billion) worth of music a year—most of it in the form of CDs. https://www.google.co.uk/url?s...vLb0VIXc&ampcf=1

I use a Siltech Golden Eagle 75 ohm digital interconnect between my Core and 272.  The sound quality is much superior to UPnP.  However, I have not yet tried upmarket ethernet cables.

Been using a Core for over twelve months via ethernet suits my needs, easy to use, silent in operation and sounds superb the software was a bit iffy but is much better with the latest updates. 

French Rooster posted:

Ravenswood10 posted:

I use BNC DC1 and went back to it from Chord Indigo but there are others here who don’t like DC1 so perhaps it’s down to personal choice. Some DC1s come up on a certain auction site from time to time so you could save some money on new and experiment.

so you use the core in spdif. In this configuration, the core is better vs the serve undoubtedly.

I must admit that I use both but have a marginal preference with the Core for spdif. I don’t find that it’s a night and day difference though.

I definitely preferred the Spdif from Core than ethernet until I put a Cisco switch, now cannot tell the difference

I am looking at this at present and whilst I have not had a second of problem or dissatisfaction with my Unitiserve, I acknowledge that inevitably, at some stage, the Hard Drive will likely fail, as they do, resulting in a time wasting and expensive return to Salisbury.

It seems to me therefore that the key issue is the simple in home substitution of the Hard Drive in the Core compared to the Unitiserve and it is this that is driving me to consider a change not any SQ issues.

Just to change the subject for a second, with a question to core owners, Can you play a cd on a core ? Or is it strictly for ripping & storage ? 

Freedomsounds posted:

Just to change the subject for a second, with a question to core owners, Can you play a cd on a core ? Or is it strictly for ripping & storage ? 

Ripping only.

And if you can, is the playback quality & control good ?

Not sure of your question. Once ripped its as good as it will ever be, with the current technology, I assume from a Naim perspective.

I was wondering  or what I meant is  can you demo a cd on the core before you rip it to the core ?

Freedomsounds posted:

I was wondering  or what I meant is  can you demo a cd on the core before you rip it to the core ?

No you can’t but it only normally take three or four minutes to rip a cd and you can delete it in seconds.

Oh, alright thanks !