Uniti Star or Nova with NAP 250dr

Hi,

The Uniti Star has a stereo output to amplifier so what you need is a RCA to XLR cable.

Thank you Cat 345,

Would this approach results in inferior sound quality as compared to straight XLR to XLR?

Jeff

I would say not really.. 

Oh,  Somehow the impression that I got from the local dealer.  Thanks

Alba1320 posted:

Out of curiosity, why is the pre output RCA rather than DIN?

Uniti Star only has RCA output whilst Nova has both

Alba1320 posted:

Out of curiosity, why is the pre output RCA rather than DIN?

Received wisdom is that DIN is always better than RCA with Naim gear.

It's also the case that a Nova should considerably outperform a star in terms of sound quality.

My advice would be to rip the CDs and go for the Nova.

The Uniti Star webpage says you can add an amp such as the NAP200, so you’d have to use an RCA to DIN connector so I’m guessing Naim feels this is an appropriate option. If that’s the case then I’m sure it will be fine to use into the NAP250 as well. 

Dave***t posted:

Received wisdom is that DIN is always better than RCA with Naim gear.

It's also the case that a Nova should considerably outperform a star in terms of sound quality.

My advice would be to rip the CDs and go for the Nova.

Would I lose the sound quality as I have some Japanese press CD with good master?  Any recommendations for ripping 200+ CD besides using my laptop?

Dave***t posted:

Received wisdom is that DIN is always better than RCA with Naim gear.

It's also the case that a Nova should considerably outperform a star in terms of sound quality.

My advice would be to rip the CDs and go for the Nova.

I used a laptop do a few every evening whilst pottering around doing something else, you’ll be surprised how quickly you get them done. I’ve used EAC or dbpoweramp as software but I’m sure there are others.

I’d get a used 272. Half the price of a Nova, looks that match the 250, no wasted power amp and better sound quality, according to what I’ve heard from dealers. Rip the CDs on the laptop to a Nas and away you go. 200 CDs is hardly any and not worth getting a separate CD player for, in my view anyway. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

I’d get a used 272. Half the price of a Nova, looks that match the 250, no wasted power amp and better sound quality, according to what I’ve heard from dealers. Rip the CDs on the laptop to a Nas and away you go. 200 CDs is hardly any and not worth getting a separate CD player for, in my view anyway. 

+1 with HH on this advice - dBpoweramp for ripping - seperate NAS UpNP on 272 - my QNAP NAS was around £500 with 4TB of memory,

Jtanfield posted:

Dave***t posted:

Perceived wisdom is that DIN is always better than RCA with Naim gear.

It's also the case that a Nova should considerably outperform a star in terms of sound quality.

My advice would be to rip the CDs and go for the Nova.

Would I lose the sound quality as I have some Japanese press CD with good master?  Any recommendations for ripping 200+ CD besides using my laptop?

Apologies to the OP if I muddied the waters, it was rather late when I posted and I misread whether they already have the 250.

Given the 250, I'd echo HH's advice to get a 272, with the caveat that it might be worth staying as is until an updated 272 with the new platform is released.  That may or may not happen, and it may take quite a while, so a used 272 now might be the best hedge against future events.

With respect to other posters, contrary to the impression some of the info offered here might give, it's not a matter of functions IMO.  It's a matter of sound quality.  

A Uniti Star may have more functions than other suggested units, but (subject to the OP's personal preferences) it won't produce the same sound quality.  It might be better than a 1st gen Uniti in the same configuration, but it will still have significant redundancy compared to a 272, and produce inferior results, for roughly the same price new.

And a Nova will cost a decent chunk more than a 272 (a lot more than a s/h 272) essentially just to get non-matching boxes and a built in power amp which the OP doesn't need.

With 200 CDs, I don't see the point in a Core vs using decent ripping software on a computer and getting a much cheaper good quality NAS.  It might sound like a big job, but it's not as bad as you might think (I've done more like 1000 that way), and you'll save a big wad of cash.  It's very much a personal choice though, and there are plenty of people who love their Cores, I'm sure.

There is no loss of quality inherent in ripping, and you'll almost certainly get better quality sound when playing back ripped CDs via a 272/250 (or a standalone Nova, for that matter) than listening to the original CD via a Uniti 1 or Star.

If all the above sounds like too much bother to think about, flog the lot and get a Core and Nova.  But just be aware that you could get better sound for less money by taking the advice.

Hungryhalibut posted:

I’d get a used 272. Half the price of a Nova, looks that match the 250, no wasted power amp and better sound quality, according to what I’ve heard from dealers. Rip the CDs on the laptop to a Nas and away you go. 200 CDs is hardly any and not worth getting a separate CD player for, in my view anyway. 

Or get second -hand CD5i, because this is roughly the player you already have in your Uniti. I have a similar setup (NAP 200 instead of 250) and planning to go the route suggested by HH,

Jtanfield posted:

Dave*

 

Would I lose the sound quality as I have some Japanese press CD with good master?  Any recommendations for ripping 200+ CD besides using my laptop?

+1 to all the 272 suggestions + ripping with dbpoweramp on a nas. Better and, if you go used 272, cheaper.

Getting a 2nd 272 is not really an option here in HK as there isn't much a 2nd hand market per se.  Getting a new one does not really make sense given the direction NAIM is taking with streamers.

A 2 box setup is the only choice due to space constraint and I am keeping a 250dr which I got on a very good deal.  Taking out the 272 option, it appears general sentiment is towards Nova which will produce the better sound.

Appreciate the comments and thoughts

Jeff - I use a Nova with a 250DR and I’m very pleased with the sound and the new streaming platform. The 250DR adds some benefit to the Nova but it’s not really necessary, especially if your room is small. Most Nova owner’s seem very pleased with their choice although some non-Nova owners think differently.

I will probably trade the Nova in for a new updated 272 if it ever happens as I think it will be better especially when a power supply is added to it. I would not now buy into the old streaming platform unless it was a secondhand bargain.

Bob

Agree with a Bob a 250 dr adds to the sound you can expect and you have the new streaming platform and new info on screen, if that is what you want. It’s also still going to be updated going forward with new firmware e.g recent Roon addition, the older platform is limited with what can now be updated/ or Naim have drawn a line under those previous units such as 272.

272 + 250dr is really better in terms of sound than uniti Nova? Just ordered a Nova, wondering if is the right choice..

272/250 costs £7600 versus Nova at £4200 so it bloody well should be better! Only you can say if the gain is worth the extra cost. Other considerations outlined above are that the 272 has the old type streaming section and does not have built in support for Roon, Chromecast etc.  whereas the Nova has the latest version. Also some people have added a 250 to the Nova and think it's worth it so you could do it in stages.

Do the dems and trust your ears. I'm happy with my Nova and I could have found the money if there was an upgrade that I had to have.

Sensible comments from Pev. You could also consider a Supernait 2 with the new NDX2  - Naim gives us so many options. For now I am happy with Nova/250DR