Uniti Atom/Nova/Star - New firmware - March/April 2018 Comments

Alley Cat posted:

nbpf posted:

tony123 posted:

Peder posted:

Tony123,....interesting.

/Peder ????

... Just trying to understand, why some Uniti and Nova owners complain about quality change and some do not complain. ...

I thought that EOINKAV had fund it out (at page 7 if I am not mistaken): he has upgraded twice starting from the same firmware and setup and ended up with different DSP version. Or am I missing something? Of course, this does not exclude hardware differences but this is something that can only be confirmed or confuted by Naim or by Naim dealers, I am afraid.

I believe it's a Naim app glitch - when you change the firmware the app correctly displays this  but for some reason doesn't update the DSP version displayed until you quit and restart the app (or maybe the Naim device reports it incorrectly until app restarts).  This seems very reproducible to me.

I see: an error in the Naim app suggests an error in the upgrading software which in fact is not there. Still, I cannot stop asking myself why fixing trivial artwork issues and improving multiroom tunctionalities should have any impact on sound quality. I thought that the major reason for moving to the new Linux based software platform was exactly that of being able to implement new functionalities and to fix software bugs without having to be afraid that such fixes could impact the sound quality. The old streaming platdorm was simply too weak -- both in terms of memory and of CPU power -- to guarantee this leeway. The new platform is powerful enough but bug fixes still appear to require careful testing to make sure that they do not have negative impacts on the sound quality. This does not speak for a robust software design, I am afraid.

Well, I keep bouncing back and forth between 2.3 and 2.6, and despite almost hitting a 2.6 sweetspot others have described it's gone again and I keep reverting to 2.3.

Late night listening and on 2.3 I'm at around 37 volume and good overall frequency response - it was over 50 on 2.6 to get anything close. Actual volume irrelevant perhaps but the lack of bass and shouty upper end in 2.6 continue to fail for me despite the definite detail enhancements, but I'll live without detail for sheer enjoyment.

Funny, my Atom seems to have lost some of its magic, I noticed it last night but just thought it was me as I was tired but it’s the same tonight - a bit screechy and lacking punch. Although only low rez I did notice that iradio stations such as RP and Swiss Jazz were sounding really nice with 2.6 but I’m not getting that now, it sounds like what it did after I upgraded initially, I tried a reset but no change, could be just me, strange. Maybe it’s my ISP as I mostly listen to tidal and radio although my speed test app is showing speed, ping and jitter as normal. 

Alley Cat posted:

Well, I keep bouncing back and forth between 2.3 and 2.6, and despite almost hitting a 2.6 sweetspot others have described it's gone again and I keep reverting to 2.3.

Late night listening and on 2.3 I'm at around 37 volume and good overall frequency response - it was over 50 on 2.6 to get anything close. Actual volume irrelevant perhaps but the lack of bass and shouty upper end in 2.6 continue to fail for me despite the definite detail enhancements, but I'll live without detail for sheer enjoyment.

 

Same here, yesterday i decided to try again, after about 4 familiar tracks, i downgraded and intend staying put on 2.3.8.

After both up and down grades I factory reset, just out of habit (i.e. with my mobile devices).

Still strugling and toggle between 2.3 and 2.6 uodates. Both have their benefits.

So glad to have found this thread. I thought it was just me! I bought an Atom in Feb, and was initially very pleased with the sound quality. I have been travelling a lot and only recently started to listen to it properly again, the sound has become splashy and thin. The FW updates have all been applied. I had a much better sound with my old Bluesound Node 2 into a Cambridge CXA60. I’m thinking of trying to take it back. 

Hi Steve,

I'm glad to hear I am not alone in seeking out the reason why the sound changed in my Atom.

Naim would have you believe (reading this thread) that the majority of users are happy with the firmware update and the "sound improvement". I have my doubts, as those users are not necessarily members here and may not fully understand what's happened to their Uniti.

Regardless .... the best advice is to drop an email to Naim support (support@naimaudio.com) and explain your dis-satisfaction in strong terms and request the 2.3 firmware to downgrade your Uniti. Turnaround takes a couple of days and if you get no response send again.

I have gone back and forth many times between 2.3 and 2.6 and each time I'm on 2.6 I just want to switch it off after a few minutes. What you describe is what many others here have also found and I for one am very disturbed that with a HIFI unit such as a Uniti that the underlying sound or voice of the device can be knowingly changed by Naim with a firmware update ..... yet they do not consider it important enough to mention it anywhere in the supporting documentation, absolutely ludicrous given how carefully I have chosen a system based on the core factor of sound and the premium I paid for it based on the initial listening.

Hope you get your Atom's mojo back with the 2.3 downgrade, it's pretty straight forward. 

EoinKav posted:

Hi Steve,

 

I'm glad to hear I am not alone in seeking out the reason why the sound changed in my Atom.

Naim would have you believe (reading this thread) that the majority of users are happy with the firmware update and the "sound improvement". I have my doubts, as those users are not necessarily members here and may not fully understand what's happened to their Uniti.

Regardless .... the best advice is to drop an email to Naim support (support@naimaudio.com) and explain your dis-satisfaction in strong terms and request the 2.3 firmware to downgrade your Uniti. Turnaround takes a couple of days and if you get no response send again.

I have gone back and forth many times between 2.3 and 2.6 and each time I'm on 2.6 I just want to switch it off after a few minutes. What you describe is what many others here have also found and I for one am very disturbed that with a HIFI unit such as a Uniti that the underlying sound or voice of the device can be knowingly changed by Naim with a firmware update ..... yet they do not consider it important enough to mention it anywhere in the supporting documentation, absolutely ludicrous given how carefully I have chosen a system based on the core factor of sound and the premium I paid for it based on the initial listening.

Hope you get your Atom's mojo back with the 2.3 downgrade, it's pretty straight forward. 

Mine has reverted to sounding naff again which dispels the notion that I had merely adjusted to 2.6. Weird that it’s inconsistent. I have the 2.3 link but never reverted, can you help with this - I don’t have a pc at home at the moment, can I downgrade using the link via my ipad? I can’t quite get my head around it - thanks 

No, not with an iPad that I'm aware of.

When you connect to the Uniti's ip address in a browser, top right side of the browser there is an "UPDATE" link,

click that then the page changes to the update page and on the bottom left there is a "START UPDATE" which then asks you for the location of the "locally" stored firmware file.

As far as I know there is no way to download files onto an iPad or access the internal iPad storage without specific applications. 

I could very well be wrong, perhaps someone else could chime in?.

Ok cheers, I’m intrigued by this now, think I’ll stick with 2.6 regardless and wait for it to come back around just to prove I’m not losing my mind! When it was good it was very good. It’s definitely a tangible difference though, exactly the same symptoms again - crunchy sound, lack of bottom end and lower output. 

I wonder if Naim is actually going to adres this, or are they thinking that the storm of criticism  wil die out, and let it go....?

I think they will take their usual approach once the problem has been found. Find a solution and then conduct more listening tests internally, then beta test, then launch when ready. This will take some time, unfortunately.

Mercky posted:

EoinKav posted:

Hi Steve,

......

 Hope you get your Atom's mojo back with the 2.3 downgrade, it's pretty straight forward. 

Mine has reverted to sounding naff again which dispels the notion that I had merely adjusted to 2.6. Weird that it’s inconsistent. I have the 2.3 link but never reverted, can you help with this - I don’t have a pc at home at the moment, can I downgrade using the link via my ipad? I can’t quite get my head around it - thanks 

Mercky - which iOS version are you running on the iPad, and have you actually downloaded the firmware file to anywhere?

I think you should be able to update via iPad - I've just reapplied 2.3 doing so to test using the web configuration page.

*** General note - Please do not ask for firmware links - at this time Naim have asked for people to contact support directly if they have issues - otherwise Naim do not get a true feel for overall numbers who feel the latest firmware has had an adverse effect ***

I trust it is ok to post this detail - I found the web configuration page long ago as it declared itself as a Bonjour service under the Bonjour Safari tab on my Mac - this was long before requesting the older firmware from Naim, so I think anyone could stumble across this page on their computers, as it's there by design.

You will need to download the firmware file to iCloud drive say in a folder called Naim so you'll find it easily.  You will hopefully be able to do access it and save it from the email with the firmware link Naim sent you.

Once firmware saved to iCloud Drive go to your Naim app and look for the LAN IP address on the network under:

    Settings>About    e.g. 192.168.1.20

Also note the serial number which at least for my Nova is a 6 digit number.

Next go to Safari on iPad and enter in the address bar at the top (not a browser search tab) either:

Using your own LAN IP address:

192.168.1.20/naim/index.fcgi

or, using your serial number eg 123456:

uniti-atom-123456.local/naim/index.fcgi

This brings you to the web based configuration page (which on Macs at least, used to be accessible via Bonjour easily until they removed the optional display of Bonjour web pages from Safari a few updates ago - annoying!)

In the Update tab choose Start Update 

From the popup choose Browse and navigate to the firmware on iCloud Drive and select it, on mine it then downloaded the file to iPad (I think) and the update began with no further user intervention. Just in case, don't let the iPad screen display turn off until you can see the page has uploaded the firmware to the Atom and commenced the update.

The Atom will restart several times - give it 10-15 minutes (it's probably faster but not when you're waiting!), and wait for the home screen to eventually appear on the Atom without the front display changing for a few minutes.

I'm not convinced a factory reset from Settings Menu on the Atom itself makes a difference, try without first - if you do reset make sure you have the physical Remote handy to re-pair.  Resetting the iOS app does different things.

Hope that helps.

I've just had to turn the volume down going back from 2.6 to 2.3....

Alley Cat posted:

Mercky posted:

EoinKav posted:

Hi Steve,

......

 Hope you get your Atom's mojo back with the 2.3 downgrade, it's pretty straight forward. 

Mine has reverted to sounding naff again which dispels the notion that I had merely adjusted to 2.6. Weird that it’s inconsistent. I have the 2.3 link but never reverted, can you help with this - I don’t have a pc at home at the moment, can I downgrade using the link via my ipad? I can’t quite get my head around it - thanks 

Mercky - which iOS version are you running on the iPad, and have you actually downloaded the firmware file to anywhere?

I think you should be able to update via iPad - I've just reapplied 2.3 doing so to test using the web configuration page.

*** General note - Please do not ask for firmware links - at this time Naim have asked for people to contact support directly if they have issues - otherwise Naim do not get a true feel for overall numbers who feel the latest firmware has had an adverse effect ***

I trust it is ok to post this detail - I found the web configuration page long ago as it declared itself as a Bonjour service under the Bonjour Safari tab on my Mac - this was long before requesting the older firmware from Naim, so I think anyone could stumble across this page on their computers, as it's there by design.

You will need to download the firmware file to iCloud drive say in a folder called Naim so you'll find it easily.  You will hopefully be able to do access it and save it from the email with the firmware link Naim sent you.

Once firmware saved to iCloud Drive go to your Naim app and look for the LAN IP address on the network under:

    Settings>About    e.g. 192.168.1.20

Also note the serial number which at least for my Nova is a 6 digit number.

Next go to Safari on iPad and enter in the address bar at the top (not a browser search tab) either:

Using your own LAN IP address:

192.168.1.20/naim/index.fcgi

or, using your serial number eg 123456:

uniti-atom-123456.local/naim/index.fcgi

This brings you to the web based configuration page (which on Macs at least, used to be accessible via Bonjour easily until they removed the optional display of Bonjour web pages from Safari a few updates ago - annoying!)

In the Update tab choose Start Update 

From the popup choose Browse and navigate to the firmware on iCloud Drive and select it, on mine it then downloaded the file to iPad (I think) and the update began with no further user intervention. Just in case, don't let the iPad screen display turn off until you can see the page has uploaded the firmware to the Atom and commenced the update.

The Atom will restart several times - give it 10-15 minutes (it's probably faster but not when you're waiting!), and wait for the home screen to eventually appear on the Atom without the front display changing for a few minutes.

I'm not convinced a factory reset from Settings Menu on the Atom itself makes a difference, try without first - if you do reset make sure you have the physical Remote handy to re-pair.  Resetting the iOS app does different things.

Hope that helps.

I've just had to turn the volume down going back from 2.6 to 2.3....

Thanks dude, that worked a treat, back on 2.3 now! Hmmmm

Is that a good or a bad Hmmmm ? 

If you want to compare you can freely update to current as usual and go back to 2.3.

There are undoubtedly some positives to 2.6 but for some of us it seems we'd forgo those (detail for example) to restore more warmth generally and especially to restore the lower end - even if some would argue it's colouration.

It was a ‘not quite what I was expecting’ hmmm! I was expecting more of an OMG that’s so much better result actually, a bit more bottom end for sure but overall not as a big a contrast as I thought it would be. I think it reverts to 85% vol too which is a bit annoying. Anyway I’m back on 2.6 and to be fair I think I prefer it, sounds better after the reload with more bass but that could be just placebo. So the upshot for me is that the issues I’m having or think I’m having, are most likely not related to firmware, either it’s all in my head or there is an external issue at play which is influencing the sound from time to time . I’m getting a bit tired of analysing it to be honest and would much prefer to be listening to my music rather then my hifi and scrutinising it all the time so I’m going to stick with 2.6 and just get on with it, might try some different speaker cables just in case the synergy isent quite right, life was much easier with MuSo!!

Mercky posted:

It was a ‘not quite what I was expecting’ hmmm! I was expecting more of an OMG that’s so much better result actually, a bit more bottom end for sure but overall not as a big a contrast as I thought it would be. I think it reverts to 85% vol too which is a bit annoying. Anyway I’m back on 2.6 and to be fair I think I prefer it, sounds better after the reload with more bass but that could be just placebo. So the upshot for me is that the issues I’m having or think I’m having, are most likely not related to firmware, either it’s all in my head or there is an external issue at play which is influencing the sound from time to time . I’m getting a bit tired of analysing it to be honest and would much prefer to be listening to my music rather then my hifi and scrutinising it all the time so I’m going to stick with 2.6 and just get on with it, might try some different speaker cables just in case the synergy isent quite right, life was much easier with MuSo!!

Interesting.  I agree I'd rather be listening than analysing, but for me 2.3 lets me listen and I'm engaged with the music even if listening at a distance at the other end of a large 'knocked through' room whereas 2.6 does become fatiguing and sounds like background radio in the same context.

It should not revert to 85% volume unless you do a formal factory restore from the front panel, but you won't be able to tell from the app if you are on current release as balance and max volume will not be seen.

I think a lot of the differences (assuming they are real) are quite track specific, so a track where female vocals are shouty/shrill or thin may stand out whereas other tracks stand out due to less sonorous bass/mids - strings in particular.

Naim may not agree, but I do think it would be nice to at least officially have a repository of firmware versions we could use given that firmware changes intentionally or not will produce changes to the sound.

Did another bounce, sounding lovely now back on 2.6????

Mercky, did you reset after going back to 2.3?

I kept going back and forth between 2.3 and 2.6. A reset while on 2.6 did’t seem to help, I still disliked the sound. Then I tried what has been mentioned before and went back to 2.3 without reset. Then upgrade to 2.6, then reset. 

This is totally weird, because now I am pleased with the sound of 2.6!  It no longer has this dull, distant sound without involvement. But the body and the warmth is back, now it can create this “shivers down my spine” feeling again! I deliberately compared with familiar tracks. Bass is a bit less, but more precise. (Maybe just more precise and just feels to be less loud?) Over all there is more detail, but it still is involving. The PRaT as you call it is definitely there.

I just can’t believe it’s just me getting used to the sound. I had the 2.6 upgrade for quite a while before downgrading and I never liked it. I felt fatigue and  wanting to stop listening soon. Now it feels different. Don’t want to stop listening, just as it was before with 2.3.  Strange, can it really be the sequence of down- and upgrading and only then resetting, that makes the difference?

Robert_F posted:

Mercky, did you reset after going back to 2.3?

I kept going back and forth between 2.3 and 2.6. A reset while on 2.6 did’t seem to help, I still disliked the sound. Then I tried what has been mentioned before and went back to 2.3 without reset. Then upgrade to 2.6, then reset. 

This is totally weird, because now I am pleased with the sound of 2.6!  It no longer has this dull, distant sound without involvement. But the body and the warmth is back, now it can create this “shivers down my spine” feeling again! I deliberately compared with familiar tracks. Bass is a bit less, but more precise. (Maybe just more precise and just feels to be less loud?) Over all there is more detail, but it still is involving. The PRaT as you call it is definitely there.

I just can’t believe it’s just me getting used to the sound. I had the 2.6 upgrade for quite a while before downgrading and I never liked it. I felt fatigue and  wanting to stop listening soon. Now it feels different. Don’t want to stop listening, just as it was before with 2.3.  Strange, can it really be the sequence of down- and upgrading and only then resetting, that makes the difference?

No I dident reset at all but noticed it sounded back on form after the second bounce to 2.6 so I left it at that, still sounding good today so let’s hope it holds as it seems a bit contrary. Time will tell.

+1 another dissatisfied 2.6 Atom owner.

My dealer gave me the link and I have moved from 2.3 to 2.6 backwards and forwards (with resets & without). The sound of 2.6 remains different and disliked. Some emails from Naim that do not fill me with confidence that anything will be done (or done anytime soon):

Apparently only about 20 users are experiencing this (from another Naim email), I've already started looking around to trade in my Atom for a different brand.

Does the sound quality of other NAIM products is also affected by firmware updates? I mean products like SUPERNAIT 2, NAP 500 DR, etc.?
Will they sound different after new updates are installed?

I wonder where all that positive feedback they mention came from. Lack of complaint is hardly positive acceptance. For all they know people could very well be at home scratching their head wondering what has happened to their sound.

We have a platform in which to discuss such matters, I actively sought out this forum to get an insight as to why my Uniti Atom became harsh are brittle after the update. I'm glad I did as I've found others who did the same and others who also felt the way I did not only about this series but other Naim streamers also.

Given the thousands of all types of units Naim have  sold, the ratio of forum members is relatively small (110) and visitors of today of 350. The vocal members here in the Uniti thread and the other streamer products who are complaining are an important sounding board to warn Naim that they have messed up.

It's up to Naim ultimately to take heed of our dis-quiet. Ultimately we will decide with our feet if they don't find an acceptable solution.

tony123 posted:

Does the sound quality of other NAIM products is also affected by firmware updates? I mean products like SUPERNAIT 2, NAP 500 DR, etc.?
Will they sound different after new updates are installed?

The SN2 (and Nait XS2) has a USB socket for firmware updates (have they done any ?) but the firmware only controls the switching functions, remote control etc so nothing to worry about here. I don't think any of the other classic pre-amps (272 aside) have any way of updating (without opening the case) so again nothing to get concerned about.

Basically, don't worry.

EoinKav posted:

I wonder where all that positive feedback they mention came from. Lack of complaint is hardly positive acceptance. For all they know people could very well be at home scratching their head wondering what has happened to their sound.

We have a platform in which to discuss such matters, I actively sought out this forum to get an insight as to why my Uniti Atom became harsh are brittle after the update. I'm glad I did as I've found others who did the same and others who also felt the way I did not only about this series but other Naim streamers also.

Given the thousands of all types of units Naim have  sold, the ratio of forum members is relatively small (110) and visitors of today of 350. The vocal members here in the Uniti thread and the other streamer products who are complaining are an important sounding board to warn Naim that they have messed up.

It's up to Naim ultimately to take heed of our dis-quiet. Ultimately we will decide with our feet if they don't find an acceptable solution.

 

 

 

As far as I can determine Naim have taken lack of complaint as positive acceptance. I have written to Naim several times on this issue and on the 23rd April they responded saying that out of 15,000 of the new uniti users, Atom/Star/Nova, a very small number, less than 10, had complained regarding the sound quality.

So as I said earlier in the thread, 3 choices, bite the 2.6 bullet, revert back to 2.3 unsupported or move on.