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

Did anybody notice sound quality change after going from 2.3 to 2.3.1 (HDMI and S/PDIF Occasional Dropout Fix)? There was a big discussion about HDMI dropouts some time ago. Some suggested, that it can be NOT software, but hardware related problem and argued if it is possible at all to fix this with software updates. Naim somehow fixed this problem with update 2.3.1. But nobody knows what was the cost for this. Maybe fixing HDMI dropouts required some serious interventions to hardware processes and that could change sound quality.

Firmware Update 2.3.1 was released in 3/19/18. And 2.6 somewhere in the beginning of April. I think some people even didn't notice update 2.3.1 and went straight to 2.6 and thought that 2.6 update ruined sound quality. But maybe all fixes associated with 2.6 update are NOT related to sound quality, maybe only 2.3.1 update is responsible for this.

I also notice sound change since 2.3.1

I think the sound dropout bug is fixed by changing the Torrence value in DSP programming .

I did ask for a downgrade to pre 2.3.1, was advised that change did not affect sound, i started a thread saying it did, then 2.6 rolled on.

So Naim need to decide and be clear, you can't say making firmware changes impact sound, then say 2.3.1 was no SQ, it was.

When Naim send you the link to downgrade the firmware it is FW 2.3 build 8574 which pre dates the 2.3.1 firmware update. So they are even going back beyond 2.3.1 for some reason?.

back to 2.3 today. my Nova is back!

tony123 posted:

Did anybody notice sound quality change after going from 2.3 to 2.3.1 (HDMI and S/PDIF Occasional Dropout Fix)?

See the first post on page 1 - 2.3.1  was the point things went bad for myself and a few others - Obsydian started an older thread at that stage.

Could 2.3.1 have installed something which is not corrected if you apply 2.6 afterwards, or reverted if you go to 2.3.1 I wonder?

Sadly I didn't note the DSP version for 2.3.1.

EoinKav posted:

When Naim send you the link to downgrade the firmware it is FW 2.3 build 8574 which pre dates the 2.3.1 firmware update. So they are even going back beyond 2.3.1 for some reason?.

 

That's I assume because we identified 2.3.1 as the point went sound went bad.  I'm assuming the DSP for 2.6 first appeared in 2.3.1 but I may be wrong as I no longer have a method to find out.

I've mentioned it a few times but I am still unclear why it would seem 2 firmware versions were in development in parallel - 2.3.1 for the issues it fixes and the later 2.6 released only 2-3 weeks later.  Perhaps people were clamouring for the fixes in 2.3.1 and at that point 2.6 was nowhere near ready for release and it could have taken months.

Add me to the list requesting downgrade. I've sent my email in.   Atom. 2.3_> 2.3.1 no issue. 2.3.1->2.6 SQ degradation.

- app<->uniti UI responsiveness quicker

- thinner sounding, feels more compressed, tinnier, not as much low end. Didn't notice any better detail.

- requires higher volume adjustment to 'fill it out' a bit, but never really gets to where it was. pre-update: 30, post update:50 but thinner.

- headache inducing

- as I noted in my email to support, grape juice now versus a heart warming Barbaresco.   I'd say it's knocked at least 3/4 off the $$ value of my purchase.  Feels like I bought a (put your big-box-receiver-name here).  Wouldn't recommend now, for the money.

Hope to hear from them soon.  Nothing like being held hostage by bureaucracy.  

 I wonder if anyone else has deliberately tried the procedure of downgrading to 2.3 without resetting, then upgrading with resetting, which was mentioned first by Simon Peter Arnold. Mercky commented about going back w/o reset. Has anyone else done this and noticed an improvement in SQ?

Robert_F posted:

 I wonder if anyone else has deliberately tried the procedure of downgrading to 2.3 without resetting, then upgrading with resetting, which was mentioned first by Simon Peter Arnold. Has anyone done this and noticed an improvement in SQ?

Yes, I did on my Atom and it improved somewhat on the sound. But it’s not on level 2.3 by far. I joined this forum after upgrade to 2.6 with annoying result. You can add me to the list requestioning downgrade also. Now waiting for 2.6.1.  and hoping to get the sound back where I bought the Atom for.

Trevor Wilson posted:

We have noted the feedback from a small number of customers experiencing sound quality issues on 2.6 release when compared with 2.3. We also note themajority of customers are very pleased with 2.6.

Hi Trevor, can you point me to the survey so I can add my name to the minority?  Can you share the survey outcome please.  It's not that I don't trust you, but have you really, honestly, surveyed your customers to back up what you say, or is this just bullshit?   This sounds like pseudo-statistics to be honest.

SB, it's likely not a "survey" as such but I'd guess more of a log of people who have either contacted Naim directly, or from Naim's dealer and distributor network (have you contacted Naim about this?). Naim realise there's an issue for some customers.  The question is why?  If I were Naim I'd want to have a unit with reported poor sound back in the factory to listen to. This is what Naim usually do when a unit comes back from a dealer with reported poor sound. At least then they can understand whether it's performing as intended, or it really is sounding poor.  I know Naim are keen to get to the bottom of it, so let's see what, if anything they find.

Robert_F posted:

 I wonder if anyone else has deliberately tried the procedure of downgrading to 2.3 without resetting, then upgrading with resetting, which was mentioned first by Simon Peter Arnold. Mercky commented about going back w/o reset. Has anyone else done this and noticed an improvement in SQ?

I suspect the reset thing is a red herring to be honest, my Atom is still sounding good albeit different back on 2.6, listening to some Martin Nonstatic right now and it’s excellent, I’m just interested to see if it holds 

I can’t believe this is still going  I’m still happy with sound of my Star on 2.6 but I do get frozen screen sometimes.

Hi Richard,  Yes, my email has been sent in. I'm in Canada so unlikely my machine will go back to UK for diagnosis.  Naim can certainly have my Atom back, if they provide me with something as good or better, while they have it.  

If I may recommend however, Naim should provide a upgrade/downgrade option in the UI.  Let the owner decide which version to run.  Because we have no clue, just optimism, that any upgrade will be better than what we originally had, when we hit the 'upgrade' button.  We need to be able to revert.

A little anecdote.  My (fictional) motor company calls.  "Sir, we're sending a mechanic over to enhance your car. It's totally free, no-charge, it will be way better". "um, ok.. ".  "Yes sir, but before he upgrades it, you must put on a blindfold and not look until he's gone."  "Do I have a choice?" "Yes Sir, you always have a choice, but if you don't do it, we cannot continue to warranty your car". "Ok then.. I guess".  The mechanic comes up my drive, hops out, and replaces all my beautiful alloys with steel wheels.  After the mechanic leaves, I take the blindfold off, and there sits my beautiful canary yellow Lamborghini, with some fugly fiat steel wheels on it. "What have you done? You've ruined my Lambo!"  "Well Sir, we talked to quite a few dealers and the majority agreed that steel wheels were safer, easier to maintain, while still getting the job done. They weather winter better as well!" "But,but.. can I have my alloys back?" "Perhaps Sir, but you need to convince your dealer, our mechanic, and our CEO that they were better.  Or, hmm, I guess you could send your Lamborghini to us and we could test it ourselves?"

Olek_K posted:

I can’t believe this is still going  I’m still happy with sound of my Star on 2.6 but I do get frozen screen sometimes.

Sorry, I'm late to the party.

Well tonight I listened to my benchmark album on 2.6. yuck. O thought it was ok but now not so. I  have e swung botg ways since the upgrade and was enjoying 2.6 but really new something was missing, now I know it is. Give me back what I once had. j

By the way, what source are you listening to? Maybe it is related so source and format of the audio file.

Listening to my own Flacs via Roon. Roon is  my normal source for 90% listening for my own collection or Tidal.

I'm back to 2.3.8574 now on Atom and much happier. Kudos to Naim Support for turning my ticket around quickly. Thank you.

Just for interest, is there any person who is undoubtedly satisfied with 2.6 upgrade compared to 2.3 and who is very happy with new sound? If yes, reply please .
If not, it is really strange ...

To be fair, GUI responsiveness with the app was quicker with 2.6 ( for me ), but I'm back to above due to SQ.

I am happy with 2.6 on a Nova, streaming from Synology NASes, into PMC Twenty5.23s. Still lovely engaging music. It's a second system so isn't used every day, but when I'm using taht room I love the music.

tony123 posted:

Just for interest, is there any person who is undoubtedly satisfied with 2.6 upgrade compared to 2.3 and who is very happy with new sound? If yes, reply please .
If not, it is really strange ...

Yes - and many others have posted positive comments when it first came out.