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

Museum pieces? That's posh! Charity shops. Back of the cupboard under the stairs. In that old box in the garage that came from the last house ....

best

David

I did the 2.3.1 update when it came out, on my Nova I could hear no difference. I did the 2.6 update on day of release, since then I’ve mainly been listening to vinyl on my main system. I did play a few albums on the Nova on Friday, but 2 family members I hadn’t seen for a few months were visiting for the weekend, so it was more as background music while we caught up. I didn’t notice any major difference, but will listen critically during the week and see what I think.

I noticed a change in the sound after the latest two updates. Quiter and less involving. I thought is was my mind or ears playing tricks on me. But it seems I am not the only one.

Maybe it is just the volume settings, but if the naim engineers applied some SQ changes thru the software it needs more investigation.

I didn't install the 2.3.1 update, but I did install the 2.6 on an Atom and a MU-SO.

I regret the decision, sound on the Atom is thinner and less loud than before.

Wifi drop outs are less frequent but still there from time to time.

They  destroyed the ambiance of the Atom with this update, it's almost like a theft ... pretty disgusted with this TBH.

I won't bother investing in any more Naim kit if this is what can happen, you audition a system, purchase it, enjoy it

update it, and it sounds mediocre at best. 

MU-SO Update sounds fine, didn't notice much difference, perhaps a little less base which is good IMO.

I still have 1 other MU-SO which is still at its base 2.3 firmware, I must do a side by side to see.

Older thread:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...1-uniti-range?page=1

Unless I'm mistaken I've just had a post deleted in this thread:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...ova-and-harbeth-30-1

OK, just found something really odd.

Using Mac desktop Qobuz app on the Nova it has beta options for DLNA/UPnP and Chromecast.

Started playing 'I am dust' from Gary Numan's 'Splinter (Songs from a broken mind)' via DLNA/UPnP option and it sounds pretty good.

I then played via Chromecast built-in and it's as though I've turned the volume right down - barely audible at all and very thin/poor quality - these should be the same files should they not?

I contacted Phil from Naim support yesterday according this issue.

He did send me instructions today.

There is a way to revert,  I Just downloaded the previously 2.31/2.6,  2.3.8574 FW.

Sound is back.!!!   Happy again ???? 

I'll save this file, so by future FW updates I can test the new or revert.

Mr.Orange posted:

I contacted Phil from Naim support yesterday according this issue.

He did send me instructions today.

There is a way to revert,  I Just downloaded the previously 2.31/2.6,  2.3.8574 FW.

Sound is back.!!!   Happy again ???? 

I'll save this file, so by future FW updates I can test the new or revert.

 

 

Interesting, Did he offer any explanation or info on this supposed degradation in SQ?

Mr Orange

That’s good to hear- what streamer was that for  ?

Mr.Orange posted:

I contacted Phil from Naim support yesterday according this issue.

He did send me instructions today.

There is a way to revert,  I Just downloaded the previously 2.31/2.6,  2.3.8574 FW.

Sound is back.!!!   Happy again ???? 

I'll save this file, so by future FW updates I can test the new or revert.

 

 

Good Act! But it's not a solution. Assumed that Naim will bring us more powerful features in upcoming firmware versions, we cannot just stick to a legacy version.

IMHO, more important is how we get Naim aware of the issue (critical severity indeed - we buy for their sound), find the root cause and fix in next version.

Mr.Orange posted:

I contacted Phil from Naim support yesterday according this issue.

He did send me instructions today.

There is a way to revert,  I Just downloaded the previously 2.31/2.6,  2.3.8574 FW.

Sound is back.!!!   Happy again ???? 

I'll save this file, so by future FW updates I can test the new or revert.

 

Well you did better than me - I was told by email support it was not possible - at least we have a potential option now. I'll try ringing later.

2.3 (8574) was the firmware that sounded good - is that the one that works for you?

Glad somebody is making progress. I telephoned Naim on the 6th April, followed up with an email on the 8th outlining my issues with the update, still awaiting a response.

So the great news is we can revert to older versions and it's fairly simple to do so.

I have just done so and need to A/B a bit when the family aren't being so noisy!

I recommend those of you who feel that the experience changed and you'd like to go back to an earlier version contact Naim support using links here:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/naim-support

Can someone on 2.6 look in the app under Settings>About>More and see what DSP version you have - forgot to do so before going back, but firmware 2.3.8574 has DSP version 1.0.2

It would be nice to know if this change and I think it did.

Uff I’m happy to be in love with the new sound. Maybe you can share your full set-up so we can see what else could be causing bad sound? Me: Star, ProAc 148, chord shawline sp. cable

Alley Cat posted:

Can someone on 2.6 look in the app under Settings>About>More and see what DSP version you have - forgot to do so before going back, but firmware 2.3.8574 has DSP version 1.0.2

It would be nice to know if this change and I think it did.

DSP 1.255.59 on my Atom

DSP 1.255.59 on my Nova

Olek_K posted:

Uff I’m happy to be in love with the new sound. Maybe you can share your full set-up so we can see what else could be causing bad sound? Me: Star, ProAc 148, chord shawline sp. cable

Olek, I'd not be surprised if this is all a question of synergy in a setup or individual preference, but I guess the reality is that for most people if they did think there was a change, the rest of their system stayed the same, only firmware/DSP engine changed, and they may not be keen to invest in other tweaks to try to go back to a sound they liked.

For myself I'm using some vintage EPOS ES14 speakers with NAC- A5 and have been listening to the Nova with and without a NAP 250.  I've found I often need the NAP250 to get good bass since these updates, though the internal power amp on the Nova has always been a bit more detailed I probably prefer a slightly fuller/warmer sound overall.

Mercky posted:

Alley Cat posted:

Can someone on 2.6 look in the app under Settings>About>More and see what DSP version you have - forgot to do so before going back, but firmware 2.3.8574 has DSP version 1.0.2

It would be nice to know if this change and I think it did.

DSP 1.255.59 on my Atom

Thanks - I believe that was what I had on the Nova before I reverted, so it would seem the DSP has been updated.

glasnaim posted:

DSP 1.255.59 on my Nova

That was it.

One minor thing, I suspect many of us will have updated the Naim app, and the latest app version no longer allows you to adjust max volume/balance (the older app couldn't with the newer firmware, so if you need to change it you may want to do so before reverting and not factory reset after).

glasnaim posted:

DSP 1.255.59 on my Nova

Same here, I’m not using the  Nova system much at the moment, but I did have a listen to a couple of albums (Richard Thompson Still and Harnoncourt’s Beethoven 1), both sounded pretty similar to before as far as I could remember. I’ll do some critical listening at the weekend with music I’d played a lot on the Nova system.

If firmware change the music-presentation so much,maybe you need to do a speaker-tunning,repositioning.

When you change things in your system, you must do that sometimes.....to get the last procent (music-feeling) out of your system. But here you describe something else,.....lose power,lose PrAT.... more flat ect.Strange indeed.

/Peder ???? 

Peder posted:

If firmware change the music-presentation so much,maybe you need to do a speaker-tunning,repositioning.

 

Yes, I have fiddled with speaker position a bit but there's a limit to what I can do there currently.

One of the albums that lost its spark was Gillian Welch's Harrow and the Harvest which I found to be very enjoyable, then after 2.3.1 update it just didn't seem to engage me much at all, and I could 'take it or leave it'.  Having reverted I think that something is back - it may be less detailed but there's more depth and guitar strings far more sonorous, voice is richer and enjoyable.  I played an old Sade album last night which generally always sounded good in teh past on vinyl, but again it just didn't inspire, tonight it was quite a lot better and I wanted to carry on playing the album which I didn't yesterday.  I can't test much more tonight as my company is required to watch something on Netflix!

⚫ ALLEY CAT,...Thank's,you have done a great  job with this, giving us all this information ????????????.....and others too❗ 

For me,when I read all this I'm start thinking about Linn here in Sweden.Back in time when you visit a Linn-demo,everyone who was there heard the same,....Better-Worse.....no one have a different feeling about this.

This day's, when Linn goes the "Good enough" way....with no "Attention To Detail" we have two groups here in Sweden when visiting demo's.

◾One group hate all this with Exakt and Space Optimisation.It's Cleaner,Clearer,more Detail,life-style hifi-sound against Music is a good word to use. But, where is the Groove,the Music-feeling that engage you in the music,PrAT if you like the word, the feeling that you will go down on your knees, and playing Air-guitar when you hear a good song/album.....ect,..where have ALL THIS GONE❗ .... now it's just sterile,detail'ed,clean and clear sound.

◾ As you understand,I'm a "member" of this group....and this group are bigger than the other group here in Sweden,the group who like's Exakt and Space-Optimisation systems......AND,...our group gets bigger everyday❗ 

Linn has lost many,many,many costumers here in Sweden because of this......many goes to Naim. Linn's new costumers here in Sweden, is rich people who want's a Beautiful music-system that sounds good,.....(read Good Enough  for us who knows a little more). Linn's earlier costumers here in Sweden,who have built up Linn here,and had been costumer's for say 15 to 35 years and know how music shall be presentationed,and have "hifi-experience".....this costumers leaving Linn for Naim.

???? A question,....if you are at a Concert or listen to a Singer/Songwriter,...are you sitting there and listen if the sound is Cleaner,Clearer,more Detail,d or do you listen to the music and how the musicians engage you into the music...and maybe give you the feeling to dream away for a couple of minutes...❓❓ .....most of us know's the answer ????????????.

???? Back to the firmware upgrade,this different opinions......two groups here,give me the same feelings that I just have write about. I hope that Naim came out with an upgrade so this to groups can "get together" again.

In our smal Swedish-forum,we are 63 real high end-members,5 of them like Linn's new sound with Exakt and Space-Optimisation.......45 of this 63, are earlier Linn-costumers.So Naim,in this case.....listen to your costumers......let us "get together again"

/Peder ????