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

Posted by: Alley Cat on 14 April 2018

As several of us have posted inadvertently or in response to other queries about new firmware in the incorrect threads, time to start a new more specific one for the products above.  

Probably best for Mu-so/Mu-so Qb owners to have a separate one if needed.

Background:

Naim released 2.3.1 on March 19th to address HDMI S/PDIF issues:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...casional-dropout-fix

This ruined my Nova's sound - made it thin, lifeless and unengaging.  A couple of others felt the same, others were more positive so fair to say inconsistent experiences.  Some found a factory reset helped, others didn't.

I remain puzzled why firmware 2.3.1 was released when we then got 4.6 for older streamers and 2.6.9508 for the new Uniti series (well Nova anyway - I assume Atom/Star are the same) only a fortnight later, though presumably there are good reasons:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...o-streaming-products

I had maybe a 10 day gap between listening to the (to me) awful 2.3.1 (19th March 2.3.1.9464 - app screen grab) and 2.6.9508 (released 4th April), and only did limited before/after listening. They didn't seem too different though perhaps the latest is not as harsh sounding, and while I think 2.6.9508 the app currently shows is a little better,  the sound of the Nova overall just seems lacking compared to a few weeks ago before 2.3.1.

It simply doesn't engage me in the way that 2.3 (8574) did before I installed 2.3.1.9464 on 20th March.

Until a few days ago I only  played digital audio on the Nova - from WD NAS, via rear USB, Roon from Mac Mini and a lot of Qobuz playback using Chromecast built-in.

Having listened to the 4th April firmware for several days now it is undeniably quite detailed, but just sounds fairly thin and uninvolving comapred to the Nova prior to 2.3.1.  Another poster Obsydian sums it up saying it seems to have 'lost its mojo'.

In the last few days I've hooked up my old Linn LP12 via Analogue 1 input and it's a much better experience than lossless SD/HD digital audio from the LAN or streaming apps.

It's not that it sounds bad/distorted or anything like that, just that it no longer seems engaging/involving in teh way it did before.

Some recommendations from others in the Music Room threads turned up some fantastic tracks/artists which really showed what the Nova is capable of - these same tracks now seem rather lacklustre and don't thrill in the same way - many things just seem like background music not engaging audio.

Admittedly all this is highly subjective, but for those of us who feel our devices sound worse it is all the more frustrating due to the apparent inability to revert to older firmware which we were happy with sonically - placebo effect or not, without being able to go back to compare we'll probably remain convinced something has deleteriously affected our device's sound quality.

Please provide your comments based on your experience with the latest updates.

I appreciate there may be some known issues others have I have not mentioned.

 

 

 

Posted on: 28 May 2018 by dave-mac

Any update on this? Anyone official from Naim care to comment on the power reduction?

Posted on: 28 May 2018 by Richard Dane

Power reduction??  Can you elaborate on what you mean?

p.s. I think we'll get an update when Naim have something more to say - I'd imagine they are busy trying to find out the why first. Has anyone here's unit gone back to the factory yet to be checked out?

Posted on: 29 May 2018 by Obsydian

Reference the update I have not been contacted and no one so far who complained in this thread has mentioned they have been contacted.

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by Richard Dane

Obsydian,

Just so I'm clear here, are you saying you contacted Naim and you're waiting for them to get back to you?  Who were in contact with at Naim?  I can then try to follow it up by enquiring for you.  

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by Phil Harris
Richard Dane posted:

Obsydian,

Just so I'm clear here, are you saying you contacted Naim and you're waiting for them to get back to you?  Who were in contact with at Naim?  I can then try to follow it up by enquiring for you.  

Hi Richard,

We have the contact details of everyone who has contacted us and as and when the R&D team need to contact any of the customers who have reported issues they are able to do so - at this time we have not been asked to contact any of them with any requirements.

Cheers

Phil

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by Granthar

I emailed Naim support about the firmware issue and they responded within 1-2 hours

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by Obsydian
Richard Dane posted:

Obsydian,

Just so I'm clear here, are you saying you contacted Naim and you're waiting for them to get back to you?  Who were in contact with at Naim?  I can then try to follow it up by enquiring for you.  

Richard - my error (i think) I was replying to Power Reduction PS: Comment "p.s. I think we'll get an update when Naim have something more to say - I'd imagine they are busy trying to find out the why first. Has anyone here's unit gone back to the factory yet to be checked out?"

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by Richard Dane

Thanks Phil.  

Thanks Obsydian. Your post read as though members on this thread had not heard back from Naim following making contact, which was worrying! 

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by Obsydian
Richard Dane posted:

Thanks Phil.  

Thanks Obsydian. Your post read as though members on this thread had not heard back from Naim following making contact, which was worrying! 

Sorry guys.

Posted on: 08 June 2018 by Obsydian

So spent a full week on the new firmware, was not to my liking but i held out, back to the old build and happy 

Posted on: 08 June 2018 by SimonPeterArnold

I am reverting back this weekend, 2.6 is just not cutting it. I have been listening to my second system more and more as it currently sounds better than the Atom. This should not be the case.

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by Anavrin

I think I will also have to go back to 2.4, I’ve had my Star for just one week, I only listened to a couple of tracks before updating from 2.4 to 2.6.

I was initially impressed with the “out of the box” sound I had before updated the firmware, I’m new to HiFi in that this is my first “proper” investment in high end audio, but I have to admit that after a week, I’m disappointed with the experience.

There's a distinct lack of emotion in the sound, if that makes sense.

 

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by Obsydian

Reminds me I think Naim where timing about now for a new release, I think ...

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by Mercky
Obsydian posted:

Reminds me I think Naim where timing about now for a new release, I think ...

yes mid June I think was mentioned, thing is though, are the people who are currently happy with 2.6 going to see another sonic change to appease those who are not? Seems either way there will be unhappy owners unless some mid-ground is found that everyone is happy with. I'm still ok with 2.6 on my Atom but have ordered a Nova which I'll have in about 2 weeks, fairly sure it's a recent build so may well come with 2.6 preloaded but either way I'm going to be hearing big differences regardless until I adjust to the Nova and it fully burns in etc - another sonic rollercoaster no doubt!

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by Obsydian

Agreed we have a marmite scenario.

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by SimonPeterArnold

I switched back the other day and much happier with it now. Shame the new firmware released today does not address the dsp changes according to [@mention:71539985729025468] its got a big fix I am after. Dare i go back the emotionless sound. 

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by tony123

Hi, I wanted to ask, does anyone reading this thread have Uniti Atom without hdmi board, and if yes, do you experience the same SQ changes after firmware updates as we discuss here? And in general, is the quality the same as on Unities with HDMI?

Why I'm asking this:
-yesterday I had a chance to listen to Uniti Atom without HDMI on the same speakers. It seemed to me that the sound was different compared to mine Uniti with HDMI. Both of streamers had firmware update 2.6.1. The only difference was that I listened to it in different location.

As I understand HDMI boards were integrated to Uniti products much later and despite this both versions of Uniti Atoms share the same firmware updates. Could this HDMI board influence sound quality? As I understand this HDMI board has several electronic components  which are integrated closely among other electronic components of Uniti Atom. So in my opinion, more electronic components - more impact to sound quality.

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Pulse Code

I had an Atom without HDMI (purchased in August 2017, serial 4223XX) and firmware SQ changes were quite profound - with 2.3 being the optimum and 2.6 being the worst. I suspect any changes are more to do with earlier builds vs later builds.

Anyway I got so fed up with the continual SQ changes & sticking artwork that I sold the Atom, and that will be the first and last Naim product that I buy.

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by SimonPeterArnold

No hdmi board for me. Naim replaced my machine and its sounded fine since though, no issues with SQ anymore.

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by tony123
SimonPeterArnold posted:

No hdmi board for me. Naim replaced my machine and its sounded fine since though, no issues with SQ anymore.

So you had Atom with HDMI and got replacement without HDMI, right?

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by Alley Cat
tony123 posted:

Hi, I wanted to ask, does anyone reading this thread have Uniti Atom without hdmi board, and if yes, do you experience the same SQ changes after firmware updates as we discuss here? And in general, is the quality the same as on Unities with HDMI?

Why I'm asking this:
-yesterday I had a chance to listen to Uniti Atom without HDMI on the same speakers. It seemed to me that the sound was different compared to mine Uniti with HDMI. Both of streamers had firmware update 2.6.1. The only difference was that I listened to it in different location.

As I understand HDMI boards were integrated to Uniti products much later and despite this both versions of Uniti Atoms share the same firmware updates. Could this HDMI board influence sound quality? As I understand this HDMI board has several electronic components  which are integrated closely among other electronic components of Uniti Atom. So in my opinion, more electronic components - more impact to sound quality.

While I'd imagine the extra board (or code in the firmware for HDMI running which might not run on one without), I think you'd really have to listen to both Atoms at the same place with the same speakers.  Too many variables with different rooms/speaker positions etc.  Also did they have the same speaker cable? When I listened to a Nova at my dealers I was impressed but found some aspects of the sound  not to my liking - we changed the speaker cable and bingo the sound for me was much better so differing cables could have a big effect.