New owner of a Unity Core
Posted by: Thorsten_L on 16 April 2018
Hi @all!
I received my new Unity Core this Saturday and gave away my HDX (2 TB) in payment.
I had my HDX connected to the NAIM DAC. The dealer told me that I will be blown away by how awesome the Core will sound through the NAIM DAC.
And yes. The Core sounds absolutely fabulous...right out of the box. Incredible presentation of the music...it is as if I can "look" into the music. Stunning.
I fitted the Core with a Seagate Iron Wolf 8 TB harddisk and started to migrate my music onto it. Everything perfect so far, several hundred GBs in... :-D
Since the Core is right in our living room, it is not very comfortable to hear the constant "work" of the Seagate within the Core.
I then found out this advice within the nice NAIM support "tool" for the Core:
"Deep Sleep — To put the Uniti Core in to Deep Sleep Mode, press and hold the Power button for 3 seconds."
This is for us the perfect solution, since our prefered audio replay is vinyl and we stream music maybe once a day...or even not everyday...
So, my question would be if it is "harmful" for either the Core or the harddisk to wake them up maybe once a day (or even every other day) and put them into Deep Sleep mode again for some time (maybe 1-2-3 days). Will this Deep Sleep mode cause any damage if performed like I mentioned above?
Since NAIM gives the Deep Sleep option, I think it should be ok to use the Core like we would prefer.
Any ideas?
Congratulations, NAIM, again. The Core really sounds wonderful (through the NAIM DAC).
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by David Hendon
It will be fine to do that.
The main issue with deep sleep mode is that you can't wake from the app, but that probably won't bother you.
best
David
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Thorsten_L
Dear David!
Thank you for taking your time to answer.
A friend of mine does server and NAS installations and he recommended the Seagate Iron Wolf series. He told me that these harddisks should be able to endure such a process (deep sleep/ wake up).
Being unable to perform the wake up with the app is no bother.
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by T38.45
hi Thorsten, congrats!! Just wondering....NAIM HDX is so much more expensive vs Core, so it's interesting to read that Core (as a streamer) is better. How do you play internet radio now? (Or is this no option for you?)
best
Ralf
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by sjbabbey
Hi Thorsten,
welcome back to the forum and glad to hear that you're enjoying the new uniti core.
ATB
Steve
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Thorsten_L
Hi Ralf!
Honestly, I don´t know. But in my humble ears, the Core as a streamer sounds absolutely stellar...more "coherent"...more "real"...
The HDX/nDAC combo was very good...but what can I say...I prefer the presentation of the Core/nDAC more.
Very subjective, as always. The HDX was in my ears sometimes a bit "harsh"/ "edgy"/ "fatiguing"...but with new combo, I heard some things in some songs I never noticed before...more details, more "warm"/ "analogue".
And: I didn´t NEED to give my HDX away...so I am not talking it "nice"...
Yesterday I listened to an excellent vinyl rip of "Black Sabbath - Vol 4 [UK Swirl]" and I was really astonished by the fantastic music I heard coming from my system.
I just didn´t know about the Deep Sleep mode. Without it, the harddisk annoyed me quite a bit in our living room.
But with Deep Sleep, all is great.
I honestly never understood WHY the HDX is so expensive...I bought mine used and in exchange for a ND5XS.
[@mention:17757776931519664]
Thank you.
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Thorsten_L
No internet radio for me.
1) Vinyl
2) Vinyl rips (24/96)
3) ripped CDs
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by T38.45
Many thanks! So you're using the upnp function to feed ND5XS as well?
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Thorsten_L
Many thanks! So you're using the upnp function to feed ND5XS as well?
No, sorry.
I had a ND5XS and gave it in payment for a used HDX. Had the HDX for some years, changed it to a Unity Core.
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by T38.45
digital life changes fast... ;-)
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by docmark
I have a Core and am using a SSD, 2 TB. Other than the sound it makes during ripping, the Core is silent. I have it connected to a Dave DAC with a Siltech Golden Eagle digital cable, then into my 272 with an SL RCA to DIN cable. It sounds great. My only regret is not buying a larger SSD.
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by David Hendon
Apart from being silent, the SSD also runs very cool, but heat isn't going to be a problem if the Core is in deep sleep much of the time!
best
David
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by docmark
Sorry - error. Am using a SL RCA-RCA cable between the DAC and 272. The 272 is connected to the 250DR with a SL DIN-DIN cable.
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by David Hendon
Sorry - error. Am using a SL RCA-RCA cable between the DAC and 272. The 272 is connected to the 250DR with a SL DIN-DIN cable.
I suspect your 272 may be connected to your 250DR with a Din to XLR cable actually?
best
David
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Thorsten_L
I am waiting for the prices to drop. SSD 4Tb is the dream!!!
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by No quarter
I am also a Core owner,and very happy with it.Myself,I went with a Samsung EVO SSD 850 EVO 1 Terabyte drive.This holds my CD rips only,and I have a 3 Terabyte WD exrenal hard drive plugged into the rear USB port,this holds all my downloads...nice and quiet combo.
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Thorsten_L
"I have a 3 Terabyte WD exrenal hard drive plugged into the rear USB port,this holds all my downloads...nice and quiet combo."
Cool solution...
So you configured the external drive as a musicstore?
Does the Core have to index that external harddisk everytime you power it on? Or is it "ready-to-read-from" when you power it on?
I guess that the external USB drive is not powered on all the time...right?
Thank you.
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by David Hendon
You should always configure a second disc as a music share not a store. There should be one music store and that is where the Core stores its own rips. Normally that would be the internal disc.
I don't think the Core does index a music share. But anyway from my own experience it all shows up fast in the app and you don't have to have it do it all over again when you wake the Core from deep sleep, or from fully off and unplugged even, come to that.
best
David
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Thorsten_L
Thanks David. I understand. Great idea...
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Thorsten_L
I just contacted NAIM UK a while ago and they confirmed that it is not a problem to use the deep sleep mode and they said no damage will be done.
Happy for now.
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by docmark
Hi David - you’re absolutely right. I posted early in the morning and think I was only half awake!
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by David Hendon
My dealer has several times suggested I should buy a SL to go between my 272 and 250DR, so I am familiar with it! But I can't bring myself to spend that money on a wire......
best
David
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by No quarter
"I have a 3 Terabyte WD exrenal hard drive plugged into the rear USB port,this holds all my downloads...nice and quiet combo."
Cool solution...
So you configured the external drive as a musicstore?
Does the Core have to index that external harddisk everytime you power it on? Or is it "ready-to-read-from" when you power it on?
I guess that the external USB drive is not powered on all the time...right?
Thank you.
David pretty much answered your question,but I will add that I leave my Core powered on all the time,since I use SSD it is silent,and all my Naim gear is powered up 24/7.David,I was just informed by my dealer that my Superlumina Din to XLR and speaker cables are in,so I pick them up next weekend...I will let the forum know my thoughts for sure.
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by Thorsten_L
Thank you.
I too leave my NAIM gear powered on 24/7...except now the Core [which is actually not "fully" powered off]. I can live with that...until I will fit in a nice SSD...
So, the external USB drive is appearing quite quickly in the app, ready to be played?
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by David Hendon
My 500 Gb SSD is silently ready and waiting for me to summon it 24/7 at a flick of the finger in the app. It's the future...
And even that is so much music, I can't listen to most of it in the time I have available.
best
David
Posted on: 16 April 2018 by docmark
Hi David - with regard to the SL DIN to XLR cable, I too was a little skeptical. I was debating whether or not I wanted to go ahead with it, but my dealer went ahead and ordered it for me anyway. So, I ended up buying the cable. I can’t recall exactly how much I paid for it, but I believe the price came to around $4k (CDN). Was the expense worth it? I’d say yes. Believe it or not, some cables do make a difference with regard to sound quality.
