A new Naim product must deserve a thread...

[jjbomber]

Shouldn't this be called a SuperQute rather than a SuperUniti? After all, the Uniti has a disc spinner, whereas the Super has a great big volume knob there instead. I got a bit confused playing the Superuniti, as I already have a Uniti and was expecting the same lay out. The charming young lady from the roadshow team helped me out.

 

[noogle]

Yes, Naim's branding is completely up the spout here. They lack a coherent product naming strategy. The Uniti is officially the NaimUniti, or the Naim NaimUniti. I think they'd have done better to use numeric-based product names, e.g. UnitiQute = Uniti 300, NaimUniti = Uniti 500, SuperUniti = Uniti 700. That way the product names would position the products to the customers.

 

[manicm]

Shouldn't this be called a SuperQute rather than a SuperUniti? After all, the Uniti has a disc spinner, whereas the Super has a great big volume knob there instead. I got a bit confused playing the Superuniti, as I already have a Uniti and was expecting the same lay out. The charming young lady from the roadshow team helped me out.

Not quite, as the Super has a more powerful amp than its lesser siblings, and superior streaming capabilities as well. In that regard SuperQute would sound rather silly.

 

[BenLaw]

That name would also imply it's cuter (quter) than the qute, which it ain't

 

[Anonymous]

Shouldn't this be called a SuperQute rather than a SuperUniti? After all, the Uniti has a disc spinner, whereas the Super has a great big volume knob there instead. I got a bit confused playing the Superuniti, as I already have a Uniti and was expecting the same lay out. The charming young lady from the roadshow team helped me out.

Not quite, as the Super has a more powerful amp than its lesser siblings, and superior streaming capabilities as well. In that regard SuperQute would sound rather silly.

How so? ta..

 

[Ajani]

Shouldn't this be called a SuperQute rather than a SuperUniti? After all, the Uniti has a disc spinner, whereas the Super has a great big volume knob there instead. I got a bit confused playing the Superuniti, as I already have a Uniti and was expecting the same lay out. The charming young lady from the roadshow team helped me out.

Not quite, as the Super has a more powerful amp than its lesser siblings, and superior streaming capabilities as well. In that regard SuperQute would sound rather silly.

Super(ior) Power + Super(ior) Streaming = SuperQute....

Too bad it doesn't look Super Cute to most persons....

 

[Anonymous]

£3250 is rather a lot of money for an internet radio isn't it?!

Lets check out the alternate setup, albeit in more than one box:

£78 Buffalo 1TB NAS drive and streaming music server

£750 (argos) 11" Apple Airbook laptop

£66 superdrive (CD/DVD read/writer)

£336 64GB iPod Touch as alternate server and remote control

£660 64GB iPad2 as alternate server and remote control

£80 Airport express

£20 optical toslink cable

£115 Behringer Ultramatch

£25 XLR to phono adapters

£355 Yaqin MC-10L 40wpc tube amp

Total alternate spend £2485 (or £1825 if you skip the iPad2)

 

[chebby]

Globs,

... are you prepared to offer that lot to WHF towers (when they get the SuperUniti for review) and have that month's "Big Question" volunteers do a comparison?

(Using your own Usher speakers as reference in both set-ups.)

 

[Anonymous]

I think this is exactly the point. As technology moves on and computer-based audio continues to grow (as it should), niche HiFi manufacturers find themselves competing with electronics/technology specialist companies (e.g. Apple). I applaud Naim for trying, and I'm sure this product "works" for some, but it's hard to overlook the fact that it delivers spectacularly bad value for money. And no surprise, given what they're up against.

I don't see why anyone would want to drive this thing from the tiny display and input buttons at the front. So then iPad/iPhone is an option, but if so, why on God's Earth would you pay £3k for this thing and a proprietary Naim app which is inferior to iTunes and home sharing against a cheap computer?

Another example to Globs' point:

NAS or external hard drive to host the music collection - £100
Always-on mini computer to run iTunes - £400
iPad2 (streaming music from iTunes via home sharing, output to Apple TV via AirPlay) - £400
Apple TV (digital out to DAC/amp) - £100
Leema Pulse III integrated with DAC - £1500
Total spend £2500

Note that this is inclusive of an iPad2.

This will also allow you to run Spotify (from the iPad2) of course.

 

[chebby]

Can you tell me where you all heard the Naim SuperUniti and how you managed the comparison with your proposed alternative systems?

You have made up your minds about the VFM of the Naim so you must have heard it.

 

[Anonymous]

Can you tell me where you all heard the Naim SuperUniti and how you managed the comparison with your proposed alternative systems?

You have made up your minds about the VFM of the Naim so you must have heard it.

What makes you think it's going to be so much better than the other Naim stuff Chebby? After all, that's what I'm basing my opinion on.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you asking me? Why? Are you inferring that the sound quality of the SuperUniti DAC+amp compares favorably to the Leema Pulse III? I can think of many other combinations for you if so that would equally demonstrate the point. Rega DAC and Naim Nait XS? Matrix Quattro DAC + nice pair of actives?

Edit: you changed your post while I typed my reply. Thanks for the clarification. You clearly are making the point that the SQ of this thing will somehow make it worth while. Clearly very few have heard this thing (have you?) so let me ask you this - do you think the £3.2k price tag comes from superior DAC and amplification, or overpriced (but inferior) computing? Because you can get an awful lot of streaming capabilities + DAC + amplification for that money which is what we're highlighting above.

Edit2: that was in response to Chebby, not Globs

 

[noogle]

You've slightly under-specced:

* FM & DAB

* 192/24

* 80 WPC

I suspect many prospective customers would struggle to integrate your list of components and would willingly pay the premium for a one-box solution. In particular the Behringer may be good VFM but is a spectacularly ugly rack-mount component.

 

[busb]

Naim is one of those makes whose equipment I shall never buy - I dislike the looks, dislike Din connectors & am worried by the fact their stuff is sold in nearly every damn HiFi shop in the country. My personal view is that the make appeals to those people with too much money who part with it far too readily instead of relying on their own ears & seek out better sounding stuff at lower cost.

I have spoken with at least one dealer that has admitted to being uninspired by the Naim sound but was happy to supply the demand. A friend had several £1000s of Naim amplification about 12yrs ago until a certain dealer sold him a Restek Challenger integrated amplifier (£1000) that out-classed his previous setup.

I've heard worse than Naim & have seen inferior build quality but some makes don't appeal but I wish them well - after-all, they are English designed & made, unlike some makes that are effectively Chinese in all but name (sorry!)

 

[chebby]

What makes you think it's going to be so much better than the other Naim stuff Chebby? After all, that's what I'm basing my opinion on.

I am neutral on the SuperUniti (of course) having not heard one.

I have (extensively) heard the NaimUniti on a number of occasions both for short and longer sessions with different speakers. I think it was an amazing system for it's old price of £2000 and a wee bit overpriced at the new price of £2500.

I have heard the UnitiQute too. (Demo set up for me when I was first considering selling my Nait5i/NAT05/CD5i system and going to an all-in-one.) I was not so impressed with that alas.

Don't assume I love everything that Naim turn out. I don't. And I am certainly not assuming the SuperUniti will be good in advance of getting to hear one.

But I am curious to find out how you know the SuperUniti is going to be such bad VFM without hearing one. (Unless I am wrong and you have heard it.)

 

[True Blue]

£3250 is rather a lot of money for an internet radio isn't it?!

Lets check out the alternate setup, albeit in more than one box:

£78 Buffalo 1TB NAS drive and streaming music server

£750 (argos) 11" Apple Airbook laptop

£66 superdrive (CD/DVD read/writer)

£336 64GB iPod Touch as alternate server and remote control

£660 64GB iPad2 as alternate server and remote control

£80 Airport express

£20 optical toslink cable

£115 Behringer Ultramatch

£25 XLR to phono adapters

£355 Yaqin MC-10L 40wpc tube amp

Total alternate spend £2485 (or £1825 if you skip the iPad2)

Please see post #21 on page 2

My point is, NAIM is built like a tank, built to last and has an amazing 2nd hand value. TBH can you say that about any of the items you list.

IF you ever visited the factory you would see the selction process of componants which either do or do not match the tight spec. Of course you can get cheaper similar componants but would they "sound" better. Who knows but I doubt it.

If you are happy builidng your several boxes with interfaces extra cabling etc then good luck to you if you can achieve the same results.

I have not heard the Superuniti but have heard both the uniti and qute and both are very very good in the right system.

I suppose if you like clutter and faffing around setting all that stiff up then great. But if you have one shelf left on your hifi rack and one plug, together with aesthetics its pretty much a no brainer.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you inferring that the sound quality of the SuperUniti DAC+amp compares favorably to the Leema Pulse III? I can think of many other combinations

Chebs should also check out the Cyrus http://www.whathifi.com/review/cyrus-8-xpd

Which if playing the 'favourable review wars' would be hard for the Naim to beat

At the end of the day overpriced plain black boxes promising audio nirvana are just that, the world of alternatives offers better usability and sound quality for less cash. I know some firms think it's a great marketing ploy to set these prices (and don't get me wrong - I have HUGE respect for Naim's marketing department) but that still doesn't mean they are worth anywhere near the money.

I for one would prefer to have some quality Apple gear and a glowing tube amp + a grand for concert tickets instead..

 

[Anonymous]

I suppose if you like clutter and faffing around setting all that stiff up then great. But if you have one shelf left on your hifi rack and one plug, together with aesthetics its pretty much a no brainer.

I did read your post #21 yes, sorry to remain unimpressed: I work in electronic engineering.

As for the faff, if it took me an extra 2 hours I would still be on a rate of £500 per hour if I saved £1k, which is pretty good even for the countries most expensive lawyer. If I had one shelf I'd look at the Cyrus 8 XPD, a NAS drive and an 11" Airbook.

TBH for me though I already have a solid aluminium MacBook Pro and Airport Express so I'd be saving £2k, which saves me £1k per hour as I cable up the Cyrus..

Then again if I wanted I better sound than the Naim and Cyrus I'd buy a tube amp

 

[chebby]

Busb, your first paragraph is pure prejudice against Naim and it's customers. Is that a reasonable position? How can you know they all have "too much money" and part with it "far too readily"?

True Blue (posted above) and myself both have (or have had) Naim systems and I know for a fact that neither of us have "too much money" and both of us listened to our Naim equipment - and much else besides - in both dealer demos and at home before purchase. (In my case everything from Arcam to Rega and Cyrus and Yamaha before trying Naim.)

Am I allowed to form an unreasonable prejudice against you based on your signature system?

I won't, especially given that I own or have owned some elements of it. (Beresford DAC, iPhone, Pure Evoke Flow, PX200s, iTunes).

I agree on the looks though I find Naim equipment is ugly.

 

[Anonymous]

Please see post #21 on page 2

If they throw away 90% of their capacitors they should change supplier. Capacitors are pretty well understood since they were invented in the 18th century. This is not black magic (double entendre intended).

Also, who cares if the streamer is "built like a tank" or not when it will be hidden ouf of sight anyway and controlled by an iPad?

 

[True Blue]

Please see post #21 on page 2

If they throw away 90% of their capacitors they should change supplier. Capacitors are pretty well understood since they were invented in the 18th century. This is not black magic (double entendre intended).

Also, who cares if the streamer is "built like a tank" or not when it will be hidden ouf of sight anyway and controlled by an iPad?

Not you obviously, so good luck and enjoy

 

[Anonymous]

Not you obviously, so good luck and enjoy

Yep, each to their own.

 

[True Blue]

BUSB what a biased response. Just because NAIM is sold in most shops then I wont buy it?

Of course IPhones / Ipads are purely available from apple shops????????? If you wanted a better O/S that doesnt tie you to one fomrat then why not go Andriod?

Why do you dislike DIN connectors?

I dont have "too much money", but I have worked hard and traded in my old "Naim" gear for almost what I paid for it (hardley any depreciation) and bought second hand or ex demo units.

I auditioned several makes including Marantz, Rega, Rotel, Cyrus and CHOSE Naim, not because I thought oooooo thats expensive so I'll buy it with my hard earned cash regardless of the competition, no I chose it because I liked the sound, end of.

I also own other brands such as Denon, Beresford and Rega. None of which I have bought purely on hype or price, but after audition

 

[Anonymous]

I auditioned several makes including Marantz, Rega, Rotel, Cyrus and CHOSE Naim,

TBH of that list Naim stands out as much more expensive, so it really _should_ sound better. None of the others I would connect with high-end, although I'm sure it's very nice.

It still doesn't mean the Naim's good value however, I've heard a lot of better stuff which is much cheaper. Of course I've heard a lot worse stuff that was a lot more expensive .

My view is that Naim is mid-range stuff at hi-end prices, I'm glad a UK company is making money but don't expect me to think a simple class B transistor amp stuffed in a box with computer, DAC, preamp and PSU costing £3.25k represents a leap forward for anything except marketing..

.. except also hardly helps existing Naim owners either does it? - unless they really want to replace everything they already have.

Also it doesn't seem like much of a hobby, buying one box to do it all - not to me anyway. Not much chance in tweaking that unless you take the back off and get out your soldering iron to start upgrading the capacitors etc., and I can't see many here doing that. Seems to cut out all the fun somehow.

 

[noogle]

OK, so Naim has a strong enough brand for them to charge a brand premium. Isn't that what brands are all about? Coke, B&O, BMW, Apple, Neurofen etc. etc. etc.