Alternatives to a Naim Uniti...

[Gazzip]

Any thoughts? The must haves are:

CDP

Network player (UPnP) with Spotify connect

DAB radio

Amplifier good enough to control my EB Acoustics EB2 speakers

Analogue input for my Phono Stage

Budgetary limit of £2K which can be new or second hand. Thanks! I await your fantastic ideas...

 

[Leeps]

Any thoughts? The must haves are:

CDP

Network player (UPnP) with Spotify connect

DAB radio

Amplifier good enough to control my EB Acoustics EB2 speakers

Analogue input for my Phono Stage

Budgetary limit of £2K which can be new or second hand. Thanks! I await your fantastic ideas...

The Cyrus Lyric 09 is a cracking deal at the moment. Ticks most your boxes, but doesn't do Spotify Connect, but does now offer Tidal. £1600 for the 170wpc '09. Cracking value now compared to the Naim offerings - just don't buy it for its looks.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_100004211376004]

I'd wait for the new naim all in ones to appear on the shelves.especially the uniti star,although it's going to be around 3k Gazzip.I know you can afford it.The rest of your system is special and I'm assuming this is a second system build.

 

[Al ears]

I'd wait for the new naim all in ones to appear on the shelves.especially the uniti star,although it's going to be around 3k Gazzip.I know you can afford it.The rest of your system is special and I'm assuming this is a second system build.

Think I'd have to +1 the Lyric gazzip.

PS would you sell me your EB2's as I sorely regret selling mine.... 🙂

 

[Gazzip]

I'd wait for the new naim all in ones to appear on the shelves.especially the uniti star,although it's going to be around 3k Gazzip.I know you can afford it.The rest of your system is special and I'm assuming this is a second system build.

Thanks Mark. The Star looks awesome, but what about that naff looking TEAC computer transport mechanism they are replacing the Uniti 2's disk spinner with?

 

[Gazzip]

I'd wait for the new naim all in ones to appear on the shelves.especially the uniti star,although it's going to be around 3k Gazzip.I know you can afford it.The rest of your system is special and I'm assuming this is a second system build.

Think I'd have to +1 the Lyric gazzip.

PS would you sell me your EB2's as I sorely regret selling mine.... 🙂

£3000 down to £1600 does seem to be quite the bargain, but I have always found the Cyrus sound to be a little "thin". Plus modern Cyrus kit and reliability don't (in my experience) go hand-in-hand. Reading the WHF review seems to hint at this being the case with their demo unit.

Any other thoughts on alternatives?

Funnily enough one of my first posts on here back in 2011 was slagging off my brand new EB2's as being all mouth and no trousers. Having waited many months for them I was bitterly disappointed with their lightweight sound and sent my pair back for a refund within a couple of weeks. Then about a month ago I snagged a second hand pair for £100, a deal I could not resist. They are awesome! I must have mistaken transparency, insightfullness and speed for a lightweight presentation. Just goes to prove how tastes can change!

 

[Gazzip]

Pulled the trigger on a Cyrus Lyric 09 as suggested. Too much of a bargain to ignore...

Shall report back on findings.

 

[Al ears]

Pulled the trigger on a Cyrus Lyric 09 as suggested. Too much of a bargain to ignore...

Shall report back on findings.

Well done, do let us know your thoughts,...... and if you see any more EB2's for £100 please snap them up I'll have them 🙂

They are great when you can actually get what they are producing aren't they? Many people don't really know what an 'honest' uncoloured speaker sounds like.

 

[cse]

I've recently purchased the Arcam and meets all of your requirement I believe. So far I'm pleased with it, although I didn't know about the reduced Cyrus until after I'd agreed the purchase. However I was offered a great trade in deal. Would be interested to know how they compare with each other, but don't no any shops that offer the Naim, Arcam and Cyrus side by side. My feeling is that they are all excellent one box sollutions offering mid price level hifi sound, negating the the need for separates. The Arcam though is a bit of a behemoth.

 

[jjbomber]

but don't no any shops that offer the Naim, Arcam and Cyrus side by side.

Audio-t

 

[plastic penguin]

Have heard the Lyric 09 at Richer Sounds. Seems to have all the bells and whistles, however I don't think the speakers did the amp any justice: The Tannoy Precision 6.1. I've no idea how the Tannoys compare with EBs, but that would be my only caveat.

 

[cse]

Has anyone read a review that compares the three units (Unitii, Arcam, Cyrus)? Surely one is now overdue.

 

[Gazzip]

Has anyone read a review that compares the three units (Unitii, Arcam, Cyrus)? Surely one is now overdue.

I read one for the Uniti vs the Cyrus. The Uniti won that terst but the "impartial reviewer" did own the Naim.

BTW the Arcam unit looks the business with bags of power and all the bells etc.. Couldn't have worked for me however due to the buttons on the top as it will be on quite a tight shelf with only a 5cm or so above the unit.

 

[cse]

Has anyone read a review that compares the three units (Unitii, Arcam, Cyrus)? Surely one is now overdue.

I read one for the Uniti vs the Cyrus. The Uniti won that terst but the "impartial reviewer" did own the Naim.

BTW the Arcam unit looks the business with bags of power and all the bells etc.. Couldn't have worked for me however due to the buttons on the top as it will be on quite a tight shelf with only a 5cm or so above the unit.

Its only one dial on the top and that is a small rotational one in the centre but at the front end of the unit. The other buttons are on the front of the unit. However, the unit is much better used via the remote control or the downloadable app on an iPad etc. I recommend that you go and have a look as I also had similar reservations before purchasing.

y

 

[Gazzip]

Has anyone read a review that compares the three units (Unitii, Arcam, Cyrus)? Surely one is now overdue.

I read one for the Uniti vs the Cyrus. The Uniti won that terst but the "impartial reviewer" did own the Naim.

BTW the Arcam unit looks the business with bags of power and all the bells etc.. Couldn't have worked for me however due to the buttons on the top as it will be on quite a tight shelf with only a 5cm or so above the unit.

Its only one dial on the top and that is a small rotational one in the centre but at the front end of the unit. The other buttons are on the front of the unit. However, the unit is much better used via the remote control or the downloadable app on an iPad etc. I recommend that you go and have a look as I also had similar reservations before purchasing.

y

I may well be... I have today received my Cyrus Lyric 09 and it has a number of issues:
1) The backlight proximity sensor is faulty so the unit will not dim.2) The amplifier section is faulty with a great deal of hiss being generated through both speakers on all sources. My speakers are fine. I have checked.3) The DAB source section is faulty causing the unit to shut down and freeze. 4) The DAB/FM aerial connection is faulty and will not screw in properly. I have had reliability/quality issues with Cyrus kit before and told myself to never, ever buy anything from them again. Why didn't I listen to myself!!!

 

[Gazzip]

I may well be... I have today received my Cyrus Lyric 09 and it has a number of issues:

1) The backlight proximity sensor is faulty so the unit will not dim. 2) The amplifier section is faulty with a great deal of hiss being generated through both speakers on all sources. My speakers are fine. I have checked. 3) The DAB source section is faulty causing the unit to shut down and freeze. 4) The DAB/FM aerial connection is faulty and will not screw in properly. I have had reliability/quality issues with Cyrus kit before and told myself to never, ever buy anything from them again. Why didn't I listen to myself!!!

I have just spoken with the dealer who sold me the Lyric. They are being really good about this and have offered to repatriate the Lyric at their cost and give me a full refund. I know this is my consumer right, but some dealers don't make the process as easy and pleasant as this one. However they have also advised me that faults 3 & 4 are issues known to Cyrus. I can only assume therefore that Cyrus don't check the aerials fit before they leave the factory, which is bad enough, but to be selling a £3K product which has an onboard DAB that doesn't work properly is staggering IMO. Apparently most people use internet radio these days so fixing a faulty DAB is not a priority to them.

Having historically experienced several pairs of faulty Mono X300's, a PSX-R that went up in smoke (literally) and multiple CD transport mechs that didn't work, I was foolish to give Cyrus a second chance. I shall not be treading that path again. Ever.

 

[chris_bates1974]

Such a shame your re-try of the Cyrus kit has been a failure - but great service by the retailer.

I've had my (admittedly base model) 5 amp for 15 years, and the cd player for almost 2 - although I know it to be much older - and they have both been flawless.

But then I also had a VW that was the worst car I have ever owned by a country mile (or 60yds in VW reliability terms).

I guess luck is a factor....