Naim All in One Uniti against the CD5i and Nait 5i
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plastic penguin
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Chunky71:Has anyone compared the new Naim uniti against the separate CD5i and the Nait 5I?
Maybe this will help.
http://whathifi.com/Review/Naim-Uniti/
Heard the Naim separates but not compared it to the Uniti.
Maybe this will help.
http://whathifi.com/Review/Naim-Uniti/
Heard the Naim separates but not compared it to the Uniti.
MUSICRAFT
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Chunky71:Has anyone compared the new Naim uniti against the separate CD5i and the Nait 5I?
Hi Chunky71
The Uniti has similar performance/quality of power to the CD5i/Nait 5i as it is based on them. However for another £300 or so with the Uniti you get the reference casework, DAB etc. so it is outstanding VFM even at £2k.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thanks
Rick @ Musicraft
Hi Chunky71
The Uniti has similar performance/quality of power to the CD5i/Nait 5i as it is based on them. However for another £300 or so with the Uniti you get the reference casework, DAB etc. so it is outstanding VFM even at £2k.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thanks
Rick @ Musicraft
John Duncan
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They're totally different things. If all you want is a CD player, get the 5i pair. If you want a CD player, FM, Internet and DAB radios and the option to stream into its DAC from your PC, then get the Uniti. Any difference in sound quality would only ever be found by close A/B listening, and I can vouch that in isolation the Uniti sounds absolutely bloody marvellous.
Frank Harvey
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The Uniti is a compromise (albiet slight) for those that do not want multiple boxes. Those that want as much performance as possible for their money will go the 5i route, those that want a high quality system with convenience and 'extras', will choose the Uniti.
When Arcam released their Solo, we wondered whether the high quality one box system would be the future of hi-fi. The reason we thought this is that more people want convenience nowadays - as proven by the CD format, and more recently, streaming.
Having said that, we still find the CD5i and Nait 5i (and also Nait XS) are more popular than the Uniti. It seems more of our customers want the very best they can get as far as quality is concerned.
When Arcam released their Solo, we wondered whether the high quality one box system would be the future of hi-fi. The reason we thought this is that more people want convenience nowadays - as proven by the CD format, and more recently, streaming.
Having said that, we still find the CD5i and Nait 5i (and also Nait XS) are more popular than the Uniti. It seems more of our customers want the very best they can get as far as quality is concerned.
plastic penguin
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FrankHarveyHiFi:
The Uniti is a compromise (albiet slight) for those that do not want multiple boxes. Those that want as much performance as possible for their money will go the 5i route, those that want a high quality system with convenience and 'extras', will choose the Uniti.
When Arcam released their Solo, we wondered whether the high quality one box system would be the future of hi-fi. The reason we thought this is that more people want convenience nowadays - as proven by the CD format, and more recently, streaming.
Having said that, we still find the CD5i and Nait 5i (and also Nait XS) are more popular than the Uniti. It seems more of our customers want the very best they can get as far as quality is concerned.
This isn't new - in some ways music listening has come full circle: remember, way back in the early seventies? that decade introduced us to the music centre. The Naim Uniti, Arcam Solo and others are modern-day incarnations of those music centres.
The Uniti is a compromise (albiet slight) for those that do not want multiple boxes. Those that want as much performance as possible for their money will go the 5i route, those that want a high quality system with convenience and 'extras', will choose the Uniti.
When Arcam released their Solo, we wondered whether the high quality one box system would be the future of hi-fi. The reason we thought this is that more people want convenience nowadays - as proven by the CD format, and more recently, streaming.
Having said that, we still find the CD5i and Nait 5i (and also Nait XS) are more popular than the Uniti. It seems more of our customers want the very best they can get as far as quality is concerned.
This isn't new - in some ways music listening has come full circle: remember, way back in the early seventies? that decade introduced us to the music centre. The Naim Uniti, Arcam Solo and others are modern-day incarnations of those music centres.
Frank Harvey
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chebby
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I can never dis-associate in my mind music-centres from Hostess trolleys Demis Roussos, Boney M and Abigail's Party!
John Duncan
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chebby:It is a very long time since I last heard a music-centre
Whereas I heard this one last night:
Kind of made me want to scratch my eyes out.
Whereas I heard this one last night:
Kind of made me want to scratch my eyes out.
chebby
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JohnDuncan:chebby:It is a very long time since I last heard a music-centre
Whereas I heard this one last night:
Kind of made me want to scratch my eyes out.
Which is why I also said... "but with a (very) few exceptions"
B&O has always been an exception even in the dark days when music-centres ruled the living room. (Usually placed on top of their recently expired brethren, the radiograms which could at least be easily converted into drinks cabinets.)
Whereas I heard this one last night:
Kind of made me want to scratch my eyes out.
Which is why I also said... "but with a (very) few exceptions"
B&O has always been an exception even in the dark days when music-centres ruled the living room. (Usually placed on top of their recently expired brethren, the radiograms which could at least be easily converted into drinks cabinets.)
John Duncan
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Ah but I was lumping this one in with my dad's Amstrad. Very disappointing. Soudned a bit better when the wick was turned up a bit, but at low volume it was nasty.
John Duncan
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chebby:Odd. The last B&O I heard was magnificent. (But the front speakers did cost over £11K)
Yes, I was disappointed. I think B&O do better with their statement products (where price really is irrelevant) than with their 'budget' (waggles fingers in air) systems.
Yes, I was disappointed. I think B&O do better with their statement products (where price really is irrelevant) than with their 'budget' (waggles fingers in air) systems.
plastic penguin
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chebby:
Plastic Penguin, it is a very long time since I last heard a music-centre but with a (very) few exceptions they always sounded dire even without the comparison to budget seperates of the same era.
It is unfair to even mention systems like the Arcam Solo range (or the Naimuniti) in comparison to the horrors that were 'music-centres' in the 1970s. Their natural heirs are the mini and micro systems that have been with us almost since the music-centre disappeared, and of which there have also only ever been a few decent ones around at any one time. (Denon, Teac and Onkyo have been consistent over the years in knocking out some good budget mini/micro systems.)
Like always, chebs, it's a matter of opinion. I was drawing the concept that all-in-one systems aren't new.
We had a very expensive (at the time) JVC music centre connected to some Solavox PR35 floorstanding speakers and really sounded the biz.
True, not quite as involving as my seperates in my bedroom, but it wasn't 'night and day'.
Music centres in the 70's was utilising technology which, in the main, could only be obtained via cheap, hand held jobbies. The tape deck. Likewise the Uniti and Solo doin' the same with todays technology. So from that point of view, you can draw comparison (albeit sound quality has improved and they are more usable today - if you understand the concept of streaming).
Plastic Penguin, it is a very long time since I last heard a music-centre but with a (very) few exceptions they always sounded dire even without the comparison to budget seperates of the same era.
It is unfair to even mention systems like the Arcam Solo range (or the Naimuniti) in comparison to the horrors that were 'music-centres' in the 1970s. Their natural heirs are the mini and micro systems that have been with us almost since the music-centre disappeared, and of which there have also only ever been a few decent ones around at any one time. (Denon, Teac and Onkyo have been consistent over the years in knocking out some good budget mini/micro systems.)
Like always, chebs, it's a matter of opinion. I was drawing the concept that all-in-one systems aren't new.
We had a very expensive (at the time) JVC music centre connected to some Solavox PR35 floorstanding speakers and really sounded the biz.
True, not quite as involving as my seperates in my bedroom, but it wasn't 'night and day'.
Music centres in the 70's was utilising technology which, in the main, could only be obtained via cheap, hand held jobbies. The tape deck. Likewise the Uniti and Solo doin' the same with todays technology. So from that point of view, you can draw comparison (albeit sound quality has improved and they are more usable today - if you understand the concept of streaming).
chebby
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I remember the top end JVC music centre came with spherical (lollipop) GB-1E speakers.
Also Grundig made a veritable top-end battleship of a music-centre (with a respectable Dual turntable built in) that also came with globe speakers. (Audiorama 4000 and 8000)
(Another slightly better image of the Grundig)
Also Grundig made a veritable top-end battleship of a music-centre (with a respectable Dual turntable built in) that also came with globe speakers. (Audiorama 4000 and 8000)
(Another slightly better image of the Grundig)
plastic penguin
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chebby:
I remember the top end JVC music centre came with spherical (lollipop) GB-1E speakers.
Also Grundig made a veritable top-end battleship of a music-centre (with a respectable Dual turntable built in) that also came with globe speakers. (Audiorama 4000 and 8000)
Our music centre didn't come with any speakers. The same day, we shot down to Comet & bought the Solavox's. Comet was the exclusive distributor for Solavox, a little bit like Richer Sounds and Cambridge.
Similar to these, but my dad's were vastly taller.
I remember the top end JVC music centre came with spherical (lollipop) GB-1E speakers.
Also Grundig made a veritable top-end battleship of a music-centre (with a respectable Dual turntable built in) that also came with globe speakers. (Audiorama 4000 and 8000)
Our music centre didn't come with any speakers. The same day, we shot down to Comet & bought the Solavox's. Comet was the exclusive distributor for Solavox, a little bit like Richer Sounds and Cambridge.
Similar to these, but my dad's were vastly taller.
plastic penguin
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Chunky71:Has anyone compared the new Naim uniti against the separate CD5i and the Nait 5I?
No, I haven't, but according to WHFI S&V the separate Nait 5 CDP and amp are a little better, but as Mr. Duncan pointed out, in isolation the Uniti would probably sound spankingly good.
No, I haven't, but according to WHFI S&V the separate Nait 5 CDP and amp are a little better, but as Mr. Duncan pointed out, in isolation the Uniti would probably sound spankingly good.
Frank Harvey
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plastic penguin
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FrankHarveyHiFi:
Used to have some Solavox's myself, although a little more recent than those ones, maybe 83/84
Yup - good speaker in their day. I used PR25 MKII's with a JVC S-5L receiver, Hitachi cassette deck and a Garrard TT and a Goldring G800 cartridge.
My first proper set-up at 16.....Aaarrrh! Until my mate bought an all separates system consisting of a Pioneer SA-506 amp, Furgusson tuner and Wharfedale Denton speakers. My first experience of the upgrade bug......
Used to have some Solavox's myself, although a little more recent than those ones, maybe 83/84
Yup - good speaker in their day. I used PR25 MKII's with a JVC S-5L receiver, Hitachi cassette deck and a Garrard TT and a Goldring G800 cartridge.
My first proper set-up at 16.....Aaarrrh! Until my mate bought an all separates system consisting of a Pioneer SA-506 amp, Furgusson tuner and Wharfedale Denton speakers. My first experience of the upgrade bug......
I am thinking of this upgrade myself but haven't reached a conclusion.
Option 1: Get a Naimuniti with the advantage that I can use the onboard DAC.
Option 2: Get a Nait 5i (or Nait XS if budget allows) and connect my Sonos/Dacmagic to the amp. I'll probably still only get the 5i as the CD player though as I wouldn't use it that much.
Bearing in mind that I tend to listen to my flac files (90%) as opposed to CD (10%), and the fact that I don't really need the Uniti DAB (no DAB in Hong Kong) and streaming functions (as I use my Sonos), I am thinking of the separates route BUT I am not sure if I will gain benefit from the Uniti's DAC. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Option 1: Get a Naimuniti with the advantage that I can use the onboard DAC.
Option 2: Get a Nait 5i (or Nait XS if budget allows) and connect my Sonos/Dacmagic to the amp. I'll probably still only get the 5i as the CD player though as I wouldn't use it that much.
Bearing in mind that I tend to listen to my flac files (90%) as opposed to CD (10%), and the fact that I don't really need the Uniti DAB (no DAB in Hong Kong) and streaming functions (as I use my Sonos), I am thinking of the separates route BUT I am not sure if I will gain benefit from the Uniti's DAC. Any advice would be much appreciated.
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