Naim UnitiQute 2. How is that possible...!

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I've got on home demo a Naim UnitiQute 2 with just 2 hours of breaking in, is brand new and just out of the box i notice how mutch better was from Naim DAC V1 IMO...

usually i find Naim gear to analitycal, i've demo Naim 5i, 5i 2 and DAC V1 but some how UnitiQute is very different, and for better... 8)

Some insight on the subject is mutch welcome! :wave:

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I really don't get this excited with a DAC or streamer, and this one is ringing my bells!

The amount of detail and extra layers are amazing, the UnitiQute takes my digital content to other level.

Will palay some more tunes, it's going to be a looooooong night! :bounce:

 

[CnoEvil]

I have been banging on about how well streamers sound, including those integrated with an amp. If possible, as an experiment, also try it as a source through the Pathos.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Is as a source with the Pathos... But will try with is own amplification as well.

 

[CnoEvil]

Is as a source with the Pathos... But will try with is own amplification as well.

In that case, I'm not at all surprised.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I have been banging on about how well streamers sound, including those integrated with an amp. If possible, as an experiment, also try it as a source through the Pathos.

What made you think i'll give up from Pathos amplification?

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

But my initial question is yet to be answered, in theory the DAC in the V1 is superior to the DAC housed in the Qute and to my ears it sounds better... :?

 

[CnoEvil]

I have been banging on about how well streamers sound, including those integrated with an amp. If possible, as an experiment, also try it as a source through the Pathos.

What made you think i'll give up from Pathos amplification?

I thought it was probably for a second system.

 

[steve_1979]

Some amps are effected by radio frequency interference that comes from some DAC's. This maybe the case when using the UnitiQute with one of Naim's external DAC's.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I have been banging on about how well streamers sound, including those integrated with an amp. If possible, as an experiment, also try it as a source through the Pathos.

What made you think i'll give up from Pathos amplification?

I thought it was probably for a second system.

I want to upgrade my Rega DAC but i can go with a streamer or a DAC with Async USB input. I like the interface on Synology so the interface on the streamer needs to be a good one, and the Naim interface is not that good compared with DS Audio App...

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Some amps are effected by radio frequency interference that comes from some DAC's. This maybe the case when using the UnitiQute with one of Naim's external DAC's.

My knowledge in DACs are not that good, never read nothing about that, will google it tomorow...

thanks steve!

 

[CnoEvil]

I want to upgrade my Rega DAC but i can go with a streamer or a DAC with Async USB input. I like the interface on Synology so the interface on the streamer needs to be a good one, and the Naim interface is not that good compared with DS Audio App...

You should try the Sneaky DS as well, and pick the one you prefer.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I want to upgrade my Rega DAC but i can go with a streamer or a DAC with Async USB input. I like the interface on Synology so the interface on the streamer needs to be a good one, and the Naim interface is not that good compared with DS Audio App...

You should try the Sneaky DS as well, and pick the one you prefer.

I had the Majik DSM in home demo but at the time i didn't had the Pathos, and as you know i don't really like Linn amplification I find it a bit dull...

But never try the abilities of Linn without their amplification, will pay a visit to my "neighbour" as Lill dealer is just 100 mts from my house.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

The unitiQute as a beautiful sound stage, just been listennig to random tunnes this morning and just love it!

Live albums are very real, Sting "Live in Berlin" and supertramp "Live in Paris", wow (not uau ) i'm sure that when it will be more break in it will sound even better...

 

[steve_1979]

The unitiQute as a beautiful sound stage, just been listennig to random tunnes this morning and just love it!

Live albums are very real, Sting "Live in Berlin" and supertramp "Live in Paris", wow (not uau ) i'm sure that when it will be more break in it will sound even better...

I've always liked the UnitiQute. It could do with a bit more power but it's great for low to medium level listening. It looks lovely and would make a nice desktop amp/DAC/streamer sitting next to a computer monitor.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

The unitiQute as a beautiful sound stage, just been listennig to random tunnes this morning and just love it!

Live albums are very real, Sting "Live in Berlin" and supertramp "Live in Paris", wow (not uau ) i'm sure that when it will be more break in it will sound even better...

I've always liked the UnitiQute. It could do with a bit more power but it's great for low to medium level listening. It looks lovely and would make a nice desktop amp/DAC/streamer sitting next to a computer monitor.

But i'm using it just as a source, and it plays louder and with more power that Rega DAC, I know that the Unitiqute is working as a pre amp but even so.

 

[steve_1979]

But i'm using it just as a source, and it plays louder and with more power that Rega DAC, I know that the Unitiqute is working as a pre amp but even so.

Maybe it has a different output sensitivity. Does the Rega DAC sound the same as the Naim just at a slightly lower volume?

Or maybe one of the DACs has some sort of filter or sound processing going on which changes the sound.

Or maybe one of the DACs produces radio frequency distortion which your amp may be sensitive to.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

But i'm using it just as a source, and it plays louder and with more power that Rega DAC, I know that the Unitiqute is working as a pre amp but even so.

Maybe it has a different output sensitivity. Does the Rega DAC sound the same as the Naim just at a slightly lower volume?

Or maybe one of the DACs has some sort of filter or sound processing going on which changes the sound.

Or maybe one of the DACs produces radio frequency distortion which your amp may be sensitive to.

in layman language i think is called synergy right...?

 

[jjbomber]

in layman language i think is called synergy right...?

Or in layman's terms he humself prefers the Rega to Naim and cannot understand how anybody in the World could possibly have a different opinion

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

The Unitiqute definetely is in another league that Rega DAC is, as good Rega DAC is in that price range!

It is playing since morning an has open up quite well, larger sound stage, a wonderful bass response, strong and well defined!

The imaging of UnitiQute is very well defined, but as better the source the better the dyns will perform, and imaging is one of the strong points of the X12!

I'm listening to a certain amount of detail that wasn't there before, and it is not analytical like the DAC V1 is.

This is a possible contender to my Rega DAC upgrade, just one more home demo away to decide, and it is the new Chord Qute EX, one thing is for sure, it WILL be a QUTE...

 

[steve_1979]

in layman language i think is called synergy right...?

Yep.

Or in layman's terms he humself prefers the Rega to Naim and cannot understand how anybody in the World could possibly have a different opinion

I have no opinion on the Rega as I've never heard it.

 

[gurux]

I purchased a V1 and sold it after a month or so, very disappointed. In fact I prefered the integrated DAC performance of an Arcam AVR750. I have only heard the UQ at dealers so I can't comment on the difference but I am certainly not a big fan of V1.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

As the UQ2 burns in the SQ is really improving, and is addicted, it's the kind of piece of kit that you don't want to turn off, and when you arrive home go running to turn it on...! :bounce:

To my ears the SQ of UQ2 is better then the DAC V1, but the UQ2 offers more for the price tag, built in amp, internet radio, turner radio, DAB and all for £1150. I was hopping as the DAC V1 is "just" a dedicaded DAC it should perform better regarding SQ.

Will demo the new Chord HD EX but if it performs as goos as the UQ2 then i've found my Rega DAC upgrade...

 

[Leeps]

I would never have thought about teaming up a Unitiqute with a Pathos! Interesting blend of old and new. The sheer flexibility of the 'Qute is endearing, particularly as and when Naim roll out built-in Spotify Connect, which they threatened to do a couple of weeks back. Its versatility actually makes the price very reasonable indeed, especially is you can build it up over time, using the internal amp to begin with, then adding the NAP100 or indeed the Pathos over time (or the 250wpc Cambridge Azur 851P if you really wanted to!!).

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I would never have thought about teaming up a Unitiqute with a Pathos! Interesting blend of old and new. The sheer flexibility of the 'Qute is endearing, particularly as and when Naim roll out built-in Spotify Connect, which they threatened to do a couple of weeks back. Its versatility actually makes the price very reasonable indeed, especially is you can build it up over time, using the internal amp to begin with, then adding the NAP100 or indeed the Pathos over time (or the 250wpc Cambridge Azur 851P if you really wanted to!!).

i'm using the UQ2 as a pre amp, the Pathos is a hybrid amp with 70wpc and valve pre amplification, not old, so will not need a power amp (NAP 100).

about spotify, you have a point there, but for now I use ipad and ATV3 that can be connected into one of the optical inputs on UQ2. Maybe Naim can provide spotify in a near future by a software update.