So what about that Solo Neo then?

[chebby]

Still waiting (and waiting) for UnitiQute to actually turn up at my local dealer's place. (At least another week apparently.)

Started getting crazy ideas like (equivalently priced) Arcam Solo Neo!

All online reviews are 5 stars. Dealer actually has that one in stock. Looks pretty. Does most of what I need and has 50watts pc rather than 30watts pc. Has decent FM/DAB/Internet tuners.

Could sell N-Sats (along with rest of Naim system) and get Rega RS1s or RS3s instead.

Yeah, i'd have to connect BD/DVD with analogue RCA instead of optical but that'll probably be ok. (Or Beresford could eventually be replaced with r-Dac to match Arcam aesthetics.)

I might just go and listen to it tomorrow.

Only user feedback of any substance - so far - on Naim's own official forum site has user sending UnitiQute back to dealer! That's not good.

 

[Andrew Everard]

UnitiQute review in the October issue of Gramophone. WHFSV review in the November issue, on sale in a couple of weeks or something crazy...

 

[chebby]

I had never read the Solo Neo review before but it looks good on paper...

"The Neo sounds more neutral than the original Solo, and delivers greater agility, punch and dynamic expression than before."

"The original may have sounded cosier, but the new version is more capable."

Even the DAB sounds ok through it...

"The Solo Neo has a great tuner section. With DAB it sounds smooth and listenable, totally
avoiding the thin, bright and hard quality we hear from most DAB
products."

So an Arcam without the 'cosiness' and with some punch and dynamism and great with FM and good with DAB (that takes some doing.)
The Arcam r-Dac got a five star review recently too so maybe...

 

[John Duncan]

But you're going down the route of clutter which you were trying to avoid. You should wait and hear the Qute...

 

[Andrew Everard]

Having now reviewed both for Gramophone - O Solo Neo in upcoming issue - I'd agree with JD.

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:Having now reviewed both for Gramophone - O Solo Neo in upcoming issue - I'd agree with JD.

is that whats known as a "leak" ? like wot them politicians do ?

 

[Andrew Everard]

maxflinn:is that whats known as a "leak" ? like wot them politicians do ?

No - but then never having been to Polotica I wouldn't be familiar with what they do there...

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:
maxflinn:is that whats known as a "leak" ? like wot them politicians do ?

No - but then never having been to Polotica I wouldn't be familiar with what they do there...

 

[John Duncan]

The Qute meets Chebby's (functional) requirements better than the Neo does, so he should wait that week. I suspect he'd be very happy with either, sonically.

 

[Andrew Everard]

That's some kind of Tantalus torture for gentleman safe-crackers, is it, max? You keep taking bags out of the safe, but every time you look round there's still just the three there. Meanwhile the two-tones on the Consul GT keep coming ever nearer...

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:That's some kind of Tantalus torture for gentleman safe-crackers, is it, max? You keep taking bags out of the safe, but every time you look round there's still just the three there. Meanwhile the bells on the Consul GT keep coming ever nearer...
no of course not , thats the governement delivery man at the royal bank of scotland

 

[Andrew Everard]

I think you may be off on another of your cliche-ridden flights of fantasy, max...

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:I think you may be off on another of your cliche-ridden flights of fantasy, max...
na , nothing so dramatic , just some lighthearted , responsive ,era relevant , sarcastic humour , of sorts

 

[Andrew Everard]

Ah right, thanks for the explanation, most illuminating. Next time on max's Comedy Hour, the humorous observation that they should really start calling Margaret Thatcher 'The Milk Snatcher'...

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:Ah right, thanks for the explanation, most illuminating. Next time on max's Comedy Hour, the humorous observation that they should really start calling Margaret Thatcher 'The Milk Snatcher'...
steady on , just an attempt at humour , although it doesnt look so funny this morning

..

sorry for the thread hijack chebby ..

 

[chebby]

Andrew Everard:Having now reviewed both for Gramophone - O Solo Neo in upcoming issue - I'd agree with JD.

Thanks Andrew (and JD).

Given the price (and the great reviews) of the Arcam, I should at least give it a listen.

I am not in a position to buy either until I have disposed of my system, so I won't be making any rash decisions (or even wise ones) in a hurry.

If the UnitiQute is that good (and I have read one person on the Naim forum who sent his back) then at least I will have heard the Arcam and won't have that doubt.

 

[John Duncan]

Knowing what you use it for, you must have the iPod app though...

 

[Anonymous]

chebby:
Andrew Everard:Having now reviewed both for Gramophone - O Solo Neo in upcoming issue - I'd agree with JD.

Thanks Andrew (and JD).

Given the price (and the great reviews) of the Arcam, I should at least give it a listen.

I am not in a position to buy either until I have disposed of my system, so I won't be making any rash decisions (or even wise ones) in a hurry.

If the UnitiQute is that good (and I have read one person on the Naim forum who sent his back) then at least I will have heard the Arcam and won't have that doubt.

Hi Chebby

Am I right in thinking that you have had your current setup for as long as any in your ownership?

thanks

Serenity

 

[chebby]

Serenity:Am I right in thinking that you have had your current setup for as long as any in your ownership?

No. I have had the CD and amp since April 2009 and the tuner and speakers came a little later.

The longest I had a system was a Rega P3 and amplifier/Yamaha cassette + tuner/Goldring 1042 cartridge/NAD CD player/KEF Q35.2 speakers set-up for 11 years from 1996 - 2007 (all of it still in daily use by friends & family I sold it to, even the cassette!)

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Chebby,
The background to the Q, is that I'm throwing together a shortlist of bits to audition in a new room.

With the idea of taking it slow and careful so that the partnership is one I'm happy with and will last a long time. The problem is I'll be tempted to stray over budget, out of my depth and probably regret it.
Hence I'm keen to hear from Naim owners (to start with) who are happy with their set-up and have had it more than a few months before tiring and changing.

Ta
Serenity

Apologies for th temp blip in thread direction.

 

[chebby]

Serenity:Hence I'm keen to hear from Naim owners (to start with) who are happy with their set-up and have had it more than a few months before tiring and changing.

I am pleased with the sound of the system and would be happy to continue with it if things like the NaimUniti/Qute had never come along and things like the cessation of FM broadcasting were never going to happen.

My loss of interest in CD has nothing to do with the Naim CD5i (a fine player especially in an all Naim system) but more to do with my preference for radio as a medium. That's just me.

I have not tired of the system I have now. (I listen to it many hours daily). If that were the case I would not be looking to replace it with another Naim unit.

If the UnitiQute does not come up to the quality I get from my current system (or the NaimUniti that contains the same CD and amplifier elements and that I have heard a number of times) then I will continue to happily use this system until another solution comes along.

I would say that if you don't covet the extra space an all-in-one would give you (compared to seperates), and CD is your main source, then the Nait 5i/CD5i would be essential for any short-list of comparitively priced systems.

 

[Anonymous]

Brilliant thanks Chebby.

Its nice to have this sort of confirmation (ie direct, honest and valued) from a regular user of their kit.

Space (within reason) isnt a concern, but if a small quality single box does deliver, then it will chalk up the odd brownie point on the home front.

Reviews, ratings and especially nuggets like this will help me with the short list, prior to what will be a challenging time for the "better half" during the auditions. She will insist on accompanying me for two reasons. a) so I don't max out the credit card. b) so that I don't end up with butt ugly kit, where a large fast growing pot plant is strategically placed.

Good luck with the "single wee box" auditions.

Serenity

 

[manicm]

The Neo doesn't handle high-res audio.

 

[plastic penguin]

chebby:

Andrew Everard:Having now reviewed both for Gramophone - O Solo Neo in upcoming issue - I'd agree with JD.

Thanks Andrew (and JD).

Given the price (and the great reviews) of the Arcam, I should at least give it a listen.

I am not in a position to buy either until I have disposed of my system, so I won't be making any rash decisions (or even wise ones) in a hurry.

If the UnitiQute is that good (and I have read one person on the Naim forum who sent his back) then at least I will have heard the Arcam and won't have that doubt.

To echo John's view, the Qute has all the attributes you're looking for in a set-up, and the extra week or two will be beneficial. I'm not saying don't audition the Neo, but if I were a gambling man I'd wager the Qute everytime.