Naim UnitiServe - is it as good as a good CDP??

I realize this is an older thread, but I'll. throw in my two cents. I have been using the latest Mac Mini with the i7 processor,the upgraded 1TB fusion drive, and Amarra software. Additionally, I have tried two aftermarket linear power supplies and also experimented with Pure Music Software. I'm using this in the context of an all Krell Evolution system (mono blocks, preamp, CD player with Cast Cables, and a pair of Martin Logan Summit X's. Results with the Mac Mini are somewhat of a mixed bag. My initial reaction was good and thought that everything was tonally neutral, however; I couldn't help but feel that something was missing! I was using a Bryston BDA-1 as my DAC and decided to try the Ayre QB-1. I can't say that this improved things, only that it sounded different. I guess I felt that the music didn't have the "life" or "musical phrasing" that I'm used to. I'm a musician and play piano and violin, so it left me feeling that things were just not complete. Piano music in particular sounded thin compared to what I normally hear. I decided I would try an off the shelf purpose built music server. I looked at Sooloos, Qsonix, Aurender, And Naim. I ultimately decided to go with the Naim Unitiserve. Now I had something to compare side by side! My first listen to the Naim was an eye opener! Music had the weight, dynamics, and musical phrasing that made sense to me. There was energy in the music that didn't exist with the MacMini. The piano had weight and structure and overtones that simply could not be heard with the Mac. Is it possible to get the Mac Mini correct? Maybe! There are too many variables involved depending on your choice of Mini, USB Cable, reclocking device, software, power supply etc. Only you can decide if you want to put forth the effort to do this much experimentation with all the combinations available! You may still have mixed results when all is said and done! Keep in mind that one of my Mac Mini, power supply, cable and Reclocking device combinations totaled $2800.00! Yes, the Naim Unitiserve is $3800.00! I get it! But at the end of the day I'm using the Unitiserve and have never looked back". I have more time to listen to music and don't have to think about wether I or not I have the right combination!

I'm in agreement with Krellman7. I own the UnitiServe and while I cannot
claim it to be the ultimate server, it is my first one, it is very good to my ears
and far fewer pieces than the Mini-Mac requires.

I delved into the Mojo from Albuquerque, but when it arrived I realized just
how many pieces it would take to make it all work properly and never
assembled it. Just returned, they were very good about refund.

I've owned a heavily modified CEC transport which sounded marvelous, but
never as good as the UnitiServe. The Naim does provide all which we seek;
imaging, detail and commanding dynamics. As a side note, I am really not a
fan of the Naim sound and therefore have never owned a piece until now.

My system is UnitiServe, Naim V-1 DAC, Manley Jumbo Shrimp, Manley Mahi
Mahi monoblocks, Merlin TSM MME monitors, MAC and Decware cabling.

Good luck with your search.

The Uniti is quite good and gets better with HRS nimbus couplers and a damping plate, Pardo LPS and AQ eagle eye cable...at least to my ears....

Not sure about some of the above. I heavily modded my Mac Mini with 12V board, linear power supply and SSD, and using Audrvana+ and a full M2 Tech EVO stack inc clock and it's own linear supply it sounds fantastic. No treble edge, lots of full midrange and solid bass, wide soundstage. It is way better than my original CEC CDP I had.

Key is kill all the operations not needed on the Mac Mini, use ethernet for the screen sharing, use a firewire drive and have the USB 2 audio in the right port (not shared). I use the TotalDAC USB cable/filter and no USB power. The clock in the M2Tech sets the data speed and feeds my DAC via SPDIF, not USB or Toslink. Seems to work the best to me. I have tried many other options and they were not is good.

Also ripp your RedBook files with XLD. Don't upsample on the Mac, better to not upsample at all if possible and use an NOS DAC.

It is work to set these things up, up worth it IMO.