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

Hi all
I am interested in the Naim UnitiServe HDD version. It has 2 TB storage and is networkable, and has a built in CD drive for Ripping CDs to WAV files.

BUT, as always, and I have read quite a few reviews, it is not all plain sailing.
Aside from the dream convienience of all my library in one place at a click of a button, does the black box do what it is suppoed to do, i.e. is it audiophile, and does it realistically equal a good CDP.

I would use the Coax out to my Audio Note DAC, so not the analogue outputs from the Naim, only the 'pure' digital signal.

I am not a Naim fan either, more Audio Note. I use a CEC TL51 transport and an Audio Note 3.1 DAC.

I wonder if this all in one solution is better than the almost as cute MacMini using a USB to SPDiff convertor?
sunandmusic
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"I wonder if this all in one solution is better than the almost as cute MacMini using a USB to SPDiff convertor?"

I have had both because a customer asked me to add a reclocker to it. Even with the reclocker, not even remotely close..... I have concerns about both the ripper and the player S/W.

A 2009 Mac Mini with a good USB cable, USB converter and Pure Music or Amarra 4318/19 is hard to beat.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
sunandmusic OP
27 posts
 
High Steve and others
So, are you saying the UnitiServe was poor soundwise, but the Mac Mini was better? And would a Mac Mini with say a Musical Fidelity V-Link and Pure MUsic equal my CEC transport for digi out?

I am confused if so, as a good company like Naim would release a music dedicated product (I know it read DVD though) and have it not sound excellent.

My worry with the Mac Mini, and I love and have an iPad2, iMac and Powerbook, is it was never designed for musical output. If only apply could see the market and make one, a dedicated music server solution which is AS GOOD as CDPs?
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Most of these dedicated servers use off-the-shelf computer motherboards in them. They may have better power supplies though. The clocks in them are usually a dissappointment.

I use a Mac Mini 2009 with SSD and Amarra 4318/19. A Polestar USB cable to my USB interface. Kills everything else that customers have sent me, and they have send 5 servers.

If you do use a music server, consider Aurality or Sonore that support all USB interfaces and have optional USB music streaming outputs. This way, the master clock is not in the server but rather in the USB interface. Then you can select the best USB interface you can afford and get the best result.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,677 posts
 
OP,

at this time, no music server product is better than a dedicated cd player or cd transport/DAC combo.

Naim makes very fine sounding cd players, both new and older models.
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