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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

Showing 2 responses by audioengr

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
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
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