Ah! Did not realize you were enjoying the second attempt at Roon… the Nova is definitely worth checking out, since it’s all the convenience and performance of the SU, plus.
Are you firm on the Zen? That’s a pretty big investment to set aside, no??
Both the nDac and SN2 are bargains these days due to their discontinuation. I have an SN2, and it’s quite the impressive performer. Especially with an outboard PS.
I’ve also heard a lot of superlative reviews (from members) on the nDac, so it would be an excellent combo and work well with your Innuous.
The Naim App signal drop would almost have to be a connection issue, such as if you’re connected to your router via WiFi. I had issues as well until I hard connected, which also improved the SQ. If you are already wired, maybe try replacing the Ethernet cable.
Just some thoughts.
Best of luck.
Thanks David, Yes I know know the SN2 is a great performer. But I’ve read that the XS3 might be getting close in SQ to it as well
I’ve always been hard-wired from day one. I think the issues might be with the iOS software more than anything. But I will be keeping an eye to see how often I get a problem, and will try a few options on my network.
I don’t see much point in buying a Naim streamer if you have the Innuos. You already have Roon, Qobuz etc. covered. I would just buy a Supernait and a DAC of your choice.
Maybe worth holding out for a Supernait 3 if you want to add a turntable as it has a built in phono stage.
Thanks ChrisSU, I keep coming back to the same conclusion. As much as I like the all in one Uniti design, I’m thinking Keep the Innuos, getting a chord Qutest and a Nait XS 3 (there’s a few on promotion at the moment)
…reading through the thread it appears you are looking at the all-in-one Nova or Separates with an integrated amp SN or XS with a streamer. Have you asked a dealer if you could listen to both set-ups in a demo room and possible home demo?
A lot of satisfied users of both configurations on the forum. I decided a few years back on going with an XS 2 and ND5 XS which migrated to the current configuration of XPS DR, NDX 2, HiCap DR and SuperNait 2 which I am very happy with. Also happy that a local dealer allowed time in his demo room and at home while I took the time to decide.
Good luck with your decision and have fun along the way…
That isn’t to say that getting an ND5XS2 is a bad idea, it just seems a bit unnecessary to have both that and the Innuos. An ND5 plus NaitXS or Supernait would be a nice system. You would still need another box hidden away somewhere to run the Roon Core though.
Over in System Pics, @Roog just posted a beautiful photo of his system:
As you can see, it’s the RME that is under test as DAC-pre, with the SU acting as the streamer… not your exact situation @DomTomLondon but potentially of interest given not too many others would have this exact combination of equipment in their living rooms!
I’m also interested to hear what the amplifier is, and @Roog’s impression?
Hi Alan, thanks for pointing me to this. I’ll have a closer look.
At the moment I’m trying to arrange to hear a Nait XS 3 in my setup at home. So I can get a better idea of how much better it will sound compared to the pre/power in the SU.
If I like it, I’d keep it and then looking at which DAC will best match.
I know the RME could be used as a Pre, but I think I’s rather stick to a Naim Preamp, so I don’t loose the Naim sound.
HI @DomTomLondon, I can understand your wish to retain the ‘Naim sound’ although I have to confess I couldn’t tell you what that is.
As I mentioned in the System pics thread I found that the RME gave greater resolution when compared to the SU, and sounded quite neutral. For my taste, I find the SU into the NAP 300DR adds a little emphasis, like its trying to impress, like the ‘loudness button’ on old 70’s amps.
@alan33 I have tried a few pre amps and a couple of DAC pres with my NAP 300DR and the RME for me has made the best job of it so far.
I say so far, because I am forever trying new kit, mostly for the fun of it and I have a new project waiting to be built I just need to find the energy to get going.
I don’t think a XS, amp wise was better than SU.
IME go for at least a SN or separates if you wish amp improvement.
Oh, and completely disagree with above poster, the Nait 2 is certainly an option and I’d choose it for any Mc.intosh in the world every day of the year (apart from the value of course, I just dislike the blue lights and screwed timing to say it mildly)
Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and experience. I appreciate all the opinions and realise that there is a lot to think about. And an almost impossible decision, without doing some home demos. Which is what I will need to sort out next.
Fwiw, I have a SU and have no problems with the Naim app and “finding rooms”. I’m using a Ubiquiti Amplifi HD router with all iOS and Mac devices . Perhaps your network needs some optimization?
So this weekend I received a Chord Qutest to test out in between the Innuos zen 3 and the SuperUniti. Plugged it all in and left it to play for two days straight. It sounds very good on first listen, but Today I had some time to sit down and really listen to it. Going between the Chord Qutest via USB from the Zen, and going straight to the SU DAC via Coax from the zen. The good news is that they both sound really good. The bad news; they’re almost identical, the Chord might have the slightest edge, but It’s not a night and day difference, like I was expecting from all the online reviews. I need to give the Chord another few days to see if it need a bit more time to run-in.
Good to test these things @DomTomLondon in all of my experiments I have found the differences between DACs quite small and amongst the newer stuff, barely audible. Perhaps this is a good sign that lots of new stuff is good and reached the steep slope of diminishing returns.
You may be lucky, @DomTomLondon, but my ENT consultant told me that in men, the decline in hearing starts when you are in your mid-teens!
As I once said to a colleague in jest, who had received his rather poor hearing test results,
“its natures way, a young man, who is required to reproduce for the future of his species would hear the tiger coming and escape, you, in your late 60’s would not and you would serve the animal kingdom in other ways!”
He seemed confused, and then a bit upset, which I thought odd as we don’t have many tigers running lose in Bath and North East Somerset.