I have an aging Uniti2 and I wonder whether I should get it repaired (cd no longer plays and intermittent power offs) and serviced or whether I should go for a new or newish UnitiNova. How good is the Nova? I love my Uniti2. There seem to be lots of Novas on the second hand market. Why is this? I don’t think I want to be without a system and I hear repairs take ages!!
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Nova is a very good sweet spot in the Naim product range. I dare say you won be disappointed. Paired with the right speakers you will be happy for a long time.
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Novas are imho very good indeed. However, I suspect that a Nova is a gateway drug - some get one and stick but many find that they like it a lot but soon wonder if another box or two would make things even better. In no time, those people have gone to multi-box systems and the Nova is on eBay.
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I had to “downgrade” to a Nova from a 500-level system for space reasons. It’s a very good one-box solution that does everything I need. But, as mentioned above, the urge to upgrade it appears and is tough to resist.
While the gateway comments are accurate, I wholeheartedly recommend the Uniti to Nova path. I had a uniti 2 and the Nova was a fabulous move. I liked it so much I kept it when the urge to upgrade gripped. It’s really a very sweet spot in the range.
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The Nova is an excellent box but despite the 80w pc it will struggle with larger speakers. I use mine with B&W 805 D3 and it is excellent with them.
Really? I have some Dynaudio floor standing Contour 1.8 MkII’s and they are fine with the Uniti2. Surely the Nova will drive them as well as the Uniti2 does?
Larger speakers are often easier to drive than smaller ones if I’m not mistaken.
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I downsized from a top multibox olive system to a Uniti, then a Superuniti and finally (I use that word advisedly) a Nova. I’ve had my Nova for about 5 years now and it’s not going anywhere. It was a huge step up in sound quality from the Uniti and even the SU, and it has the same streaming capabilities as the latest gear . Apart from a Powerline mains lead it needs no upgrades, just enjoy the music.
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Nova is without doubt a great piece of kit - I originally had SU which is now used elsewhere.
I think, which others have touched on, be careful not to drive too significant a speaker.
A Nova will drive something like Spendor SA1s well, depending on room, Ovator 400s are under driven; I speak from direct experience, so as @Mark84 and @PeterJersey have both said, speakers will make a difference. Match well, the Nova will excel. The Nova will not imho, excel with the addition of a NAP like a 250. It merely changes certain things and overall, not for the better, ymmv. Nova is a superb all rounder.
If you already have your speakers @PeppaPig, then audition a Nova in your own listening environment. It will sound different maybe to your existing uniti, but if you like its presentation, then you have answered your own question. The difficulty is that precludes a blind purchase, but a friendly dealer will be aware of the market, so a deal can often be negotiated.
As for your existing Uniti2 - maybe talk to Darren at Class A?
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Thanks I will talk to Darren. I assume that the output characteristics of the Uniti2 and the Nova would be similar. My speakers are Dynaudio Contour 1.8 mk2’s which are perfectly happy with the Uniti2 driving them.
How about a Nova with my existing ATC SCM19 speakers?
Just make sure you call him Darran, because that’s his name.
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I use scm11 with great results! The 19 might be a struggle if you like dance floor volumes tho
Thanks for your input @Hifi-dog it helps with our 272 stick or twist conundrum. No more dance floor volumes for us!
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Given availability of the Naim app, how important is access to the Nova top mounted volume control? The top shelf of our IsoBlue (pippy oak) rack is used for a table lamp.
I have my nova on isoblue but if your going to put on shelf you will likely want some extensions probably the taller ones, as it does get warm on top… and with the app and the remote the vol knob is a nice to have but not essential…
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I never use the top-mounted control, the buttons, or the screen. The app is all I use.
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How big is the lamp as the nova is smaller than usual naim separates so I can get a lamp and nova on top and on a naim glass shelf , without the glass there is bags of room
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