Since 2015 I’ve been using a Superuniti in our downstairs living space paired with a non-DR 250 power amp, B&W PV1D subwoofer and wall-mounted B&W M1 speakers. 50% of our listening is focused (no distractions) and 50% is background music. Sources are ripped CDs on a Uniti Core and Spotify. We love the sound, but were curious as to what improvements the NSC 222 would bring over the Superuniti.
I live in Japan, where there is no Naim representation, but was able to listen to the NSC 222 at a dealer during a recent trip home to the UK; source was Qobuz and the 222 was paired with a 250 DR, driving B&W 707 S3s. So not really an A:B comparison. It sounded very tight and very dynamic, but it’s not clear how much of the improvement came from just the 222.
By my understanding the 222 uses upgraded streaming technology, a newer DAC and an improved pre-amp? But they ain’t cheap, and I’m wondering whether the cost will be justified. If only I had a local dealer here and could take a 222 home to audition for the weekend…
If there are any of you who have made the upgrade from a Superuniti (or similar) to the 222, or who are familiar with the enhancements the 222 incorporates, would be interested to hear your views. For now I would run it through the same non-DR 250 and existing speakers. Many thanks in advance.
The Superuniti was a great piece of kit; still have one here.
It gave way to a Nova when the new Uniti range arrived. Where it is used, I hankered for a 272, but elected to wait for the new streamer pre-amp and one arrived unheard on release.
Significant upgrade in a difficult room to drive. The two caveats I would make is the speakers, S400s benefit from the upgrade and second, although I have tried a very new NAP250DR, there is an improvement again using my NC250.
You would likely have to weigh two factors. If your speakers are up to making the most of NSC222+250, second the NSC222 does benefit from NC250.
If speakers are to remain unchanged, a Nova may give you better vfm; ymmv.
Note there is diverging opinion about adding a NAP to Nova - some think it works, some don’t including here; it unbalances the Nova with the source becoming the weak point, despite Nova being an uplift on SU.
Hope that helps.
A Nova is a good one-box, but it won’t drive/ grip speakers as well as a 250.
An Atom HE will work well with a 250. In the UK, I can see s/h examples for c.£2k on eBay, and even a new one looks cheap compared to a 222.
For much less than the cost of a 222, I hit eBay and bought for a second system ND5XS2 streamer plus 82 preamp plus Hicap PS plus Core. Add my old 250, service the old boxes (if over decade old), and the result sounds a good deal better than a Nova.
Having heard NC 222/250, I think that that was better again (and fewer boxes), but there wasn’t much in it for SQ and the cost difference is huge.
Good luck!
Thank you - very useful. I think as you say the speakers and my vintage 250 will be the limiting factor, and unless I upgrade these, I’m unlikely to reap most of the benefit of the NSC 222. I’ll stick with the Superuniti for now. Thank you for the feedback.
Appreciate the feedback. Some interesting alternative suggestions there. I agree that the NSC222 / NC250 combo sounds better, but not enough to justify the extra outlay. I’ll probably stick with the Superuniti / 250 combo for now. In the meantime I’ve started using Tidal in addition to Spotify (the Superuniti can handle most of what Tidal streams, but it can’t handle Qobuz) which has provided a nice uplift at minimal cost. Thank you.
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I found the Nova sounded better than my superuniti and can be bought second hand at reasonable prices.
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How old is your 250? Even the youngest non-DR models will be coming up to 10 years old and will not perform at their best without a service/recap.
You may want to factor this into your upgrade plans.
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Thanks - difficult to audition a Nova here in Japan. Will stick with the Superuniti for now and see what’s available when I visit the UK this time next year.
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Thanks. My 250 is ancient! Bought it ex-demo in 1998 and had it serviced & recapped in 2012. Used it for a total of 8 years since then. Will factor in another service if I decide to keep it.
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Understand, used Nova’s are very reasonably priced now - sub 2.5k in the UK and I actually preferred my Naim Atom to my old superuniti.
Superuniti is an excellent product but getting a little tired compared to the Nova / Atom now.
Gary