Hey there,
I’m currently using separates but thinking and considering to consolidate and possibly get an all-in-one integrated such as the Uniti Nova, but I don’t want to compromise the overall performance and musicality of my current separates by going with the Uniti Nova. I don’t have a turntable so I don’t need a phono stage. But I still play SACD & CD mostly SACD from my Cary Audio CD 306 SACD player / DAC (professional version). I use this player to play SACD/CD as well as a standalone DAC for my Lumin streamer. Does the Uniti Nova digitize its analog inputs? I know it has only RCA single ended analog inputs and DIN. Ideally I would want XLR balanced analog input for my Cary CD 306 SACD player since the Cary is a true balanced design internally and they highly recommend using its XLR balanced analog out.
My current setup consists of the following :
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Lumin U1 Mini streamer with an upgraded external SBooster linear power supply unit. I use the Lumin to stream Qobuz and Tidal. This is a strictly digital transport and has no DAC.
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Cary Audio CD 306 SACD player / DAC (professional version). I use this to play SACD and CD as well as a standalone DAC for the Lumin. And the Lumin is connected to the Cary 306 via AES EBU digital cable.
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PS Audio BHK Signature hybrid vacuum tube preamp. This is a pure analog linestage preamp with tube input and gain stages and the output stage is solid state discrete class A MOSFET design.
I have 2 different power amps that I alternate using every now and then one at the time. I usually swapped them out every 8 months or so. They are :
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Modwright KWA 100SE class A/AB MOSFET design power amp. This is basically a class AB mosfet design amp and only the first few watts are high biased into class A.
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Cary Audio SA 200.2 ES class AB power amp.
I also have 2 different pairs of speakers that I alternate using every now and then. I usually swapped them out every 8 months or so. They are the Dynaudio Contour 20 standmount with the matching Contour 20 stands. And the other speakers are Monitor Audio Gold 200 5g (5th generation). These speakers use AMT (air motion tweeter) which Monitor Audio calls MPD (micro pleaded diaphragm).
I know the Dynaudio Contour 20 isn’t an easy load with 86 db sensitivity and nominal impedance of 4 ohms and can dig lower. So I’m not sure if the Uniti Nova will be able to drive them to their full potential. While my listening room is very small but I often like to crank up the volume and play quite loud but still at respectable volume level. So not sure if the Nova would be suitable for the Contour 20. What do you guys think? Has anyone had experience using the Nova to drive the Dynaudio Contour 20?
And also do you guys think that I would be downgrading from my current separates to the Uniti Nova sonically or performance wise? Because I don’t want to compromise the overall sound quality and musicality by going with the Nova. I’m sure the Nova would probably sound different than my separates but I want to maintain the level of sonic quality or performance and musicality of my separates, but at the same time I want to keep it simple by going for a one box solution with the Uniti Nova. I would appreciate any feedback, advise, opinions and thought on this. Thanks in advance.