Marty, the same effect can be achieved restarting the unit several times in a row. With each restart SQ becomes better and better. 3-4 times is enough to return SQ to perfect. Downgrading to 2.6.1 and then upgrading to 3.2 does the same: unit restarts during installation several times and this improves SQ. The question is more about how long does SQ remain good. I think it will eventually degrade again, at least with 2.6.1 update.
By the way, today my Atom also sounds good. I felt several minor SQ degradations during the day, but they were really minor, so no problem.
Yes, I also would like to know the reason behind this. What was it? (burn-in, static accumulation, flaw in hardware, sensitive reaction to mains, network noise?)
I have started the Nova several times without any changes.
Since my Nova power cycle post upgrade, the improved SQ is still with me. Something is definitely awry with the upgrade process that really needs to be resolved, even if it’s as simple as instruction to cycle the power.
So this means that SQ of your Nova is good now
Yes, SQ is as described all of us.
I mean “… each restart SQ becomes better and better. 3-4 times” was not the solution.
It came from alone (via Network )!
And remember the update procedure was improved several times (you can read it in the Naim App history) so the update procedure may not have been so easy. For the future I will wait at least 1 week before I update the Nova again.
At this time my SQ improvement also came out of the blue. But I’ve already used to do several restarts in a row before listening to music. So I really want to know explanation about it.
I’ll continue monitoring my Atom. Maybe restarts will not be necessary any more. But I doubt very much about it…
No, I do not. The Gremlin is gone.
I also have all display issues described by @Hollow on my Nova („locked home screen“ and „display doesn’t wake up“ after the Nova powers up from standby). My display off option is turned off in the app settings. Sometimes putting the Nova into deep sleep helps, and another time only pulling the mains plug does the trick. I hope there will be a fix out soon (!).
Marty how do you get the old firmware and then reload the new version, I’d like to do this as my Nova sounds terrible?
Nick
You couldn’t make this stuff up!
.sjb
Hi Nick,
Contact Naim Support. Steve Harris posted his email in an earlier post: steve.harris@naimaudio.com
Did you try power cycling your Nova as well?
I spoke to Marc (a Naim representative) at the Naim booth at High End in Munich and he explained that one of the reasons for the delay in delivering the new firmware was that the person who evaluates the sound quality between firmwares was not available for some time. This persons listens side by side different Uniti appliances side by side to evaluate sound differences.
So yes, Naim does tests functionality and sound quality.
As a newcomer to Naim and Uniti I’ve followed this thread with interest. The spontaneous changes in SQ is a bizarre ‘feature’ I’ve not encountered before. I was always hesitant to go for a all-in-one, precisely because you’re putting yourself in the hands of the manufacturer in terms of quality/frequency of updates, especially down the line when their focus switches to next gen products. But the appeal of the Nova and reputation of Naim persuaded me to ditch my separates…
In terms of spontaneous SQ change when using the same FW, is it possible that Naim push out smaller delta updates silently? I only ask, as the other day whilst my system was in standby - had not been used for a day or so - I heard it make several relay clicks, like it was powering up. I thought I was imagining things, but a few minutes later it did it again.
I wondered if it was silently rebooting after some kind of change?
Sometimes I also have the relay clicks in standby mode.
At first time when I bought the Nova, the network communication was very confusing. For example, turning on a PC has triggered the Nova to switch ON. My solution therefore was to delete any related device (is able for UpNP communication) in the windows device system settings. I am not sure, but this issue is also gone from alone (maybe silent update).
Also I find out that the Nova was accessing permanently my QNAP-NAS (or was another user here before me), I don’t know why (maybe MI-6 ). I think it was more a problem of the Naim App.
In general I think this is the reason why the SQ changed or Display is froozen sometimes because the processor is always in 100 % caused by secondary processes.
I don’t know. I try to understand, and is probably nonsense.
I’ve had the same experience with my Nova, audible clicks when in standby.
All I can say to those experiencing problems with the new update is to persevere as the final product is worth it.
I was considering upgrading to the SN2/NDX2 but think I’ll wait until the much hoped for 372 appears sometime in the future.
I’ve not run my Nova for a few days, so decided to power off, unplug and restart for the fun of it. It’s sounding great, no idea if any different, enjoyable all the same.
Seems SQ improvement on my Atom continues. I left my Atom playing music overnight. Today I feel super deep and heavy bass coming from speakers. It is really heavy, even felt on low volumes. Wonderful. I never heard such bass from Atom.
What is going on?
I’m beginning to think that new update somehow initiated super-fast (artificial) unit burn-in. Maybe we can compare it to some kind of overclock with raised voltage on CPU or similar methods…I mean burn in for low voltage circuit units, like CPU, cache, etc.
I’m listening to album “Pole: WALD (2015)”. Very very deep, solid, and impressive bass from my Focal Arias 926. It didn’t even know that this album has such strong bass line.
Let’s see what surprises Atom will prepare tomorrow :).
I find every power cycle, even prior to the firmware results in a change (small but a change), almost as if it needs a regular flush to keep it clean