My US is approximately 14yrs old and has had its fair share of issues over the years but I still like how it sounds. Last week the Cmos battery failed again and I took it to my dealer and he was able to get it working while I was there. But it’s only a matter of time before another problem…
While I was at the dealer he told he had some of the last Uniti Cores available and in his opinion, the Core made an excellent server.
Over the weekend I’ve been doing some comparisons between my Synology NAS running Minimserver and the functioning again Unitiserve. Listening to tracks that are on both servers and I find US to have a more involving sound. I was actually hoping there would be no preference….
I have ripped all my cds years ago so I don’t need a ripper.
Questions are:
1 - Should I wait until the end of the year just in case Naim announces a replacement for the Core…?
2 - Just buy the Core as it does seem to be much more reliable?
3 - Look at other options like Innuous Stream 1. No idea on reliability.
My Synology NAS is 12 yrs old and while it’s working well, it does need to be replaced eventually.
My thinking is its better to buy a new audio server and then only use the current Synology Nas to make regular backups and otherwise it would be switched off and in a few years I’ll change it. I have all my music backed up on a separate Hdd as well.
What are the thoughts of those that changed from a US to a Core?
Hi CB
I have never owned a US but I did own a Core.
Due to networking problems with Naim streaming sources (including the Core) discussed at length in other threads, I moved on the Core earlier this year.
I landed on a ROON Nucleus 1 with 2 TB SSD feeding into my systems and have been very happy with the solution.
Also allows me to access my library remotely using the ROON ARC app, which is great for music on the move.
It will work superbly with your 222/250 system too.
Just a suggestion, good luck with your “adventure”…
Just buy one, perhaps two , while you can. All sorts of arguments about Core vs NAS vs other server brands all over this forum, but the Core is pretty much faff free, especially vs US, and just does what it says on the tin .
if that works for you, and if you were OK with the US it should, you’re done and dusted.
ATB, J
PS If you really can’t get on with the Core’s functionality, the Innuos products are well thought of. Unless you’re really IT savvy, the NAS options can be tricky.
You seem to have narrowed down your options and kinda made your decision.
Like you I had a UnitiServe, and like you had a number of issues with it. The US is not Naim’s finest product. I therefore decided to switch brands when it came to a server.
I went for Melco N1 SSD server, second hand but music files transferred from the US and carefully set up by the dealer.
The Melco sounds significantly better than the US and has been rock solid for a few years now.
Hi,
Your options really dependent on whether you want to maintain your library on the Synology NAS (as a dedicated file server) and serve the files from there or have the files on a dedicated music server and the Synology NAS remains there for backup.
Each option is valid.
For instance I have a brace of ReadyNAS units that are many years old, but just serving as networked file servers - they don’t run any applications, are behind filewalls and don’t present themselves on the public internet. I either serve my music library from an Asset UPnP server running on a stripped down RaspberryPi or, my default path, is through Roon.
Running the UPnP server on the NAS unit is not ideal, as the electrical noisy environment from general purpose computer system is not ideal for this.
Either NAS & a server without storage OR a dedicated audio server with storage, at this stage ideally SSD (unless you have a library in excess of 8TB, as SSD gets expensive).
The Melco will be perferable to the UnitiCore
But also look at the Innuous Stream 1 or the Lumin L2 library.
Or a SonicTransporter or one of the servers offered by Audiostore.
These can either be with storage or without (serving the file from the Synology NAS)
Please ensure you have a FLAC version of all your CDs ripped by the Unitiserve as if the Unitiserve fails a WAV backup will not work on any other streamer.
My Unitiserve has now passed away and I use Asset on a QNAP 2 bay NAS with mirrored drives, over the years these drives have failed individually but it is so simple to replace. Just remove drive bay fit replacement drive and refit. No need to even power down, the NAS then rebuilds the files on new drive.
Just for good measure a back up is kept on another similar NAS in the garage.
I was unable to tell the difference in any sound quality between the Unitiserve and NAS but then I am 66
My view (and you will, or course, find a wide variety of views here!) is that the Core is probably the last music server that I would consider buying. My dealer was keen to sell me one, and I had it on extended home demo on a couple of occasions. Used as a UPnP server, I could detect no difference in sound between the Core and my Unitiserve. So given that there is quite a long list of things that the Unitiserve can do, which the Core can’t, I could find no reason to buy it.
I also had an Innuos server on demo. In terms of functionality this was significantly better than the Core and Unitiserve, but sounded the same.
What I would actually do if my Unitiserve died would be to use my Synology NAS which holds the US backup, which I find also sounds identical to the same files served by the US. I could probably even make do without that and be happy using the built in server in my Naim streamer. My US has been consistently reliable over the years, so I have just stuck with it.
(Regarding a possible Core replacement: don’t hold your breath. There’s no guarantee that Naim will ever make one.)
I went from an Innuos MK2 to a SonicTransport I7 Gen3 and in between I borrowed a Zenith MK3. I didn’t think there was much difference between the Innuos models. I generally thought that the Innous was too expensive and ordered a SonicTransport I7 Gen3, as I could also send it back if I wasn’t satisfied. What appealed to me was that it runs: Roon, HQ Player, LMS, Minimserver, Plex and Audirvana. So it’s a flexible machine you get
I owned a core for a few years, traded it in eventually. Now I listen to Spotify or internet radio 99% of the time. I have all my ripped music on a 3 TB portable hard drive, which I simply plugged into the usb port on my streamer. Last time I listened to any of the music on it…probably years now.
Been using a Core since they were released it pips my Synology NAS on sound quality and so easy to use no p****** about with computers. Synology parked in a cupboard.
I sold off my UnitiServe over 10 years ago. After using nas boxes for a few years (Synology and QNAP) I bought a Roon Nuc and adopted Roon streaming and have been delighted ever since.
If the US files are WAV, convert all to FLAC whilst still on US, then backup to USB drive, move USB drive to Core, restore to Core and you’re done, easy peasy.
The Core will support Naim WAV files, but meta data, album artwork, etc. just seems easier to handle as FLAC.
Just my opinion of course, I stand to be corrected shortly .
If you are able to put a SSD into your Unitiserve, it will continue to serve you for a while!
The only issue I had with it was the ethernet PCB that failed, and was repaired with support from my local dealer.
Other than that, it’s working very well with a 2Tb SSD with all my music on it. Since it has numeric output (that most of the NAS don’t have) I will stay with it still for a (long) while!
, while you can. All sorts of arguments about Core vs NAS vs other server brands all over this forum, but the Core is pretty much faff free, especially vs US, and just does what it says on the tin 
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