Introducing Uniti, our revolutionary new streaming platform.
Posted by: NaimAudio on 03 October 2016
Dear Forum members,
Today we announce our most revolutionary streaming platform yet. Inspired by our unfaltering passion for music and enabled by more than 40 years' of tireless innovation, we introduce the new Uniti range. Comprising the Uniti Nova, Uniti Star and Uniti Atom all-in-one players and the Uniti Core hard disk server, Uniti's brand new state-of-the-art technology enables you to experience music like never before. Rip and store entire collections, play or stream music from any source, at the touch of a button, all with the deep, immersive sound only a Naim system delivers.
Our Research and Development team in Salisbury had to fundamentally deconstruct every historic design and technology decision we had ever made to challenge themselves and go further, especially in terms of sound quality. It’s a true ground-up development, all hand-built in Salisbury, with our core principles at its heart. We looked at every single aspect of the product proposition, the electronic architecture, the mechanical enclosure, the user experience and the approach to manufacture and assembly.
The result? A clear step change in every single aspect of the products, a true achievement of excellence. We hope you enjoy this exciting new product range and look forward to hearing what you think.
Discover Uniti: https://www.naimaudio.com/uniti
Best wishes
Naim
[Edited: 13.01.2017]
The new Uniti range is our biggest release in over fifteen years and we are really proud of all the work that has gone into crafting this revolutionary new product range. Due to the technical complexity of Uniti we have faced more challenges than we initially anticipated and we still have some features to refine to ensure the products that reach you are of the highest possible quality.
We are currently processing certifications for AirPlay, GoogleCast, TIDAL, Bluetooth (aptX HD), WiFi, HDMI and Spotify Connect and beta testing our latest software; the team is working extremely hard to ensure that the products stand up to the level of quality you have come to expect from Naim.
As such we have made the difficult decision to delay shipping Uniti Atom until May with Uniti Star and Uniti Nova following in June.
We have been reviewing all customer feedback from the Uniti Core servers shipped in 2016, and made the decision to stop shipping after Christmas, to ensure we have fixed any software issues before shipping en masse. We are expecting a firmware update next week, and an over-the-air update will be available via the app for those who have already received their Uniti Core servers. Shipping will re-commence next week as soon as the firmware is available and tested.
We know the delay is frustrating and sincerely apologise for it. Thank you for your continued support and patience while we put the finishing touches on your Uniti.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by intothevoid
Surprised there's no USB output on the Core and Atom in particular.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by james n
Surprised there's no USB output on the Core and Atom in particular.
Naim's preferred 'digital' connection seems to still be coaxial S/PDIF so not surprising. I suppose this gives it best fit within a Naim system - S/PDIF into a DAC on the main rack and Ethernet streams to other players for multiroom.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Sloop John B
As the owner or both UniQute and SuperUniti these do seem like true upgrades. (Although I doubt I will upgrade). It's a pity they didn't use the opportunity to integrate with Roon but they obviously see Roon as a competitor rather than complimentary. (I use Roon with my 3 Naim systems- they work excellently together). However the addition of AirPlay will allow them to be used with Roon and Roon is working on chromecast compatibility so all is not lost.
Hi Sloop,
Roon integration is on the list of information that I'm allowed to give you and is planned to "be activated in the near future"...
Phil
Thanks Phil, that's great news, I'm glad Naim is open to this and I think it's a wise move along with chromecast which will free you from the " I want " brigade (which admittedly I've been part of myself!)
SJB
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Sloop John B
Would the "Core" have the ability to upscale servicing at 24 bit for all files like Asset can ?
And what good would that do?
upscaling reduces jitter. I guess it can help improve SQ
Upscaling allows for volume normalisation with minimal effect on sound quality, excellent ( if not essential) for playlists containing tracks at wildly varying volumes.
SJB
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Allan Milne
External HDD units can be noisy, both sonically and in terms of interference so I wouldn't particularly want this on my audio rack next to the Uniti unit.
At the price point of the Uniti Core, it looks like there is headroom for taking the SSD rather than the HDD route ... a quick glance looks like £300-400 for 1Tb.
Allan
.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by tonym
Surprised there's no USB output on the Core and Atom in particular.
Yes, I guess that's one surprising omission. For us with USB DACs it's slightly disappointing. Still, the rest of the spec. more than makes up for it.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Simon Everest
Star looks like a worthy upgrade for my first gen Uniti, *but* the photos of the back make me think there might not be power for a Stageline, which would be a fly in the ointment.
surprised there aren't a few more comments about he Muso style controls on the top. Not the most convenient of configurations…
Simon
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by fatcat
Do any of the units have a MC phono stage.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by DUPREE
Wow, that looks unbelievably cool - huge step forward. Are those units still assembled in the UK ?
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
the second slot on the front lower of the Core, added or dropped?
Not sure what you mean there?
Phil
Naim's website shows what looks like an SD card slot :
... and it's absent in the image from Andrew's site :
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Pcd
Designed and manufactured in the UK.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Pcd
If you scroll down the website there appears to be two different pictures
one with the slot the other without ??
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Richard Dane
Surprised there's no USB output on the Core and Atom in particular.
Yes, I guess that's one surprising omission. For us with USB DACs it's slightly disappointing. Still, the rest of the spec. more than makes up for it.
I'd be happy to avoid digital audio over USB if at all possible. USB audio is really just a necessary evil forced upon us who dabble in computer audio. A properly designed and applied s/pdif connection is much nicer.
I do wonder though about that HDMI connection. I wonder what other future possibilities lie there.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Richard Dane
Star looks like a worthy upgrade for my first gen Uniti, *but* the photos of the back make me think there might not be power for a Stageline, which would be a fly in the ointment.
surprised there aren't a few more comments about he Muso style controls on the top. Not the most convenient of configurations…
Simon
Simon, possibly an excuse to give the Stageline a dedicated power supply - problem solved and a nice sonic upgrade too.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by ChrisH
Very nice looking designs with impressive feature sets (and wireless updates too), and Ive no doubt the SQ will be top notch too. Nice work Naim!
I look forward to seeing them live at my dealer in the not too distant future.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Bert Schurink
It looks nice, while I had hoped for another announcement....... (statement streamer)....
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Music247
Stunning new products from Naim.
Goodbye Synology,QNAP and outrageously priced network cables.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by nigelb
Well I was right with my guess that this was a replacement for the whole Uniti range styled a la MuSo but wrong that they would be built in China and I am very glad I was wrong on that point. It is absolutely great that Naim have found efficiencies in the production process by rationalising the componentry and reorganising production units allowing these to be built at competitive prices in Salisbury.
Naim should be congratulated on a revamp (and enhancement) of an entire range and keeping production in the UK.
All we need to do know is see (or rather hear) how they sound and I have no doubts in that area.
PS - the new range looks superb.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by hungryhalibut
Stunning new products from Naim.
Goodbye Synology,QNAP and outrageously priced network cables.
But why?
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Bart
the second slot on the front lower of the Core, added or dropped?
Not sure what you mean there?
Phil
Naim's website shows what looks like an SD card slot :
... and it's absent in the image from Andrew's site :
The slot is there, but hidden by the faceplate as seen in the lower photo. You (or the dealer) just need to take a drill / tool to cut away the metal from the faceplate seen in the lower photo.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Clay Bingham
Wow! Very impressive new direction. I really like the new look design. Glad to see that Naim still has its design chops intact and its great to see good people and a good company move forward. Difficult times in our hobby but great opportunities as well.
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Pcd
Bert, at least you have some idea what the Statement streamer will look
like ?
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Solid Air
Hi Sloop,
Roon integration is on the list of information that I'm allowed to give you and is planned to "be activated in the near future"...
Phil
Phil - what else is on the list of information that you're allowed to give us?
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Pcd
Phil, more importantly how long is the list of information that you are not
allowed to give use ?
Posted on: 06 October 2016 by Antonio1
Star looks like a worthy upgrade for my first gen Uniti, *but* the photos of the back make me think there might not be power for a Stageline, which would be a fly in the ointment.
surprised there aren't a few more comments about he Muso style controls on the top. Not the most convenient of configurations…
Simon
Simon, possibly an excuse to give the Stageline a dedicated power supply - problem solved and a nice sonic upgrade too.
Apparently also to a SNAIC phono lead to amp as it seems it might be connected just that way?
