Verdict
Such sound quality , such flexibleness in reservoir and such ravisher in design – this is a rarefied treat . If you ’re ready to bestow your hi - fi setup into the 21st century , the Naim Audio Atom is just what you need .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The last ten years has attend hi - fi macrocosm go through significant alteration , and Naim is one of the few companies fully sweep up it .
Gone are the days of hi - fi being limited to a few with the sentence , longanimity and space to progress a system of rules of disjoined audio constituent . So is the Naim Uniti Atom the hereafter of hullo - fi ?
An all - in - one music musician comprising a in high spirits - resolution streamer and a 40W incorporate amplifier , the Uniti Atom is half the size of a typical hi - fi portion . However , its vast array of strong-arm and networked joining , plus its stunning design and stellar audio performance suggest that no compromises have been made here . Just sum up a good pair of speakers and you ’re off to audio nirvana .
Design
In some way , a hi - fi system is like a motorcar . certain , a cheap one will still get you from A to B , but there ’s a sense of joy , panache and reassurance that comes with going insurance premium . In that respect , the Naim Uniti Atom is essentially an Aston Martin .
The shape is almost altogether made of black aluminium . Despite being a ‘ half - size ’ hi - fi organization at 95 x 245 x 265 mm , it ’s a heavy wolf . Weight is n’t always an indicator of caliber , but when your novel toy is built like a storage tank , it ’s hard not to feel unspoilt about it . You ’ll desire to set it up on a hardy surface – that shaky coffee tabular array wo n’t be up to the chore .
The top aluminium jury has a brushed goal , which is n’t only pleasing to the eye ; it feels adept too . The aluminium sides are more virtual – they ’re finned to assist as heatsinks . Naim says this serves to maximize thermic stability , which in bout helps with longevity and sonic performance . Those who do it their hi - fi will recognise this as an element countermand from the £ 120,000 flagship Naim Statement amp system .
Then there ’s the pancake - sized volume boss , clear descended from the one on the Naim Muso sound systems . It ’s a solid chemical mechanism with no hint of wobble ; its weight makes mass adjustment almost ceremonial , yet it turn so smoothly it might as well be set into satin . Sure , you may make it go louder with the remote – but getting up to do it yourself is infinitely more pleasurable .
There ’s a commitment to mood unhorse here too . A whitened incandescence emanates from the al-Qaida of the volume dial , but as you increase mass , parts of its surface light up . The Naim logo is also crystallize in white-hot , peer out from behind a cake of acrylic resin . Naim purists might neglect the old green - lit logo , but I always ascertain it a little dated .
A 5 - inch liquid crystal display screen occupy much of the acrylic cheek plate . It ’s a adequate screen , being big and clear enough to display the input you ’ve selected from several cadence away . It ’s full - coloration too , which is all the adept for displaying back art . It is n’t a touchscreen , though .
That this is no ordinary medicine system is accentuate through a figure of small mite , such as propinquity sensors . Get nigh to the screenland and it will swop from cover prowess to track info ; reach for the volume boss and the volume index number segments illumine up .
Motion sensors are also at play in the remote controller . Pick it up and its backlit clitoris spring to life . peculiarly graceful is the remote control ’s ring of brightness level , which synchronises with the Uniti Atom ’s volume boss . Crank it up on the Atom itself and the remote control ’s lights switch consequently . Very cool indeed .
If there ’s a design choice over which I remain unconvinced , it ’s the use of glossy acrylic for the outback control – it ’s fingermark magnet . Still , it ’s easygoing enough to wipe down . And there ’s a remote app as an alternative .
Features
Do n’t permit those designer depend fool you . The Naim Uniti Atom is armed with all the connection you ’d expect of a traditional hi - fi setup , and plenty more besides .
You get three digital inputs ( two ocular , one coaxial ) , one set of analogue RCA inputs , one pre - amp output , 3.5 mm phone output , two USB ports ( front and rearward ) , plus a set of speaker outputs for 4 mm banana tree plugs . inquisitively , there ’s an alternating Naim Uniti Atom with anHDMI ARCinput – that one be an excess £ 150 .
Networked connections admit Wi - Fi and Bluetooth ( SBC andaptX HDsupported ) , with compatibility for Chromecast , Spotify , Tidal , Apple AirPlay 2and internet radio . As common , you ’ll also be able to rain buckets your own music from networked storage devices .
Tying everything together is the Naim app , which is goodly and easy enough to navigate . Tidal is built into the app , but there ’s no integration for Spotify – you get transferred to the prescribed Spotify app . The software is n’t as snappy as I ’d like , and I experienced a couple of crash . Overall , however , this is one of the in force audio mastery apps out there .
Oh , and Naim ’s obsession with particular extend even to the business leader cable’s length . The Power - Line Lite is a kettle lead on steroids , featuring floating PIN number within the case for superior electrical link and a decoupled mechanical intention , which point to foreclose palpitation journey between components .
Performance
I tried several bent of speakers for this test – some old Mordaunt - Short MS10 , the newQ Acoustics 3020i , and my default setup – a twain of Dynaudio Contour 1.3 MK II . They ’ve all fetch their own trait but consistent across the board was how expert they all vocalise with the Naim Uniti Atom . I do n’t have floorstanders , but I ’m well-chosen to say the Atom unquestionably suffers no take drive large stand - mount speakers .
The highest compliment that I can pay the Naim Uniti Atom is that it made me desire to rediscover my favourite songs . I generate into hi - fi in the first position because I wanted to listen more of the euphony I enjoyed . Happily , Naim has brought me back to a humor of discovery and rediscovery .
A good sound system is n’t one that adds the most ; it ’s the one that takes the least away . And heed to the Naim Uniti Atom , it often felt like a caul had been lifted off some of my most familiar test track .
The level of insight – of clarity and detail – is simply remarkable . I find myself appreciating parts of songs I ’d previously lease for granted , which is quite something considering my repertory of review music has n’t switch much in six years .
The smallest difference in production are lay bare . I became fascinated by how much freshwater bass notes had exchange from the 1980s to the 2000s , how they ’d generally become more vivid and hefty .
There ’s no shortage of grain , so at all metre you ’re decipherable what is diddle . The real treat is the rhythmic preciseness and the enunciation of the smallest imperfections , which establish you a connection to the homo behind the instrument . Then there ’s the common sense of quad and separation , which is so palpable that not only will you be aware of what they ’re playing and who ’s playing it – but also from where they ’re playing it .
This is a staggeringly dynamic listen , too . The Naim Uniti Atom is adequate to of a intemperately - tally carrying into action if you ’re into the sort of music that stir your light fittings . However , where it really shines is in the subtle dynamic teddy that make vocals expressive , or orchestral crescendos hit home .
This insight , timing and dynamism was consistently delivered across any literary genre of music thrown at the system . The smelly psychedelia of Dr John , the low - conclusion menace of Massive Attack , the heavy - isthmus bedlam of Buena Vista Social Club , the brilliant brass of John Williams , the melancholy vocals of Rachel Yamagata – nothing could confound the Naim Uniti Atom , which reposition geared wheel appropriately at every turn .
Even more impressive was the fact that the scheme did this with a variety of reservoir , from 320kbps Spotify to CD - quality to 24 - scrap tracks streamed via aptX HD Bluetooth . The Naim Uniti Atom resisted the enticement to bully the lower - quality tracks and punctuate their shortcomings . You do lose out on some detail , but the sound is always exciting .
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Should you buy it?
All you want to do with the Uniti Atom is add speakers . Simple as that .
Over £ 2000 is a pricey sum to pay for an all - in - one streaming system
Final Thoughts
The Naim Uniti Atom is precisely what Hawaii - fi should be in this day and years . Yes , you could spend £ 2000 on separate audio components and have change remaining for a comely solidifying of speakers , but it ’s intemperate to indicate against the convenience and elegance of the Naim Uniti Atom , which can well support its own against any separates system out there .
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We test every all - in - one system of rules we review thoroughly over an extended period of metre . We use manufacture standard tests to compare feature properly . We ’ll always tell you what we observe . We never , ever , assume money to review a merchandise .
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FAQs
The Uniti Atom does have an HDMI ARC ( or in update manakin eARC ) port .
