Verdict
While the Uniti Star costs a not inconsiderable gist , it does n’t have much in the manner of obvious competitor . Linn ’s Selekt DSM is an extremely mellow - execution all - in - one – but at Uniti Star spec it costs well over five thousand . In terms of build timber and sound this is absolutely exemplary stuff from Naim .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Uniti Star is Naim Audio ’s premium music streamer that offers the power to take on , rip and stash away your medicine assemblage . With a host of features , the Uniti Star aims to be a one - stop shop for your music pelt needs
What does the term music kernel make you think of ? The solvent look on how old you are , I guess – but no matter when you were carry , you ’re probably thinking about one box that takes care of all your euphony penury .
Naim is n’t hold up in the past where its range of music centres are concerned . Its Uniti series of all - in - one stereo systems have won acclaim and profits – and with Uniti Star it ’s aiming to rescue everything the discerning ( and sanely flush ) listener could realistically ask . Just add loudspeakers .
Design
Anyone familiar with Naim ’s current brand of industrial design could n’t slip the Uniti Star for any other producer ’s intersection . It ’s a chunkily elegant bit of black , brushed Al casework with ( visually quite sensational ) aluminum fin hotness sinks along each side .
On top there ’s a reworking of the oversized command bicycle that ’s become such a lineament of Naim ’s current chain of mountains of products , and up front there ’s a snappy 5 - in full - colouration LCD display . The Uniti Star seems to be adrift on that illuminated slab of Perspex that ’s become a theme song Naim innovation lineament .
So it ’s box-shaped , in a purposeful – rather than an unimaginative – way , and like every other product in Naim ’s current range it ’s built to outlive disasters of all variety . If you palpate confident in judging a piece of equipment ’s quality at least in part on the basis of how heavy it is , the 13 kg Uniti Star will reassure .
Features
contribute that the Naim Uniti Star is a medicine centre , it follow that it will have plenty of functionality . Which prove to be the case – if you find yourself in need of feature article the Star does n’t have , well , perhaps you ’re trying too firmly .
As far as physical sources go , the Uniti Star has that most retro of facilities : a CD drive . As well as playing CDs it also functions as a ripper , so your space - thirsty CD collection can be rip to local computer memory for radical - commodious playback . The Star has a couple of USB sockets and an South Dakota placard slot to make local storage even more local .
Other physical stimulation admit a yoke of digital optical inputs ( each good for digital audio single file to a maximum of 24 - bit/96kHz resolution ) , three digital coaxal sockets ( two RCA , one BNC , all good for 24 - bit/192kHz ) , an Ethernet socket and anHDMI ARCinput to wreak your television receiver onto the Star ’s radar . Analogue inputs are restricted to a stereo RCA connection and a 5 - oarlock DIN equivalent weight .
And there ’s even more functionality where wireless reference are concerned . The Star is Roon - ready , has Chromecast built - in , AirPlay 2,Tidal , Spotify Connect , internet radio ( allow for by vTuner),aptX HD Bluetoothand UPnP. Naturally , dual - band Wi - Fi is on board too ( Naim has slyly hidden both the Wi - Fi and Bluetooth antenna inside that lovely control wheel ) .
Over the web the Naim is subject of delivering up to a 32 - bit/384kHz and/or DSD128 standard , and for old - school radio fanatics there ’s the selection of a DAB+/FM piano tuner faculty .
There are stereo RCA outputs for a power amplifier and a pre - out for use with a powered subwoofer . Up front there ’s a 3.5 millimetre socket for use with earphone .
No matter the source , it ’ll be driven by the Star ’s Class AB elaboration – it ’s rated at 70 watt per channel into 8ohms , which is more than enough to deal with all but the most recalcitrant speakers .
There ’s no denying the Naim ’s presentation is a lovely affair – colorful , crisp and high - definition – and it ’s alongside a amount of four fascia controls : power on / off , play / pause , input selection and ‘ favourite ’ . The days of a euphony centre making a virtue of having dozens of push button and controller are long go .
What the innovative medicine centre needs is a distant ascendence ( the Naim ’s is comprehensive , backlit and overnice enough in the hired hand , though not nice enough to feel like it ’s accompanying a £ 3.5k ware ) and a ascendancy app . Naim ’s iOS and Android app is as clean and clear as the Star ’s fascia display , and it ’s about as static as these thing ever get . That ’s to say it ’s not entirely unchanging , can be a little slow - witted at times and is n’t above doss if it have a spot accented .
Naim ’s problem is the same as every other sword ’s problem where ascendency apps are pertain . Everyone has used an app designed by a ship’s company with effectively unlimited time and money to devote to it , and as a consequence everyone expects every other app they use to be this stable and dependable .
But only companies with the aforementioned resources can have perfect apps – every other trade name simply does the sound it can with the resources it has . But when you ’re three - and - a - half grand lighter after buy a Uniti Star , to see the ascendancy app smash ( again ) is a little deflating .
Sound Quality
To anyone who ’s familiar with Naim ’s recent piece of work , or anyone who expects a hugely expensive medicine center to fork up where it counts , the following will come as not that much of a surprise : the Naim Uniti Star sounds fantabulous .
It does n’t matter the root or the stuff – I used everything from a 320kbps Spotify flow of Yo La Tengo ’s “ From a Motel 6 ” to a 24 - bit/192kHz copy of Aretha Franklin ’s Dr Feelgood ( Love is a Serious Business ) via a cadmium of The Upsetters ’ Super Ape and a vinyl copy of Clear Spot by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band . It does n’t count the bulk level – the Star can drive any and all Speaker effectively from very humbled to recklessly high levels . The Naim Uniti Star sounds excellent .
Every prospect of euphony - qualification is paid care to here . Detail levels , for example , are sky - high – Lee Perry ’s bonkers yield of Super Ape is alive with details of his techniques , the Heath Robinson reverb units and the via media he made in decree to achieve the desired effect , and the Naim lays them all out for your inspection .
Nothing escapes its care , nothing is given undue prominence – and throughout , the Naim never sounds like it ’s valuing analysis over delectation – the auditory sensation it mother is always entertaining , always melodious .
stereophonic centering and soundstaging during Clear Spot is utterly faultless – the image the Naim presents is entirely credible . And , again , it does n’t prioritise anything above the want to deliver music in as instinctive and cohesive a manner as potential . They layout of the degree is expressed , the infinite between player tangible , and the unity of their execution – the timing , the out - and - out feel – is utterly convincing .
The playacting is clear and musicianly , even though the arrangements are as off - kilter as one might expect . And throughout , the Star is authoritative and unflappable .
Midrange communication , as evidence by the peerless Aretha Franklin vocal , is prodigious – you ’re left in no doubt as to her technical art and precision , nor to her emotive power . low-down - last extension and control is available in spades during the Yo La Tengo tune , and there ’s ample point and texture flesh out the bass information .
unremarkably at this point in an estimate of sound timber , there would be a paragraph ( or two , if the merchandise in question merit it ) about the things that are n’t quite so acceptable . But in all satin flower , there is simply no argument with the way the Naim sounds .
It ’s as complete a melodious experience as £ 5000 ( including some appropriate speakers ) can purchase – and consider you me , it ’s by no means a given that £ 5k buys audio excellency . So instead of nit - pick , let ’s cite the Naim ’s zing ( glorious ) , consolidation ( seamless ) and overall breadth of natural endowment ( very wide indeed ) .
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Should you buy it?
fantabulous speech sound , tough bod quality and a good Kenzo Tange of features . The Uniti Star is a music system that can , and will , last for old age .
There ’s no doubting the talents of the Uniti Star , but to reveal those talents , you will need a duet of speakers that are just as talented .
Final Thoughts
There are the obvious caveats here . £ 3499 is a portion of money , and getting the best of the Naim Uniti Star is going to want likewise capable loudspeaker – so unless you already have a couple , you ’re looking at £ 5k all in . A not - inconsiderable sum .
But in this instance , it ’s money invest . Thanks to its extensive range of talents , its support of an extensive range of sources and its unburstable chassis tone , the Star is a music center of attention that should last for years and yr .
What ’s more , it does n’t have much in the way of obvious challenger – especially not if the legacy CD drive / ripper is important to you . Linn ’s Selekt DSM is an extremely in high spirits - carrying out all - in - one – but at Uniti Star specification it be well over five grand , and that ’s without speakers . In other words , this here all - in - one is the only one .
Of course , it ’s possible to buy a system comprising of a compact disc histrion / ripper , pennant and amplifier without drop any more than the Star price . But that wo n’t be a music center of attention – it ’ll take up more space , need more main exponent , require link between each box , and wo n’t have a adorable glide - y ascendence wheel . And I do n’t reckon it will have the sheer audio talent of the Uniti Star .
And I do n’t calculate it will have the sheer audio talent of the Uniti Star .
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How we test
We test every all - in - one system we review good over an lengthy period of clip . We use industry standard tests to compare feature decent . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to critique a product .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics policy .
FAQs
The Uniti Atom boast an HDMI eARC port .
Full Specs
