Bob has also served as the technology editor for CE Pro's sister publication Commercial Integrator. Some of the other features built into the Uniti Atom include an Ethernet port, USB connectivity, a choice of optical and coaxial digital inputs, a pair of RCA inputs, a preamp output, speaker connections, high-resolution audio support, UPnP, AirPlay, built-in Chromecast, Roon Ready options, Tidal and Spotify. CE Pro's Email Newsletters deliver timely news, industry-leading content, product information, and downloadable resources directly to your email inbox. Pulling content from my network, I listened to albums like Extreme’s 3 Sides to Every Story record, which to me is an underrated rock recording that really showcases the songwriting, guitar playing, and production talents of Nuno Bettencourt. The CE Pro event calendar will help you to stay up to date with the latest training, events and webcasts happening in the industry. c) This is the one I have, and these are the experiences I have with the 3rd one. Built in amplifier delivers 40 watts per channel of power, Ethernet and wireless network connectivity, Supports WAV files up to 32-bit/384kHz, and FLAC and AIFF files up to 24-bit/384kHz, Companion app on iOS and Android platforms. Under the Skin of Uniti Atom. Well I’m 48 so I guess this is something to look forward too. My first impressions were that I was quite surprised by how good the system sounded, especially with the Foo Fighters record, which sonically doesn’t offer much. Now I am thinking of an upgrade but on a fairly tight budget. I am new to forum and new to Naim. Hooking the all-in-one unit up in my home, I ran a pair of 10-foot speaker cables terminated with banana plugs to a pair of Monitor Audio PL-100 loudspeakers. This is not discernible though under my standard listening conditions (as opposed to Atom). I would agree that this is not something to worry about unless you think that it is sufficient to damage your speakers. The most qualified professionals in the CE residential, commercial and security integration markets.Search today! Assuming punch and noise mean switch-on thud and gentle hiss, it’s not a problem. Connecting sources, including cable/satellite boxes, Apple TVs, Roku boxes, gaming systems, Ultra Blu-ray Disc players or whatever a person wants, the Uniti Atom can be used for just about any modern application a professional integrator will encounter without sacrificing performance, functionality, or even looks. The instructions said to hold the remote near the Uniti and press and hold a remote button. The Naim Uniti Atom is a … I would expect no “punch” and no noise from a HI-FI device. I have heard pricey DAC’s that didn’t sound as good as the one here, included inside the Atom. That is normal too. The developers at Naim Audio Ltd. have managed to walk the fine line between lifestyle solutions and high-end hi-fi with flying colours. Encased in a beautiful slimline chassis and packing a punch well above its weight, the Atom features music streaming from Qobuz, Tidal and Spotify and wireless connectivity from your network, Chromecast or Airplay devices. I am not sure if this was regarding the vendors themselves or just their distributors. Just was looking forward to telltale signs of next forced exchange If I have to replace Atom, I prefer to make it period of warranty/guarantee. I must admit - sound is good, I love it a lot. After plugging the power cable into a Torus power conditioner, I turned on the Uniti. Likely the MA as they tend to use metallic based tweeters which tend to be brighter are showing it up more. The amp section of the Uniti Atom easily drove the Monitor speakers, which presented the all-in-one with a 4-ohm impedance level and 88dB sensitivity rating levels. From the substantial transformer, which ensures that the power supply is always smooth and stable, to the sophisticated, hand-wired analogue and digital circuitry, every element of the design in Uniti Atom has been considered for its effect on sound quality. I have Uniti Atom, which - when turned on - generates audible “punch” (a lower midtones impulse) in the speakers. What would be the better choice? Combining state-of-the-art DSP with a rich, analogue soul, Naim's network players deliver engaging, immersive sound quality to get the very best out of your music, whilst retaining Naim… We’ve gone to extraordinary lengths to maximise the sound quality from such a compact all-in-one player. I will try it, but please see point 5 below. Description Technical Specifications Description. I need an advise, 'cos maybe I have unrealistic expectations, that should be toned down. Multiroom New Uniti allows you to play music from any source in multiple rooms simultaneously – simply sync the units using the Naim control app. Moreover, because of its Bluetooth options, users can use their phones, tablets, or computers to easily stream whatever they choose, including content that’s stored on their devices. Anyway, still 10+ years more I am expect not to hear it neither ;). there is a hiss on both of the speaker pairs I have. While I do enjoy the sound very much, I am now wondering if it is worth the rather significant budgetary upgrade to the Star or Nova. I asked Naim support about these problems. Hi everyone, Founded in 1958, Audiolab is a premier retailer and installer of high-end home theater, home audio systems, and Home Automation products located in Bucks County, PA. All of them produced a hiss from the speakers, but never loud enough for me to consider it a problem. Conclusion of this double test was: But if this is normal to majority, and if it is not a sign of misproduction, I could live with it. Sound quality. Naim Uniti (1st generation without Spotify / Tidal implementation) Bluesound Node 2i (streamer) Naim Ariva speakers Tellurium Q Black speaker cable. Maybe the noise is connected to the proximity to other electrical devices, or speakers? The setup didn’t take much at all, as the Uniti Atom is pretty much turnkey. Uniti Atom is perfect as a high-end main Also - Atom generates quiet noise, audible when not listening to the music. Its 40-watt integrated amplifier and high-resolution music streaming capabilities will fill your home with stunning high-fidelity sound. I hear switch-on thud from my Uniti Atom powering Monitor Audio Silver 100 (directly, without any amp in between). But not transistor. Trying some different source variations out, I tried using my MacBook Air via the Uniti’s analog inputs via a Meridian Direct DAC, and I used the MacBook Air with a USB cable directly into the Uniti Atom. Its 40-watt integrated amplifier and high-resolution music streaming capabilities will fill your home with stunning high-fidelity sound. And it is not the speakers problem, as I switched them. I have done a comparison on different speakers (though MA as well), but also auditioning another amplifier. 40-watt integrated amplifier and high-resolution music streaming capabilities. More CE Pro Reviews: Stewart Phantom HALR Redefines Video Projection. I have compared it to other setup I have (CXN, CXA80 + Monitor Audio Silver 8). Exploring its use as a single-zone product, I think that because of its sound quality, the Uniti Atom could easily install into a home as the centerpiece of a music lover’s A/V system. Audiophiles tend to dismiss the category of whole-house audio as lo-fi, background music solutions. I returned it and requested a new device. Its 40-watt integrated amplifier and high-resolution music streaming capabilities will fill your home with stunning high-fidelity sound. The one is achieved without compromising the other, combining lifestyle with high quality standards. I have learned from my dealer, here in Poland, that Naim is merging with Focal. Naim Uniti Atom Review: “Excellent” Sound Quality for Multi-Room Audio Setups The Naim Uniti Atom brings elegance to the multi-room audio market and includes streaming support for AirPlay, Chromecast, Roon Ready, Tidal, and Spotify. I am considering three options: Uniti Atom (and sales of Uniti and Node 2i) Nait 5si plus Node 2i; Used Nait XS 2 plus Node 2i Naim : Uniti Atom £ 2,399.00. On audio standards like Back in Black, the combination of the Uniti and Monitor speakers allowed the groove of the song to breathe, which made Angus Young’s guitar solos stand out nicely from the rest of the band. Our unique music streaming platform is designed to deliver a true hi-fi performance, with the legendary Naim sound. From the substantial transformer, which ensures that the power supply is always smooth and stable, to the sophisticated, hand-wired analogue and digital circuitry, every element of the design in Uniti Atom has been considered for its effect on sound quality. The hiss? So leave it switched on, settle back and enjoy the music. I did not ever noticed any hiss, but for testing purposes I cranked the volume all way up, and some hiss appeared actually. Thanks @back_in_the_game for your ideas. Three years in the making, this innovative, Naim-designed digital technology surpasses anything we’ve done before. The product also incorporates a toroidal transformer and separate digital and analog sections. Naim have gone to extraordinary lengths to maximise the sound quality from such a compact all-in-one player. SQ wise I like it a lot, what Atom and MA deliver. Small footprint and stunning industrial design Capable of serving as central component in a 2-channel or whole-house audio system Delivers excellent sound quality, and it is easy to use, A greater selection of streaming services would make Uniti Atom more attractive As cool as the top-mounted placement of the volume knob may limit its placement in some pieces of furniture, Bob is an audio enthusiast who has written about consumer electronics for various publications within Massachusetts before joining the staff of CE Pro in 2000. Probably I would assume - like hungryhalibut was suggesting - that it should be so, and would not bother. Whichever source you choose, your music will be transformed into a stunning sonic experience. My ‘switch on thud’ is barely noticeable, but years ago when I had Linn Isobariks and a bigger amp, there was a loud thud when the amp was switched on - at the time I thought it a reassuring thud! When I play music, it might be difficult to discern though. Unpacking the unit I found it to weigh much more than what I was expecting. Naim Uniti Star sound quality − Absolutely brilliant sound. I have owned various Naim amps and all-in-one boxes, including a Superuniti, a 200 and a 250. The message on the front-panel interface instructed me to pair the companion remote control. I am really concerned by all the problems you (and others) have had, I am lucky to have avoided them but I am seriously worried what is going on generally and to understand if it is only Uniti models as I am planning to upgrade at some point. When I got it back, not only was the prominent hiss there, the display did not work anymore. So this should eliminate impact of neighbouring electromagnetic fields, if any. Reassuring thud - that’s a great proof that interpretation is in our heads (if only it depended on us fully"). The Naim Uniti Atom resisted the temptation to bully the lower-quality tracks and emphasise their shortcomings. I can buy a second hand Superuniti for about the same price as a Uniti Atom. Categories: Just Add Speakers, Naim. As HH correctly says, leave it on 24/7 for best performance anyway. Robert Archer • February 14, 2018 It is normal to get a sound from the speakers when you turn it on. While I say that, I think at this point in time people are comfortable with the “a la carte” approach many of today’s whole-house systems use, which allow for customers to invest in a single device early on, and later devices over time to build a complete whole-house system. My Nova also produce a pop and nobody will tell you what it is. I don’t care about the beautiful design of the Atom and the screen but just about sound quality. What’s the sound quality like when playing music? I made some tests (though not all yet. I have not noticed this with other device I have. I know that more powerful amps can have a punch or thump when switched on, I think that’s normal. It took Naim Service 3 months (or even longer! The feel of the volume knob in particular just oozes with quality, and users will love the tactile feel of this control if they ever choose to get up to turn the Uniti Atom up or down. The reference player in the range, Uniti Nova has been configured to offer I get a fairly firm “thud” from turning on my lower powered Uniti Qute2. I’ve never known a Naim amp to not do it to some degree. Naim Audio's Uniti Atom is a beautiful, compact multi-source music player that will seduce you with its amazing sound quality and outstanding feature-set. The “punch” happens only when switching on and is not that “punchy” actually, and when music plays who would discern the noise, so why bother? I do not hear switch-on thud. turning Uniti Atom knob there and back (so no actual change of volume) generates some additional hissing, as if turning (friction? And now, the Atom includes a HDMI (arc) input. DAC is wonderful. I guess the DAC of the Atom is newer and probably better than the one in the Superuniti? Alongside stunning musical performance, the Uniti Atom is fully equipped to conveniently deliver television sound with detail and texture. I loved the space and authority the Uniti Atom created on tracks like “Am I Ever Going to Change” to allow delay trails to reverberate in a large soundstage wall of guitars. BUT… with my history with Naim Atom I was in doubt. Also what is it plugged into? View Robert Archer's complete profile. The back of the Uniti atom states “50/60 hz” as the frequency. I have owned Naim since 1983 and they all hiss a little, which is why I say it’s normal. Tony. I get neither punch nor noise from my Atom. Experience high-quality performance and usability in a stunning design that is built-to-last in Britain. And it is not the speakers problem, as I switched them. Also - Atom generates quiet … Uniti Atom is a beautiful, compact multi-source music player that will seduce you with its amazing sound quality and outstanding feature-set. Tony. The plop as i call it, used to be very loud, but Naim have managed to bring it to a soft plup sound, it is normal when coming in and out of standby. I now own an Atom as well, and with this I hear no hiss at all, and any turn-on thud is so feint I never notice it at all. All of them had hiss and turn on “thud”. Checking out some of the products’ built-in streaming options, I found the Uniti Atom to deliver streaming performance on par with any “high end” audio product that’s currently on the market, but its streaming choices were limited in terms of service providers. Will there be a negative effect on the sound quality if I use a step-up voltage transformer with the Uniti Atom? Uniti Atom is simple to use, but offers a wealth of features, including support for all the major music-streaming services, easy Apple Hook up some vinyl if you have a phono stage. Why am I so concerned? But not from your listening position. Holding the button for about 30 seconds, the Naim product didn’t communicate a successful pairing, but I moved onto the app. I’m sure it depends a bit on speakers too. My first listening with the Uniti Atom was with Bluetooth content from my phone. if you are very close to your speakers, with normal volume level , you can hear a little hiss. I used to own a secondhand, and rather old, Naim 12s pre-amp and that hissed VERY loudly; I put up with it as it was cheap, old and the sound quality was amazing - but a new Atom should not make a loud hiss at normal sound levels and I would suggest getting the dealer’s opinion and/or a listen to his demo unit under the same conditions. Hi everyone, I am new to forum and new to Naim. mechanics of the move) impacted this noice, for a moment only. Should I return Uniti Atom OR am I exaggerating? Naim Uniti Atom Streaming System - Audio T Recommends Naim Audio, as usual have gone to remarkable lengths to maximise the sound quality from such a compact all-in-one player but then again replacing UnitiQute was never going to be easy. As for the blind ear - yes, my Atom sounds really great, I enjoy it a lot and will definitely turn blind ears to the hissing. But I know it is there. Check out the slideshow to see more pictures of the Nami Uniti Atom. Best of luck, as it seems that is what is required. Analog inputs. Now I am 58 I don’t hear the hiss anyway!! Related: Bob Archer's 2017 Products of the Year. From the substantial transformer, which ensures that the power supply is always smooth and stable, to the sophisticated, hand-wired analogue and digital circuitry, every element of the design in Uniti Atom has been considered for its effect on sound quality. Under the Skin of Uniti Atom Naim has gone to extraordinary lengths to maximise the sound quality from such a compact all-in-one player. Uniti Atom – Compact High-End All-in-One. a) The first could not start up properly nor connect to the remote controller, so I returned it. Naim have gone to extraordinary lengths to maximise the sound quality from such a compact all-in-one player. In his personal time beyond his family, he's studied guitar and music theory at Sarrin Music Studios in Wakefield, Mass., and he also studies Kyokushin karate at 5 Dragons and Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Binda Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. noone else had anything like that, right? Uniti Atom is a beautiful, compact multi-source music player that will seduce you with its amazing sound quality and outstanding feature-set. Hello - I recently purchased an Atom, which I have paired with KEF R3’s. They are very interesting. The database has a limit of 20,000 tracks for Uniti Atom, Uniti Star and Uniti Nova. My nova only gives a very quiet pop when coming on. I have Uniti Atom, which - when turned on - generates audible “punch” (a lower midtones impulse) in the speakers. I never really noticed it until I switched speakers that are more sensitive than the old ones and have a different tweeter tech. This is my 3rd Atom in 6 months or so. I have moved Atom to different room, attached it to different speakers - Monitor Audio Silver 8. I had 2 Atoms. The hiss can be more audible on different speakers. What you write about tweeter tech sounds reasonable. At least your unit sounds great when playing music, maybe you could turn a blind eye (ear) to the hissing? From remote diagnostics to cloud-based computing, from smart energy to retrofit technologies, CE Pro keeps you informed like no other business resource. It is not loud, and relatively independent from the volume set. Hopefully Tidal connect will bring full cd quality (or more) to my Uniti Atom without the naim app which is not working totally perfect at the moment at my home. Ripped CDs and Apple Music also provided me with lots of content choices that included Bruno Mars and the new Foo Fighters’ record, Pulling content from my network, I listened to albums like Extreme’s, I loved the space and authority the Uniti Atom created on tracks like “Am I Ever Going to Change”, Small footprint and stunning industrial design, A greater selection of streaming services would make Uniti Atom more attractive. I suppose no one experienced it. Does the Superuniti outclass the Atom soundwise? I would suggest experimenting with location and moving other electrical devices. Uniti Atom features an optional HDMI ARC input so you can easily connect your TV to experience audiophile sound quality from your favourite film or game. After the FW update it seems to be more a quiet pop. This Bundle Includes 1 Naim Uniti Atom & 1 Naim Mu-So QB Naim Uniti Atom Uniti Atom is a beautiful, compact multi-source music player that will seduce you with its amazing sound quality and outstanding feature-set. If the noise is a problem I would suggest going to see your dealer to see if it is replicated there. I am really delighted, with the exception of this hiss. The CD functionality of the Star would be great - but at roughly €2000 for the upgrade, that is a rather expensive CD player. Thankfully. Atom have very good Bluetooth protocol, I never hear interuption in sound… The same thud and hiss can be heard, so this is NOT the speaker related phenomena. now that I know “switch on thud” is a feature, and not a bug, I do not bother any longer. For example I did not think at all about going straight to the mains. You will also get a gentle hiss through the speakers. After downloading the app onto an iPhone 8, I finished the install by naming the Uniti Atom. Naim have gone to extraordinary lengths to maximise the sound quality from such a compact all-in-one player. Award-winning Naim sound quality Unlike most small systems, the Uniti Atom is built to the same standards as high-end hi-fi. This is unique to the Atom as it brings the Naim sound which is so musical and involving. So if yours is loud, I wonder if either your Atom, or perhaps your mains supply, has a problem. I followed that up by connecting a Cat-6 cable from an Araknis network switch to the back of the Uniti Atom. b) 2nd produced thud and hiss, which after some time got so prominent, that I returned device for the repair. The only drawback to the Uniti, and this really isn’t a negative, is that it is priced higher than the majority of these “a la carte” products that populate the wireless whole-house audio market. Especially from Naim, which I heard to be praised only (but of course these praises related to earlier hardware than Uniti Atom). Ha! Ripped CDs and Apple Music also provided me with lots of content choices that included Bruno Mars and the new Foo Fighters’ record Concrete and Gold. By registering to become part of the CEPro community of readers, you gain FREE access to all of our articles and help our editors customize your experience. And with vigour. No one has commented on this point. Its industrial design is elegant, and through the combination of its construction quality and contemporary good looks, Naim reinforces the Uniti’s market position as an elegant, high performance, lifestyle A/V product. If though these are vendors merging, then - maybe - the alleged quality issues were related to merge & acquisition challenges, and would subside afterwards? This makes it a nice solution for millennials that want a true high-performance component and don't want the additional cost and complexity of a full home theater. Bob is THX Level I certified, and he's also taken classes from the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) and Home Acoustics Alliance (HAA). The answer is to leave it on all the time. Naim Uniti Atom, All-in-One Hi Fidelity Wireless Music Player. As you can tell, my experience with the Uniti Atom found that it is a real step up from most products that are typically associated with whole-house audio. However, the Atoms here are wired for 230v and Barbados is a 110v/50hz country. I need an advise, 'cos maybe I have unrealistic expectations, that should be toned down. Uniti Atom is a beautiful, compact multi-source music player that will seduce you with its amazing sound quality and outstanding feature-set. So, the Uniti Atom won’t be for everyone, but for the people that do want to step into a high performance, elegant looking central piece for their A/V and/or whole-house audio systems, they won’t have to look any further than Naim Audio.