naim Uniti Star

The Naim Uniti Star box has the lot, a high-performance CD,  UPnP streaming, aptX Bluetooth; AirPlay, a 24-bit/384kHz, and DSD 128-capable DAC, it has Chromecast, Roon ready features and recently announced Qobuz built-in to compliment Tidal & Spotify.  Also included with the Naim Uniti Star is the amplifier section with a claimed power output, of 2x 70W RMS (8ohm); all you need for a fantastic sound are a pair of speakers.  I note on the site Naim recommends Focal’s Arias which I’m sure would do the job.  I’d be pushing the boat out for a pair of Focal’s Kantas if it were me ( a bit more expensive though!)!

The Naim Uniti Star CD slot also rips CDs to WAV or FLAC to a given location of your choice, electronically.  There are 2 digital, coaxial and 2x optical and 2 USB slots front and rear and an SD card slot (that I’m finding very handy).  Also in the package is a set of analogue phono-type inputs and an HDMI ARC facility.  There is also a 5 pin DIN input, though this is not compatible with my Naim Phono Stageline because the Star has no onboard power supply out.  This is a shame but I’m used to it as my NAC-N 272 has the same issue.

Quality

I’m sure I’ve said this before, but, being Naim, the quality is of the highest order, from the boxing to the brushed and anodised black aluminium casework.  The Naim Uniti Star is weighty with its huge toroidal power unit inside.  The characteristic Mu-so fins are pronounced, classy and sharp.  Gone is the iconic mechanical ’round the corner’ CD tray with a screw to keep everything in place when you’re moving things around.  I guess life moves on but I am on my third magnetic dongle weight thingy so I guess I would benefit from this CD slot mechanism.  I’m used to this slot-loading mechanism as I have a Naim UnitiServe and I’ve ripped nearly 2,000 CDs in this lockdown with little fuss.

The Uniti Star rips CDs for you and does this to a nominated Music location, such as a UnitiServe or, now, the matching (latest) Naim Uniti Core Server.

The 5″ LCD screen is one of the nicest in the game and it is beautiful; as is the remote, though I use the App mainly for setting up the USB slot and other features, such as the CD player/ripper.  I really do like the signature Naim, or naim, logo in lights in the corner, I’d love it to be Naim green though!

Performance

Set-up

I’ve got the Uniti Star on a sideboard in the kitchen, powered by the provided Naim Power-Line Lite cable.   It is placed on a granite tablet (Wilko £10!!) for a bit of isolation and it is flanked by two Paradigm Persona B loudspeakers on spiked stands connected with bi-wired Atlas Hyper speaker cable, that is beautifully run-in (it’s old in other words!).  I’m sat about 3m away with no obstructions apart from a rug and a wandering dog who is now heavily into Radiohead’s Hacked Mini-disk series from bandcamp.com (particularly MD 125 with the several versions of Subterranean Homesick Alien) poor thing.  I do have a USB stick full of 24-bit recordings for particular critical listening, also, I’ve set-up an SD Card and I have a back-up copy of the Naim Uniti Serve on the network, for USB comparison.  I’m using an Atlas Equator ethernet cable directly connected to the router via an extension I had put in (so I’m not using WiFi, though that is inbuilt).  I noted my review sample is a refurbished model, no big deal for me and performance has been faultless.

Specification

From the Naim Site.

Connectivity

Audio Inputs
2 x Optical TOSLink (up to 24bit/192kHz)
2 x Coaxial RCA (up to 24bit/192kHz, DoP 64Fs)
1 x BNC (up to 192kHz, DoP 64Fs)
1 x HDMI ARC
1 x RCA
1 x 5-pin DIN
2 x USB Type-A socket (front and rear)
1 x SD card

Audio Outputs
1 x Stereo power amplifier
1 x RCA sub/pre output
1 x 3.5mm headphone jack

Streaming – Chromecast Built-In, Apple AirPlay, TIDAL, Spotify® Connect, Bluetooth (AptX HD), Internet Radio, UPnP™ (hi-res streaming), Roon Ready

Multiroom – Serve up to 4 network-connected players via UPnP™ at full CD quality.  Party Mode Streaming: Sync up to six Uniti all-in-one players or other Naim streamers and control via the Naim app.

Audio Formats – WAV – up to 32bits/384kHz, FLAC and AIFF – up to 24bit/384kHz, ALAC (Apple Lossless) – up to 24bit/384kHz, MP3 – up to 48kHz, 320kbit (16 bit), AAC – up to 48kHz, 320kbit (16 bit), OGG and WMA – up to 48kHz (16 bit), DSD – 64 and 128Fs

Notes: Gapless playback supported on all formats. All formats to 384kHz maximum over a wireless network.

Dimensions – 95mm x 432mm x 265mm (HxWxD)

Finishes – Brushed and anodised aluminium

Weight – 12kg

Power – Auto Standby time, user selectable: adjustable from off up to 2 hours

Amplifier Output – 70W per channel into 8 ohms

CD Ripping – Create bit-perfect copies of your CDs, store them on the local storage and playback.

Front Panel – 5″ colour LCD display and rotary volume control with proximity sensor and four buttons

App Control – Naim App for iOS and Android

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