CES 2010: Naim expands its streaming range with the smaller, even more affordable UnitiQute
Naim is building on the success of the NaimUniti, its WHFSV Award-winning network-capable system, with the launch of the smaller, even more affordable UnitiQute.
Selling for £1350 when it goes on sale in March, the UnitiQute is a complete all-in-one 'just add speakers' system in a neat 'half width' non-magnetic, non-resonant case.
It can receive FM, DAB and internet radio, stream music from UPnP network storage, PCs or Macs, connect digitally to iPods or play music from MP3 players or USB memory sticks. In fact all that's missing is the NaimUniti's CD player.
The UnitiQute also offers two analogue inputs – one on conventional RCA connections to the rear, the other on a combined digital/analogue 3.5mm front-panel socket – and has five digital inputs capable of handling signals up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity is built-in, and the UnitiQute can play WAV, MP3, Windows Media, AAC and FLAC from suitable UPnP devices, plus WAV, AAC, MP3 and Apple Lossless from an iPod.
The UnitiQute has 30W per channel output into 8ohms, a switchable bass contour for low-volume listening, bass management for use with an active subwoofer, and a touch-logo mute facility.
Other connections extend to a headphone socket and a 75ohm digital output, and the UnitiQute has an OLED display and full remote control.
See the Naim UnitiQute in our CES 2010 video report.
Comments
You might want to take a look at this thread:
http://community.whathifi.com/forums/1/253823/ShowThread.aspx
With regards to the Apple Lossless question and subsequent answer. I have a Sonis system and this can quite happilly stream Apple Lossless files as well as conventional AAC, furthermore the Linn range of DS (Digital Stream) Players can play Apple Lossless too, therefore I cannot understand why Naim cannot do it, if other manufacturers can.
Going back to the Sonos for a second, it cannot play Protected AAC files, which are the type that Apple used to sell in 128kbps format, prior to going DRM free. I would hope that Naim could find away to play Apple Lossless files as Sonos and Linn have managed to do it afterall, maybe its a "Licensing" thing.
How about using the dig out to record from vinyl. What is the spec for the ADC function? 96K/24 bit hopefully?
To answer Juzzie's question above, Apple refuse to release the Apple Lossless codec, essentially preventing streaming of loss-less music to non apple players. This means that an Apple Lossless file in iTunes cant be bounced to a lower bitrate and simply wont play on the Naim via streaming. I was going buy to the uniti before Christmas until i found this out.
The majority of my collection is in iTunes run off a powermac / external nas, so my only option if i want the naimuniti (or qute) playing loss-less audio means using an ipod connected directly to the Naim - which kinda defeats the object for me. The only alternative is to ditch iTunes altogether and move to a dedicated NAS running FLAC (not supported by iTunes!!) or move to a pc based system which is additional time / expense i dont want on top of buying a new system.
For now i will stick with my current setup until the whole integration thing gets better, but i still really fancy the Naim for the audio quality.
Andrew E - any idea why it can't do Apple Lossless from UPnP devices?
It has five digital inputs. The digital output allows it to feed a recorder, external DAC or an amp/receiver with digital input. It's all a matter of future system upgradability.
why have a digital output on the amp call me crazy but a digital input would make more sense no?