How super is the Uniti?
It’s time for an unwrapping party! Right away I start reading the digital manual in order to check the total weight of this beast. The device feels like some good twenty (kilos). In the end this does not appear to be that much with a net weight of 12.8 kg, but the Naim SuperUniti has a very sound and solid feel. Usually this is a good sign. You love or hate it: the device is designed with the well-known Naim style: simple, austere and the typical color of the brand. In the meantime you can readily call this a trademark. In the box we find amongst other things the device itself, a functional remote control, a wireless network antenna, electric cables. It’s easy to start working with such an all-in-one device. At sight the front of the Naim SuperUniti seems to be divided into 3 parts. At the left we see the big volume button, a combined 3.5 mm analogue and digital input, a headphone output and an USB interface. The middle part is embellished at the bottom with a simple Naim logo. The right front figures a clearly legible and clear display, followed by 9 control buttons. This combined 3.5 mm analogue and digital input can be used amongst other things for digitally connecting your iDevice. The Naim SuperUniti provides Apple authenticated, which allows you to digitally pass on music to the device. Alright. At the back we start with the power switch and a mains input on the left, which allows for the use of a separate power cord. Alright. Then we find the connections for the left and right speakers at the top. Here only banana plugs are allowed.
Good thing my Kimber 8TC speaker cables are finished with WBT banana plugs at the speaker side! Then I wonder if the possibility of using spades is able offer any added value here? Then we continue on the right backside with a mini USB as an upgrade interface at the top, a remote in/out, the connection point for the wireless network antenna, a network socket, a digital in/out RCA, a digital out BNC and 3 digital toslink inputs. At the bottom we find a ground switch, a preamplifier input (typical Naim connection, DIN), a stereo subwoofer output, 2 pairs of analogue inputs RCA and 1 DIN. A DAB/FM antenna cable connection completes it all. Connecting up to two subs (L and R) is an advantage here. This can be nicely adjusted via the speaker menu. The possibility of setting a digital crossover filter would have finished it all.
Complex can be easy too
The Naim SuperUniti comes from the all-in-one family. One would tend to think that such devices would be fairly easy to operate and use. Don’t be mistaken! The device combines so many possibilities and applications in one package, that it’s easily called a complex device. The average consumer has little or no knowledge of networks. Then wireless and/or cabled networks is no easy matter either. Then it becomes the challenge for the device to eliminate that complexity! Complex must be made easy…and complex can indeed be easy. In an era of intuitive operation possibilities (think of iDevices), you make an especially good impression if you’re able to offer this type of operator comfort to users of your device. Naim succeeds here with brio. In the basis, the Naim SuperUniti can be commanded in 3 ways: via the buttons on the front panel, via the remote or via the n-Stream control app. Using the control buttons and/or remote control goes smooth. Those who want to impress their neighbors as being really modern and hip, obviously work with the n-Stream control app. That really doesn’t need to sound and be harder than it is. If necessary, you can ask your son or daughter for help, they will install the application in no time on your iPad and/or iPhone. Via this interface you keep control of the selected input, your (music) library and the track that’s being played. Bet you’re sold in no time for this type of ease of use!
