Naim Uniti Nova Power Edition Integrated Amp and Streamer Review

Naim was officially incorporated in 1973 by Julian Vereker and co-founder Shirley Clarke, with the initial consumer product being the NAP 200 power amplifier. In the 52 years since its founding, Naim has gone on to build a reputation for audio products that are conservative in both specifications and looks. Over the decades, Naim’s amplifiers have always managed to sound a lot larger than the specifications would imply.

In the case of the Naim Uniti Nova Power Edition, independent tests have demonstrated that this relatively new offering from Naim is no exception. Rated at 150 watts-per-channel into 8 ohms and 250 WPC into 4 ohms, the mighty Uniti Nova PE delivered 243 WPC @ 8 ohms, 456 WPC into 4 ohms, and 603 WPC into 2 ohms under dynamic conditions. It was both this reviewer’s experience with sister company Focal’s Naim Powered Diva Utopia loudspeakers and this independent lab test of the Uniti Nova PE that prompted me to reach out to Wendy Knowles (Focal-Naim PR expert) to find out if a review sample would be available. Wendy not only got a review sample sent out, but she also managed to get a pair of Focal Sopra N°1 stand-mounted speakers ($12,998 per pair) and a Focal SW 1000 BE subwoofer ($5499) out for review as well.

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On the surface, the $9,999 asking price (USD) for the Naim Uniti Nova PE feels expensive. A deeper look will showcase that there are five components wrapped up in one elegant package. The Uniti Nova PE features an excellent analog pre-amplifier, a very powerful PURIFI-based power amplifier that has shown stability into even one-ohm loads, a world-class streamer with a host of options, a terrific DAC, and finally an outstanding headphone amplifier. This breaks down into $2,000 per ‘component’ for all the audio goodness built into this ultra-high-end Swiss Army Knife component.

The streamer is based on Naim’s proprietary NP800 platform, and it is a joy to use with a smartphone and the Focal-Naim app. The back panel of the Naim amp is logically laid out to easily connect multiple digital sources to the internal DAC, along with a pair of RCA analog inputs for a separate phono pre-amplifier. There is also a pair of RCA outputs if one wants to bi-amp, add a subwoofer or two, or even to drive a separate power amplifier in the unlikely event that one needs even more power.

The top of the amplifier has Naim’s well-loved volume rotary knob that feels like a million dollars when one wants the feel of power up close and personal. The feel, fit, and finish are typically “reserved British” in the regard that there are no sharp edges with the overall unit exuding a premium sense of a component that is designed to last a couple of lifetimes.

This 33-pound audio center has the right amount of heft, yet it’s remarkably compact and will fit in with almost any décor.

The Naim Uniti Nova PE was delivered to my Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram (CDJR) dealership in northwest Pennsylvania on a pallet with a pair of Focal Sopra N°1 stand-mounted speakers and a Focal SW 1000 BE subwoofer. The service department staff was surprised at the compact size of the boxes for what was explained to them as a complete high-end audio system. The packaging was excellent and gave an immediate indication of the quality of the components being delivered.

While Focal and Naim have an obviously symbiotic relationship, it was decided to break this test down to three different systems. System One, consisting of the ‘family’ of components as mentioned in the previous paragraph: The Naim Uniti Nova Power Edition and a pair of Focal Sopra N°1 stand-mounted speakers. The Focal SW 1000 BE was the subject of its own review at Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity and was not added to this system. I wanted to find out how potent the speakers and amp could be without the aid of a subwoofer.

System Two would be comprised of the Naim Uniti Nova PE driving a pair of Diptyque Audio 140 Mark II Floor-standing speakers. The 140 Mark II floor standers are a challenge for any amplifier with an Isodynamic design featuring ribbon tweeters and thin membrane woofer panels. They are highly revealing and articulate speakers that present a challenging impedance load. If there were any limitations to the Class-D amplifiers, the Diptyque towers would reveal them.

System Three would swap out the 140 Mark II’s for a pair of Legacy Focus XD towers. The Legacy towers were the recipient of Secret’s ‘Floor-standing Loudspeaker of the Year’ in 2023. The Naim amp has a dedicated pre-amp/subwoofer output, which is perfect for the powered subwoofers built into the Legacy towers. We wanted to delve deep into the Naim integrated amp and streamer’s ability to be a worthy component even when operating outside the family of Focal and Naim. System Two and System Three were configured with this in mind.

Most cables and power conditioning/protection were anchored with power cords, interconnects, speaker cables, and power conditioners from Clarus Cable systems. We also added a pair of RCA-to-XLR cables from Wire World to connect the powered subwoofer section of the Legacy speakers to the Naim amp’s pre-amp/stereo subwoofer output section.

A special shout-out to Wire World for its participation in The Cable Company’s annual fundraiser for world hunger. Every August, The Cable Company and dozens of its vendors send 100 percent of the money spent on audio products to CARE, a very efficient organization that helps the hungry across the world. Rather than ask for reviewer samples, it seemed worth it to purchase the cables through this wonderful annual fund-raising effort.

Associated Equipment

● Power Conditioner: Clarus Concerto, Clarus Duet

● Power Cord: Clarus Aqua II

● Interconnects: Clarus Aqua II XLR Balanced

● Speaker Cables: Clarus Aqua II

● Source: Yamaha CD-S2100, Bluesound Node X (Qobuz), OPPO 105D

● Pre-Amplifiers: Marantz AV10, Michi P5, Cambridge Audio Edge NQ

● Power Amplifiers: Michi S5, McIntosh MC303, Marantz AMP10, Cambridge Audio Edge W

● Integrated Amplifiers: Audia Flight FLS9, NAD M33, Rogers High Fidelity KWM-88, Cambridge Audio EVO150

● Speakers: Legacy Audio Focus XD, Diptyque 140 Mark II, Sonus faber Maxima Amator, Vaughan Line Array Major, Ohm Walsh SSC-4900, DALI Oberon 9, Heretic AD612, Harbeth SHL5 Plus XD, Definitive Technology Dymension 5.0 system, Starke Sound IC-H2

● Subwoofers: MJ Acoustics Kensington (2), Sonus faber Gravis VI (2), Axiom Audio EP600 (2), Starke Sound Sub 35, SVS PB-4000, Legacy Metro, Definitive Technology DN15, ELAC Varro DS-1200

System One – Naim Uniti Nova PE and Focal Sopra N°1 Speakers

The performance was nothing short of glorious! The bass guitar and kick drums were palpable and powerful. The texture was layered, detailed, and one got the feeling of lots of air movement. The soundstage was HUGE. When the percussion spanned across the stage, this simple system brought home the thunder with aplomb. Each ‘thwack’ was rendered with perfect pitch and weight. The feeling that we were hearing a larger pair of tower speakers was present throughout the track. Chalk this up to a great start for the Naim amp.

The undertones had a well-defined heft while the chimes themselves were hauntingly present, floating in 3D in front of the listener. The bass drum hit with authority, reminding one that the décor-friendly Sopra N°1 bookshelf speakers can deliver a solid 40 Hz floor. Henley’s voice was natural and matched the chimes in terms of presenting that 3D image of sound. The crescendo sections were powerful and crystal clear, without a hint of strain.

Moving on to The Last Resort pleased the ears with an opening piano that led into Henley’s voice again, providing excellent crooning. One could easily hear how his voice had aged since the 18 year earlier studio version of this thought-provoking ballad. Even with the extra years on his vocal cords, Henley still manages to bring copious amounts of emotion throughout Hell Freezes Over. The Naim-Focal combination was again as close to perfection as one can ask for on this track. By the time the climax was placed into the listening space, goose bumps were present, while we were treated to an immense wall of sonic splendor.

The trifecta concluded with Hotel California, opening with that now famous guitar and kick drum combination. The guitar matched the chimes in New York Minute by floating in the air in front of the listener. The kick drum is so deep and palpable that several friends and family were sure I had a subwoofer hidden somewhere. The Naim amp had no issue driving the Sopra N°1’s to levels in which one could feel each bass drum in the chest. The guitar work towards the end will, in a great system, bring a sense of the instrument actually being in one’s room, and the Focal-Naim family set up delivered all the goodness with style and ease.

Now it’s time to really test the Naim Uniti Nova Power Edition: The less sensitive, need a high current amp, Diptyque Audio 140 Mark II’s were next in the queue.

Naim teams up with another French speaker, this time the Diptyque Audio 140 Mark II

Opening with Bohemian Rhapsody through the Nova Uniti PE’s streaming platform and amplification brought back wonderful memories of those sessions from 50 years ago, but with a twist. The performance went from headbanging (think Wayne’s World) fun to jaw-dropping feelings of incredible emotions. The harmonizing vocals, soaring guitar work, powerful percussion, and compelling story were suddenly presented with what felt like unlimited dynamics, deep bass drum hits, and a purity of the vocals that I had to listen to twice just to appreciate the entirety of this renowned rock anthem. The Nova Uniti loved strutting its stuff, rocking the house with power through these isodynamic speakers that reminded one about the job of high-end audio: to take a person out of the real world and into what the band’s vision was.

While the entire collection was listened to in a long, evening session enhanced by a couple of adult beverages, two specific tracks also warranted some review space. Another One Bites the Dust and its infamous bass line leapt into the room with accuracy, power, and extension that brought a new feeling into this now 45-year-old guilty pleasure of a song. The other aspect that hit hard was just how clear the vocals are on this track. Each word was crystal clear in delivery and combined with the guitar work and that bass line to bring Freddy into the room.

Track three was all about goose bumps: Radio Gaga. The bass track in Gaga hit hard and with incredible immediacy. The vocals, as Freddie Mercury takes us from the 1930s until the beginning of music videos, were sad and thrilling at the same time. Freddie’s melancholy over the video world supplanting the audio tracks was heart-wrenching through this Naim-Diptyque combination and delivered with a rarity in terms of my thoughts from this now 41-year-old audio extravaganza. It turned out that video didn’t kill the radio star after all. If only Freddie had survived his bout with AIDS, he would have lived to see the stereo performance come roaring back while video (in terms of music listening) was sent largely packing. Perhaps Radio Gaga was the first salvo in the war that made pure listening the thing to do. Regardless, the Naim Uniti Nova PE Rocked Radio Gaga, and ended my night at the opera with Queen. It was a perfect evening made possible by great audio reproducers.

Opening with Margot Timmons singing Mining For Gold (and doing so acapella), the Qobuz-sourced performance put Ms. Timmons solidly in the middle of the stage with perfect pitch and timing. It’s a haunting song that peels away the reality of one’s room and transports one into the church. The band immediately moves on to Misguided Angel and its touching story of a woman telling her family she has met the love of her life. While she wants the approval of her mother, father, brother, and sister, she makes it clear that she has found her man and expects them to accept him. It’s an emotional song with the band bringing percussion and guitar work into the mix. The Naim Uniti Nova’s streaming system brought the same emotion that we have experienced with several high-end CD players.

Moving onto, I Don’t Get It treats us to a powerful harmonica from Jeff Bird, which the Naim/Diptyque duo belted out with ease, only to have us settle back into a tuneful bass track and more of Margot’s compelling singing. One of the less heralded songs is 200 More Miles, which showcases the arduous nature of touring as an alternative country band. The Naim amp delivered this so well that each detail was crystal clear, including the softest touches of percussion. Trinity Session will test the ability of an audio system to deliver low-level detail, and the Naim amp handled this with a clarity that easily equals a dedicated CD player.

System 3: The Naim Uniti Nova PE matches up with a pair of Legacy Focus XD Loudspeakers

The movie itself is gruesome at times, while uplifting at others. What it also has is a stellar soundtrack, which is why it made the grade for this review. Can a two-channel high-end audio system do justice to cinema? The answer in this case is a resounding yes!

The level of detail, the combination of the Uniti Nova PE’s DAC and PURIFI amps, along with the Legacy Focus XD speakers, is immediately heard when Robert is in a diner, fussing with his silverware. The tiniest of sounds comes through with such clarity that one is drawn into the scene and stays drawn in throughout the movie.

After the brutal beating of Elena, Robert visits the Russian mob, who have a large restaurant as a front. The main office at this restaurant is where the real sonic spectaculars commence. After Robert offers, and is scornfully rejected, $9,800 to secure Elena’s freedom from her servitude to the mob, our hero goes to what the mobsters assume is an exit. Instead, he opens the door about three inches and closes it several times; in each case, the Naim and Legacy combo delivers a deep bass thud that is tight and menacing.

He then turns to walk into the room in a sort of slow motion with almost no sound until one of the villains tries to attack him from behind, and the film goes from silence to an immersive wall of sound with hard hits, gunshots, and bodies hitting the floor. It’s an intense scene that left me totally satisfied with how well a proper two-channel system can handle this with ease. At the end of the scene, all the bad guys are dead, with the exception of the Boston area boss, Slavi. His throat was cut by Robert, and as Robert explains how soon it is that he will suffocate on his own blood, the microdynamics of his breathing through the holes in his neck are nothing short of chilling.

Another compelling scene is after Teddy is dispatched from Russia to deal with Robert. He pretends to be a cop who goes to Robert’s apartment in an attempt to intimidate the man. The music score has as its underpinning a continuous bass pulse that the Legacy quad pack of 12-inch drivers, getting their signal from the Naim’s subwoofer output, is extended, tight, and quite adds to the menacing feel the director intended us to experience.

The final scene that demonstrates the sheer quality of the Naim Uniti Nova PE is in a large home improvement facility (think Lowes or Home Depot), in which the villains are using guns against Robert, using all the weapons one can make in a store like this. This two-channel system brings a lot of the feeling of ambience one would experience in such a large facility. Each gunshot is delivered with total authority, while Robert’s battling back with hammers, drills, barbed wire, and other special ops expertise is serious edge-of-the-seat stuff. The Naim amp, as unassuming as it may look, can pound out some serious everything from bass to orchestra to percussive gun shots to exceptional dialogue.

The Naim Uniti Nova Power Edition is a music lover’s dream. For the asking price of $9,999.00, it streams music with all the fidelity of a high-end, stand-alone CD player.

Its built-in DAC makes movie streaming come to life. The PURIFI amps can drive almost any speaker on the market with ease. And the app makes controlling everything a snap.

Naim has delivered to the world an audio product that one needs to experience in their system to fully appreciate. Plenty of audiophiles will look at $9,999.00 for a 150 WPC amp and think there is nothing special here. Those audiophiles would be missing out on a real treasure. My reference amp is rated at 500 WPC into 8 ohms and 800 WPC into 4 ohms. The amp alone costs about the same as the Naim “five-in-one” Uniti Nova PE. In real-world listening tests with difficult-to-drive speakers, the Naim hits as hard as the reference amp with no apparent difference in sound quality.

This reviewer has read about Naim products for over 30 years and always noticed the reviews were without fail reporting sound quality that belied the reasonable price. Naim makes products for seasoned music lovers and audiophiles who appreciate understated elegance, along with a musical prowess that one needs to experience firsthand. Over these past couple of months, I have even grown to love the sound the Uniti Nova PE gets from live sporting events, Amazon Prime movies, and CDs through its DAC.

If you are an audiophile planning on spending $30,000 or more on electronics, you might want to check out the Naim Uniti Nova PE and invest your savings into better speakers. It is a wonderful music maker that also manages to be a product that one will find easy to use. The Naim Uniti Nova deserves our highest recommendation.