Naim Uniti Nova PE: Power Meets Elegance!

The Naim Uniti Nova Power Edition is an excellent choice for high-quality sound enthusiasts, offering outstanding performance, advanced technology, and unique aesthetics.

True, it was seen at the time – at least by much of the company’s fanbase – as not being very Naim: after all, this was a brand seemingly built around the concept of building a system from discrete components, usually leading to a stack of similar-looking boxes filling up a rack (or sometimes several racks), the function of each part not being immediately obvious to the untrained eye.

Nonetheless, the Naim Uniti proved a success, both critically and in sales terms, and would go on to influence product launches from a number of rival companies. And it remains a mainstay of the company range, having gone through several generations to the current line-up of the Uniti Atom, Nova and Star models, plus the Uniti Core server, as well as providing the streaming platform behind Naim’s component network players and streaming preamplifiers. It’s also at the heart of the company’s wireless music system Mu-so series of network speaker systems, developed in co-operation with partner company Focal. What’s more, over that time Naim has transitioned from being a company based in the playback of physical media to a leader in network and online streaming (though it should be noted that it launched a limited-edition turntable, the Solstice, some three years back).

Design and Construction

Naim is renowned for its attention to detail and the high-quality craftsmanship of its products, and the Uniti Nova Power Edition is certainly no exception. Its design combines Naim’s classic aesthetic with modern features. The chassis is made from exceptionally durable materials, featuring a robust and elegant exterior that offers not only visual appeal but also soundproofing protection. It also includes a high-resolution display that shows all system information, such as the current audio source, and more. Users can easily control the system through its interface and the Naim app for smartphones.

The Uniti Star, Nova, and Nova PE streaming amplifiers appear to have been designed by connecting the peaks of the Statement preamp and power amplifier. Their construction resembles a "brick." The panels are exceptionally dense, and the heatsinks mounted on the sides add rigidity to the chassis as well as a sense of toughness, though they lack the elegance of the sculpted heatsinks found in the NAP S1. The Uniti Nova PE, like the other Uniti models, exudes a sense of class and luxury, complemented by a five-year warranty befitting a product of this caliber. It is relatively small and sleek, with dimensions of 10.9 cm in height × 43 cm in width × 26.4 cm in depth. And when we say it looks like a "brick," we're not joking: it weighs 15.1 kg! Unlike its Uniti siblings and most other Naim amplifiers, it is based on a Class D amplifier topology rather than Class AB. Its power reaches 150W per channel at 8 ohms or 250W per channel at 4 ohms, with a total harmonic distortion (THD+N) of 0.1%.

Naim collaborated with Purifi Audio from Denmark to integrate Eigentakt amplifier modules into the Nova PE. The Purifi modules are powered by a linear power supply and a large transformer, while a separate power switch is used for the digital section of the Nova PE. Like other top brands using Purifi's Eigentakt technology, Naim assembles the amplifier modules in its own factory to ensure they meet the company’s manufacturing quality standards, and integrates them into the main circuit board to avoid additional connections and simplify the signal path. The digital section of the Uniti Nova PE is based on a Burr-Brown PCM1791A DAC chip and Naim’s own NP800 streaming unit. Network connectivity is available via 10/100Mbps Ethernet or Wi-Fi (up to Wi-Fi 5), with the Wi-Fi antennas integrated into the heatsinks. The Nova PE supports four lossless codecs—WAV, up to 32-bit/384kHz, FLAC, AIFF, and ALAC, up to 24-bit/384kHz—and accepts DSD, up to 5.6MHz, from DSF and DFF files. It is compatible with MP3, AAC, OGG, and WMA and offers gapless playback for all file types. The Nova PE is Roon Ready and supports all major streaming protocols, including Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and UPnP. The companion Focal & Naim app, available for iOS and Android, provides access to Qobuz and Tidal, as well as internet radio via vTuner. It also offers Bluetooth connectivity, with support for Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec.

See all the features of the Uniti Nova PE here.

Performance

It doesn’t take long with the Nova PE to appreciate the benefits this new model brings. Yes, it has all the flexibility offered by the ‘standard’ version, including network playback of locally stored files at up to 384kHz/32bit and DSD128, as well as services including Qobuz, Spotify, Tidal Connect and internet radio, and can play music via Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Chromecast, all controlled by the included Zigbee radio-frequency handset or the excellent Focal & Naim app – all that’s a given. But what sets it apart is the scale, power and confidence with which it delivers music: partnered with suitably revealing speakers, this is truly a high-end music system made completely user-friendly, and from a package no larger than a conventional integrated amplifier it delivers an entirely compelling performance.

In an effort to evaluate the capabilities of the Naim Audio Uniti Nova PE both rigorously and substantively, we tested a variety of music genres, including classical, jazz, and electronic, to understand the dynamics and sound quality it delivers. For each music genre, we experienced a unique, high-level acoustic experience.

We started almost as always with classical music, featuring Ludovico Einaudi – Una Mattina (piano and orchestral music), Johann Sebastian Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (orchestral music), and Beethoven – Symphony No. 9 (symphonic music). We enjoyed the clarity and detail, with the numerous nuances of the instruments, the differences in tone and timbre of the strings or the piano, and the orchestra's sound reproduction in an excellent level of clarity that emphasizes the distinction between the instruments. We felt the stage with the orchestra spreading around us, with a sense of depth and dimension that helped us understand the placement of the instruments within the space.

We continued with jazz, featuring Miles Davis – So What (from the album Kind of Blue), John Coltrane – Giant Steps, and Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Cheek to Cheek. Clarity and immediacy were the main characteristics, with the sound of vocals or saxophones, for example, being realistic, emphasizing the warmth of the voice or the sense of the brass instrument’s vibrancy. The Uniti Nova PE’s ability to reproduce the subtle fluctuations in rhythmic sequences and improvisation provided a captivating acoustic experience, especially when the music is fast-paced and polyphonic.

Finally, for contrast and power, we listened to Four Tet – Angel Echoes, Daft Punk – Instant Crush, and Jon Hopkins – Emerald Rush. We enjoyed deep and powerful bass, with absolute accuracy in reproducing all frequencies, while the high frequencies from the synthesizers or electronic elements were clear and intense. With a layered sound, the multi-level sonic sequences and harmonic elements of electronic music were brought to life with great clarity. The music seemed to flood the space, enhancing the sense of three-dimensional sound.

In conclusión

We had the fortune and blessing to experience one of the most advanced and complete audio systems in its category, a Naim Audio product that combines cutting-edge technology, exceptional build quality, and unique sound performance in a single Hi-End all-in-one package. Despite being at the higher end of the price spectrum for amplifiers of this type, Naim has truly achieved its goal with the Uniti Nova PE. Discerning buyers seeking luxury will appreciate the top-tier sound, the powerful streaming platform, and the impressive, sturdy construction, which blends modern aesthetics with the traditional design lines of the British company.

It’s an audio product that many would dream of owning, but few have the budget to afford it. However, those who do acquire it will find that its price is justified by its build quality and performance.

AthensProAudio Team ©