One of the great benefits of the
UnitiLite is the step-up to 24/192 from the Squeezebox world of 24/96
What Naim terms iRadio is obviously the now
near ubiquitous and highly useful Internet radio. What’s nice is the way Naim
has preconfigured its menus for less adventurous types like me who tend to
stick with the good old BBC. The front page of the selection interface in N-stream
highlights some currently Beta ‘Hi-Def’ streams from the BBC. While this is a
terrible misnomer it does at least mean that we can have speech on Radio 4 at a
very acceptable 128kbps AAC, making John Humphreys sound big and butch rather
than weedy and thin. Even better, a quick turn to Radio 3 and I happened upon
some Clementi being played by Howard Shelley and the piano sounded fantastic
–deep, rich and full of timbre. A great recording rendered solidly across the
Internet!
What
Naim terms iRadio is obviously the now near ubiquitous and highly useful
Internet radio
The front-mounted USB port is obviously
primarily there for iPod connectivity and a very fine job indeed is made of
this function. The control is taken over by the front panel/ N-stream and the
operating paradigm remains the same as for streaming music (so remember to
‘list’!). The real benefit for N-stream use if that the same rich virtual
sleeve note information from Rovi is available on the iPad for your iPod music.
As expected, the Bombay Bicycle gapless test ran smoothly and impressively the
iTunes Plus quality AAC version was not a million miles away from the streaming
lossless version.
The 3.35mm stereo input auto-switches to
its input channel on insertion of the mini-jack. As I was testing with the new
iPod Nano, the audible results were a little flat, but this could easily be put
down to the headphone stage on the cheap device. Interestingly, in an
Apple-alike move, this port is also dual-use analogue and digital (using an
optical cable or adapter).
As is usually the case with me, the
UnitiLite was installed under a television and to test out the digital hookups
I attached a Youview box via optical S/PDIF and a Sky box via coaxial. Both
were able to deliver a full and robust version of TV sound, although the most
impressive stereo sound to picture was achieved by hooking up the optical to a
PS3 playing the Blu-ray of Spiderman 3 – even without being in surround some
fairly behind-the-head swooshes were achieved.
Conclusion
The UnitiLite is a very easy device to live
with – there are no niggles in its operation, the remote is comfortable in the
hand and intuitive to use. All the digital trickery manages to feel like it has
been designed in, rather than another company’s module having been inserted
into a hi-fi device. The real killer selling point for me has to be how
effective N-stream is as a full system tablet controller, rather than a simple
uPnP controller, and it is heartening to see them pushing N-serve as well for
those few poor tablet-less souls.
I suspect that Naim is correct in saying
most of those who adapt streaming with one of these will cease to use the CD
player part in short order, which sort of begs the question of why it’s
included, but then we know the rationale, don’t we? Overall, here’s a great
sounding and affordable system that’s been pitched deftly between the harcore Hi-Fi
world and the great unwashed who just like music!
How it compares
Naim would likely have you believe that the
UnitiLite’s only real competition is its elder brother the Uniti 2, and CD
lovers would indeed get a CD section which is closer in design to Naim’s
standalone machines, although you would be spending around $1,500 more. I would
recommend that those who can’t part with their silver discs do a side-by-side
audition if disc spinning is still of significant importance to you.
Of course there are similar products from
the likes of Arcam, with the closest in price and functionality being the now
somewhat superannuated, but still rather nice Arcam Solo Neo ($1,650). This
offers a smooth, warm sound and great build and styling. What’s not to like at
its low, low price? Arguably, only the UnitiLite’s superior sonics and lovely
control app are likely to stop you wanting to save that big chunk of change.
Connections
Connections
1.
Speaker binding post
2.
DIN preamp output
3.
Ethernet input
4.
TOSLINK digital in
5.
RCA line input
6.
Signal ground switch
In sight
In
sight
1.
Streaming board
2.
Main audio board
3.
Power MOSFET
4.
Toroidal transformer
5.
CD drive
6.
Disc loader
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Specifications
§ Product:
Naim UnitiLite
§ Origin:
UK
§ Type:
one-box streaming system
§ Dimensions:
(WxHxD) 432x70x301mmm
§ Weight:
7.5kg
§ Analogue
inputs: 2x RCA, front-mounted 3.5mm
§ Digital
inputs: 2x optical S/PDIF (24/96), 2x coaxial S/PDIF (24/192)
§ Computer
inputs: front-mounted iPod/USB port
§ Networking:
10/100Mbps Ethernet and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi options
§ Distributors:
Naim Audio
§ Website:
www.naimaudio.com
Our verdict
§ Sound
quality: 5/5
§ Value
for money: 5/5
§ Build
quality: 5/5
§ Features:
5/5
§ Like:
Great all-round usability; excellent sound via streaming; fine build
§ Dislike:
more flexible USB drive compatibility would be nice; do people really want a
CD drive?
§ We
say: Brilliant all-in-one system for your first file-based foray!
§ Overall:
5/5
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