Naim's new SuperUniti network music system: it's like a UnitiQute, but louder!
17 Aug 2011
Naim SuperUniti
Naim is adding a SuperUniti to its streaming products line-up, slotting into the range above the existing NaimUniti and UnitiQute.
The new model – announced today at the first of Naim's Summer Sounds: On Stream roadshows – combines the facilities of the company's UnitiQute, Naim DAC and SuperNait integrated amplifier.
Naim SuperUniti 50 percent
With an 80Wpc output, and selling for £3250 when it hits the shops early in October, the company says the SuperUniti 'extends the Uniti range and the possibilities for UnitiSystem into the high end'.
It's also said to be particularly suitable for 'large rooms and those who like to play their music just that little bit louder.'
It features a latest-generation streaming board: this digital six-layer design gives the SuperUniti the ability to stream 192kHz/24-bit content, Naim describing this as 'the first of its 24/192 products'.
As well as Wi-Fi and Ethernet inputs, the SuperUniti also has two electrical and three optical digital inputs, three line analogue inputs, preamp output and stereo subwoofer output on its rear panel.
Meanwhile the front panel has 3.5mm sockets for stereo line/optical in and headphone out, plus a USB socket. In common with other UnitiSystem products, the SuperUniti can accept a direct digital input from iPods, iPhones and iPads via the USB socket, and can also be controlled over a network by an iOS device running the company's n-Stream app.
In addition the SuperUniti has both DAB and FM radio tuners, plus of course access to thousands of internet radio streams.
On the audio side, the new model uses Naim's Zero S/PDIF Jitter Design, as used in the Naim DAC. This has a buffering system storing incoming data using master clocks adapting to the incoming signal, and then clocking it out of the memory using a precision clock to provide complete isolating from incoming jitter
Digital filtering is handled by a SHARC DSP chip running proprietary Naim code, and the SuperUniti uses Burr-Brown PCM1791A conversion, as also used in the NDX and HDX.
Completely new for the SuperUniti is a high-performance digitally-controlled analogue volume adjustment, using discrete resistors and high-performance electronic switching to give what Naim says is the sound quality of an analogue volume control with the flexibility of digital control.
Naim HDX iRadio
Naim has also announced a free of charge update for the HDX (above), UnitiServe and its NaimNet music servers: it adds internet radio capability to these devices, and will be available from Naim retailers at the end of this month, either as a dealer upgrade or as a disc for owners to upgrade their own unit.
