Интегральные усилители — Naim UNITI ATOM HEADPHONE EDITION

The Uniti Atom Headphone Edition is a headphone-focused version of the Naim Audio Uniti Atom, announced by the Salisbury company on 11 May 2021. Naim kept the streaming platform, DAC and compact case of the loudspeaker model but removed the speaker power amplifier and fitted a new discrete headphone amplifier in its place, so the unit works as a complete network source for headphones with no computer or phone tethered to it.

Key specs that matter

The headphone stage produces 1.5 W RMS per channel into 16 ohm and is specified for headphones of 16 ohm and above. Three outputs are provided - a balanced 4-pin XLR, a balanced 4.4 mm Pentaconn and an unbalanced 6.35 mm jack - and up to three pairs of headphones can stay connected at once, with switching between them. For line-level use there is a stereo XLR preamp output and an RCA sub or pre output. Inputs are one analogue RCA pair, two optical TOSLink up to 24 bit and 96 kHz, a coaxial RCA up to 24 bit and 192 kHz, and USB for drives. Files play at up to 32 bit and 384 kHz in WAV, with DSD64 and DSD128 also supported. In normal use the unit draws 17 W, against under 2 W in network standby. It is 24.5 cm wide, 9.5 cm high and 26.5 cm deep, and weighs 7 kg.

Engineering and use context

Naim describes the headphone circuit as trickle-down technology from its Statement amplifier, using a new discrete transistor circuit, and this discrete design is what made the balanced XLR and Pentaconn outputs possible. The amplifier works in Class A and draws on a completely new transformer that is dedicated to powering the headphone circuitry. The rest of the platform follows the standard Atom - Roon Ready and UPnP playback, Qobuz and TIDAL, Spotify Connect, Chromecast built-in, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth and internet radio, a 12.7 cm colour screen woken by a proximity sensor on the volume ring, and a Zigbee RF handset alongside the Focal and Naim app. Wired Ethernet at 10/100 Mbps and 802.11ac Wi-Fi are built in, multiroom Party Mode groups up to six Naim streamers, and integration is offered for Control4, Crestron, Elan, RTI and Savant installations. Updates are delivered wirelessly.

Pairing

The balanced outputs suit headphones terminated in either type of balanced plug, and Naim names the Focal Utopia as an example of a demanding model it can drive. Through the preamp outputs the unit can also feed active loudspeakers directly or a separate power amplifier driving passive speakers.

Alternatives

The standard Naim Uniti Atom uses the same case and streaming platform but adds a 40 W per channel speaker amplifier.