When its first debut, the Naim UnitiQute was a smash hit and was getting tons of attention. Naim UnitiQute was an award-winning all-in-one player with high-quality music streaming capabilities. It was so successful that Naim Audio decided to make a second version, the Unitiqute 2, it has a few upgraded audio components and the same level of award-winning sonic performance, be it slightly better than its predecessor.
Compared to the current digital all-in-one players, some of the Naim UnitiQute features are not up to par, and there is no CD player, but the sound quality it delivers still remains competitive. It will require matching speakers to sound their best and we will be preparing a list of them which will be shared with you after we have learned more about the Naim UnitiQute all-in-one player.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Naim UnitiQute
As mentioned earlier, the Naim UnitiQute doesn’t have a built-in CD player and you can connect externally to one using the analog inputs. Getting a dedicated CD player can be a blessing in disguise as you can further fine-tune the sound characteristics of your sound system but the main drawback will be the additional cost. The UnitiQute can only go up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution and is considered pretty low for today’s standard. UnitiQute 2 is better in this department as it can go up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution. The Naim Audio’s n-Stream premium app is pretty neat and convenient as well.
The network music streaming is great and all but is a pity the Naim UnitiQute doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity. The Naim Audio UnitiQute 2 does have Bluetooth connectivity though and supports aptX codec which scores another point. Its frequency response of 20Hz-50kHz is great. The power output on the other hand is not as impressive. Naim UnitiQute’s rated power output is 30 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and 45 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms. Based on these specs, it is recommended to go with bookshelf speakers and/or loudspeakers which are very efficient and easy to drive.
The lack of a CD player does make the Naim UnitiQute more compact and easier to fit on a desktop. It would be cool for listeners who are facing space constraints and a music streamer with a small footprint would be ideal in this situation. The minimalistic design also allows the UnitiQute to aesthetically match with most modern speakers without a hitch. This player sounds more powerful than expected and can go quite loud when partnered with speakers that have high speaker sensitivity. You won’t feel the Naim UnitiQute is struggling to deliver and it won’t overegg things just to compensate for its limited output power.
Music are been produced naturally and has a sense of realism to it which also means that the Naim UnitiQute is capable of delivering well-textured and detailed bass with a certain level of weight. Deep bass performance is more prominent than we expected but does lack the authority of a bigger and more powerful amplifier. It is a musical-sounding player with impeccable stereo imaging, the Naim UnitiQute is able to produce a highly focused soundstage and deliver a holographic musical performance. We are pleasantly surprised by how good the UnitiQute player sounds and it is certainly good enough to compete with modern-day all-in-one players in the same price range when it comes to sound quality.
If possible, you might want to add an external stereo power amplifier so as to drive larger floor-standing speakers which can deliver deeper bass frequencies. The low-end performance of the Naim UnitiQute is remarkable and entry-level loudspeakers might not cut it. We now understand why the UnitiQute is priced at this level but to be honest, we still prefer the UnitiQute 2 though, due to its better features. Based on these, we have prepared a list of the best matching speakers to aim for and partner with the Naim UnitiQute.
Naim UnitiQute Specifications
- Power Output: 30 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and 45 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-50kHz
- Inputs: RCA input, 3.5mm Jack (front panel), USB input, 2 Coaxial inputs, 2 Optical TOSlink inputs, mini-TOSLINK input, Ethernet
- Outputs: Preamp output, Headphone output
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 87mm x 207mm x 314mm | 3.4″ x 8.1″ x 12.4″
- Weight: 5.6kg (12.3lbs)
Best Speakers to partner with Naim UnitiQute
The Omega Speaker Systems Super Alnico Monitor is a highly efficient stand-mounter and will match well with the Naim UnitiQute. It can be driven with as little as 2 Watts of power and this superb efficiency enables the UnitiQute player to power these loudspeakers with ease. The Super Alnico Monitor may be bookshelf speakers but they have a pretty wide frequency response which is at 40Hz-20kHz. They are capable of reproducing musical instruments realistically and the vocals sounded natural as well. The realism is coupled with amazing stereo imaging and separation, giving us a highly defined 3-dimensional music presentation.
Q Acoustics Concept 20 is another amazing pair of bookshelf speakers which can be driven efficiently by the Naim UnitiQute all-in-one player. Ever since the Concept 20 speakers’ debut, they have been grabbing awards left and right. They are musically refined and have a really high level of clarity. The Q Acoustics Concept 20 are very transparent speakers as well and don’t sound harsh or clinical. Furthermore, it is modestly priced and will be a suitable match with your Naim UnitiQute. It is recommended to go for the Concept 20 dedicated stands as they will help to bring out the true sound quality of the bookshelf speakers.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics Concept 20 Bookshelf Speakers (White)
Zu Audio Omen II is a pair of floor-standing speakers with a very high speaker sensitivity of 97dB and the recommended amplifier power range starts from just 4 Watts. This allows the Naim UnitiQute to drive these floor-standers to very high volume levels. The Zu Audio Omen II are very lively speakers and can reveal plenty of music details thanks to their impressive level of clarity. Subtle nuances can be heard clearly and along with its high accuracy, the Omen II floor-standers can reproduce realistically sounding musical instruments. They can be bright-sounding to some listeners so you might want to hear them out first.
Klipsch Heresy IV is also a very highly efficient floor-standing speaker with decades worth of success and will be a worthy match to the Naim UnitiQute all-in-one player. The bass is tight, well-controlled, and deep, delivering satisfying low-ends without muddling the upper registers. Heresy IV is also capable of producing a massive amount of music details with an astonishing level of clarity including subtle music nuances which makes it very captivating to listen to these floor-standers. Klipsch Heresy IV can be rather bright as well so is best to audition them together with the Naim UnitiQute first.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch Heresy IV in Satin Black Ash
The KEF Q350 is a highly-regarded bookshelf speaker and will be a suitable match with the Naim UnitiQute player. These stand-mounters have a modest price tag and will be ideal for listeners who do not want to invest too much in speakers. Q350 may be affordable but this didn’t compromise their sound quality. It is a musically refined speaker and is able to deliver deep bass frequencies that belie its size. The level of clarity is high and this allows us to hear subtle details clearly. KEF Q350 neutral with a hint of warmth sonic characteristic and balanced music presentation will work well with the Naim UnitiQute.
More Info at Amazon – KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers
For listeners who have a higher budget, the Klipsch Cornwall IV will be an excellent choice to pair up with your Naim UnitiQute. It has a really impressive speaker sensitivity level and can be driven by the Naim Audio all-in-one player but it will be even better if you could add a more powerful stereo amplifier to drive these exceptional speakers. The overall sound reproduction of the Klipsch Cornwall IVs is cohesive and seamless. The overall bass performance is superb and you probably wouldn’t need to integrate a subwoofer into your sound system. These floor-standing speakers are revealing, allowing us to clearly hear plenty of music details and providing us a rich clean music presentation of our favorite tunes.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch Cornwall IV in Natural Cherry
To Sum It Up
You can select these speakers based on your budget or sonic requirements such as improvements in the bass performance, more expressive midrange, extended highs, and others. Once you have chosen the speakers that fit the bill, you should arrange an audition with them first. It is recommended to audition them together with your Naim UnitiQute player in your own listening room if that is possible, as this will give you an accurate test result.
