For listeners who are looking for a high-quality and yet compact size all-in-one player, the Naim Unitilite is one of the absolute best to aim for. It may be slimmer than the original version but the Unitilite still has the predecessor’s exceptional sonic performance. It also has a built-in amplifier and shares design resemblance with the NAIT integrated amp, and you can use it to drive passive speakers.
To bring out the best sound quality from the Naim Unitilite player, it needs to be partnered with a matching pair of speakers. These loudspeakers must be compatible and should have complementary effects when matched with the Unitilite all-in-one player. We are making a list of the best matching speakers and this will be shared with you so kindly continue to read on.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Naim Unitilite
Even with an integrated CD player, the Naim Unitilite still looks slim and compact but if you are planning to use its wireless features, you should give it plenty of breathing space so as to not block the antennas. The Bluetooth wireless connection supports aptX codec and this gives you higher quality music playbacks. You can also use the built-in Spotify Connect to stream your favorite music. The Naim Unitilite has plenty of direct digital connectivities and supports up to 24bits/192kHz resolution which may not be high enough for today’s standard though. You can always get a dedicated D/A converter with a higher resolution.
Naim Unitilite has a mechanized slot-loading CD tray and can playback Red Book, CD, and CD-R formats. The rated power output of the Unitilite amplifier is 50 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and goes up to 75 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms. The frequency response is fine and it starts from 10Hz to 20kHz. The output power of this streaming amplifier is not high enough to drive demanding loudspeakers though. Based on these specs, we should try to pair it with bookshelf speakers which are not difficult to drive and power-hungry. If you are interested in using floor-standers, you can always connect an external amplifier via the preamp output to get more power.
It may be small and has a low power output but these didn’t stop the Naim Unitilite from giving us an engaging and energetic musical performance. The Naim Audio house sound is present and we find it just slightly more lightweight than other Naim models. It could probably be due to the level of power it could muster and this also leaves the bass performance with a tad less impact. Talking about its bass performance, the Naim Unitilite is able to deliver the low frequencies with tautness and agility. The tight delivery ensures the low ends do not overstay their welcome, giving us a well-textured and detail-rich bass response.
The subsonic bass performance seems to be a little lightweight as well when compared to the bigger models but it is still as articulate. The Naim Unitilite is more nimble and has a faster pace though. The music handling and control is still class-leading with impeccable timing, easily making us feel like dancing to our favorite tunes. There is rhythm and precision in its music delivery with plenty of music details to boot. Furthermore, no matter how we push the Naim Unitilite all-in-one player, it doesn’t sound harsh or hard. The background remains polished no matter the volume level and we kind of leave it at pretty high levels.
The vocal and musical instruments all sounded natural with realistic tonality and timbre. Naim Unitilite’s overall accuracy is top-notch when compared with other amplifiers in the same price range. It is not flat-out neutral and it was never meant to be, the Unitilite is an all-in-one player meant for audiophiles to just enjoy listening to their favorite songs and music. If we were to nitpick then it will be the output power, as we expected more from a streaming amplifier at this price point. Even with their limited power, we manage to prepare a list of the best speakers which you can choose to get and pair them with your Naim Unitilite all-in-one player.
Naim Unitilite Specifications
- Power Output: 50 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms, 75 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms
- Wireless: WiFi, Bluetooth (aptX)
- Inputs: USB input, 2 Optical inputs, 2 Coaxial RCA inputs, 2 RCA inputs, 3.5mm jack (combined optical), mini-TOSLINK, Ethernet
- Outputs: Preamp output, Headphone output
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 70mm x 432mm x 301mm | 2.8″ x 17″ x 11.9″
- Weight: 7.5kg (16.5lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Naim Unitilite
The PMC twenty5 22i is an exceptional pair of bookshelf speakers to match up with the Naim Unitilite. They have similar enthusiasm when it comes to music presentation, always able to pull the energy out from the music and deliver them to us in an engaging manner. The music delivery is not just energetic but also filled with details and subtle nuances. PMC twenty5 22i revealing sonic characteristic is even noticeable at lower volume levels which is great for listening to music at night or when you don’t wish to disturb others in your home. The rich music presentation remains composed throughout the session no matter how complex the passage gets.
Neat Acoustics IOTA is a pair of compact size speakers suitable for small listening rooms and will pair well with the Naim Unitilite. Their unique speaker designs still look modern and stylish even after a decade has passed. The Neat Acoustics IOTA is capable of producing a tight bass performance which fits in nicely with the low-end prowess of the Unitilite player. The speaker positioning of the IOTA also makes them ideal for a desktop sound system. Their treble is detailed, extended, and smooth, easy on the ears. The bookshelf speakers’ musicality is matching with the Naim Audio all-in-one player too.
The KEF R3 is another pair of beautifully designed bookshelf speakers and will match really well with your Naim Unitilite both aesthetically and sonically. These stand-mounters are capable of delivering high-resolution music presentations filled with subtle information and nuances, giving us a rich musical performance without sounding clinical. The KEF R3 midrange prowess is amazing and complements the Naim Unitilite player, producing plenty of intricate details with exceptional clarity. They are also able to project a large soundstage which belies their size and this makes it even more alluring to listen to them.
More Details at Amazon – KEF R3 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Black)
Q Acoustics Concept 20 speakers have won many accolades over the years due to their exceptional sonic performance at a modest price. They are still one of the very best bookshelf speakers in their price range and are a worthy match with the Naim Unitilite. Furthermore, the Unitilite is powerful enough to efficiently drive the Concept 20s. They have wide dynamics and impressive clarity which doesn’t sound harsh in the slightest. The Q Acoustics Concept 20 loudspeakers are very balanced, not to mention, musically refined as well. The energetic performance of the Naim Unitilite will ensure that the music delivery would never sound dull.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics Concept 20 Pair (White)
Extremely efficient floor-standing speakers such as the Klipsch Heresy IV can be an excellent match for the Naim Unitilite all-in-one player as it doesn’t take much to drive them to high volume levels. Klipsch Heresy IV will also be an exemplary choice for listeners who prefer lively and bright-sounding HiFi systems with astounding clarity. The bass performance of these heritage floor-standers will suit the Unitilite just fine, it is very tight and fast where it doesn’t muddle the midrange reproduction. Heresy IV speakers have a wide sweet spot and an even wider soundstage. The overall sound reproduction of these loudspeakers is very clean too and we hardly detect any colorations.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch Heritage Series Heresy IV
Wharfedale Diamond 220 is an ideal pair of bookshelf speakers for listeners who have tight budgets and prefer to add more warmth to the overall sound reproduction without sacrificing music details. The Diamond 220 speakers are easy on the ears and our wallets, with ample bass weight which will help to provide a punchier performance. The added bass weight will also provide us with fuller sound quality without sounding unnatural when partnered with the Naim Unitilite. They are also capable of producing deep low ends and the Naim Unitilite can imbue them with more impact. Wharfedale Diamond 220s are musical-sounding speakers and at this asking price, they are certainly worth the effort to have a listen.
More Details at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 220 Bookshelf Speaker (Walnut)
To Conclude
It is a pity that the Naim Unitilite doesn’t have a dedicated subwoofer output as it would have helped to add an active sub into the mix. This will improve the overall bass performance and deliver more prominent subsonic low ends. Still, the speakers listed here are enough to allow us to enjoy listening to our favorite tunes. You might want to take your time to look through this list and see which ones are worth your time to arrange for an audition.
