Idle wonderings: Naim Uniti Star or standalone amp and half-size CD Player?

[Entrigo]

Have been thinking about streamlining my setup.

I have three custom-built floating shelves and no real space to add any other, so currently have my Wiim Pro Plus streamer and my phono preamp sitting on my CD player, which I am not too happy about .

As I don't really use my CD player much (despite recently upgrading) I was thinking of either swapping the full size Marantz SA8005 for a half size one (i.e. Rega Apollo).

However, as plan to upgrade my turntable to a significantly better one soon-ish, I would also need to upgrade my Rega Elex-R amp eventually,. So I started thinking about a little "magic trick" - do away with amp, Wiim and CD player and replace with a Naim Uniti Star.

Asking anyone who has used the Naim - leaving aside the streaming functionality for the time being:
1. Is it good enough as an amp to feed a decent analogue source into (Technics 1300/1200G through *Vertere Phono1)?
2. How about as a CD player - and how would it sound compared to the Marantz SA8005 (discounting SACD of which I have 3 and don't really care about)?

Or would I be better off with a standalone amp, like the Rega Elicit or Naim XS3 (Aethos/Supernait if I get lucky on the second hand market) and a half size CD player - the aforementioned Rega Apollo or similar - and possibly a Bluenode Streamer?

As mentioned, idle wondering as the turntable upgrade alone is probably still a couple of months away, but getting some market research in...

 

[jjbomber]

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View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=movF8_Rrr-o&t=6s

 

[jjbomber]

Better picture of the CD tray here:

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[Entrigo]

OK, I see it will retail at £700 - is it really a match for a £3500 Naim Uniti Star and a good companion for a £3/4000 turntable??

I think it would have been a good addition for me in 2020, now it looks like it would not match my current/intended system at all...

 

[manicm]

One box to rule them all, half width as well. Eversolo Play CD edition.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=movF8_Rrr-o&t=6s

Sonically it will come nowhere near the Naim. It's a budget convenience piece that is very good for its price. But stop comparing apples to oranges.

 

[manicm]

Have been thinking about streamlining my setup.

I have three custom-built floating shelves and no real space to add any other, so currently have my Wiim Pro Plus streamer and my phono preamp sitting on my CD player, which I am not too happy about .

As I don't really use my CD player much (despite recently upgrading) I was thinking of either swapping the full size Marantz SA8005 for a half size one (i.e. Rega Apollo).

However, as plan to upgrade my turntable to a significantly better one soon-ish, I would also need to upgrade my Rega Elex-R amp eventually,. So I started thinking about a little "magic trick" - do away with amp, Wiim and CD player and replace with a Naim Uniti Star.

Asking anyone who has used the Naim - leaving aside the streaming functionality for the time being:
1. Is it good enough as an amp to feed a decent analogue source into (Technics 1300/1200G through *Vertere Phono1)?
2. How about as a CD player - and how would it sound compared to the Marantz SA8005 (discounting SACD of which I have 3 and don't really care about)?

Or would I be better off with a standalone amp, like the Rega Elicit or Naim XS3 (Aethos/Supernait if I get lucky on the second hand market) and a half size CD player - the aforementioned Rega Apollo or similar - and possibly a Bluenode Streamer?

As mentioned, idle wondering as the turntable upgrade alone is probably still a couple of months away, but getting some market research in...

The Naim is a serious piece of kit, and its amplification is excellent.

 

[Entrigo]

The Naim is a serious piece of kit, and its amplification is excellent.

Good, thanks for the input. Suspected as much but it's always good to hear - especially when you will likely buy second hand and demoing is not really an option.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

I used to have the previous Superuniti and it was a great bit of kit...the usual screen failure was the only fly in the ointment, but easily rectified( at a price)....I'd probably be more into the Nova if going that route again, I already ripped all my cd's to flac, so the uniti star's cd drive would be surplus to me, but I also see it as something as a possibility to go wrong in the future, you'd still need a external phono stage though

 

[Entrigo]

I used to have the previous Superuniti and it was a great bit of kit...the usual screen failure was the only fly in the ointment, but easily rectified( at a price)....I'd probably be more into the Nova if going that route again, I already ripped all my cd's to flac, so the uniti star's cd drive would be surplus to me, but I also see it as something as a possibility to go wrong in the future, you'd still need a external phono stage though

Yes someone else on another forum mentioned the Nova - I hadn't thought about ripping CDs to FLAC... Not a bad idea. Though not having the equipment and thinking about the time and effort involved, I suspect would never do it. Keeping the CDs in the equation , would you think separates is better?

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Yes someone else on another forum mentioned the Nova - I hadn't thought about ripping CDs to FLAC... Not a bad idea. Though not having the equipment and thinking about the time and effort involved, I suspect would never do it. Keeping the CDs in the equation , would you think separates is better?

Yes the cd ripping is very time consuming and monotonous.
If you're keeping the cd player and turntable in the equation, I'd go with a dumb amp with a decent onboard phono stage, pretty pointless having a all in one unit if there's a turntable and cd player in the system anyway.
My Mytec brooklyn bridge and Brooklyn amp plus is great small footprint system, so keep a open mind towards class d amplification also, some great stuff from Lindemann, Burson audio and Mytec.

 

[Entrigo]

Yes the cd ripping is very time consuming and monotonous.
If you're keeping the cd player and turntable in the equation, I'd go with a dumb amp with a decent onboard phono stage, pretty pointless having a all in one unit if there's a turntable and cd player in the system anyway.
My Mytec brooklyn bridge and Brooklyn amp plus is great small footprint system, so keep a open mind towards class d amplification also, some great stuff from Lindemann, Burson audio and Mytec.

Yeah I have just got a Vertere phono stage which I plan to keep for a while. The main issue is space and having all units on a shelf as opposed to on top of one another... In which case the Uniti will allow me to free the shelf used for the CD player and put the phono stage and any future PSU on it..

 

[Integralista]

Hi Entrigo, which speakers do you tend to use? And which cartridge for your TT (mm or mc)? This is important to know before some reasonable advice can be given. BR.

 

[Din5]

I auditioned the Naim Uniti Star a while ago. It looks impressive, beautifully built and sounds excellent. If I had to start building a system again I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

 

[davidf]

As with all one box lifestyle systems, it's convenience, a jack of all trades, a compromise. A separate amplifier will usually outperform in most respects (it's an amplifier, nothing else). You need to identify exactly what it is you want, audition an alternative, and decide what you want to live with - it's your ears, we can't tell you what you will like. If the all in one is good enough, you've saved some boxes and mains sockets, but you may limit yourself as to the speakers you'll be able to use.

 

[Entrigo]

Hi Entrigo, which speakers do you tend to use? And which cartridge for your TT (mm or mc)? This is important to know before some reasonable advice can be given. BR.

Speakers I am using Focal Aria 906, though I would probably upgrade them as well (thinking about possibly PMC Fyne Audio or similar standmounters - possibly Kef R3 but ideally something front ported). Cartridge I have am AT33PTGII and a VM540ML with RigB body upgrade.

 

[GeoffreyW]

I have had my Star for a while, and feed it with an RP3/MP200, and it drives my ATC SCM11s easily. I play CD but usually rip them to a hard drive. Internet radio sounds good, crisp and clear, and it can also be fed e-ARC from my Bluray or tv. It doesn't have very many inputs, but enough for me.

 

[Integralista]

Speakers I am using Focal Aria 906, though I would probably upgrade them as well (thinking about possibly PMC Fyne Audio or similar standmounters - possibly Kef R3 but ideally something front ported). Cartridge I have am AT33PTGII and a VM540ML with RigB body upgrade.

Hi, you have very good analogue frontend with Vertere phono as current star in it. Such source has a sense with amp like Naim Supernait 3 or Rega Aethos or similar (Atoll....). If you like your Focal Aria 906 speakers, than Focal Kanta 1 will be my choice. They have a big part if musculanity from Sopra line but are easier on ear and easier to drive. One note: any Atom all in one play as amp worse than Supernait 3. Yes they are convenient, practical, has high WAF, ... but sound worse. But if your space is so limited, it is very good choice. I recommend to consider also all in one alternative from Atoll-is better equiped than Naim or german T+A Symphony (if price is still reachable). Symphony we have here in studio and compared with Naim Audio Atom PE, I will take german machine. Naim has got very talented competitor. Whole Atom line is to be rewamped. Some price drops could occure. But pls. keep analogue with Vertere🫠. CDs I keep for my son. BR.

 

[Entrigo]

Hi, you have very good analogue frontend with Vertere phono as current star in it. Such source has a sense with amp like Naim Supernait 3 or Rega Aethos or similar (Atoll....). If you like your Focal Aria 906 speakers, than Focal Kanta 1 will be my choice. They have a big part if musculanity from Sopra line but are easier on ear and easier to drive. One note: any Atom all in one play as amp worse than Supernait 3. Yes they are convenient, practical, has high WAF, ... but sound worse. But if your space is so limited, it is very good choice. I recommend to consider also all in one alternative from Atoll-is better equiped than Naim or german T+A Symphony (if price is still reachable). Symphony we have here in studio and compared with Naim Audio Atom PE, I will take german machine. Naim has got very talented competitor. Whole Atom line is to be rewamped. Some price drops could occure. But pls. keep analogue with Vertere🫠. CDs I keep for my son. BR.

Haha yeah I'd like the Kanta as well but the Aria 906 were £600, the ones I am looking at are around £1500 - the Kanta are £5k... A bit of a jump. And they are also rear ported - although they won't be right against a wall the space at the back might be congested so still prefer a front ported or similar.

In terms of space, I am very quickly reverting back to the original idea of buying a half size CD player and going for a standard integrated amp (further up the Rega line, though wary of the higher end amps becoming leaner, or Naim or Roksan). In terms of space, I might be better off even building an extra shelf on the side of my existing one to house the smaller components like streamer and phono stage.

 

[Entrigo]

I have had my Star for a while, and feed it with an RP3/MP200, and it drives my ATC SCM11s easily. I play CD but usually rip them to a hard drive. Internet radio sounds good, crisp and clear, and it can also be fed e-ARC from my Bluray or tv. It doesn't have very many inputs, but enough for me.

Sounds good. Do you know if the Star digitises the analogue input? Someone on another forum suggested it might do. I am not sure I'd hear much difference but not keen on the idea in principle.

 

[Integralista]

Haha yeah I'd like the Kanta as well but the Aria 906 were £600, the ones I am looking at are around £1500 - the Kanta are £5k... A bit of a jump. And they are also rear ported - although they won't be right against a wall the space at the back might be congested so still prefer a front ported or similar.

In terms of space, I am very quickly reverting back to the original idea of buying a half size CD player and going for a standard integrated amp (further up the Rega line, though wary of the higher end amps becoming leaner, or Naim or Roksan). In terms of space, I might be better off even building an extra shelf on the side of my existing one to house the smaller components like streamer and phono stage.

Very good move. Rega CDs and amps are very good. And very universal in speaker selection. BR.

 

[GeoffreyW]

Sounds good. Do you know if the Star digitises the analogue input? Someone on another forum suggested it might do. I am not sure I'd hear much difference but not keen on the idea in principle.

Hi, Entrigo, and yes, I understand that it does digitise analogue input apparently.

 

[Entrigo]

Hi, Entrigo, and yes, I understand that it does digitise analogue input apparently.

OK yes, I have just been reading a thread on the Naim forum where it's confirmed. Someone mentions the process being inherently lossy, so it will degrade the sound, but nonetheless the jury is out whether people can tell a difference - as I suspect I would struggle to. But, despite not considering myself an "analogue Taliban" as someone mentions in the same thread, I am not sure I like the idea. I would know and it would be playing with my head. Anyway, the amp upgrade is still quite some time off - I only got my Rega Elex a couple of months ago and really happy with it, but I will let it percolate. One thing that seems sure, is that the CD player functionality of the Star isn't great. It seems mostly for ripping CDs than for actual playback.

 

[Entrigo]

As with all one box lifestyle systems, it's convenience, a jack of all trades, a compromise. A separate amplifier will usually outperform in most respects (it's an amplifier, nothing else). You need to identify exactly what it is you want, audition an alternative, and decide what you want to live with - it's your ears, we can't tell you what you will like. If the all in one is good enough, you've saved some boxes and mains sockets, but you may limit yourself as to the speakers you'll be able to use.

Well, I think we are still talking about a pretty good quality "all in one", and as much as there would be some corners to be cut, I would expect the amplification element to be more than decent - and potentially better than a Rega Elex amp which cost a 3rd.. But the core of what you are saying is spot on. My main concern would be amplification, so I might be better off sticking to a full sized amp and if anything, reducing the footprint of the CD player. Or just stick a couple more shelves to the side of the existing ones...

 

[davidf]

Well, I think we are still talking about a pretty good quality "all in one", and as much as there would be some corners to be cut, I would expect the amplification element to be more than decent - and potentially better than a Rega Elex amp which cost a 3rd.. But the core of what you are saying is spot on. My main concern would be amplification, so I might be better off sticking to a full sized amp and if anything, reducing the footprint of the CD player. Or just stick a couple more shelves to the side of the existing ones...

The amplification in the Uniti range is based on the Nait 5i (as it was), so I'm doubting it'll be any better than the Elex.