Naim Uniti (affordable!) alternatives

[admin_exported]

Ok, so I've read the glowing review of the new Naim Uniti amp/receiver/cd/dab/makeyouacupoftea etc and love it's features.

Of course the price is more than a little out of my range.

Does anyone know of any more affordable alternatives. I am in no way looking for the sound quality that a Naim system could offer - more the functionality.

Mainly I'm after having a one box with CD, DAB/FM, Network(NAS)/local(usb) playback of FLAC/MP3 and very hopefully playback of BBC internet radio streams.

I'm aware of Squeezebox/Sonos and have been pointed towards Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha, Cambridge Audio similar one boxes. However none of them really seem to tick those boxes. I know I'm asking a lot (which was why I was so surprised when I saw the Uniti) but surely there must be more of these - at least on the horizon!

I would however like to use my own speakers, at least even if you can change whatever ones come with the device and use your own speaker cable.

Anyone?

 

[John Duncan]

There isn't anything really right now. I'm seriously considering a NaimUniti but would like to see what other manufacturers come up with before I do. Course, I'm a very impatient man and may give up waiting

You can construct a system that does exactly the same for much less, but none will rival the one-box-ness the Naim has.

 

[professorhat]

JohnDuncan:You can construct a system that does exactly the same for much less, but none will rival the one-box-ness the Naim has.

And by the time you account for all the money lost from not working to get it set up, the Naim could work out cheaper...

(you can use that one if you like JD

)

 

[JoelSim]

I think you should just bite the bullet

 

[professorhat]

But I'm not influencing you at all. After the whole Apple TV / aTV flash debacle, I think it's my turn to take one for the team. Anyone know any loan sharks to get me the £2,000 I need for the Naim?

 

[method man]

I liked the look of the naim. And I could have wangled the spend IF I hadnt needed new speakers as well. IF I had, like many of you guys. great speakers I would have gone for it. I imagine many of you also have great setups attached to thos speakers. So instead of dicking around with wireless and computers and routers I would get one of these plugged in to that kit and compared. If quality was same or better I would have gone for it. As it does everything I would want. And I think really is the future.

 

[John Duncan]

professorhat:
JohnDuncan:You can construct a system that does exactly the same for much less, but none will rival the one-box-ness the Naim has.

And by the time you account for all the money lost from not working to get it set up, the Naim could work out cheaper...

(you can use that one if you like JD

)

Genius. Genius.

However, I think I may have shot myself in the foot by getting an Apple TV, which kind of serves the same purpose, and justifying that has been fun... (d'oh)

 

[Anonymous]

Hmm, so close and yet so (wierd looking!) far:

http://whathifi.com/News/Monitor-Audio-develops-high-tech-internetDABwi-fi-radio/

I'm sure as time goes by there will be more products that offer what I'm after. I can be patient. Hopeful too ;-)

 

[JamesPianoman]

Hi, I saw a Phillips Streamium 1-boxer today that has CD, 160gb hard-drive, usb, internet radio, DAB radio so that should be ticking most of your boxes? Think it was about £400... the MCi500H...

 

[Clare Newsome]

JamesPianoman:Hi, I saw a Phillips Streamium 1-boxer today that has CD, 160gb hard-drive, usb, internet radio, DAB radio so that should be ticking most of your boxes? Think it was about £400... the MCi500H...

You can read our Philips Streamium MCi500H review here