The Naim Uniti Nova sits at the pinnacle of the Uniti all-in-one range, above the Atom and Star, representing Naim's most complete expression of the one-box philosophy: a full-power streaming amplifier that requires nothing more than a pair of speakers to deliver a complete, high-resolution music system.
Design and Build
Conceived and built from the ground up at Naim's factory in Salisbury, England, the Nova is housed in precision CNC-fabricated brushed and anodised aluminium casework. Extruded aluminium heat sinks run the full length of the chassis to maximise thermal stability and support the Class A/B output stage, while a large toroidal transformer provides the headroom needed to drive demanding loudspeakers with authority. The Bluetooth antenna is concealed within the enclosure for a clean, seamless aesthetic.
The Signature Volume Control
Central to the Nova's identity is its illuminated signature volume control, an audiophile-grade rotary knob inspired by Naim's Statement reference amplification system and derived from the NAC-N 272 streaming preamplifier. The control adjusts level in the analogue domain to a premium digital resolution. Its buttery-smooth rotation and proximity-sensing backlit display give the Nova a tactile quality that sets it apart from its rivals.
Display and Interface
A 5-inch full-colour LCD display occupies the front panel, presenting album artwork, metadata, and input information in rich detail. Proximity sensors wake the display as a listener approaches; four front-panel buttons provide quick access to Favourites, Stop, and Play functions. The Nova is also fully controllable via the Naim App for iOS and Android, and a zigbee RF4CE remote control is supplied.
Streaming and Connectivity
The Nova supports an exceptionally wide range of streaming protocols: Chromecast Built-In, Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Bluetooth with aptX HD, internet radio via vTuner, UPnP for hi-res local network streaming, and Roon Ready certification for integration with a Roon Core. DAB and FM tuners are built in. Wired Ethernet (10/100Mbps) and dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi with internal antennae provide flexible network connectivity.
For physical sources, the rear panel provides digital inputs including two optical TOSLink, two coaxial RCA, one BNC, and one HDMI ARC connection. Analogue inputs include two RCA stereo pairs and two 5-pin DIN sockets. Two USB Type-A sockets (front and rear) accommodate flash storage, and an SD card slot allows library storage of up to 20,000 tracks. The Nova can serve audio to up to four network-connected players at CD quality, and Party Mode synchronises up to six Uniti players simultaneously.
Amplification and Outputs
The amplifier section delivers 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms in Class A/B operation, powered by Naim's discrete circuit topology and the large toroidal transformer. A dedicated discrete headphone amplifier stage drives the front-panel 3.5mm jack. Outputs include an RCA pre/subwoofer output and a stereo power amplifier output on RCA for bi-amping or active speaker integration.