The network amplifier space has come a long way since the debut of the original Naim Uniti Atom—a product I still consider one of the smartest, best-executed amps in the streaming game. It proved that a compact, all-in-one solution could sound exceptional, look great on a shelf, and simplify high-end audio without dumbing it down.
Since then, we’ve seen the rise of ultra-affordable options like the WiiM Amp Ultra and Eversolo Play, delivering real streaming muscle for under a grand. In the middle of the road, you’ve got the refined, still-accessible heavy hitters like the Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE and yes, the Uniti Atom itself. But perched at the top of the food chain, with a power rating that makes bookshelf speakers break out in hives, is the new Naim Uniti Nova Power Edition.
This is where things get serious. 150 watts of Class D grunt. aptX HD support. Full ecosystem integration with Focal if you’re drinking the full Kool-Aid. And a price tag that enters five-figure territory once you factor in speakers worthy of pairing with it.
The big question: does the world need streaming amplifiers this powerful and this expensive? More importantly, does the Naim offer something the rest don’t—beyond brute force and beautiful industrial design?
The new Naim Uniti Nova Power Edition more than triples the power output of the original Uniti Atom—jumping to 150 watts per channel—but that added muscle comes with a hefty increase in price. And while the performance ceiling has clearly been raised, Naim still refuses to include a built-in phono stage. That’s borderline absurd for a company with vinyl woven into its DNA.
This is the same Naim that gave us the legendary ARO tonearm, a lineup of excellent external phono stages, and the no-expense-spared Naim Solstice turntable. They’ve long championed analog playback, yet here we are again in 2025 with a flagship streaming amp that ignores the format entirely unless you pony up for yet another box. For a five-figure system? Come on.
Under the hood, the Uniti Nova PE ditches the Atom’s class A/B amplifier topology for a more powerful and efficient class D design. That’s a notable shift for Naim, and one that’s likely to raise some eyebrows among longtime fans. That said, my recent hot takes on the rise of high-end class D amps have racked up over 100,000 reads—so clearly, this isn’t just an engineering compromise, it’s a direction the market is hungry for.
Uniti Nova PE Streaming Amplifier: What You Get for $10,000
Naim’s Uniti Nova PE ($9,999) muscles its way to the top of the Uniti lineup—joining the Uniti Atom ($3,799), Uniti Atom Headphone Edition ($3,799), Uniti Star ($5,699), Uniti Nova ($6,899), and Uniti Core ($3,199). This is the heavy hitter in a range already known for premium parts, audiophile-grade amplification, and one of the most refined wireless streaming ecosystems in the game.
The Power Edition doesn’t hold back. It’s loaded with the latest NP800 streaming card, which Naim designed to keep noise ultra-low while delivering high-resolution streams from Spotify Connect, Apple Music, TIDAL (and TIDAL Connect), Qobuz Connect, and Internet radio. You also get Chromecast built-in, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth aptX Adaptive, and Roon Ready support. It can handle PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz, and integrates easily with UPnP servers or USB storage.
Need to plug it into your TV? HDMI ARC is on board, and volume can be controlled using your TV’s remote. You also get full app control via the Focal & Naim app—which controls all Naim streamers, amps, and multi-room setups across the house.
Multi-room audio? Covered. Up to 6 Naim products can be linked for synchronized playback. The “Party Mode” in the app lets you queue playlists, adjust volumes independently, and create a unified sound across different rooms. Everything syncs effortlessly.
Some under-the-hood features worth noting:
- Dual internal power supplies: One audiophile-grade linear PSU based on a toroidal transformer, and one high-efficiency SMPSU that keeps standby consumption to just 0.5 watts.
- Galvanic isolation between the audio and control circuitry to keep noise out of your signal path.
- A ZigBee bi-directional remote that doesn’t require line-of-sight and mirrors volume changes visually.
- A crisp 5-inch color display for album art and settings.
Yes, it’s a lot of money. But the Nova PE is designed to be the ultimate one-box solution at the high end—an all-in-one amplifier/streamer that doesn’t compromise on performance, power, or connectivity.
Uniti Nova PE Inputs & Outputs: What You Can Plug In (and Why It Matters)
The Naim Uniti Nova Power Edition isn’t just a powerhouse in name—it’s designed to handle just about anything you throw at it when it comes to inputs and outputs. Whether you’re running a vintage turntable (with a phono preamp, of course), a digital transport, gaming console, high-end CD player, or just streaming from a server, this unit has the connectivity chops to serve as the command center of your listening setup.
Let’s break it down:
Analog Inputs
- 2 x 5-pin DIN: Classic Naim connections for those with legacy gear or looking to use Naim’s full-stack synergy.
- 2 x RCA: Standard analog line-level inputs for connecting devices like external phono stages, CD players, or DACs.
Analog Outputs
- 1 x Stereo Power Amplifier Output: Delivers 150 watts per channel into 8 ohms via a class D amplifier section. This is the muscle behind the Nova PE, ready to drive demanding speakers with control and authority.
- 1 x 4-pin DIN: For connecting to other Naim gear—like an external amplifier or power supply.
- 1 x RCA pair: Line-level output for integration with external amplifiers, subwoofers, or recording equipment.
- 1 x 3.5mm Headphone Jack (Front Panel): A convenient front-facing output for personal listening sessions.
Digital Inputs
- 2 x Optical TOSLink (up to 24-bit/96kHz): Perfect for linking your TV, game console, or older CD transport.
- 1 x Coaxial RCA (up to 24-bit/192kHz, DoP 64Fs): For high-res digital audio sources like streamers or CD players.
- 1 x Coaxial BNC (up to 24-bit/192kHz, DoP 64Fs): Preferred by many audiophiles for digital transports due to its robust clock performance.
Headphone Output
- 1 x 6.35mm (¼-inch) Jack: For higher-end headphones requiring better amplification—something the Nova PE handles with ease.
Other Inputs
- 1 x HDMI ARC: Lets you connect your TV and control volume via the TV remote, finally making your audiophile rig spouse-approved for movie night.
USB Connectivity
- 2 x USB Type-A Ports (Front and Rear, 1.6A Charging): Plug in external drives for music playback or charge your devices. Rear USB is particularly useful for hiding away storage devices in a clean setup.
Power Output
- 150W per channel into 8 Ohms @ 0.1% THD+N (Class D): This is the Nova PE’s major upgrade—three times more power than the original Nova, now in a more efficient Class D design.
Format Support?
The Naim Uniti Nova PE isn’t just flexing 150 watts per channel of Class D muscle—it also comes ready to play nice with just about every digital audio format you’d expect from a five-figure streaming amplifier. And yes, it supports gapless playback on all of them, so your Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall listening sessions won’t be interrupted by awkward digital hiccups.
Let’s start with the heavy hitters: WAV files are supported up to 32-bit/384kHz, meaning it’ll happily chew through the biggest, most high-res studio masters you can throw at it. FLAC and AIFF? No problem—up to 24-bit/384kHz. ALAC (for the Apple faithful)? Also 24-bit/384kHz, so your iTunes legacy collection isn’t left behind.
For those slumming it with compressed formats, there’s support for MP3, AAC, M4A, OGG, and even WMA—up to 48kHz and 320kbps (because we all have at least one folder labeled “Old Stuff” that we’re too sentimental to delete). DSD? Yep—64 and 128Fs are both supported, for those who believe in chasing every last microdetail in a 70MB violin solo.
Sampling rate support is wide-ranging: USB inputs go all the way from 44.1kHz up to 384kHz at 16 to 24 bits. S/PDIF digital inputs (coaxial and optical) handle 32kHz up to 192kHz at up to 24-bit, which covers most streaming devices and legacy CD transports you’ll be using.
In short: if it plays music digitally, the Nova PE can decode it. Just make sure your network and storage are up to the task—because once you get used to feeding it hi-res files, you’re not going back to 128kbps MP3s. Ever.
Control & Interface: Still Touching That Glorious Dial (Because It’s Tired… So Tired…)
The Uniti Nova PE sticks with what works when it comes to control—and that’s a very good thing. You get full command via the Focal & Naim App, available for both Android and iOS, letting you tweak sources, update firmware, and orchestrate your multi-room setup like a baton-wielding maestro of high-res streaming.
But let’s talk about what really matters: that rotary volume control. Naim’s signature top-mounted dial—first introduced on the Uniti Atom—is still here, glowing softly and spinning with the kind of resistance that makes grown audiophiles weep. It’s tactile. It’s luxurious. And it’s absolutely unnecessary in a world of apps and remotes… which is why we’re obsessed with it.
And yeah, sure, the remote’s a Zigbee RF bi-directional unit, and there’s a gorgeous 5-inch color LCD on the front with four physical buttons. But you won’t care. Because every time you walk across the room just to spin that dial, it’s not about volume—it’s about ritual. It’s about need. It’s about being diseased, as only the audiophile faithful understand.
In fact, that volume knob?
It’s tired…
So tired…
Tired of playing the game…
But here you are again, giving it one more spin like Lilli Von Schtüpp herself trying to get through one more song without collapsing dramatically on a fainting couch.
It’s audiophile absurdity at its most beautiful—and we’re not mad about it.
Listening Impressions & Setup
Unlike my time with the Naim Uniti Atom — where I cycled through a mix of sub-$2,000 bookshelf and floorstanding loudspeakers — the Uniti Nova PE demanded something with more teeth. This is not a system for polite little monitors that wilt under pressure.
I brought out the big guns: the Audiovector Trapeze Ri (because why not go full retro-modern insanity), the Q Acoustics 5040 and 5050 for a bit of British value reality check, and then something more sentimental — my old pair of Spendor SP2/3e. These have been in climate-controlled exile down in Florida for almost five years. They’d been re-capped and re-foamed before their sabbatical, with fewer than 50 hours on the clock before getting mothballed in what I affectionately call the Fortress of Solitude.
The Uniti Nova PE didn’t just wake them up — it basically kicked the door down, handed them a cigar, and told them the Cold War was over.
Sources on deck included the Audiolab 6000CDT and Marantz CD60 spinning silver discs like it’s 2003 again, the WiiM Ultra handling network streaming duties, and a pair of restored Thorens turntables doing what they’ve done best since bell bottoms were in the first time. Phono stages came courtesy of Pro-Ject and EAT — because sometimes you do need to spend more on the preamp than the cartridge. Speaking of which, I alternated between Denon and Ortofon carts depending on how nostalgic I was feeling.
All cabling was courtesy of Clarus Audio and QED, because snake oil isn’t worth sipping unless it’s at least well-insulated.
Does the Naim app give you room correction, or other toys that WiiM sneaks in at one-tenth the price? Nope. But it’s stable, polished, and designed for people who care more about sound quality than tweaking treble with their thumbs. Naim has clearly put real money and time into their software, and while it’s not flashy, it works — and that’s more than you can say about half the apps in this category.
My Date with Amy Winehouse: Super Sounds and Super Trouble
Have you ever had that thing where a specific song—or hell, a whole damn album—gets stuck in your head and refuses to leave, no matter how much junk you throw at it to make it go away? Like it’s got squatters’ rights in your frontal lobe and not even a Nickelback marathon can fumigate it? Yeah, same. That’s been my reality for the past few months.
Coming out of inpatient care kind of re-tuned the internal circuitry; it was overdue. The emotional tonearm finally dropped in the right groove, and suddenly my brain was spinning nothing but late-night jazz and bruised soul vocals. Billie, Ella, Dinah, Nina—they’re all getting heavy rotation in my cranium. But the one voice I can’t shake? Amy. Winehouse. She’s not just haunting the playlist—she is the playlist.
The late Ms. Winehouse didn’t just sing from the gutter—she built a penthouse there. She’s the only one from that list who was actually mine, a contemporary who burned too fast but left the kind of soul scars that never really heal.
Regardless of which loudspeaker I threw at it—Q Acoustics 5040, 5050, my old Spendor SP2/3e—the Danish diva in the room was clearly the Audiovector Trapeze Ri. It anchored Amy Winehouse’s voice like a bottle of cheap red on a stormy night: dark, deep, and impossible to ignore. The emotional weight, the bite in her delivery, the almost feral crack in her tone—all of it landed harder with the Audiovectors doing the heavy lifting.
As for the Naim Uniti Nova PE? It hits a hell of a lot harder than the Uniti Atom. And for the $6,000+ difference, it damn well better. We’re talking a shift from “Back to Black” on vinyl in your apartment to “Rehab” in a full-blown studio with the needle buried in the VU meter.
Could I tell the difference between the class A/B Atom and the class D Nova PE? Absolutely. Even with a little memory haze from a few too many sessions behind the volume knob, I still listen to Naim amps regularly. The Nova PE comes across more analytical—cleaner edges, tighter focus—but it’s the bass control and speed that really jump out. It’s not subtle. The Nova PE has that “Don’t mess with me, I just got out of rehab and I’m still mad” kind of energy, while the Atom is more like “Let’s grab a drink and talk about our feelings.”
Which one’s preferable? That depends on what you’re chasing—and what you’re connecting on the other end. If your speakers are a bit on the sleepy side or you like your music delivered with a velvet glove, the Uniti Atom still holds its ground like a pint-sized scrapper with class A/B finesse. But if you’re running bigger guns—like the Audiovector Trapeze Ri—you’ll want the Uniti Nova PE in your corner.
If your listening space is tighter and you prefer a more intimate, controlled sound, the Uniti Atom still packs a punch with its class A/B charm. But once you step into bigger rooms that demand more air and power, the Uniti Nova PE really comes into its own.
The Audiovector Trapeze Ri speakers don’t just fill a room—they own it. They want dynamics, crescendos, and the kind of bold delivery that’s got Eve Teschmacher-level attitude and enough balls to shake the furniture.
So if your setup calls for grand sonic gestures and plenty of breathing room, the Nova PE plus something like the Audiovector will make the Atom feel like it’s stuck watching Seinfeld at home.
Uniti Nova PE and Electronic Icons: From Aphex Twin to Daft Punk, Powering Your Synth Universe
When I first put the Uniti Atom through its paces, I paired it with a handful of bookshelf speakers — Q Acoustics, Wharfedale, Acoustic Energy, DALI, and PSB — then blasted tracks from Aphex Twin, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Orbital, and Daft Punk. Without a dedicated subwoofer (though I eventually threw in a REL to cover those subterranean bass hits), the Uniti Atom delivered solid control, PRaT, texture, and just the right splash of color to keep things engaging.
For smaller rooms, it was plenty. You could argue Naim should’ve cranked up the power a bit to avoid this very conversation, but hey, I liked it that much. The problem? It just couldn’t drive my floorstanders with the authority they demanded, especially at that price point.
Switching to the Uniti Nova PE made it clear: triple the power and serious muscle are exactly what those floorstanders needed to come alive. Granted, none of the speakers I threw at it were particularly brutal loads. But here’s the kicker — Naim engineered this beast with their own Focal Diablo Utopia Colour Evo, Scala Utopia Evo, and Sopra N°3 in mind. These speakers are tonal soulmates, likely cooked up in the same corporate kitchen, so it’s no surprise the Nova PE runs them like a dream.
So yeah, the Uniti Nova PE can handle a broader range of speakers — though let’s be honest, it wasn’t exactly BFFs with my Magnepan LRS. The boost in dynamic punch and bass control? Crystal clear. But is it really three times better than the Uniti Atom? I’m not fully sold on that. It all depends on your room size, how you listen, and what speakers you’re feeding it. Sometimes more power is just more power, not necessarily more magic.
Jazz Vibes: Listening to Craft Recordings OJC Series on Vinyl and Streaming
Thanks to advance copies of Craft/OJC’s Looking Ahead by Ken McIntyre and Eric Dolphy, plus Benny Golson’s Gone with Golson, I got to put both the fresh vinyl reissues and their hi-res digital siblings on TIDAL and Qobuz through the Uniti Nova PE. Not gonna lie—the vinyl has way more presence and body, that tactile analog vibe you just can’t fake. Still, it was a solid test to see how the Nova PE handled those classics alongside a whole jazz parade of Davis, Dolphy, Morgan, Tyner, Eckstine, and Turrentine. Let’s just say, it held its own, even if vinyl’s warmth always steals the spotlight.
Naim gear has always been about pace, timing, attack, and rhythm—and with transparent, detailed speakers like those Focals, Q Acoustics floorstanders, and Audiovectors, you really get to hear that in full force. It feels like Naim has finally caught up and is playing much nicer with the other kids in the sandbox, but without throwing out its core values. The Uniti Nova PE? It can handle any type of music and still keep that signature Naim groove intact.
The Bottom Line
The Uniti Nova PE delivers serious power, scale, and dynamics that clearly set it apart from most network amplifiers under $10,000 — including heavy hitters like the Cambridge Evo 150 SE and the Lyngdorf TDAI-2210.
Sure, the wildly popular network amps under $1,000—think Marantz M1, WiiM Amp Ultra, Eversolo Play, and Bluesound Powernode—bring some serious advantages to the table for their price. They pack in advanced room correction software that can tame tricky listening spaces, offer access to all the major streaming platforms, and come with well-designed control apps that make managing your music a breeze. Plus, they use efficient class D amplification to deliver respectable power without breaking the bank.
But here’s the kicker: as great as these budget-friendly options are, they don’t come close to what the Uniti Nova PE offers in terms of raw power, dynamic authority, and the ability to effortlessly drive high-end speakers in the $5,000 to $20,000 range. While the sub-$1,000 amps excel at convenience and value, they simply can’t deliver the same scale, speed, or grip on demanding drivers that the Nova PE commands. It’s like comparing a nimble sports car to a fully loaded muscle car—the budget gear gets you around town, but the Nova PE owns the open highway.
That said, the Nova PE’s biggest competition is still its own stablemate, the Uniti Atom. Remember, the Atom can be upgraded with an external power amplifier of your choice, turning it into a highly capable hi-res network player and preamp. Pair it with a used Naim NAP power amp, and you’re often spending less than the Nova PE while gaining more classic class A/B power. The Atom remains an excellent, flexible choice for those who want to build their system piece by piece.
Ultimately, the Nova PE is about uncompromising power and performance in a sleek all-in-one package — perfect if you want to unleash larger, more demanding speakers without adding amps or boxes.
For more information: naimaudio.com