The number 1 in classical music and hi-fi. It is a benchmark in the field of classical music and hi-fi, as well as the distinction it awards to the best devices each year
Each year, dozens of European journalists gather to select the best electronic products of the year. Awarded by a diverse and impartial jury, the EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association) awards recognize exceptional products for their performance, design, or ergonomics.
A global reference, What Hifi? is one of the most comprehensive magazines covering Home Cinema and Hifi. The "5 stars" award distinguishes the highest quality products, according to this British magazine.
A compact unit that brings together a high‑resolution streamer, DAC, and class‑AB amplification under the same precision‑machined aluminum roof. This version includes an HDMI ARC input to capture sound from a TV, turning the Uniti Atom into a true nerve center of the living room. British down to the last cable (designed and assembled in Salisbury), this device succeeds the Uniti Qute 2 and takes its place in the Uniti range alongside the Star and Nova models.
The chassis borrows its lines from the Statement, the brand’s reference amplifier. The extruded aluminum heatsinks running along the sides are not just aesthetic: they stabilize component temperature to maintain consistent performance over time. The top plate, CNC‑machined, features a 100 mm diameter volume dial surrounded by a luminous ring that indicates the sound level. This rotary control, directly derived from the Mu‑so speaker, is a tactile pleasure every time you use it.
The front panel sports a 5‑inch color LCD screen protected by glass, capable of displaying album covers, metadata, and navigation menus. A proximity sensor wakes the display as soon as a hand approaches. Four physical buttons complete the interface for essential commands. With its 245 mm width, 95 mm height, and 265 mm depth, weighing in at 7 kg, the unit fits just as well on a living‑room cabinet as on a desk.
The class‑AB amplifier delivers 2 × 40 watts into 8 ohms, enough power to drive most compact speakers and some floorstanders with reasonable sensitivity (90 dB or more). The toroidal transformer, large given the size of the unit, features separate windings for the digital, analog, and power‑amp sections, thus isolating the circuits from each other. The analog and digital circuits are hand‑wired, a practice inherited from the brand’s separate components.
Signal processing is handled by a fourth‑generation 40‑bit SHARC processor (ADSP‑21489), clocked at 450 MHz and capable of 2.7 billion operations per second. This DSP performs 16x oversampling and digital filtering developed in‑house, bypassing the native filter of the Burr Brown converter for full control over signal processing. A RAM buffer minimizes jitter, the timing errors inherent to streaming. Volume control, although digitally interfaced with the dial and the app, operates in the analog domain to preserve dynamics.
The HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) input sets this version apart from the standard Uniti Atom. By connecting it to the corresponding port on a TV, the unit automatically retrieves the audio stream from all sources connected to the TV (set‑top box, console, Blu‑ray player) without additional cabling. The link is galvanically isolated: interference from the TV’s power supply or connected devices does not contaminate the Atom’s circuits.
The CEC protocol allows interaction between the two devices. The Uniti Atom powers on with the TV and automatically switches to the HDMI input. Volume can be controlled from the TV remote, making everyday use easier for all members of the household. A lip‑sync adjustment in the app lets you correct any delay between picture and sound if necessary. For a no‑compromise setup, choose a good‑quality HDMI cable and check that your TV does indeed have an ARC port.
The built‑in network card supports dual‑band Wi‑Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac standards) and 10/100 Mbps Ethernet for a more stable wired connection. The device offers native access to Spotify Connect, Tidal, Qobuz, and thousands of Internet radio stations. Roon Ready compatibility lets you integrate it into a more advanced software ecosystem. AirPlay 2 opens the door to Apple devices, while Chromecast built‑in extends compatibility to many Android apps and the Chrome browser. Bluetooth aptX provides wireless transmission at near‑CD quality from a smartphone or tablet.
The two type‑A USB ports (one on the front, one on the rear) accept USB sticks and external hard drives. The Uniti Atom can index up to 20,000 tracks and stream them to other Naim players on the home network. WAV, FLAC, AIFF, and ALAC formats are supported up to 24‑bit/384 kHz via USB, with DSD supported up to 128 Fs. The S/PDIF digital inputs (two optical, limited to 24‑bit/96 kHz, and one RCA coaxial at 24‑bit/192 kHz with DoP 64 support) round things out for connecting CD players, TV boxes, or other sources.
The Focal & Naim app (iOS and Android) gathers all sources into a single interface. It provides access to streaming services, the local library, Internet radio, and device settings. Metadata and artist biographies enrich browsing. Firmware updates are carried out directly from the app, with no file handling required.
The supplied remote communicates via radio frequency rather than infrared: it works without pointing at the unit and even from an adjacent room. A luminous ring around the volume buttons mirrors the level shown on the Atom’s dial. Google Assistant and Siri voice assistants allow playback to be launched by voice command. The unit also integrates with home‑automation systems such as Control4, Crestron, Elan, RTI, and Savant.
Multiroom mode synchronizes up to six Naim devices (other Uniti units, Mu‑so, NDX streamers) to play the same music in several rooms or different content in each. The RCA pre‑out lets you connect a subwoofer to extend low‑frequency response, or an external power amp such as the NAP 100 or NAP 200 DR to increase power reserves. This configuration turns the Uniti Atom into a high‑end source/pre‑amplifier. To centralize a CD collection, adding a Uniti Core provides ripping and music‑server functions.
The 3.5 mm headphone output, while present, is basic compared with the dedicated Headphone edition. It is handy for late‑night listening but is not the strong point of the unit.
No. The Uniti Atom HDMI only decodes stereo PCM. TVs generally downmix multichannel soundtracks to stereo before sending them via ARC. For movies, the result remains convincing in two channels, but the unit does not replace a soundbar or a home‑cinema system for surround formats.
The 2 × 40‑watt output is suitable for bookshelf speakers and floorstanders with sensitivity of 88–90 dB or higher. Low‑efficiency models or speakers with very low impedance may lack body at high volume. The brand particularly recommends Focal speakers from the Aria Evo X range as natural partners.
Dual‑band Wi‑Fi offers strong performance for streaming, but Ethernet guarantees greater stability, especially for high‑resolution files or in environments where the wireless network is congested. If cabling is possible, it remains the most reliable solution.
Yes. The RCA analog input accepts the signal from an external phono preamp. The Uniti Atom does not feature a built‑in phono stage, so a turntable must go through a preamp suited to the cartridge type (MM or MC).
The unit responds to Google Assistant and Apple Siri commands via connected speakers or associated smartphones. Once configured in the relevant app, you can start playback, change source, or adjust volume by voice.
The Nova offers 80 watts per channel versus 40 for the Atom, a more advanced DAC, and a full‑width chassis. It is aimed at setups that demand more dynamic headroom or that drive less sensitive speakers. The Atom HDMI remains the right choice where compact size and simplified TV integration are priorities.
Naim regularly rolls out updates that add features (new streaming services, app improvements) and fix potential issues. Installation is done wirelessly from the app, with no technical intervention needed.
Manuel
Fabulous, practical, and its sound is precise and natural!
Very good product used with KEF LS50.
Comment from April 09, 2025 — Experience from May 03, 2022
Philippe
I recommend it. Excellent product.
Comment from April 08, 2025 — Experience from March 28, 2025
Henri
Really very good, I recommend it.
Comment from May 24, 2024 — Experience from May 13, 2024
