I was reading a review on hifi dot nl about the CI Uniti 102. They reviewed it as a standalone integrated amplifier / streamer. The review was very positive indeed.
For 1500 euro’s, you get a 150w amplifier and streamer in a single box. I did n’t realize it actually is a perfect entry-level standalone product, next to the other Uniti products.
On the web-site it is also positioned in a separate category. A product like this would be easily overlooked by potential new customers. Strange positioning…
That’s because it’s designed for the custom install market; I assume mostly to go into bars, shops, etc.
Having said that, you can buy one from richer sounds …. suggesting more consumer appeal.
Very limited inputs!
Robert, for most people the number of inputs will be sufficient and the sound quality is as least as good as that of the Atom, based on my own experience. . With Google Translate you can read this review from a Dutch hifi magazine. Review Naim CI Uniti 102 top klasse muzikale Black Box
That would be a bonus to my mind. I resent paying for a horrible remote that I never use, and the screen I use is the one that I can actually see, which is on my iPhone. Had it been available at the time, I would have considered it rather than buying an Atom.
I can see that the lack of Roon support may be an issue for some.
I do n’t really understand why the price for a CI Uniti 102 is relatively low, compared to other Uniti products. Yes, it does n’t have a screen and/or remote. But would that make such a difference? The specs are pretty good.
If I were new to Naim, I would probably have completely overlooked it. But it could be a great entry-level standalone Naim product.
I don’t think it’s sensible to go by specs alone. The power output is the same as a Nova PE and perhaps it’ll sound as good, but if so Naim have got their pricing seriously wrong, which I doubt. I’ll reserve judgement until I hear one.
I inquired about the 8 channel power amp to go into my AV system. My dealer asked what AV amp I used and I replied it was a Denon AVC-6800H and they basically told me not to bother, that the Denon was the better amp. This from a primary Naim dealer.
Apparently, the CI stuff is really superb but it is designed to compete within the CI market for other 1U appliances with similar thermal profiles rather than things like a Nova or Atom etc.
I read that same review and the same questions as yours raised up. I also looked the CI Nap 101 and would like to hear two of them as power amps linked to a NSC 222.
Even announced as custom install, their prices questions me.
I got one for my vacation house. I had an extra pair of Monitor Audio Gold 200s and the CI 102 sounded very good with them. It was a good solution for my needs.
I have two Ci-102’s one for my kitchen with ceiling speakers and one for the terrace with outdoor speakers.
Both Uniti’s are in a comms rack, out of the way and I never see them.
Using the app isn’t hard and it works perfectly for me.
I haven’t tried playing them into any other speakers so it’s hard to say how they really sound, but they sound great for how I use them and I easily can multi-room from my main system and into them and my QB’s as well.
They work really well for me and a lot less expense than buying a couple of Atoms.
It would be really great if it would support Roon. This is a multi-room amp which lacks the support of a multi-room software solution that Naim already supports in the Unity line-up.
@el_soldado It was an apartment we bought recently and extensively remodelled.
Although there were some kitchen ceiling speakers, they were wired back to a cheap-ish Sony CD / Radio / Cassette - it was 25 years old.
I decided to update everything and have the ability to multi-room from my main system which was also updated to the NC series.
I am pleased with the way the kitchen sounds using Australian made Krix in-ceiling speakers.
The outdoor terrace speakers are Sonance.
