Focal already do an extensive range of active monitor speakers with XLR inputs that would pair comfortably with a Atom HE as required. Other active speakers are available…
Part of the challenge of going down the preamp + power amp route is creating a mechanical ID synergy, you could pair it up with an existing NAP of course and achieve that goal but it does go against the principle of Uniti.
I’m sure there’s thought gone in to a Classic series streaming preamp, more likely you’ll end up with something looking like an NDX2 with volume and balance knobs when the internals can be laid out to make it work as we would all expect it to.
Sticking to the thread topic, I like the fact that this gives flexibility to do things an Atom cannot and still sit nicely on a desk in an office or table in a lounge, the pairing of active speakers will be most interesting in that respect, with a number of options already having been discussed and considered by others.
I borrowed a Uniti Atom HE to try out and it worked flawlessly via wi-fi, a full floor above the router in our house. Our Uniti Nova works fine at this distance, too. That includes with full-fat, high-resolution files streamed via Qobuz or UPnP.
Are there any plans in the works for a Atom HE bundle, headphones or active speakers for example?
Seems theres enough interest and a potential for some upsell for Focal companion products.
Seriously, with all the current global supply chain issues - hitting us and so many other businesses - we’re still far from normal times. Sure all the above and more will be considered once things settle down a bit…
Clare, could tell me how it tackles difficult hard to drive headphones ? I have the Focal Utopias and Grado PS1000 which are considered to be easy to drive, but i wondered how it would cope with those awkward ones. The Focal Arche has a low gain and high gain to cope with those ones. Someone has said on another forum that it doesn’t have the same power compared to the arche.
Has the person on the other Forum actually compared the two products side by side, or are they going on spec sheets? The former is by far the best (only) way to have an opinion on the matter.
Focal Utopia were one of our reference pairs, and Atom Headphone Edition drives them beautifully. As ever with any product, we’d urge a demo at a dealer to hear it for yourself. And with a headphone product, it’s so easy to take along your own kit to do the demo.
Noted and considered. I know the materials impact all too well as I’m deeply in the middle of it with my own work.
Bundles of existing products already in supply chain shouldn’t hurt too much one would hope!
Looking forward to a demo, and evaluation with existing headphones
With the new Uniti Atom HE also including a Pentaconn socket on the front, I wonder if Focal will also make a Pentaconn cable available for their headphones and possibly also supply this in the box with new headphones?
It would certainly be more convenient then having to use the 4 pin XLR socket on the back for balanced headphone output as would currently be the case with the supplied headphone cables with Focal’s current headphone line up.
I can actually see this being a model for future Naim NACs, with or without a built in streamer.
i.e. Move towards all NACs to being dedicated headphone amps with balanced XLR on the power supplies for powered speakers or power amps. Although single ended is probably more appropriate for power amps, I can see the next revision of NAPs all going the balanced XLR route just for harmonisation.
Most of the new products Naim have release over the past decade have introduced concepts that have spread throughout other products in the portfolio. There’s a good chance the Atom HE is such a stepping stone to larger changes.
BTW. For Dutch speaking people here, there is a test published on a wel known Dutch hifi site. Unfortunately they only tested it as a headphone amp, not as a preamp.
Good point. Translated from Dutch. Personally I do not agree to the minuses, but I might be biased.
SUMMARY
The Uniti Atom Headphone Edition is a one-in-all solution that we did not see coming, but now it it there appears to be a perfect addition to the Naim product line. This Naim is difficult to compare with other equipment trying to offer the headfi-lover with all they are looking for, but does in its own way and with its own style.
PLUS
Best in class user-friendliness and app
Offers all possible streaming options
Suitable for all headphone types, including balanced
Faithful to the Naim-sound which is friendly to the ears
One of the most beautiful headfi-solutions available
Translated from Dutch. Personally I do not agree to the minuses, but I might be biased. 