Audio Research I/70 vs Naim Uniti Star Detailed Comparison

Audio Research I/70 vs Naim Uniti Star

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Audio Research I/70

Integrated Amplifier | 70 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Naim Uniti Star

Integrated Amplifier | 70 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Audio Research I/70

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Naim Uniti Star

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Audio Research I/70

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Naim Uniti Star

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Audio Research I/70 vs Naim Uniti Star Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different types of amplifiers. Audio Research I/70 is a Integrated Amplifier speaker whereas the Uniti Star is a Streaming Integrated Amplifier speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Audio Research I/70 and Naim Uniti Star first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Audio Research I/70	Naim Uniti Star
Power	70 watts x 2 channels continuous from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, typically 1% THD at 1 kHz and below 0.1% at 1 watt	70 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms
Amplifier class	Class A/B	Class A/B
Tubes	All-valve (4x KT120 output, 3x 6922 (one input, two driver) input)	Solid state
Built-in DAC	No	Yes
Phono input	No	No
Headphone output	Yes	3.5mm
Bluetooth	No	Yes
App control	—	Yes
Weight	24.95kg / 54.9lbs	12.02kg / 26.4lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	8-1/4" x 16-9/16" x 13-3/8" 210 x 420 x 340 mm	3-3/4" x 17-1/16" x 12-7/16" 96.0mm x 434.0mm x 316.0mm

What size room are the Audio Research I/70 and Naim Uniti Star Amplifiers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these amplifiers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their max power parameters:

Listening Environment	Audio Research I/70	Naim Uniti Star
Near-field	Poor	Poor
Small Room	Average	Average
Mid-size Room	Good	Good
Large Room	Average	Average
Very Large Room	Poor	Poor

The sections below take each area in turn: power output, inputs and outputs, features and physical size.

**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Audio Research I/70 over Naim Uniti Star

Total Analog Inputs	4 vs 1	More options for connecting Analog sources

Reasons to choose Naim Uniti Star over Audio Research I/70

MSRP Price(*)	5,699USD vs 9,950USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Full-color Display	Yes vs No	Displays Album and device Info
App-Based Control	Yes vs None	Control the amplifier via an app
Buil-in DAC	Yes vs No	Connect digital sources without an external DAC
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Stream music via Bluetooth devices
USB Input	Yes vs	Connect Sources via USB
Base Surface Area	1371.4cm²/ 212.6inch² vs 1428.0cm²/ 221.3inch²	takes less space in your room
Height	96mm vs 210mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the Audio Research I/70 and Naim Uniti Star differs from each other.

Audio Research I/70 Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 4

Naim Uniti Star Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 1
2 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input
USB Input:
HDMI ARC
Ethernet Port

Outputs

Yes Preamp Outputs
Yes Headphone Output

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
3.5mm Headphone Output

Naim Uniti Star Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

What's in the Box of Naim Uniti Star?

Here are the items that come with the Uniti Star:

Integrated amp/CD player
6.5-feet AC power cord
Remote control
4 AAA batteries
2 Speaker plugs
Cleaning cloth
Quick Start Guide
Safety Manual
Warranty/Registration Card
Naim brochure
Spotify brochure