Naim Uniti Nova vs McIntosh MA5300 Detailed Comparison

Naim Uniti Nova vs McIntosh MA5300

Amp to replace

Change

Naim Uniti Nova

Integrated Amplifier | 80 watts RMS into 8-ohms

Check price atAmazon›

Change

McIntosh MA5300

Integrated Amplifier | 100 watts RMS into 8-ohms

Check price atAmazon›

Naim Uniti Nova

Check price atAmazon›

McIntosh MA5300

Check price atAmazon›

Naim Uniti Nova

See at AMAZON

McIntosh MA5300

See at AMAZON

Naim Uniti Nova vs McIntosh MA5300 Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different types of amplifiers. Naim Uniti Nova is a Streaming Integrated Amplifier speaker whereas the MA5300 is a Integrated Amplifier with built-in DAC speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Naim Uniti Nova and McIntosh MA5300 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Naim Uniti Nova	McIntosh MA5300
Power	80 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms	100 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 160 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Amplifier class	Class A/B	Class A/B
Built-in DAC	Yes	Yes
Phono input	No	Yes
Headphone output	3.5mm	1/4
Bluetooth	Yes	No
App control	Yes	—
Weight	13.03kg / 28.7lbs	17.27kg / 38lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	3-3/4" x 17-1/16" x 12-7/16" 96.0mm x 434.0mm x 316.0mm	6" x 17-1/2" x 22" 153.0mm x 445.0mm x 559.0mm

What size room are the Naim Uniti Nova and McIntosh MA5300 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	Naim Uniti Nova	McIntosh MA5300
Near-field	Poor	Poor
Small Room	Average	Poor
Mid-size Room	Good	Good
Large Room	Average	Good
Very Large Room	Poor	Average

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 Naim Uniti Nova over McIntosh MA5300

Full-color Display	Yes vs No	Displays Album and device Info
App-Based Control	Yes vs None	Control the amplifier via an app
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Stream music via Bluetooth devices
Apple AirPlay	Yes vs No	Compatible with Apple Devices with AirPlay
Apple AirPlay 2	Yes vs No	Compatible with Apple Devices with AirPlay 2
Built-in Chromecast	Yes vs No	Compatible with Chromecast Streaming
Roon	Ready vs No	Roon Compatibility
Built-in Chromecast	Yes vs No	Compatible with Chromecast Streaming
Base Surface Area	1371.4cm²/ 212.6inch² vs 2487.6cm²/ 385.6inch²	takes less space in your room
Height	96mm vs 153mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Reasons to choose McIntosh MA5300 over Naim Uniti Nova

MSRP Price(*)	6,000USD vs 6,899USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Watts into 8-ohms	100 watts vs 80 watts	Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Total Analog Inputs	5 vs 2	More options for connecting Analog sources
PhonoInput	Yes vs No	Connect a turntable directly to your amp

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 Naim Uniti Nova and McIntosh MA5300 differs from each other.

Naim Uniti Nova Inputs

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

McIntosh MA5300 Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 5
Phono Input
2 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input
USB Input:
- USB-B(connect to your computer to playback files)
XLR Input Port

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

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
3.5mm Headphone Output

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
Pre-out/Main-in Loop
1/4 Headphone Output

McIntosh MA5300 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

What's in the Box of Naim Uniti Nova?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Uniti Nova:

Network integrated amplifier
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

What's in the Box of McIntosh MA5300?

Here are the items that come with the MA5300:

Stereo integrated amplifier
6-feet AC power cord
Remote control
Owners Manual