Renà © van Es | 11 January 2021

| NuPrime

RESUME â ???? The good thing is that nothing goes wrong; not in the high, middle or low. The lack of disturbing things, lack of a skewed frequency balance or digital turmoil means that hearing can easily live with the limitations of a monitor speaker at an affordable amplifier and streamer. ”

PLUS POINTS Very complete Very good price / quality Complete app in Dutch iOS and Android Re-sample in multi zone Can be upgraded with separate power supply Installation is simple MINUSES Simple wall plug as power supply Small housing, so small display

Sometimes you just want to be able to enjoy your music without spending too much money. Streaming is the most appropriate way, because it gives access to music services, internet radio, your own stored music collection, Bluetooth or even a source such as a CD player. Being able to enjoy it does not always have to be in the most spectacular way, â ???? goodâ ???? is sometimes â ?? good enoughâ ??. In the living room as a stream â ???? there ?? ???? is done, in a study where measures forced many people to sit for hours, in front of the kids, the kitchen or any other place in the house where music belongs. A small and handy device that will fulfill many wishes is the NuPrime Omnia WR-1 from â ?? ¬ 379, -. Streamer, DAC, even (analog) preamplifier in one. Neatly finished, separate power supply, mini display, an app for iOS and Android, what more could a person want?

NuPrime Omnia WR-1 The Omnia WR-1 can be used with Wi-Fi and wired ethernet. The latter is always my preference for a stable connection and fast registration, Wi-Fi functions excellently as later turned out. Each WR-1 can be paired with 7 brothers for multi-zone playback. The front of the Omnia WR-1 shows an eyelet for the included remote control, a bright side-small OLED display and a single controller. Two antenna connections at the rear, line-out via RCA, coax S / PDIF out, Toslink in, analog in, USB for playing USB sticks, ethernet and a combined S / PDIF out – USB 5V power supply input. With the latter port, the Omnia WR-1 can either connect to a computer, possibly DAC or the separate power supply. The funny and handy thing about the WR-1 is that it can work both analog and digital and works as a preamplifier. You build a system with two active speakers, or as in my case with a modest PrimaLuna tube power amplifier that is in the cabinet for these kinds of purposes. There is nothing in the way of using a NuPrime output stage instead, a NAD, Rotel, Cambridge Audio, if necessary a QUAD . Small, matching and attractive monitor speakers are available for purchase. Rather without stands than a column model. Don’t get too far, the Omnia WR-1 is not a high end solution, but a high quality solution for the price, but now I’m getting ahead of myself.

For a bit at a glance what is possible with the Omnia WR-1:

Online music via Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, TuneIn and more Own download music via DNLA from a NAS to 24bit/192 kHz PCM Re-stream from an analog or digital source AirPlay with which even Roon becomes available Bluetoot h Optical in to 24bit/192 kHz Coax Out Fixed to 16bit/44. 1kHz USB Pen drive up to 32 GB of music EQ settings for loudness (3 positions), plus rock, pop, jazz and classical presets Online updates Own App for iOS and Android Weighing well 250 gram! Dimensions without antenna of 14, 5cm B x 10, 5cm D x 3.5cm H Accessories in the box: power supply, USB cable, RCA-RCA and 3.5mm-RCA cable, AB and two antennas

Play Now An exhaustive description of the display quality is with â ?? ¬ 379, – not an issue, not even for such a complete streamer / DAC / preamplifier that mainly only has to lose against my competitive combination v an â ?? ¬ 8. 000, -. Or against the better DACs and streamers within the NuPrime family. But like everyone else, you too want to know how the Omnia WR-1 plays in practice. NPO Radio 4 creates a stereo image that not only goes wide, but even completely separates from the speakers. A quality that is quite good for streaming radio, but still lags behind my once-loved FM quality. Speech is perfectly intelligible and crystal clear. The intonation and character of the voice are widely discussed. The Omnia WR-1 is already perfectly usable for this radio application, according to the first conclusion.

The most recognizable and my regular benchmark is playing via Roon software. That is why I am going to play music from my own storage and let the Onmnia-WR1 flow in via AirPlay. Understandable via AirPlay, making a real Roon endpoint is a bridge too far and for addicted Roon users the Omnia WR-1 will at most be an extra music point. Music ranging from Ana Vidovic’s classically played acoustic guitar, which is surprisingly well reproduced, to jazz. Even though the streamer does not show the ambience that surrounds the guitar, as can be perceived on a precious system, nothing stands in the way of listening to the virtuoso playing with fascination. The stereo image is too flat to portray the recording space.

Carla Bruni in a live concert shows how much pleasure the lady has in singing and playing. The reproduction is clear, cheerful, playful and complete. Miles Davis is blowing loosely, the bass heavy behind him, I know that from this recording, percussion stays a bit far away. You can’t have it all for â ?? ¬ 450, -. But there is still hope for those who think the Omnia WR-1 is not enough. NuPrime makes a very nice Ethernet switch under the name Omnia SW-8 and an LPS – 205 power supply. On the LPS – 205 a second 5 Volt output is available for an Omnia WR-1 (just like on the Silent Angel Forester F1). That takes the Omnia WR-1 to a higher level, as Katie Melua lets you listen to her CD â ???? In winterâ ????. But yes, there is a cost attached to it that far exceeds the price of the WR-1. Worth the effort? Yes, I think so, but only when the WR-1 is going to be used in a serious setup and not for the nursery. Or you should want to give the youngsters some audio sense while doing their homework.

Just do it The Omnia WR-1 has already appealed to me during a visit to Da Capo High End where the WR-1 was paired with a NuPrime IDA-8 amplifier and Scansonic MB-1B’s reproducers. Then I already wrote: â ???? The good thing is that nothing goes wrong; not in the high, middle or low. The lack of disturbing things, lack of a skewed frequency balance or digital turmoil means that hearing can easily live with the limitations of a monitor loudspeaker on an affordable amplifier and streamer.â ????

In different setups at home, the Omnia WR-1 has to compete against heavyweights, which skews the comparison. A comparison with a Bluesound Node 2i is fairer. Then the WR-1 provides considerable counterplay and is a cheaper option, albeit with a less attractive app, but a complete app that you can do everything with. Things like re-streaming from a digital or analog source in multi-zone, volume control with remote control, in the app or with a rotary knob, give the WR-1 a head start in that area. An LPS – 205 power sets the WR-1 to at least Bluesound level.

What is and remains important is the display quality and there is nothing wrong with that at this price level. The small NuPrime Omnia WR-1 turns out to be a sweetheart in daily use.

NuPrime Omnia WR-1

â ?? ¬ 379, – | www.dimex.nl