Naim Nait 50 Anniversary

[RoA]

I had an opportunity to purchase a nearly new Naim Nait 50 Anniversary at a good price. No idea whether I will like it but I once denounced it for what was, in my opinion, a vastly overpriced RRP at launch ... £2600.

There was the usual online talk about the limited numbers of under 2000 expected to sell immediately. I didn't happen. As a matter of fact, some dealers are still sitting on units unsold, now discounted to just over a grand.

Anyway, I thought that at the price I got it I will not loose anything if I sell on. Important as I am not made of money! I watched a few vids on the tube and read a monster thread over at the Naim forum. I am clearly very susceptible to marketing 😊.

I will come back and report once I get it, making a hopefully fair comparison to my other amplifiers.

Kind of in the same vain ... I purely accidentally picked up a dirt cheap little speaker today and was surprised how good it sounded, totally unexpected. Here is a link to my thread over at Maverick if anyone is interested;

https://www.maverick-hifi.com/post/...h-speaker-weighing-2-or-so-kg-with-a-13747390

Maybe I use it with the Naim?

 

[Integralista]

I had an opportunity to purchase a nearly new Naim Nait 50 Anniversary at a good price. No idea whether I will like it but I once denounced it for what was, in my opinion, a vastly overpriced RRP at launch ... £2600.

There was the usual online talk about the limited numbers of under 2000 expected to sell immediately. I didn't happen. As a matter of fact, some dealers are still sitting on units unsold, now discounted to just over a grand.

Anyway, I thought that at the price I got it I will not loose anything if I sell on. Important as I am not made of money! I watched a few vids on the tube and read a monster thread over at the Naim forum. I am clearly very susceptible to marketing 😊.

I will come back and report once I get it, making a hopefully fair comparison to my other amplifiers.

Kind of in the same vain ... I purely accidentally picked up a dirt cheap little speaker today and was surprised how good it sounded, totally unexpected. Here is a link to my thread over at Maverick if anyone is interested;

https://www.maverick-hifi.com/post/...h-speaker-weighing-2-or-so-kg-with-a-13747390

Maybe I use it with the Naim?

Hi, Naim Nait 50 Anniversary for around 1000£ is a steal!

 

[RoA]

Hi, Naim Nait 50 Anniversary for around 1000£ is a steal!

I got one for quite a bit less than that, 5 months old with remaining manufacturer warranty. I don't think Naim quite envisaged this at launch but my guess is that when they are all gone/sold prices will stabilise.

Here is what I said about the Nait a while ago;

• Jan 18, 2025

Kudos to Naim for daring to make a real retro but at the same time, £1600 for 25 watts and no remote is perhaps daring too much.

Rega's Io seems like a bargain in comparison.

Still, they probably won't sound the same so the comparison is moot other than for perceived value. The Nait is also completely discrete internally so should something go puff in the future it's arguably easier to repair even though Naim will no doubt charge you handsomely for that privilege if you decide to go Salisbury way.

This is one for a bedroom system for those that grew up with the brand and probably already have bigger Naim systems. I can't see anyone else coughing up this sort of money for what's on offer but may be wrong.

I said a couple of other not too flattering things. Will I eat my words?

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

My NN50 is the Best amplifier I have ever owned in 40 years of music listening.
Paired to my ATCs in my home study, it’s surreal.
Hope you have same success @RoA

 

[matthewpianist]

I looked at the Nait 50 when the price dropped, and I was very tempted. The simplicity itself is attractive, and I would expect it to be an engaging listen, but I couldn't bring myself to stretch to even the discounted price - more about my financial status than the product itself, I suppose.

It will be interesting to see how you get on with it @RoA

 

[Integralista]

My NN50 is the Best amplifier I have ever owned in 40 years of music listening.
Paired to my ATCs in my home study, it’s surreal.
Hope you have same success @RoA

Hi, which ATC speakers do you using with NN 50? Have you tried also other speakers? BR.

 

[davidf]

I think Naim vastly overestimated the demand for the Nait 50. I appreciate they were trying to keep it authentic, but £2700 for 25wpc and three inputs (two of which will need a specific cable) is a bit much, and it's the highest priced retro item I've seen - £300 odd to £2700? At least Musical Fidelity, Quad, Mission, and Acoustic Energy (from memory) have kept pricing realistic. Also had to turn down the output of an Innuos Stream 3 to 85 (of 100) for the Naim to be happy with the incoming signal level.

I feel they should've modernised the amp round the back - provide all RCA inputs (as that's what 99% of people use), otherwise you could just buy an original, have it serviced, and get something just as good for far less. And give it more oomph as well, although I'm guessing the compact, non ventilated design can only withstand so much heat generation. Wouldn't have hurt to put in something more like a NAP140 though.

Given its original £300ish price point, it should've been no more than £1500. MF managed similar.

 

[matthewpianist]

Quad seems to have the pricing about right on the new Quad 3 integrated, and it's got the modern connectivity. It isn't a 'reissue' as such, but it's a nicely packaged nod to the retro aesthetic.

 

[RoA]

I think Naim vastly overestimated the demand for the Nait 50. I appreciate they were trying to keep it authentic, but £2700 for 25wpc and three inputs (two of which will need a specific cable) is a bit much, and it's the highest priced retro item I've seen - £300 odd to £2700? At least Musical Fidelity, Quad, Mission, and Acoustic Energy (from memory) have kept pricing realistic. Also had to turn down the output of an Innuos Stream 3 to 85 (of 100) for the Naim to be happy with the incoming signal level.

I feel they should've modernised the amp round the back - provide all RCA inputs (as that's what 99% of people use), otherwise you could just buy an original, have it serviced, and get something just as good for far less. And give it more oomph as well, although I'm guessing the compact, non ventilated design can only withstand so much heat generation. Wouldn't have hurt to put in something more like a NAP140 though.

Given its original £300ish price point, it should've been no more than £1500. MF managed similar.

Totally agree. Whilst I don’t think Naim was just out to make profit they clearly aimed this at well off existing owners. They did bite but not nearly in the numbers Naim (or the press) probably estimated. 1973 units with worldwide distribution and still unsold units left at dealers … speaks for itself.

It’s clearly a niche product and won’t appeal to tech savy youngsters nor to many audiophiles.

Still, I have heard/owned many amplifiers and keep an open mind. It’s up against my Audiolab and Arcam amplifiers, both which have seen off a number of well regarded products at higher and lower prices.

The attraction is the looks and its simplicity. I only need 3 inputs (as long as I stick to MM’s) so that’s not an issue. How I will cope without a remote … ??? I can control volume, at least for streaming with the WiiM but that comes at cost to SQ. Probably do me good to get of my arse ever so often and one my best systems I ever owned had a valve integrated, no remote.

The good thing is, this unit is run in. Whether one believes in that … but at least I won’t get the ‘you need use it for at least 500 hours before …’ I should know almost immediately, hopefully.

 

[RTHerringbone]

I *love* mine, but would have been furious if I'd paid the initial RRP and then see Naim knock off £1,500. They clearly misjudged the demand / price ratio initially but I think the current price is very fair. It sounds fun and fantastic, and has a wonderful user experience with proper clicky buttons and a lovely finish.

My only gripe is that there's a small section (literally 2 or 3 degrees!) at the lower end of the volume control where the knob can be turned without having a volume impact.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

https://www.whathifi.com/hi-fi/steve-sells-interview-the-career-highlights-of-a-naim-legend-whose-27-year-big-amp-dream-finally-became-a-reality

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

A fifth and final product highlight for Sells is the limited-edition Nait 50, a recent reimagining of the iconic, 1983-released original Nait 1, which, as Sells rightly recognises, “holds a special place in Naim folklore as one of the most magical amplifiers ever made”.

“Tampering with that reputation was not something to take lightly, and designing the Nait 50 came with responsibilities just as significant as those tied to high-end products,” he says.

Naturally, Naim couldn’t simply release a facsimile clone of the Nait 1 – compliance laws and consumer expectations have, after all, moved on since the ‘80s; Sells and his team had to deviate.

“The design process used modern tools, materials and circuits, and incorporated mandatory music sensing with 0.5W auto-off, quiet standby transitions, and soft-start circuits – all while keeping the system free of software,” says Sells.

They created miniaturised versions of amplifier stages from Naim’s classic range, borrowed the volume control foundations from the NAC 552 preamp (albeit without motorisation), and used modern semiconductors to give the Nait 50 extra power and sonic punch.

But there was also an opportunity to recapture the Nait 1’s spirit in more faithful ways. Sells gives one example: “The Nait 1 had a deliberate low-frequency hump in its RIAA curve, and though technically inaccurate, it gave the sound a pleasant aesthetic; we faithfully recreated that in the Nait 50.”

Another is in the input selection. “The Nait 50’s input switch was custom-made to replicate the original’s distinctive ‘clong’ sound when pressed, though behind the scenes the switch activates high-quality reed relays placed next to the input sockets, improving sound quality and minimising input-to-input crosstalk,” says Sells.

And then, perhaps surprisingly, the Nait 50 further aligns with the Nait 1 by also omitting RCA sockets and a remote control.

“Did we make the right decision by leaving them out? I’m not sure. Once nostalgia wears off, convenience tends to call,” Sells admits.

We guess even engineers with CVs as enviable as Steve Sells' can question their judgment at times.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

at current pricing it's an absolute steal if the lack of functionality suits. suits me perfectly !

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Hi, which ATC speakers do you using with NN 50? Have you tried also other speakers? BR.

ATCSCM11
I demo'd PMC, Dynaudio Special 40, Dali, etc...
The internet will tell you ATC are hard to drive. The NN50 drives the brilliantly in my small home study and notes also the NN50 has transient power capability up to 200W output, so current transients are no issue if speaker loads are demanding.
The nominally rated 25W doesn't tell the whole story.

 

[Jasonovich]

I think Naim vastly overestimated the demand for the Nait 50. I appreciate they were trying to keep it authentic, but £2700 for 25wpc and three inputs (two of which will need a specific cable) is a bit much, and it's the highest priced retro item I've seen - £300 odd to £2700? At least Musical Fidelity, Quad, Mission, and Acoustic Energy (from memory) have kept pricing realistic. Also had to turn down the output of an Innuos Stream 3 to 85 (of 100) for the Naim to be happy with the incoming signal level.

I feel they should've modernised the amp round the back - provide all RCA inputs (as that's what 99% of people use), otherwise you could just buy an original, have it serviced, and get something just as good for far less. And give it more oomph as well, although I'm guessing the compact, non ventilated design can only withstand so much heat generation. Wouldn't have hurt to put in something more like a NAP140 though.

Given its original £300ish price point, it should've been no more than £1500. MF managed similar.

Balanced XLR's in addition to RCA's would be nice also.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

5 pin DIN is/was a pain but the MM is of course RCA input, circuit and quality superb….
I run a NODE ICON into the NN50 on Chord ClearwayX RCA DIN and it’s a fantastic set up…I can NOT find fault with the presentation. Dynamic, spatial, locked on, full of life and dynamism….
The room is chosen as are the speakers for the sole purpose of maximising a near field listening experience….
I must at some point over the winter try the NN50 with my TX9s

 

[Jasonovich]

It’s clearly a niche product and won’t appeal to tech savy youngsters nor to many audiophiles.

I don't think most people will disagree, they should enhance their imagine, give NAIM the modern retro look, it still looks like a product from the 70s. Maybe they can take a leaf out from the Mini Metro; like what they did to the classic mini from 1960s;

'You're suppose to blow the bloody doors off' iconic mini (yeah the remake of that movie, the less said about it!) from that to the modern chique BMW owned Mini, the car your daughter and everybody's daughter wants to drive around in. Maybe BMW should buy out the NAIM brand?

No perish the thought, my mind wandered for a sec, no not like those jerkers in their B'Mers trying to tail gate you on the fast lane. No that's not true anymore, elder people drive Bm's now. These days youngsters prefer to self combust in their Tesla's!

These boffins at NAIM need to freshen up a bit, their bespoke connections, means you need to pay over and above for the cabling, they really need to start standardising.

They're the Citroen of the amp world. Genius but not really practical. Are they under Focal or is it the other way round? Anyway, I don't think the Focal influence has had any impact really.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

I think the FOCAL ownership of NAIM a bit of a SHAME…
I’d prefer to see independent UK manufacturers maintained..
REGA, NVA, Cyrus and whom else remains? Sugden ?
Concerning 5 pin DIN, DESIGNACABLE do some smashing interconnects at sensible pricing…

 

[Revolutions]

I’m a big fan, I heard it & thought it sounded great. The experiences of the folks here who own one only increased my interest. If I wasn’t running active speakers, I’d probably have caved in & got one to try out by now.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

I’m a big fan, I heard it & thought it sounded great. The experiences of the folks here who own one only increased my interest. If I wasn’t running active speakers, I’d probably have caved in & got one to try out by now.

Active speakers (ATC SCM20ASL) on my radar prohibiting me buying another NN50

 

[Revolutions]

Active speakers (ATC SCM20ASL) on my radar prohibiting me buying another NN50

As an owner of SCM40a, I think you’ll be making a very good choice 🙂

 

[davidf]

The nominally rated 25W doesn't tell the whole story.

It didn't seem to energise a pair of Ophidian Mambo 2 speakers - the collective findings of a NN50 owner and myself.

Not saying it isn't a decent output, as I always remember getting surprising results from the 13wpc Nait 2 of the early 90s, but many speakers nowadays, even relatively budget ones, are more demanding loads than they were 30 years ago or so.