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.