High End Audio - Brands - Naim
Naim Audio – World Class Sound
A passionate and committed interest in music is the foundation stone of Naim Audio that has enabled them to design and manufacture what we believe to be one of the finest sounding ranges of audio equipment available in the world today.
We recommend the full range of Naim Audio Products
CD PLAYERS
When Naim launched their first CD player, the CDS, in 1991 audiophiles and manufacturers the World over took notice. The arrival of a Naim CD player, especially one that made music like the CDS, proved to a sceptical audio community that Compact Disc could make music with all the qualities of the best analogue systems. Innovation across mechanical and electronic engineering, and digital software was responsible and can be seen and heard in their range of world class CD players. The techniques that made the first CDS work are still valid today, and have influenced subsequent generations of Naim CD players.
Music played on a Naim CD player gains new vitality, transparency and clarity. It all but breathes.
CD555 CD Player
The CD555 makes no attempt to play DVDs, DVD-As or SACDs. It doesn't have a digital output. Nor does it have a variable output. The CD555 simply plays CDs and at that it excels. We are confident that is the best CD player ever.
CDS3 CD Player
All the trademark features of a Naim player are brought together in the CDS3 along with a host of new and innovative engineering solutions pioneered during the development of the flagship NAC552 and NAP500 amplifiers. Together with the elegant styling, the result is a truly stunning, thoroughly satisfying musical performance. The Naim CDS3 delivers truly rewarding musical reproduction, providing the involvement of the very best analogue sources combined with tremendous consistency and reliability.
CDX2 CD Player
The Naim CDX2 plays music from CD in a wholly natural, believable way, providing the same involvement and enjoyment as a high-end analogue source but with tremendous consistency and reliability.
CD5x CD Player
The Naim CD5x extends the Naim qualities of natural musical reproduction, flexibility and reliability to fall within the reach of even more music lovers.
CD5i CD Player
The CD5i CD player, especially when partnered by the complementary NAIT 5i integrated amplifier, sets a thrilling new standard for the musical performance of entry-level hi-fi. This machine is designed to be the best in its class, incorporating genuine technological advances to provide a thoroughly enjoyable musical experience.
HARD DISK PLAYER
Computers and music have drawn ever closer since a hard-disk recorder was first used in a music studio. Now, with downloads being part of the everyday audiophile experience, computer technology has become an inherent element of music in the home.
However, it takes immense knowledge, skill and dedication to design electronic products that can take the raw bits of digital audio and re-assemble them into a genuine musical experience. Naim CD players have long been a testament to that fact and now the HDX hard disk music player has joined them.
HDX Hard Disk Player
The HDX reads audio data from CDs, stores it on a hard disk, catalogues the artist, album and track titles and, at the touch of a screen, replays it with utterly uncompromised sound quality. The HDX’s ease of use defines elegant simplicity and it even offers the option of operating as a high-end CD player by directly playing a disc loaded in its drawer.
TUNERS
FM radio broadcasts have the potential to offer the finest sound quality. There is a vast wealth of program material available, twenty-four hours a day, and yet the tuner is often relegated to a secondary place in a hi-fi system.
To capture and preserve every nuance of a broadcast requires a great deal of skill in both design and manufacture. Remember, though, that aerial quality is of vital importance to a tuners performance.
NAT 05 Tuner
The NAT 05 continues the Naim tradition of producing the best sounding tuners in the world and is based on technology developed and refined by them over 20 years. It is fully remote controlled and has multiple presets for all your favourite stations. Clear and articulate with minimal noise, when correctly installed with a suitable aerial the NAT 05 makes music like only a Naim tuner can.
ALL-IN-ONE
Many people nowadays want high quality sound and vision but they prefer not to have a multiple box system that, traditionally, was the only way to obtain outstanding performance.
To cater to their requirements, and those of people who perhaps want an uncomplicated second system for the bedroom or study, Naim have designed superb all-in-one units featuring the same technology and engineering found in their separates components.
These all-in-one systems represent the ultimate coming-together of high performance sound and vision along with supreme convenience.
NaimUniti all-in-one Audio Player
Imagine everything audio in one place: integrated amplifier, CD player, DAB/FM tuner, internet radio, iPod dock, digital-to-analogue converter, music file player and network stream player. And now combine all that with legendary Naim musical quality, engineering integrity, design sophistication and interface know-how. Congratulations! You’ve just come up with the NaimUniti.
AUDIO VISUAL
Adding video capability to your Naim audio system - provided it is done properly - can truly enhance your enjoyment of the system. The usual approach to home cinema, however, involves routing the delicate audio signals through a poor-sounding digital processor. The result is a severe reduction in the system's ability to play music coherently.
This is something that Naim are not prepared to entertain so they adopt a radically different approach to home cinema - one that does not degrade the system's musical performance.
You might reasonably wonder why no other manufacturers adopt a similar approach. We don't know. Perhaps it's because they've never had the opportunity to appreciate a Naim music system.
AV2 Home Cinema Processor
The AV2 is designed to be used in addition to an existing stereo system or as part of a stand-alone home theatre. A low-vibration, cast and machined aluminium chassis and cover house this exciting Naim AV component. Microphonic degradation of sound quality is greatly reduced by the Naim low-energy-transfer feet system and unique decoupling pillars for circuit board mounting.
NAPV 175 3-channel Power Amplifier
All home entertainment systems need the best possible amplification if they are to reproduce accurately the original soundtrack with all the dynamics and emotion the composer or director originally recorded. Dynamics and emotion are trademarks of the Naim sound: the NAPV 175 three-channel amplifier is the perfect partner for the AV2 processor.
NAPV 145 Mono Power Amplifier
Based around the circuit topology of the latest NAP 250, the NAPV 145 provides even greater dynamic capabilities and enhanced audio performance, resulting in the perfect solution for high quality multi-channel or active audio systems
n-Vi integrated CD/DVD Player/Processor/Amplifier
Combining DVD, home theatre and genuine high-end hi-fi music reproduction has suddenly become simple. The n-Vi delivers everything you need in one box: DVD and CD player, AV Processor, audio preamplifier, five-channel audio power amplifier and optional FM/DAB Radio module. Each element expresses everything Naim know about making true to life music and video in the home.
Naim n-System
The n-System is an extremely high quality loudspeaker system that's designed to offer exceptional performance and versatility.
PREAMPLIFIERS
Its input circuitry must accept the entire output of the source without being overloaded, while the frequency response and level of input signals must be normalised. The signal then needs further conditioning to ensure that the power amplifier is never driven outside its operating parameters.
Exceptional overload capability is maintained over the whole audio bandwidth. All Naim preamplifiers have a frequency response to within 1dB between 20Hz and 20kHz and offer perfect stability under all working conditions.
There are no switched filters, tone or loudness controls on Naim preamplifiers: design at this level makes them superfluous. They can never improve the quality of the signal, and there is a sharp penalty for their use in terms of loss of musical information.
Naim house the power supplies for their preamplifiers in separate cases to avoid the degrading effects of magnetic fields and pay very special attention to both earthing and the type of input connector used.
NAC 552 preamplifier
The NAC 552 is by some distance the most advanced Naim preamplifier ever and has some claim, therefore, to being the best preamplifier, period. The Naim NAC 552 redefines the state of the art ensuring the utmost musical enjoyment for many years to come.
NAC 252 preamplifier
The NAC 252 descends from the NAC 52 - still one of the finest preamplfiers ever manufactured. It brings both control and connectivity advances over the NAC 52, and a significantly enhanced construction, aesthetic and finish. Its performance, too, is enhanced with the benefit of a decade of R&D bringing yet more speed, detail, transparency and music. The Naim NAC 252 combines stunningly musical and accurate hi-fi reproduction with extensive flexibility to ensure it will remain at the heart of top quality systems for many years to come.
NAC 282 preamplifier
The years of research spent developing the flagship NAC 552 preamplifier introduced a new level of technical and musical performance. Many of these developments, along with its elegant styling have been applied to NAC 282. The NAC 282 combines truly awesome sound quality, with user selectable features and flexibility that ensure it will function as the heart of a high quality hi-fi system for many years.
NAC 202 preamplifier
The Naim NAC 202 combines first-class sound quality with flexibility, style and excellent value.
NAC 122x preamplifier
The NAC122x, a replacement for the NAC112x, is based on its larger brother the NAC202 and features a hardwired motorised Alps volume control potentiometer delivering better performance, lower noise in use and an improved feel over the resistor ladder volume control of the NAC112x.
POWER AMPLIFIERS
Solutions are numerous and varied, with wild claims and figures often being quoted for control and power output. In truth these offer a very poor idea of how music will be handled and how much genuine, useable power is really available.
Naim amplifiers are designed to drive real loudspeaker loads and can easily deal with any impedance from zero Ohms to infinity without damage or signs of instability.
NAP 500 Power Amplifier
The design brief for the NAP 500 required an amplifier that could drive any load down to 2 Ohms for prolonged periods, deliver over 100W into 8 Ohms and sound - at the very least - as good as the reference at the time, the NAP135. Needless to say, every aspect of the NAP 500's sound quality is truly exceptional.
NAP 300 Power Amplifier
The Naim NAP 300 delivers awesome power without sacrificing any speed or agility to provide awe-inspiring levels of detail, ambient information and musicality.
NAP 250 Power Amplifier
The newest Naim NAP 250 delivers speed, power and agility providing exceptional detail and musicality in a package built to swing for another 25 years.
NAP 200 Power Amplifier
Like the flagship NAP 500, the NAP 200 uses a new circuit design with improved earthing arrangements built on a very high quality, anti-resonance main audio circuit board.
NAP 150x Power Amplifier
The NAP150x's good looks and compact dimensions discretely house an extremely fast, powerful and musical amplifier. Designed with meticulous attention to detail, it sets new standards in its class with performance and flexibility to match.
INTEGRATED AMPLIFIERS
SUPERNAIT Reference Integrated Amplifier
SUPERNAIT is not just a superbly musical amplifier; it's an analogue and digital audio control and connection hub that just happens to have some of the world's best audio amplification attached. SUPERNAIT's preamplifier section is directly descended from Naim's superlative reference series preamplifiers, and its power amplifier incorporates all the techniques and know-how that give voice to the traditional Naim qualities of rhythmic musicality.
NAIT XS Integrated Amplifier
The amplifier is a hi-fi system’s heart and the NAIT XS beats fast and strong. The NAIT XS has but one purpose: to deliver dynamic, detailed, emotional and satisfying music. It takes the DNA of our best-ever integrated amplifier, the SUPERNAIT, and, like a sports car stripped back to essentials for the track, delivers musical performance that truly excites and inspires.
NAIT 5i Integrated Amplifier
The new NAIT 5i is the latest iteration of Naim's fabled entry-level amplifier bringing enhanced performance and usability over its highly regarded predecessor. The NAIT 5i establishes a new entry-level reference point of natural musical reproduction, flexibility and reliability.
POWER SUPPLIES
Having long understood that the power supply of any piece of audio electronics is critical to its performance, Naim now have over twenty years of research and manufacturing experience in this area to draw upon.
They currently provide three power supplies for use with their preamplifiers and active crossover units, the Flat-Cap 2, Hi-Cap and Super-Cap. They can also be used to power the Prefix phono preamplifier.
Some of Naim’s power amplifiers have built-in regulated supplies, which can be used to power preamplifiers - other than the NAC 552 - quite adequately, but use of Naim's separate low noise units brings improved musical performance to the whole system. Their independent cases ensure correct earthing and hum-free operation, with large toroidal transformers and smoothing capacitors providing the audio circuits with much greater control and transient capability.
Improvements in the system's sound quality go to the very heart of the music, opening its vocabulary even further, enabling us to enjoy, understand and respond to it much more readily. Inclusion of a Naim power supply offers the additional benefit of allowing the preamplifier to be left switched on constantly, independently of the power amplifier, keeping the unit's complex circuitry fully stabilised at all times.
Super-Cap Power SupplyThe Super-Cap can be used to power all of the Naim preamplifiers (except the NAC 552), phono stages and active crossovers and is the only choice for supplying power to the NAC 252 preamplifier. The Naim Super-Cap sets free the musicality and dynamic range of a hi-fi system, making an incredibly effective upgrade to a preamplifier/power amplifier combination.
Hi-Cap Power Supply
The Hi-Cap can be used to power all of the Naim phono stages, active crossovers and preamplifiers except the NAC 552 and NAC 252; in the case of the NAC 282 preamplifier a second Hi-Cap may be used, bringing further improvements. The Naim Hi-Cap sets free the musicality and dynamic range of a hi-fi system, making an incredibly effective upgrade to a preamplifier, power amplifier combination.
Flat-Cap 2x Power Supply
The Flatcap 2x can provide exceptionally low noise, dual power supplies for two separate Series 5 components; a NAC 122x and a CD5x, or NAC 122x and Stageline, for example.
It can be used to power all of the Naim phono stages, active crossovers and preamplifiers except the NAC 552 and NAC 252.
XPS2 Power Supply
This supply is required and comes as standard with the CDS3 but can also be added to the CDX2 CD player, providing a substantial improvement in sound quality and a possible upgrade path from one player to another. It also makes a worthwhile addition to the HDX hard disk player, where it delivers immediately appreciable performance benefits. The new Naim XPS2 sets the music free, making it an incredibly effective upgrade to the Naim HDX, CDX2, and a critical component of the Naim CDS3.
NAPSC Power Supply
The NAPSC comes as standard with the NAC 282 preamplifier and can be bought as an upgrade for the NAC 202. The NAPSC can also be used to power the Headline headphone amplifier.
i-SUPPLY Power Supply
The Naim i-SUPPLY was conceived and designed to deliver very low-noise, regulated 24V power to the Naim Stageline phono preamplifier. It is now available in three versions: s to power the Naim Stageline phono preamplifier, h to power Naim’s high quality headphone amplifier, i to power or charge original Firewire-connected iPod models.
ACTIVE CROSSOVERS
In an active system a Snaxo electronic crossover divides the audio spectrum into two or three separate frequency bands, depending on the loudspeaker type employed.
The crossover is connected between the preamplifier and power amplifiers. Each power amplifier is then connected directly to the appropriate loudspeaker drive unit, and only handles one frequency band. This allows better control of the drive unit resulting in more accurate music reproduction. As there is no passive crossover no amplifier power is wasted and information loss is minimised.
The great potential possessed by an active system demands not only source components of the very highest quality but also for them to be perfectly matched and installed.
SNAXO 242 active crossover
The SNAXO 242 is a two-way, 18dB/octave fixed frequency crossover. Crossover frequencies are defined by a series of active filters, designed with particular attention to transient handling, which must be matched to the loudspeaker system with which the crossover is to be used.
SNAXO 362 active crossover
The SNAXO 362 is a three-way, 18dB/octave fixed frequency crossover. Crossover frequencies are defined by a series of active filters, designed with particular attention to transient handling, which must be matched to the loudspeaker system with which the crossover is to be used.
LOUDSPEAKERS
The design of Naim's loudspeakers differs radically from most models you'll find in the market. This is because the performance of most loudspeakers is inherently compromised - usually because their designers have done little more than produce a variation on an established but flawed theme.
Naim's loudspeakers use innovative design concepts - many of which are elegant and alarmingly simple - to tackle the myriad problems associated with converting electrical energy into mechanical energy while faithfully maintaining the integrity of the musical performance.
At the same time, the designs respect the fact that the speakers will be used in homes where they'll be required to provide startling performances without disrupting the domestic environment.
All Naim loudspeakers are available in a range of standard real wood veneers. Other finishes are available to special order.
SL2
The SL2 is a compact package of speed, precision and musical coherence. The SL2 is designed to be consistent, easy to set up and ensure high levels of performance in every situation. The virtual absence of cabinet resonance and mechanical interference provides a startling yet totally natural musical clarity.
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Allae
The Allae offers truly stunning musical performance that will always enhance the pleasure of your listening experience. Visually the Allae is excellent and is available in a range of modern, real wood veneers.
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n-SAT
As well as forming part of the popular 5.1-channel n-System, the n-SAT makes an excellent and highly affordable pair of small monitors for regular, two-channel use, especially when partnered with Naim 5 Series electronics such as the NAIT5i amplifier and CD5i CD player.
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ANALOGUE
Given the billions of vinyl records in circulation, many containing magical performances that might never appear on any other medium, it makes sense to cherish them and exploit their potential.
To enable their customers to enjoy their record collections fully they have developed the Naim uni-pivot tone-arm, Armageddon power supply and SuperLine and Stageline phono stages.
We believe that each product is unique in its ability to maximise the potential of vinyl replay, bringing forth the characteristic musicality and emotional depth that the medium offers.
Uni-pivot tone-arm
The low-mass, Naim uni-pivot tone-arm is designed to offer the very best phono cartridges delicate yet precise support at all audio frequencies.
Armageddon turntable power supply
The Armageddon is a turntable power supply for the Linn Sondek LP12. It is built around a large 430VA toroidal transformer. Simplicity is the key to its uniquely musical sound.
SuperLine Reference Phono Amplifier
SuperLine brings out all that's best in vinyl replay — timing, pitch accuracy, clarity, detail, and the unmistakable warmth that records can deliver in abundance
Stageline Phono Amplifier
The Stageline is a separate phono stage, available in either moving coil or moving magnet versions, designed to optimise sound quality from a wide range of cartridges.
ACCESSORIES
Accessories is not really the best description for the items you'll find here. The word suggests something that's non-essential, and that is certainly not the case with our supports and cables.
Naim Fraim supports help to optimise the performance of our electronics by dealing effectively with harmful structure- and air-borne vibration.
Use the wrong interconnects and speaker cables with a Naim system and you'll hear an immediate degradation in its performance. Upgrade to the latest Naim cables and you'll notice significant improvements in the musicality of your system.
Fraim supports
The Fraim support system is designed to optimise the performance of hi-fi and AV systems from Naim and other manufacturers.
Headline Headphone Amp
The Headline is an amplifier designed to offer optimum performance from a variety of high impedance headphones.
Interconnects
The SNAIC 4 and 5, along with the Burndy cables for the NAC552, NAP300, CDS3, CDX2 and SNAXO, along with those for older models, have all been upgraded and now have smart black outer sleeving to differentiate them from their predecessors.
The new improved Black SNAICs use a new cable, which is custom manufactured to Naim's specification, that provides superior impedance, capacitance and conductivity. Each interconnect is meticulously hand-built in-house using newly developed techniques. The result is more - more music
Hi-Line Interconnect
During the development of the CD555, a special project ran in parallel; to develop a new signal cable which would exceed the performance of Naim’s standard cable. The brief was to investigate all parameters of a signal carrier: to improve the whole rather than just improving the cable as is the more normal development practice.
Given the opportunity to start with a ‘clean sheet’ the R&D team decided to develop a much improved plug as well as a new cable. The Air-PLUG (patent pending) is designed as a decoupling device to stop vibrations from one product being transmitted, via the cable, to another product and to stop airborne vibrations being picked up by the cable being transmitted to the products it is connected to.
The cable, exclusive to Naim, is manufactured from twisted pairs of 80 litz conductors surrounded by PTFE, Kapton and PTFE tape all then covered by a semi conductive shield to reduce static charges. This is then wrapped by two spiral wound copper shields and lapped PTFE tape. Two of these assemblies side by side are then wrapped in layers of PTFE tape and finally a rubber outer covering. This gives a two-channel cable where the signal and RF grounds are held in a static position relative to each other negating any difference in field between them.
DC1 Digital Coaxial Cable
Many Naim source and preamplifier components incorporate coaxial digital inputs and outputs, so now there’s a Naim engineered cable to connect them together with as little quality loss as possible. The DC1 incorporates proprietary phono plugs and cable selected following extensive listening tests to offer a digital interconnect solution optimised for all Naim digital audio components.
Speaker Cable
NACA5 is Naim’s multi-strand loudspeaker cable, consisting of two separated 4mm square conductors. Its design is optimised for use with Naim amplifiers and loudspeakers by ensuring that its capacitance, inductance and resistance are entirely compatible.
Power-Line Mains Cable
With the launch of Naim's first custom designed and manufactured mains cable system, the most fundamental of all audio hardware items has hit centre stage. The Power-Line consists of a mains plug, a mains cable and an IEC connector. Each element incorporates features never before seen in an audio mains cable, and, like Naim's Hi-Line interconnect cable, the Power-Line represents a genuine advance in high-end audio engineering.
The Power-Line brings gains in all areas of system performance with its influence increasing as it is used on each component in a system. It represents a striking and significant upgrade for all Naim hi-fi systems.
Click here to view the Naim Recommended Systems (PDF Opens in a New Window)
