I’ve gone on and on in the past about the Naim NAIT 2 integrated amplifier I owned back in the ’90s, and how it’s probably at the top of my list of hi-fi components I should have never sold. (In my defense, I did trade it in on Naim gear further up the line.) When Naim started bringing back their Classic lines of components, I told Wendy Knowles of Focal Naim America that when they ever decided to come out with new little NAIT, I wanted to be first in line to review it. So imagine my delight when I came face to face with the new Naim NAIT 50 at High End 2023 in Munich.
Words and Photos by Marc Phillips
The new Naim NAIT 50 isn’t a reworking of the Naim NAIT 2, but rather the first NAIT that preceded it. While the NAIT 50 nails those clunky yet endearing cosmetics from the early days of this iconic British company, the 50 is a more modern machine deep inside. For starters, the Naim NAIT 50 has 25 watts per channel instead of the deliberately vague 15-21 wpc of my old NAIT 2. That makes it more compatible with a wider range of speakers.
While my original Naim NAIT 2 had a retail price of $995–I bought a demo piece for just $695–the new Naim NAIT 50 will retail for around $3,500. That’s still a bargain, especially since used Naim NAITs are generally worth more than when they were new. I’m telling you right now–if the Naim NAIT 50 is close enough to my old NAIT 2 in sound, I’ll buy one.
Naim will make only 1,973 Naim NAIT 50s, however, so I’ll have to be decisive. If that number sounds oddly specific, it’s because Naim is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.
It seems that most Focal Naim exhibit rooms over the last couple of years have focused primarily on Focal and their numerous lines of loudspeakers and headphones, this Munich 2023 show seemed like it was all about Naim. In addition to the debut of the Naim NAIT 50, Naim has redesigned their Classic 300 line. These components also have a decidedly modern feel while capturing the spirit of the Julian Vereker era. Many of the technical improvements revolve around protecting the circuits from heat–which always has meaningful benefits for owners.
Naim has always been considered quirky for their unique connectivity options, especially in regards to their power supplies, but the new Classic 300 series will have simpler interfaces between the components, and more connectivity options. These high-current designs will be more powerful in the past–the new Naim NAP 350 will have 175 watts per channel, more than any other Naim amp in history outside of the Statement series. It’s good that Naim is going back to their roots–maybe I’ll start calling myself a Naim guy once again. We’ll see after I listen to that glorious Naim NAIT 50 for the first time. I can’t wait.
If you would like to hear even more coverage from Munich 2023, check out our recap report and highlights from our audiophile-oriented show The Occasional Podcast. You can stream the episode direct from the embed below, or from your favorite podcast platform including iTunes, Android, Google, Deezer, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more.
Also don’t forget to check out our latest collaboration – a solid bronze record weight available only for a limited run. This 800g of solid bronze features the PTA roundel on the top which also acts as a 45 adapter. You can purchase direct from the PTA Approved Store here on the site.
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