Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2024 - New Product Launch

I think we’ll see a new series of shoebox amps and streamers based on the Nait50 project. I hope they do this as I think it would be wildly successful. While I doubt they’d do anything retro, I’d love to see a mash up with the CB large knobs in a modern enclosure. Just my 2 cents. I know nothing.

3 Likes

It is appealing and would surely be a popular range, it certainly feels like there should be a 100 Series (even if commercially the spreadsheets disagree)
We still have lingering remnants of legacy ranges in particular 5 and XS Series that could evolve in to a 100 Series, bite size seperates with just enough of the Naim sauce at a 4 digit price point to bundle something special together.
You’d imagine from a supply chain and brand perspective they’d gravitate towards the New Classic ID (itself a derivative of Statement and Uniti after all) to ensure consistency across all the ranges.
I can’t see them doing anything radical or wider ranging with sources, they’ve been heavily invested in NP800 streaming products for some time now but there remains a lot of interest in a replacement to the nDAC, a seperate transport and DAC might materialise as a Statement level ND and begin a trickle down journey to what becomes the next 500 Series and then at some point a derivative further down the ranges.
The 2024 priority to me feels like a new integrated amp that sits below the 200 Series and an entry level streamer source (100 Series)
Generationally, they’ve had 3 price tiers for streamer source (ND5 XS, NDX, NDS then ND5 XS2, NDX2 and ND555) so it seems sensible they’d require the same moving forwards, the NSS 333 already being the logical sucessor to the NDX 2 in that respect.

I would hope there will be three price tiers for the New Classics, as it would make perfect sense when using the KISS approach of Good-Better-Best for the entire Naim portfolio. The options BNC (Before New Classic) were rather complicated for the uninitiated (especially the power supplies).

I’m hoping for a 100 series, either in the full fat NC 200/300 casing, or the NC NVC casework. It needn’t consists of a whole raft of pre / power options, perhaps just a single integrated replacing the Nait5 and XS, and a streamer to replace the ND5 XS2 and NDX2.

My concern is (and I suspect) that any future new lower tier launches will consolidate the XS and Uniti ranges into new All In One Radiograms (as my Grandparents used to call them!).

I do also think there’s room for a 300 series HyperNait as well - something in the NAC 332 preamplifier casework with a 100WPC plus would nice.

Anyway, if the New Classics launched so far are representative, interesting times ahead for Naim-ites.

3 Likes

Judging by the price increases I suspect that will be the new super nait🤣

My money is on the Supernait - effectively a NC250 with the pre from the 222, casework as per 332.

1 Like

Makes sense Hollow

But no doubt we will all be wrong ha :crazy_face:

My money will be on more promotion of their current New Classic ranges. It’s too soon for Naim to launch even more new kit. They are not Sony.

3 Likes

as it’s natural partner will be the 333, it could well be a 300 series amp, may not arrive for Bristol but this year for sure

That’s exactly my thoughts Hollow

Upscaled SN3 (300) to match the NSS333 (upscaled NDX2) option to add the NPX 300 PS

Agree Bristol show too early

1 Like

What a pushover :joy:

Something to upgrade the Nait50 to a Nait500

Actually, upgradable with the NPX 300 and you’re there. A two box super integrated :roll_eyes:.

A new Tee Shirt perhaps? Or even a new coffee mug?

2 Likes

Price increases?

Ha ha

Wouldn’t that product eat into 222/250 sales for those who still want a streamer?

The price of an NC Supernait (based on 222/250 tech) plus an ND5 XS2 (or 100 series streamer) might be too close to the 222/250 price. TBH, I think the 222 is a repackaging of ND5 XS2/Supernait 3/Atom HE headphone amplifier combined with the new volume control tech anyway (my guess).

Given that Naim are a small company, and needed Focal’s injection of cash (to survive?), I think they have already launched all they can afford to for now. It’s been major for them considering their product launches in previous decades.

I can see the next couple of years being mainly consolidation and recouping of R&D costs. Maybe some products that reuse/repackage NC designs, but maybe not.

Of course, I could be totally wrong :grinning:.

That might not be entirely true given the new prod facility in Slovakia, we might start seeing new launches more frequently than the usual Naim way, but yes, on the very next year after so many releases on the previous one, it is highly unlikely to see a new product that early. We can only speculate of course, as usual. The most obvious thing to do now is to continue promoting and selling those 200/300 series, Naim would rather not jeopardise sales of those fresh products by releasing something that can cannibalise those. NC DAC V2 would not bother any sales person though…

In my experience of rationalising product sets, you can only take things so far. Not everything can be put in a “Box”. The is a human factor involved. Naim have tried to simplify things with the 200 & 300 series so I would be surprised to see another PSU appear. The Uniti series seems pretty sorted so maybe just a facelift? Possibly the Nait5si/XS/SN/ND5XS rebranded and facelifted as 100 series with some tech improvements. Maybe NDX2 facelifted and rebranded a 200 series product. Having three integrateds at varying price points seems to cover the “budget/entry” levels quite well atm.

What would be useful would be modular digital components which could Be upgraded as technology changes (streaming board, dac etc. a la Linn DSMs). But maybe doesn’t suit Naim.

Brain dump complete.

Good point on modularity, it’s how I ended up with a Selekt DSM (and others have here with happy endings)
Since I’ve owned that I’ve rebuilt it multiple times in terms of amps, line out, DAC’s and even the internal power supply with further headroom to spend in to as my budget permits.
Having some element of dealer upgradeability especially on the digital circuits makes a lot of sense, it’s an easier pill to swallow spending £1500 on a better DAC than a depreciated trade in to then have to spend another £10-15k on whole box swop.
Highly unlikely to see Naim go that route which in the spirit of sustainability is an oversight in my view.

3 Likes

This is what, amongst other things, I don’t follow with the supposed Statement-level streamer, as these are pretty much computer kit in drag, albeit highly specialised. As such, they are exposed to redundancy/being overtaken in relatively short order (by this I mean 5/7 years or so).

1 Like