Is the NAIT 50 a better integrated amplifier than the Supernait 3?
This question has been asked before, but it will be interesting to quantify the perception.
Please only respond if you have heard both. When voting, try and imagine that this would be your only amp. Imagine that both would cost the same and you’d not be able to sell or change it for at least 10 years.
not even a contest! Clearly, it’s very difficult to sell your Nait 50, even dealers were struggling.
I voted on expectation and not having heard each individual component.
However I’ve heard the supernait 2 and I own a nait 1.
The Supernait from memory has a smooth sound but does not engage me anywhere near as well as the nait 1. Heck I’ve even switched off my 500 series at times to just enjoy the nait 1.
So based off that experience if one considers the nait 50 is based on but improves on the nait 1 and similarly Snait 3 betters the 2 I would say the nait 50 takes an easy win in my book.
I have had both, lived with Supernait 3 for two years and enjoyed it (after having a Supernait 2 for 8yrs, which I preferred to the Supernait 3), having now owned a Nait 50 for around 5 months I prefer the N50 to both Supernaits.
It’s still early days, and I know that a different sound can sometimes be mistaken for an improvement. That said, I’m very tempted to say the Nait 50 is genuinely more engaging.
There needs to be other options. The poll assumes one is familiar with both. That might not be the case.
Having heard both, they are definitely different, but better? Well that’s very subjective
For me, the answer must be which one sells , people vote with their wallets.
My dealer has two, had them since launch and sold neither despite massive discounts. I wonder how many have actually been sold ?
If you’re not familiar with both then best not to vote, no?
I currently own both. They’re each fed by an ND5XS2 but they’re in different rooms and use different speakers. There are differences other than sound, of course: remote control, mute and more inputs on the SN3 and auto standby on the N50. My SN3 is connected NACA5 to Kudos Super 20s in a bedroom system. The N50 is connected NACA5 to Falcon LS3/5as in the garden room. Although I’m sure the speakers are influencing my decision, but on balance I’d say that the SN3 has more authority, a more mature and adult-like presentation, whereas the N50 is the lively teenager who likes to be noticed. At current prices, the N50 does, however, offer exceptional value for money.
Or just bet.
Well 1973 only made in total.
It seems a many of them are still stocked by dealers since the huge discount.
It’s too expensive. Even at a grand it’s too pricey. £500? Now that would’ve been something really special. Even if Naim sold them at a loss.
How is it too expensive? It sounds better than a SN3 or 202/200 to me, and at the price it’s selling for now is not much more than a good condition Nait 2 sells for.
Sure when it was first introduced it seemed slightly inflated price wise, however i’d still maintain it was good value compared to what Naim were offering at the time. Also, given the package of classic design, build quality, small footprint and built in phono stage and headphone amp, it’s an absolute steal.
I agree it’s not too expensive. I paid full price when the Nait 50 was first released and I don’t regret it for an instant.
For those folks who have picked it up at reduced price well hats off to you. The Nait 50 has proven to be my favourite and most enjoyable Naim amps of all time.
I would look at this comparison from a different perspective - what are they offering and what is unique about them compared to their predecessor - when SN3 was released it offered a rather small or no real sound quality upgrade compared to the SN2, at least this was the general consensus. N50 on the other hand, looking from the perspective of it being the successor to the SN3, both being integrated amplifiers, one comes out after the other, offers performance and delicacy that are raved about to such extremes that SN3 has never seen upon and after its release. SN3 has never been compared to anything more than 202/200, and N50 is compared by some well known members (and others) to 552/250 and is even taking preference. SN3 was just the next SN2 with built in phono stage.
I had SN2, it was nice, but my current 82/hc/250 simply wipes the floor with it. If Naim has somehow managed to put performance (regardless of power rating) in the N50 comparable to their separates level, which SN2 or SN3 were never known for, then that paints a different picture and really speaks enough for the N50.
The N50 was never a successor to the SN3 it was a Ltd edition to celebrate 50 years of Naim
The SN3 was discontinued due to component availability being stopped.
The timescale of release was a coincidence. 
Bet a few dealers have sold at a loss
Technically it might not be a direct successor, but it is/was the next analog integrated amp manufactured by them. That was not my main point anyway, just used it as an analogy.
Is the SN3 still on hold for production?? Which component can cause such a long stop in their line up and not effecting other Naim products. What is unique to SN3 which no other box contains?
I’m one of the lucky ones who picked up a discounted unit and consider it an absolute bargain. Having lived with it for a couple of months I think I’d have still considered it good value at full price on a sound per £ basis.