Was your assessment of the SN3 with or without the optional Power supply? Thanks.
this SN3 vs N50 topic is addressed thru-out the N50 thread. consensus seems to be that they serve different purposes. the N50 is small and basic. the SN3 is more powerful, has more inputs, remote etc.
as far as “better” sound - wont it depend on system, room, music, tastes etc, etc?
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i agree
seriously doubt N50 can adequately drive loudspeakers
with 84-85 db sensitivity
i have not heard any naim amps that sound overly warm or dull
naim have a fast punchy dynamic sound
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Thank you to everyone who commented on this. There are lots of very sensible thoughts.
I have the SN3 and like it a lot. I certainly don’t find it dull! I have a small room and just two inputs (ND5 XS 2 and RP3). My speakers are small Brigadiers. Had the N50 been available when I bought the system, I suspect it would have been the better (as well as the cheaper) option, but I don’t have up- (or maybe down-) gradeitis, so I’ll stick very happily to what I have.
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I guess talking about SN3 as dull explains where in the spectrum the 50 is. I even thought SN2 was more earthy sounding than SN3 and liked SN2 better due to this but taste is as always different. If everyone had same taste and preferences there would only be one product on the market. Luckily this is not the case 
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I have Harbeth P3ESR and my Nait 50 has them in a vice like grip.
PS it is warmer sounding too
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I have been using my N50 in my second system with B&W CM1 speakers which are abut 81 db sensitivity, and have never heard them sound better (I have had them since 2009). The volume on the N50 is normally about the 9 am position. The system is in a small room of about 3m x 4m. I am planning to upgrade the speakers in this system to something more neutral and inevitably more sensitive – probably KEF R3 Meta. I look forward to the experience.
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Believe me, the SN3 is a Honda C90 in the Naim motorbike world, compared with the Honda 50cc ‘Vision’!
Think about it!
Enjoy!
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low sensitivity bookshelf speaker at near field listening will probably be fine
larger loudspeaker with 8 inch bass driver will probably induce clipping in
a large room
I imagine in the UK there are dealers who can demo the unit
Yeah, an n-SAT.
In such case, there’s plenty of old Nait 3s for a couple hundreds…
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I’ve not done a head-to-head but did home dem the SN3 a couple of years ago. I preferred vintage Naim at the time but worth noting that I used vintage LP12s and old Linn speakers (Kans/Tukans/Katans). Suspect that I’d prefer my Nait 50 over a SN3, again using vintage LP12s and Linn speakers (Kans/Tukans). Certainly finding it a lot more engaging.
Yeah, that was my point too. (my question was rhetorical)
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I’m sure the Nait 50 sounds very musical
Don’t think ill ever hear one in the US
Dealer network is sparse compared to UK
maybee at a hifi show if I’m lucky
Another vote for the NAIT50 here. I swapped from an XS3 but I have tried a Supernait 3 in my system before and didn’t really get on with it.
I can fully understand someone preferring the Supernait though. As always, the rest of one’s system, room, preferences and ears will all play a part.
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will this take the place of supernait 3
@george1 If you don’t need the extra power, inputs, and a remote, let your ears decide. I purchased the Nait 50.
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It’s rather a moot point, because the NAIT50 was a limited edition of 1,973 units, all of which have been snapped up.
All 1973 have gone from Naim as manufacturer, but they’re still available at dealers who bought in stock. I picked mine up from Cymbiosis two days ago.
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