So when are Naim going to produce some more affordable separate products? I still have fond memories of my 72/140 pre/power amplifier.
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When hell freezes overâŚâŚ
Seriously, itâs challenging to see how Naim would compete with âmade in Chinaâ products at low price points.
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Naim are very aware that there is a gap beneath the 200 series. I suspect that now the sale to Barco has taken place, we will see some new and more affordable stuff.
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I think Iâm with Svetty here. Naim cannot compete with the âcheap but good enough SQ to satisfy 95% of folksâ kit.
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I donât think naim will re-enter the âbudgetâ separates market.
There is simply too much competition, as discussed on other threads. By pulling all separates below 222 from sale, naim have ceded this market segment to others who have been far more active with new range launches.
Since that last thread the naim range has reduced further, losing ND5XS2 etc. naim separate sources currently start with the 333 at ÂŁ8k. And they have pulled the Star due to CD mech supply issues, so are unlikely to launch another CD player.
Good luck to them if they do launch a (shoebox?) range. The N50 showed it can be done, and the resting price point for new N50s showed what consumers are willing to pay.
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Seems to me that single box solutions are so good now there is little room for separates systems at that price point.
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Only for the type of people that simply want a Naim badge at a certain price point and donât care about anything else.
Want the flexibility of separates, then they have nothing to offer currently.
There are a lot of people whoâd rather have the latter.
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I do see a market for a shoe box size integrated with optional DAC and/or phonostage which would give maximum flexibility, turntable, CD drive, or Innuos (like) server/streamer.
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I donât think it would make much sense. The Nait 50 sounds as good as any budget pre power combo.
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- The Nait50 is end of production.
- Someone might want more contemporary features in line with other Naim preamps (remote control, upgrade path etc.)
- Someone might want more power like that available from nearly all Naim power amps that went before.
Integrated and modern lifestyle solutions are not inferior and certainly are real hifi. But the use case is very different. There are scenarios where for a given budget I would want something like an Atom. And other where, for the exact same budget, I much prefer a pre-power solution.
The customer that thinks âDoesnât matter as long as I can afford it and it has a Naim badgeâ exits. But to be honest, that way of thinking is pretty alien to me and struggle to understand it.
Personally, Iâm quite happy going elsewhere. I wanted serious bit of hifi in lifestyle package for the office. I bought something from the Uniti range. Naim didnât have anything for a couple other rooms where I wanted separates so I shopped elsewhere. And am really glad I did. Variety is the spice of life.
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Nowadays all in
Nowadays some well regarded brands offer high all in one systems with analogue and digital modules you can change and upgrade following new techniques. A good and simple alternative against upgrading seperates.
I just hope going forward Naim produces another Nait amplifier
A lot of peopleâs introduction to the Naim sound would have been via a Nait
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I am still using a Nait XS3 and I adore itâs sound
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Low cost items need high volumes where margins are low. Competing with Chinese manufacturing and making a profit will be very hard, and single box solutions arenât a âgatewayâ to separates for most now. I think Naim will focus on mid/high end rather than products like âaffordableâ separates. Much as many European car manufacturers vacated the budget market where theyâve been unable to make decent profits.
Just my view
Bruce
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Hi Bruce I think single box solutions can be a gateway to separates, it certainly has been for me but I do think itâs age specific. Iâm currently enjoying my trip up the box increase path.
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Like the thought of more affordable Naim, but got us talking myself and Mrs R about the whole issue of affordability of Naim or Linn
When I first got into Naim in the very early eighties I had already purchased an LP12 with an LVX and Basik cartridge for if I remember correctly about ÂŁ470 and used this with a NAD3020 and some Mordaunt Short speakers
I then purchased a 42/110 for a similar amount to the Linn and then KANâs and stands for around ÂŁ300.
Therein lies the rub,wages I earned at the time would have allowed me to purchase the above in a short period of time, probably after tax etc ÂŁ175,00 take home a week.
Having decided not to retire last year my take home is approximately ÂŁ500.00 a week, but the affordability, and I am not in the market as my system is sorted, is way under what would possibly buy new Naim gear with the current range without serious saving or going into hock
The pre owned market through specialist retailers like Tom Tom is a safe bet, but the other issue is like classic cars, the generation that would tinker, repair and maintain is gone in favour of a market of convenience and obscelence, and trends driven by latest technology and sometimes not quality.
As an example the latest fad and itâs not knocking anyone who has one, the Jaecoo that is being lauded as the poor manâs Range Rover. Somehow again the brand quality and the affordability being surplanted by a cheaper product, being a long term Landrover owner I knew that buying into this brand would be expensive but worthwhile.
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Enjoy !
I lost my SN3 after a lightning strike and turned back to my former system (UQ2 and Nap 100). Second hand SN3 difficult to find in the EU and NC range out of reach (life is more than hifi alone). So also hoping for a new SN or a more affordable entry level.
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The car manufacturers are turning back from the view only mid and high end is the way to go. Look the change in the new business plans from Mercedes and Bmw, they preview large investments in the entry level.
They looked too much the Ferrari business model and dreamed only of high to very high profits pro car. Reality brought them back again with the feet on the floor.
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An affordable piece of kit naim should manufacture is a streaming bridge.
They have a lot of customers who purchased high quality network enabled Dacs, who over time have ended up with an obsolete network section.
The benifit would be that their customers wouldnât need to spend a large amount of money upgrading to NC.
Oh, wait a minute. 
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Worth remembering that a NAC72/NAP140 was a comparatively expensive amp combination back in the day.
Of course the fact that the NAC72 and NAP140 are still great performers, fully supported and serviceable by Naim, and available for under a grand if youâre lucky, makes things even harder these daysâŚ
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