Nait 2 or NAC42/110? Which one to look for?
It is all personal but room size, source and speakers might lead to more informed answers.
I’m biased.
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Great picture!
Room: Small room, my home office, approximately 20m².
Speakers: Leak Sandwich 15 Ohm (2 way) from the sixties (I am planning to refurbish them).
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Sensitivity?
I don’t know. I cannot find relevant data on the internet. Estimated: 85 dB.
I have my first Naim amp, a Nait 2 that has been serviced. It is a lovely thing and performs well above its pay grade. However, like all of the integrated amps, the equivalent separates perform better. I can’t speak for the 110 but my 42/140 is way better and I put that down to the 42 rather than the 140.
Anything available that period
The Nait 2 will drive most speakers if you don’t want/require ear splitting LOUD. Depending on your source neither will have a great deal of headroom (they will go loud with little movement of the volume knob). This can be overcome with a source that has a built in preamp like a DAC/pre or something that has a variable output. Not a problem with vinyl.
The Nait 2 has a known low volume imbalance but this is easily overcome with a source with a variable output (set the volume to 10o’clock and let the source control the volume - may even have a remote!). Do you prefer 2 boxes and extra leads or is a single box preferable? And what about the sound you prefer? The Nait 2 is an icon and known for its ‘musicality’. The CB separates are very good too - I’ve owned a few but I always returned to the Nait 2.
Depending on your budget you could buy both and see what you prefer. You are unlikely to be out of pocket with a resale. Nait 2 will be similar or more than the 42/110 combo.
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The 42/110 is much better but for a home office maybe the Nait 2 would be the better choice. Even so, I would look for a 42/110 as it was and is a fabulous pre-power combination.
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The above reference to low volume imbalance on my Nait 2 in our ding room, is at whispering levels. When the sound level is at low to allow dining table conversations- speakers are 1 to 2m from guests, there is no longer any imbalance.
So this known imbalance trait is not a deal killer.
My Nait 2 at up to human voice talking levels often sounds as good as my primary system of 72/HC/250, both system have identical speakers.At louder levels the 72/HC/250 is the big time better amps.
I think the Nait 2 may well become my retirement home amp
Mint serviced examples of the Nait 2 are averaging $1.5-2K here in the states, rivaling s/h prices of the Nait 50. Not sure which I’d prefer.
A new and modern Nait 50 (preferably second-hand because of the price) looks interesting too
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Also consider 62/90. Max B and i, recently compared my Nait 50 62/90 with/without Snaps and 62/HC/250 along with CDX2-2 into nSat. Thw 62/90 turned out to have the most musical midrange of the lot, with richer grain and clarity E.G. Hannah Reid voice.
62/HC250 is more effortless on more dense and complex music signals and it seems wanting to be played at higher levels to shine.
It is all personal but room size, source and speakers might lead to more informed answers.
I’m biased.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist 
I suspect either option would be excellent, I’ve never heard a NAIT2, but reputation is that the two options share a similar fun character.
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Sell it to me please 
Haha, no 
Good luck deciding which way to go though I don’t actually know the impact of 15Ohm load has on the decision making process, but given I’m sure plenty of people must have used BBC monitors, with similar specs, with both systems, and given your small room, I guess, and it is just that, that either option would be fine!
FWIW, my setup obviously includes a HiCap, but when I initially bought the 42.5/110, I didn’t have the HiCap. They still sounded mighty fine.
I’m using mine with Neat SX3s, 8 Ohm/86db, in a weird shaped room (5m x 1.7m, narrowing to 2.8m x 1.8m - it would be close to your room size if it did not narrow), with a large permanent opening, and there’s no issue whatsoever with achieving decent sound pressure levels, or sounding good at low level.
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Cheeky bugger! But they do look gorgeous.
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Aye, sorry again X) Your NAIT2 looks mighty fine as well!!