I currently have a supernait 3, am considering swapping it out for a nait 50. I do have some curiousities that maybe some of you could help with: (I know there is a megathread for this but they do not seem to have very direct comparisons with the supernait 3)
How is the low level listening engagement? Supernait seems to be a little thick, requiring a higher volume before it really grips the speakers and projects the sound out.
How is the nait 50 with high volumes? For music such as AC/DC and the like. I do use some medium efficiency floorstanders (proac d20) and that requires about 10 O clock on the supernait 3 to get to the volumes I like.
Temperatures: Supernait 3 tends to get quite warm after listening loud. I am wondering how the nait 50 might handle this?
A bit more of a technical question… but perhaps people could shed some light on the type and number of components in the nait 50. It uses surface mounted components such as capacitors, and because of that it seems like it has a surprising number of components for its size. At a glance it looks like it has more yellow tantalums than even the xs3. Can anyone share?
We tested a Nait 50 recently as a potential replacement for my wife’s 202/200 system. The theory being that a smaller more compact solution (built in Phono Stage & Headphone Amp) would neaten up her system a lot.
I can only answer your first two questions with our views:
Low volume listening lacked engagement and detail. It was a bit like listening to something loud with ear defenders on. A real shame as low volume listening is a definite requirement in Mrs Q’s system.
Turn it up however and the little guy really shines. Still not a match for the 202/200, but definitely punches above its weight when you let it go.
I hope this is of some help, all be it not a test against an SN3.
Thanks for your reply! It definitely is of help as I found the 202/200 somewhat comparable with SN3, but SN3 is a little less “sleepy” than the 202/200.
What would you say the normal listening level would sound like? Say about normal talking volume. Is the nait 50 more engaging than the 202/200 or do you have the urge to raise the volume?
A lot of this would depend on your speakers e.g. in the example above I don’t think the Linn Keilidh (if these are the ones used) are appropriate for the Nait 50 or at least I would not combine them.
All levels of listening will depend a lot on speakers and room but with in the “correct” setup all listening levels, but especially low and mid should work fine. It works great for me with Spendor D1 in a smaller room.
I replaced my SN3 not with the Nait 50 but the NC250 and the difference was very obvious, especially in the context of a NC setup but I have since compared the NC250 directly to the Nait 50 in a larger room as well, with bigger (but relatively easy) speakers. It’s surprising how close the Nait 50 is to the NC250 for moderate level listening and really only a difference at the lowest frequencies reproduction. I’ve not tested loud levels but would imagine a difference.
Looking back I think I would have the Nait 50 over the SN3 any day, however if you like to push your system harder for longer and have also heard the slight thickness and mushiness of the SN3 (and cannot unhear it), you may need to look at another solution.
This comes down to listening preference and environment.
I do not find the 202/200 “sleepy”, even in comparison to my 282/300.
The Naim signature with all the Pace and Finesse is there in all its glory, there’s just less of it as you go “ down” the levels.
We found the volume knob moving to the 9 o’clock position before we felt all of the joy the 50 can bring.
Though I agree somewhat with @garcon regarding speaker matching, I listened to the 50 with ND5 XS2 and PMC Prodigy 1’s and would say the same is true. It isn’t as accomplished (IMHO) at low volume as the SN3 or 202/200, but then I honestly wouldn’t expect it to be. I would still buy it for a lesser used system (bedroom for instance) as it is a wonderful product, just not a good replacement for us at this time.
Thanks for the insight on the nait 50 vs nc250. I am surprised it can hold its own against such a beast of an amplifier.
The issue with the sn3 is that my room is quite small (4.2m x 2.8m) and I have squeezed floorstanding proac d20R firing down the short end of the room (speakers placed along the long wall). This seems to make the SN3 quite unhappy at normal volumes (thick and mushy like you said). It probably would be an excellent amplifier in a larger room, but not this room.
Ideally I would like a 282 setup, but budget constraints limit this. It is however optimistic that you can even compare the sound of a nait50 to a NC250.
I would like to have some idea of how the nait50 would handle being absolutely slammed with EDM and rock music though.
I’m not sure you can have too much amplification. I’ve used a 552/300 in a room 4.5m long and 3.6m across, with the speakers on the long wall and it was fantastic. I’d suggest that rather than thinking of less amplification, you think of speakers that are more appropriate to your room. Some ProAc Tablette 10 Signatures, on good stands and hard against the wall, would very likely solve any issues. The only caveat is your penchant for loud rock music, but they are certainly worth trying.
Indeed, the NAIT 50 and the NC 250 / 350 have very similar presentation. Obviously the 250 / 350s can drive harder and louder but for me (and having owned / used all three) they have a family sound.
FWIW I have a Supernait 3 + Hi Cap. I acquired a Nait 50 a few weeks ago. With my set up, I prefer the Nait 50 and the SN3 + HiCap are boxed and up for sale.
To your other question, the Nait 50 does need a bit of volume to really shine but it does not have to be loud with my speakers anyway. I find the volume settings on both are about the same; 10 o’clock is loud for me and fine although I would very rarely have it wound up so far as it’s a small room. Usual levels are 8 to 9. but of course it does depend on the input.
Thanks for the reply. Would you say that the nait 50 has a more engaging sound than sn3 throughout the volume range? Did you also find the sn3 warm and somewhat dull at lower levels?
I see that you have ATC scm19. Those are pretty difficult speakers to get going. Could the nait50 handle rock with those?
Looking on your setup, instead of the amp, would check the speakers first too (Perhaps a bit to “big” for your room), for what i can remember D20R need a bit of “air”.
On my different setup the speakers are always the tricky part to tune,to match room acoustic and limits
Low level listening is surprisingly effective. I think this is more a function of the speakers perhaps, but the Nait50 with low level output seems to excel. I use a separate gain control ahead of the volume control on the Nait50.
Good indeed - in fact I wrote about this on the forum last night… it retains its composure and balance well. It peaks at over 200 Watts so you do need to be a little careful on more sensitive speakers if driving hard. The Nait 50 will also get quite warm when driven hard, so needs good air flow around it. Clearly loudness is subjective and sound pressure exponentially falls away with distance so you would not use a Nait50 to drive a very large space or small hall or to loud party levels.
As above- when driven hard the Nait50 will get warm. It is a rather high power peak power amp, and uses the case as its primary heatsink with no active cooling.
I can’t comment specifically on the colour of the capacitors, but I understand its construction style and techniques are more aligned more with the new product designs.
Ah! I clearly had not updated my profile - now done! My speakers are currently Graham LS5/9 and they sound much better and more engaging with the Nait 50. Not sure I would have said the SN3 was dull at low levels - subdued perhaps at very low levels.
Yup, have done it all. I find that when the supernait is at lower than normal volumes, the bass stands out, but the vocals do not, and are kind of flat. But at high volumes, everything is where its supposed to be.
I am hoping the nait 50 would be a bit leaner in the bass department. I have tried an 82 and that was a real kicker, very entertaining. It was everything that the supernait isnt. This is how I found out that the issue was with the amplifier, not the speaker pairing.
I haven’t compared Nait 50 and Supernait head-to-head, only indirectly. For me Nait is a better value for money in terms of ultimate sound quality. But it’s a demanding piece of kit. Regarding everything - power supply, cables, source, speaker match for sure.
No, it’s quite bass dominant. If you want a leaner amp you may have to look elsewhere.
I found the Nait50 driving mid size floor mounts loud such as Spendor D7s very effective and punchy. Driving the smaller floor mounts such as the RK120s was also very effectively to loud levels punchy levels.
I prefer the more focussed presentation of stand mounts however with near field speakers despite these being typically of lesser efficiency.
The huge peak power of the Nait50 packs quite a punch… but yes if you are into listening to sine waves very loud you will need an amp with a higher RMS rating… luckily with most music its about grip and dynamic reactive control. One of the Naim designers did state the Nait50 uses the same output amp design as one of the of the other higher power new amps, but the Nait50 has to have a lower voltage powersupply, to limit heat creation in the smaller case… and therefore smaller RMS, but reactive peak power at relatively high levels.
Naim have used their more advanced amp tech in the Nait50 and other newer amps to great effect… certainly I experience this. In my humble opinion it’s way way ahead in terms detail, punch and composure compared to my old NAP 250.2… and that was no slouch.
Having said that I wouldn’t think the Nait 50 with a pair of large Focal Sopra No2 would be a great match… but have not tried that combo.