Nait 50 downgrade?

I would also share that good listening quality at low levels depends more on the capabilities of the speaker. I had the little Spendor S3/5’s and they were fantastic at low levels driven with a Nap 200 or Nap140.

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Hi
I borrowed one to compare it to my SN3. A few months back( big discounts on offer)
I found it struggled to drive my PMCs to reasonable volume. Even detected the onset of clipping at 3/4 volume.
Ok at low levels, and with folky / acoustic sounds though.
My dealer is struggling to shift his stock because of similar perceptions

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No way will a Nait 50 drive twenty5.23is successfully. It’s as ever about amp and speaker matching.

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Why… according to PMC the Nait 50 should capable of driving that speaker… PMC state power 25 to 150 watts… the Nait50 is 25 average to peak 225 watts. The 5.23is looks an easier speaker to drive than the large Spendors.

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I found that a Supernait wasn’t really enough to get their predecessor twenty.23 going. It took a 250 DR to bring them to life. I’m sure a Nait 50 will make music, but will likely be as dynamic as a lettuce. Some people love lettuce of course.

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Never heard of dynamic lettuces, but I know the Nait50 excels at its dynamics and timing in a natural musical way… with dynamic speakers of course. But each to their own… as Naim I am sure have realised they have a great design with the 50 and its new larger siblings… with those fantastic new driver stages.

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If you want to listen to AC/DC ‘properly’ then something like a top source with a high-end pre-power amp with plenty of power is what you need. A Naim integrated, even a SN3, isn’t going to cut it, no matter what speaker on the end.

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I was going to say the same thing. Probably a record based system for older analogue recordings too. 252/250 minimum.

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If you are going to listen to AC/DC properly you need to cram into a small, dark, smoky venue where your feet stick to the beer covering the floor and you can’t hear yourself think! :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

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Yeah, and plenty of meat blocking the wall of sound :crazy_face:

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I don’t actually have any AC/DC records, but have been mulling over getting a copy of Back in Black :flushed::guitar::guitar:

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Back in Black is probably one of the better recordings with the new singer at the time (Brian Johnson), but not necessarily the best of their music IMHO. Either way you need big amperage for that type of music, otherwise it can all feel a little bit like a microwave meal…

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My 40th Anniversary copy of Back in Black is 20/20 :scream:


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I’ve heard many great things about the Nait 50. I am really interested to hear from someone who has heard both, and can confirm that, playing AC/DC at high volumes, the SN3 is out-gunned by the Nait 50.

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I’m sure the Nait 50 is just great but I think you need to look at the speaker/room combo.

The danger is you change the amp but it doesn’t address your concerns. A system in a small room can be engaging and BIG sounding even at low levels.

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In my room and with my source and speakers the answer is YES! AC/DC sounds a lot better with Nait 50 than my previous SN3. Small room and high class source and speakers though.

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Yes but the 250dr is also a much better amp than a SN, irrespective of power.

For example, I don’t feel like my UQ2 and 23s sound that good together. But lacking power isn’t really what comes to mind when I think of the sonic deficiencies of that combination.

I tried it with real-world difficult speakers (Magnepan LRS) and it could certainly not handle them even at low volume. In fact even with LS3/5a it lacked flow while the 72/HC/135 sound beautiful with them. Or its just me that cant handle the NC-sound.

Perhaps it’s personal taste. To me the Nait50 beats my previous 552/252 system… I had left Naim… but heard this star and was gob smacked, and it brought me back to the fold … yes I know there is a lot of new and power transient tech in the Nait50 like the other new Naim amp products… but it’s the results that count.
The 50 to my ears is hugely dynamic, tight and powerful, yet has superb phase handing (timing) and subtleties. Literally I enjoy details and musical cues in my recordings I have never appreciated before… it’s so exciting. I never thought an integrated could perform so well. I had been conditioned perhaps to accept seperate pre and power amps… and my previous listening to the Supernaits had let me cold… though I always liked the little Nait XS2… but it was ultimately a little power limited for my tastes. Now some have said it’s my source and speakers that have done this as well… sure it’s a synergy thing… but the amp has to work to take advantage of these other components.

Anyway the 50 brought me back into the Naim fold. Their new amp products and their tech design are something special (all in my opinion of course). So if anyone else has got disenchanted with the older classic series Naim sound… listen to the 50 … if like me it might freshen and enliven things up for you… the only downside is there is no remote… but I have a sneaky feeling the absence of micro controller tech for that has upped the performance from the box.

My listening room is just under 4x6 m but slightly irregular, with some sound absorber treatment and carpeted slate/concrete floors.

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Very interesting that you say the nait50 beats the sn3 at high volumes… may I know what speakers you used?

Did you try any EDM by chance? I find that EDM really tells you the amount of control the amplifier has. The supernait 3 is indeed quite good in that regard, I do not expect the nait50 to surpass it. My goal here is simply more engaging sound at reasonable levels.