I’ve a Nait 50 and just noticed the front panel led light remains bright at all times even though I have the instant on switch on the rear set to it’s off (lower) position. My understanding is that when the switch is set to off the N50 should go into standby mode after about 20 minutes if does not detect any signal and that the front panel led light should then dim.
Is my understanding correct? Does anyone have any idea as to why this is happening? Perhaps someone from Naim’s technical staff can chime in and provide some information as to what maybe happening.
By the way, the attached source equipment is a Rega p3, Naim nd5sx2 streamer and a Naim Cd5i player. Cabling is Naim lavender dins and a5 speaker cable, aside from the turntable which is connected by rca cable.
I’ve tried the N50 with the source equipment connected and with nothing connected with the same result as referenced.
The switch and instructions are confusing. I think the original intention was that with stand-by on, the amp would go to ‘sleep’ and then would be woken by a signal, but that wasn’t implemented. Try the switch the other way round - it will then go into stand-by when left unused. I leave mine on all the time and sometimes manually switch it to stand-by at the end of the day. Here’s what the manual says:
5.5 Standby Power Settings
By default, the NAIT 50 is set to ‘Auto Standby’ - it automatically enters Standby mode (where it consumes less than 0.5W of power) within 19 minutes of inactivity. Music Sensing will wake the amp from Standby when it detects an input signal.
For the optimum sound quality, switch the Standby setting on the rear panel to ‘Instant on’,
which keeps all sensitive audio circuits permanently powered up.
The following is a quote from Steve Sells @110dB explaining the function.
"The quick answer is that the ‘instant on’ switch will enable/disable the music sense auto-standby function.
Going deeper The Nait 50 has two modes; ‘on’ and ‘standby’.
When it is ‘on’:
** Ready to play music.*
** The main toroidal transformer PSU is on*
** EuP 0.5W SMPSU is off (better for sound quality)*
When is in ‘standby’
** It will not play music*
** The main toroidal transformer PSU is off*
** The 0.5W SMPSU is on and keeping the power button awake*
** The amplifiers have no power*
The rear panel ‘Instant on’ switch has two positions; ‘on’ and ‘off’
When it is set to ‘on’
** If the Nait is on it will stay on*
** The music sense circuits are turned off*
** If the Nait is ‘on’ and the front panel ‘mains’ button is pressed it will go to standby (as detailed above)*
** If the Nait is in ‘standby’ and the front panel ‘mains’ button is pressed it will turn ‘on’ (as detailed above)*
When it is set to ‘off’
** If the Nait is on it will stay on if the music continues*
** The music sense circuits are turned on and will put the Nait into standby after 15 minute of silence*
** If the Nait is ‘on’ and the front panel ‘mains’ button is pressed it will go to standby (as detailed above)*
** If the Nait is in ‘standby’ and the front panel ‘mains’ button is pressed it will turn ‘on’ (as detailed above)*
It works well* and is a good implementation. I rarely bother to switch it off manually though auto sensing would have made it even more useful. There are probably technical reasons why this has not been added.
* I think it once failed to switch off with the turntable after I turned power off to the deck.
Thanks for your recent reply. Sorry I have not responded earlier but I’ve been busy with other matters. I’ve since tested the unit with the instant on switch in the off position (which is what I believe Naim indicates to enter standby mode) and with the switch in the on position. I tested with signal cables connected and with no signal cables connected. In all case’s the Nait50 was left alone with no signal present in excess of 20 minutes each time. The results were consistent, the Nait50 remained fully powered and did not go into standby mode. Guess it might be time to formally engage with Naim while the unit is still under warranty since it appears to not be functioning as designed. I appreciate your response.
I have no issues with using the Nait 50 on the always on setting, I do the same with all my other Naim equipment. However, the standby setting should work properly as designed. Frustrating in that it otherwise sounds great and its other features seem to work without issue. Will need to get this resolved. Thanks.
Which is different to the nap 350, which auto senses music ( or lack off) waking up the nap or allowing a sleep after 20 mins. A much better arrangement IMO than than of the clearly confusing nait50
I suppose the NAIT 50s standby function was needed to meet the latest regs, and implemented in a way that satisfied this using the standby SMPS / operational Linear setup but with minimal control and sequencing circuitry needed, hence the need to manually bring it out of standby.
IIRC, the user manual was incorrect which caused a bit of confusion for the early adopters as it mentioned auto sensing would wake it out of standby (like the NC series amps) which we know is not possible on the 50.
But compared to the nap 350, the functionality is hobbled. If it can sence no music, it must be able to do the reverse and wake itself up. The SMPS still keeps circuits on with the nait50, so why not fire itself into action when the input signal demands?
Or, why is their inconsistency between nait50 and nap 350?