Maybe it’s time for the Nait 52 (full width) with optional 52/PS and then all the NDX2 and ND5xs2 and nDAC customers would be excited.
And an affordable Naim Turntable ![]()
I agree with crispyduck they didn’t start moving until they were heavily discounted and even then it was slow going. I tracked them for well over six months before buying one myself. Really glad I did though
We had a dealer on the forum who did explain the discounts on these limited editions. They basically get one chance to order stock for their customer base, and from time to time get it wrong and over order, eventually discounting. Most dealers did not have to discount.
I bought mine used in a partial swap for a NC250. It would still have been excellent value at RRP.
The stock levels dropped and then spiked again during the markdown so I’m guessing they were a channel for shifting stock. It was definitely not an overstock issue
I’m sorry to say that designing and releasing a shoebox streamer styled as a retro item makes no sense at all. The buying market would likely be us in this thread, which hardly justifies a new product.
I wish this weren’t the case but if Naim were considering it then they should have launched a matching streamer at the same time as the N50. But, 5k+ RRP for such a two box solution would have been a big ask in these times….
Agree. Plenty of alternatives around and the market for a matching retro streamer is tiny….
Sure, they were discounted towards the end, but I am not privy to the sales data and I doubt Naim would bring that into the public domain. I suspect there was an initial demand, it then demand slowly fell away, and then the residual/remaining stock/old stock was heavily discounted to clear… keeping old inventory is not usually advatageous.
It appears on a famous online auction site the price of used N50s is slowly rising however…
I think the N50 was simply a case that naim vastly overestimated the number of naim aficionados who would shell out the cost for a retro amp with no remote.
It was quickly available from dealers at significant discount, who had little option due to low prices and ready availability on used market.
If it had a remote we might have bought one (used/firesale).
Yes I suppose so. I’m an odd one. I hate remotes. They stay in the box. I don’t have a TV so no need for a remote for that. I like to get up and move around so it’s a good trigger. I change music using Audirvāna on my iPad. N50 is perfect for me but I accept I’m and odd one….
Its a lovely thing but in these times when most people can’t be asked to get off the sofa to eat and would rather get it delivered, no remote and price was a huge stumbling block to over come right from the start.
I guess they hoped that they would sell out quickly to people that remembered the old nait, or whatever, but it didn’t really. Reminded me a bit like the solstice.
The more lately i think about naims products and the vastly shrunk line up, it makes me think that maybe their future is with the lifestyle stuff. As the new range hasn’t really been selling like the old stuff did years ago if you go with what a few dealers i know told me, plus these special one off pieces again didn’t really sell well, makes me think if they will even do a 500 replacement now as who is going to buy it?
I hope i am completely wrong but i just can’t see it happening now
I think the Naim guys and gals know what needs to be done, but are not being allowed to do it. From a holding companies point of view they are probably getting more bang for their buck allowing Focal to spend the money. Let’s see what is or is not launched this year. When we visited the HQ with the forum, the flame is still alight amongst the staff we saw.
As i said i hope i am wrong, but for me its been 5 years plus now i have been waiting for a 500 replacement and still nothing.
In our office scenario a remote is esssential. When the phone or Teams rings the remote needs to be to hand to mute/pause right away (depending on source). It’s not a case of being stuck on the sofa ![]()
Our SuperUniti remote is in pristine condition other than the mute button, which is showing signs of wear!
Could always build a volume shifter using Lego remote control and an elastic band, but that doesn’t add mute.
I think its another 5 years😢
I used to to use a squeezebox touch. I used a free, basic third party phone app, which worked pretty well.
One of the most useful features was it muted the sound when the phone rang.
I’m amazed Naim don’t offer this as an option.
Well whenever or never the boat has sailed for me now, as i don’t think i will replace what i have now anyway. If anything as i get older the system will probably get less expensive and smaller, this point may also be a big problem going forward with hifi manufacturers as i am sure i am not the only one to think like this.
But at the time if naim had the better products for me to look at and maybe buy then i might still have a full naim system, but unfortunately for whatever reason they haven’t really moved on with things and just sat back hoping to sell gear that is basically very old design, yes i know they have the new range but that doesn’t interest me. I also full respect that me wanting a much better 500 range to come to market is just me wanting something that maybe naim has no ambitions in doing these days and i can see why they don’t want to but it doesn’t stop me from wanting to see if they can still do it.
Everything changes but memories and i guess i am lucky to have all them memories that naim gave me over many decades, it was just back then i thought they would keep on bringing me these memory making boxes.
Maybe Naim would like to develop a new 500 series, a Statement streamer, new Statement amps….but can’t because Focal doesn’t want to invest. I doubt Naim decides of something.
But why are you waiting for a new 500? Even if it will have XLR, it will have more chances to work better with a Naim 500 pre. I doubt it will then work in heaven straight from your DCS.
Or maybe. But I won’t bet on it.