I think they like the idea of reducing sales less. Thus the Uniti, Muso and streaming preamps that almost completely fill their lower range of products now.
Which, letās be honest, is all the hifi 90% of people ever need available in that section of the range. Once you get to 200 Series itās in to the high ticket bracket quickly.
Iād love to fund a 300 Series system and would happily live with it but one would imagine for many itās beyond reach.
The current affordability opportunities for previous generation products is probably better than ever including a number of light use demo or sealed box units in dealer stock now available well below what they would have cost only a matter of months ago.
It is not simply a case of the separates being ābeyond reach.ā Very few people want them any more. A couple of anecdotes:
First. While I was at my dealer picking up my NAIT 50, we got to discussing products in general. He said that he sell lots of the Muso items and the Uniti line, active speakers by KEF etc., but the Naim separates are all special order (by way of comparison, he did have on display lots of turntables, lots of B&W, Totem, KEF etc. I got the impression that all separates are a difficult sell, and Naim in particular (added to the fact that I am in Canada, where Naim is not at all price competitive).
Second. I was at a friends new place the other day, where the general decor was definitely ācost no objectā and high end. It was a very attractive interior design, but what struck me, was that there was no hi-fi, stereo system, speakers, CDs, to be seen anywhere in the whole house. All his and wifeās music is by streaming only via one of the TVs (with its speakers of course) or one of the computers or iPads. Not what those here would choose, but the way of the future?
It is maybe a different topic.
I just believe the NAIT50 is not for everyone because it is super puristic. If you do not know NAIM, you would not buy - right?
no upgrade option
no streamer
no remote
no display
no modern features
no SUB
but pretty sound and great aestheticsā¦
All in one systems like atom etc. will find his place much easier into living rooms because invest is acceptable and features are great. If the Sound is that relevant I would question for at least 70% buyers.
The SN3 is entry level for separates - he builds the bridge to more expensive seperates and this is good for bounding with new clients.
Of course there are much more Clients for cheaper gear.
inho for NAIM this doesn`t matter so much as long they sell 10% high margin separates and the production line is able to manage all categories.
and yes - the SN3 is great but has a lot of competition out there.
the NAIT50 Competition is maybe more in the singel-ended category and niche?
just my opinion
Well, I just wonder what exactly is so super purist about the Nait 50?:))
Itās not separates (as in a purist SQ approach) but an integrated and even has a phono? Itās looks, cuteness, design&nostalgia in spades, and convenience - ok, as for the lack of remote (if that counts as purist?) I think itās an actual pain and not giving you anything in sound, itās only a nostalgia penalty!
And the N50 competition (in performance level not cuteness and nostalgia) costs 2-3 times less. Does it make you want it less? Well, not me at least.
The SN3 can be an entry level for some but an arrival happy place after separates for many. Not saying the N50 couldnāt be the same ā¦ but not sure itās what drives the hype at this stage at least?
My arrival at the SN2 was exactly that in reverse with separates coming first.
My SN2 cost me less than the SuperCap in my 282/SC/300 system in fact about the same as the cables in that system but do I enjoy it any less absolutely not but does it sound as good no of course not but I donāt think of or remember the difference.
There are so many things that go into building a system and unless money, space and domestic harmony are of no consequence sound is never the ultimate deciding factor. Looks of course play a huge part for many wether itās huge Brain and Brawn Fraim stacks or as mentioned above the complete absence of a recognisable system
If Iām perfectly honest justifying the cost played a big part for me and because I now no longer invest money yearly into my hobby I get to spend much, more on music. Iāve been teased a bit on this forum for the amount I spend on records but I guarantee you though I spend a lot each year it doesnāt add up even to the cost of a Super Lumina interconnect.
Lest we forget that in 2019 the SN3 won Best Amplifier over Ā£2.5k of the Year in What HiFi? Magazine Awards and has been the main stay for most of their loudspeaker reviews ever sinceā¦
I love mine, itās not going anywhere soon. It drives my n-SATs & n-SUB wonderfully.
P.S. I reckon Naim have sold thousands of them, probably one of their biggest sellers in the history of the company.
I buy a Nait50 without listen to it.
Why?
Because all opinions here about this shoebox let me think about the musicality earlier Nait 1 or 2 or perhaps even 3 but with a bigger scene or imagery and power.
So if this will be the case, thereās in my opinion no doubt that the Nait50 will be regarding the so recognised Naim PRAT more involving than the SN.
SN are great amplifiers but perhaps with a more democratic and refined approach and sound than all other Naits.
But this is only my meaning after several listening of all those great boxes.
Like he said.
I think you don`t got the point of my post - but tha is fine
just want to mentione, there is nothing negative about the separates business model.
and there are plenty other options for evertyone
to me the NAIT50 is a great deal
I ran a 92/90.3 passive & active (which is in effect a supercharged NAIT 3) and as good as it was nowhere near a SN3.
In this case, my opinion is different.
I prefer the musicality of the 92/90 combo.
But as I say, everyone has his own idea of musicality.
Mine is clearly the one of the olive Nait2.
Like you both said!
I think what is driving the positivity of peoplesā reports of how the Nait 50 sounds is an outpouring of delight in the way it reproduces music.
I managed to sell my SN3 and I donāt regret it. In my country, Hi Fi markets are flooded with used SN3s and audio showrooms are selling new SN3s at 40% off just to get them out of stock. They claim that compared to SN2, its successor, SN3, is completely unsuccessful, lacks dynamics, is too heavy and boring. It unifies each music and does not involve. He misses PRAT. And I agree with that, this amplifier has no PRAT.
This could be why they havenāt discontinued it thenā¦
I think your interest in LPs is really good and you delve into places that I didnāt even know were places
Ian
PS Do you still have the NHS trolley ?
Really? Such a sweeping statement, where no reference or acknowledgement to a myriad of other factors that could be causing a lacklustre performance in the Supernait3 - speaker mismatch, room acoustics, source components, etc etc.
Every time Iāve heard a SN3 it has never been lacking in dynamics, PRAT or engagement - anything but in fact! Definitely one of Naimās greatest all rounders.
The only reason why there are so many used SN3s available is due to the New Classics being launched and so many secondhand & ex-demo Classic pre/power units on the market for Naim-ites to cherry pick, and perhaps a few who have sold early and are anticipating the next New Classic Nait and Supernait incarnations.
Yes Yes ā¦
In my country (Poland) if at least one new classic system is sold, it will be a success - the price is horribly high and the competition is huge, and the earnings in Poland are āa bitā different than in the UK. This argument falls away But itās important that you like the character of the SN3ās sound. For me, before the new classics appeared, there were already a lot of offers for sale of used SN3 ā¦ After the success of SN2, unfortunately, SN3 is a disappointment.