The new NAIT 50 Limited Edition

You could be right. There is no remote control so no extra circuitry required here and even the standby power management is done by discrete logic rather than a microcontroller. Input switching is simpler too, with no need for extra relays and buffer circuitry for tape outputs or AV bypass switching…

Counter that with less real estate available inside the shoe box case to keep the transformer away from the sensitive amp circuitry, so careful layout is the key here.

Naim have always made great integrated amps that can punch above their weight, so if this is what they can do with the shoe box style case, the NC NAIT and SUPERNAIT should be pretty special.

5 Likes

Just got mine.

Love the size and looks.

On the sound, I found the bass quite boomy, anyone else noticing this? Hopefully this fixes itself after running in.

19 Likes

I wouldn’t worry too much about what others think. What matters most is whether you are enjoying your own system. I visited a HiFi dealer with an old mate for the first time in years and listened to a really well setup and sorted £100k system. It sounded wonderful. However, when I listened to my own system later that night, it also sounded wonderful. There were obvious differences but I wasn’t left hankering after anything. My system was giving me what I needed and I had a good 3hr listening session. No doubt the N50 is doing great things but it doesn’t mean that the amps it is being compared to have suddenly become rubbish. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the euphoria these days especially when so many are enjoying their new toy :wink:

21 Likes

My thoughts exactly, my question was slightly tongue in cheek tbh!

1 Like

That’s certainly not the opinion of the Naim retailer I was talking to. As I said, he was so convinced that the SN3 would outperform the N50 that he didn’t seem to want to ‘waste’ his time by demonstrating the N50 and allowing me to decide for myself! Funny really because I might have preferred the N50 and he just lost a £2,699 sale.

[Plus speakers, source component, stands, speaker cables etc.]

5 Likes

Some dealers seem to live in their own little space, and don’t want to be bothered by customers clogging up their premises.

7 Likes

Maybe he was eyeing up the N50 for himself? :wink:

2 Likes

Some dealers are better at listening to their own voices rather than what the customer is saying

7 Likes

I bought mine blind (I had a Nova before) . Given my past thirty years with Naim , I was reading this as a “prestige” product , and as my friendly dealer said "If you don’t like it , there will be little difficulty moving it on "

4 Likes

Sure
I’ve come across this too, a few times.

You would think the best course (for a dealer) would be to welcome a visit (that’s one important step closer to a sale) and let the customer figure it out for themselves.

Then take stock of the customers thoughts and support whatever preferences (sale) might appear from the visit …

Or at least debate their finding in an objective way and attempt to show difference with further A/B demo’s

Occasionally (not always) dealer staff project their thoughts and findings. In so doing killing a potential visit or demo. Which kinda misses the point that half the fun - for the buyer - is figuring it out for themselves.

I’ve never understood this approach. (Even if they might be right).

Who can explain why someone would close down a reasonably experiment, that might lead to a sale?

One idea - fairly common human behaviour - is that we all get stuck in our ways, and maybe more opinionated as we age. ( As evidenced everyday in this forum).

My own opinion, for what it’s worth, is after many years in the hifi business, some dealer staff get tired of doing the same thing over, without appreciating its a first for the customer. Maybe?

If I was in the market for a N50, I would wish to compare it with a XS3 and SN3 too. And think that reasonable. As you suggest, having figured out (for myself) where N50 sits relative to XS3 and SN3, I might still wish to buy the N50.

6 Likes

Spot on, I know the enjoyment I get from my system gives me immeasurable pleasure & it doesn’t bother me what others have (or love to tell you what they have :rofl:).

4 Likes

That sums it up very well. I don’t understand why the retailer took this position, particularly given the sums I’ve spent there over the years. I can only guess that his personal prejudice led him to assume that he’d not win the sale because I’d choose the SN3, which I had said that IF I preferred that, then I’d buy secondhand - it is only for a second system after all. But he’d obviously not thought about the potential sale of other items such as speakers, source component etc. I’m really disappointed with this experience, so much so that I suspect I’ll travel further afield to investigate the other items.

I should point out that if anyone looks at my profile, I am NOT talking about the retailer who supplied and services/upgrades my turntable, who is mentioned by name.

8 Likes

I had boomy bass when running in the unit. It will soon go away.

2 Likes

Yes, that happens.
It’s quite often the reasonable reaction. Even more so if you know the dealer. Again, it’s another reason to wonder why dealers do this?

Here are some more thoughts that might help explain the behaviour … business process and seller interactions with a buyer …

My qualification is that I’ve worked in dealership businesses and think I understand the business model. Which requires any dealer absolutely MUST no.1 priority encourage the customer to visit your dealership and see, feel, touch, listen or otherwise experience the product first. Knowing that you are so much less likely to sell (anything) without that first step.

However, for any dealer, there is a constant tension, a question in their minds - “will they, won’t they” - buy as a result of their commitment, (of time and resources).

The way they deal with this, is often a result of their own personal experiences and learned behaviour with all prospects, over time.

I think when dealers are busy, or maybe doing okay (for business), they over “qualify” prospective business and overly protect access to their sales space and demo equipment.

The prospect “qualification” step can be too zealous.
And it’s almost always a missed opportunity.

I’ve seen this a few times in audio dealers too.

In my humble experience, despite tolerating a lot of “no sale” outcomes, your business is far better serviced by encouraging ALL customers. Even in a busy, successful dealership, there is time to accommodate reasonable requests. You just work it into your demo’ room schedules.

4 Likes

thanks and good to know

the boomy bass is the only thing that bothers me about the new Nait. Otherwise it sounds fantastic already.

Looks fantastic too.

7 Likes

Dealers like that don’t deserve business. I wouldn’t stand for being treated like that, I would just walk out and find someone who’s prepared to give me attention that my wallet deserves - think of the scene in ‘Pretty Woman’.

1 Like

UPDATE

… so set up the Nait 50 again, this time swapping out my Marten Duke 2s with the Neat Petite Classics.

Happy to report an absolutely fab synergy between the Nait 50 and the Neats :+1:t3:

Sources: Thorens TD2001 & NDX2 > nDAC

17 Likes

Not bright sounding?

Not bright sounding at all. Crisp, even bass with no boom.

The Neat Petites punch well above their weight. Really full soundstage with the Nait 50 (they sounded great with my Sugdens too). Highly recommended :+1:t3:

5 Likes

Synergy synergy synergy…it needs matching to a speaker it likes…