I’ve heard that comment from several. It speaks volumes.
Brio MK 7 could build a superb first system.
Rega DAC inbuilt too……
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I agree it would be much more marketable with a remote and also for those looking at the top level there’s nothing stand-out - unless you know. I don’t care about the remote, I’ll take stripped back all day long, the more focussed the better.
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My need is (if I move) a daytime, TV system that does not place a great need for anything but convenience and a more mature headphones system made of good quality components .
I don’t think anyone expect Brio to be on performance level with N50.
Its well known N50 compete with SN3, XS3 and Naim separates, watt output ignored.
The Nait 50 is a reference amp or very near.
But the average user out there could very well look at the Nait 5Si vs Brio, the latter with Dac, headphone output, MM phonostage and standby function at £799.00.
I know what I’d choose., in fact I found my 2016 Brio more enjoyable than a Nait 5Si, the latter was double up in price.
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My Brio sounded as though it just couldn’t break out……
It was almost there, but just unable to really punch the dynamics…
The N50 by comparison broke right through the barriers and punches me in the face remarkably every day for hours at a time in my home office.
Currently listening to Yellow Flag on my Rega RP6 ND7 into N50 combo and it’s exceptional….
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Exactly, I certainly don’t mind getting up off my a**e to change volume etc. A few from this parish may though 
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I shall use it as a excuse to not “turn it down” when asked to do so…
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Guess its a loudspeaker pairing issue, Brio is likely developed on easy drivers, such as Rega’s own.
More tonality I think…
For me the N50 is Naim’s reference integrated… and competes with 552 based systems … it’s not the same as my previous 552 based amp chain, but I do prefer the N50 as I have written several times before. Ignoring power I would equate the N50 to a 252DR / 250DR based system in terms of SQ… but usability, convenience and large room performance it falls back and that is where the bigger siblings beat it. But for pure SQ in small to mid rooms it’s really one of the best… phenomenal… I guess not having the remote control electronics really helps boost the SQ performance with reduced low level digital noise, helping that subtle nuance and air to exquisitely come through.
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Would agree with you completely Simon , it’s a sensational piece of engineering
In my second system I replaced the SN3 with the Nait 50
Prior to purchasing the NSS 333 for my main system I tried it with the Nait 50 - brilliant combo.
And thirdly in another smaller system in another location I’m now using the Core/Nait 50 (yes another one !) nDAC combo , with N50 replacing a Nait 2 .
I’m not sure why the N50 didn’t sell out in a couple of weeks, maybe price , but for me worth every cent (penny) .
I’ve been on this Naim journey for some 45 years and the Nait 50 rates right there in the top 5 branches of the tree.
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I suspect it was price. $3,600 here in the U.S. was simply too high. I also wonder if they made them in one giant batch since it was a one off product. It might have created an inventory glut.
I just picked up a brand new one for $1,900.
I paid top retail price here in Australia but I figured it didn’t really matter because I’ll have them until I’m 6 foot under pushing up daisies as they say 
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I suspect it’s more because it’s a pure hifi product rather than ‘lifestyle hifi product’. With limited inputs, modest average power (though massive peak), DIN, and no remote you need to know what you are buying. The market for such products is I suspect relatively limited.
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Hi Simon,
How do you think the N50 would be doing if your room was pushed out to 5 x 5m? Perhaps the max dimensions for it to stay competitive with a 250dr?
Cheers.
With what speakers… probably benefit with large stand mounts or mid sized floor mounts… with medium sensitivity say 87 dB (1 W at 1 m) or better if you enjoy highish SPLs … I think it could work well. At 90 dB you would be fine with high SPLs but you would need most likely larger floor mounts for that.
In my 5m x 2-3m listening room 85dB ported speakers seem to work very well with lively dynamics, punch and subtlety…
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Proac D30R - 89 dB and 8 ohm (min not much less).
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Sounds absolutely fine on paper… try it and see?
Great. It’d be a blind purchase. I guess if it didn’t work out I could on sell, though by the sound of things that wouldn’t be a wise thing to do (!). Thank you again.
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