A Naim stack!
You could write a book, someone should, about Naim and their long history in hifi which officially began in 1973. The first version of the Naim NAP 250 Power Amplifier arrived in 1975, the same year I entered high school. The gear here under review are all part of Naim’s New Classic Series, which is split between the 200 and 300 Series, which fall in the middle, price-wise, of the rather large Naim product lineup.
The NAP 250 Power Amplifier, now in its 6th generation, comes from the 200 Series and offers 100 watts of A/B class power per channel.
A pair of XLR True balanced via XLR, 47k inputs, a pair of “speaker sockets” that accept bananas terminated cables or Naim’s proprietary NAC A5 multi-strand loudspeaker cable. There’s also a USB input for firmware updates and connections for tying multiple Naim components together to allow for single remote control. An 8-step intelligent fan helps keep things cool along with the side-long (and rather sharp-edged) aluminum heat sinks.
The NAC 332 Preamplifier and matching NPX 300 Power Supply hail from the 300 Series and are wrapped in matching thick black aluminum chassis just like the other products in the New Classic Series. Mix and match. A 6.35mm headphone jack awaits your ‘phones.
In addition to the three proprietary Naim DIN inputs, 5- and 8-pin DINs for connecting to other Naim gear, there are 2x XLR and 3x RCA inputs for venturing outside the world of Naim along with the same USB and remote connections as found on the NAP 250. The optional NPX 300 power supply comes with the Type 3 and Type 4 power supply cables to connect things together.
When I think Naim I can’t help but think of Art Dudley, who at one time owned a Naim NAC32.5 preamplifier and NAP-110 power amplifier. From his review of the AV Options Naim Nait 2 rebuild for Stereophile, here answering his question—Why are some companies’ older products prized as vintage collectibles, while most others’ are just—well, just older products?:
5) Some older products are no longer available because their makers, who got things right a long time ago, now gets things even righter—and yet the old product retains its hold on buyers’ imaginations, owing to a combination of superior cosmetics, history, and mystique (eg, BMW’s 2002 sedan).
With reservations, I would tend to put the vintage-Naim movement in the last category…
I look forward to hearing if Naim has continued to get things even righter.
Naim Audio NAC 332 Pre Amplifier: $10,999
Naim Audio NPX 300 Power Supply: $8,999
Naim Audio NAP 250 Stereo Amplifier: $8,999
Company Website: Naim Audio
NAC 332 Specifications
Product Type: Preamplifier
Control:
Bi-directional ZigBee remote and front panel.
Inter-product communications with NSS 333 via ZigBee
Optical 3.5mm output for synchronised control of compatible products
e.g. NAP 250/350
Audio Inputs Analogue:
1 x 8-pin DIN (47kΩ, 2.2V typical, 9.5Vrms Max)
2 x 5-pin DIN (47kΩ, 2.2V typical, 9.5Vrms Max)
3 x RCA pair (47kΩ, 2.2V typical, 9.5Vrms Max)
2 x XLR balanced pair (100kΩ, 2.2V typical, 9.5V max)
8-pin DIN compatible with 5-pin DIN
8-pin DIN has +/-18V (for compatible external phono stages e.g. NVC TT)
Audio Outputs Distortion
Line: 0.003% @2.2V input volume at 0dB, 1kHz
(Line: 0.018% @2.2V input volume at 0dB, 20kHz)
Crosstalk: Line: 90dB at 1kHz, volume at 0dB | (Line: 70dB at 20kHz, volume at 0dB)
Analogue: 1 x XLR pair (balanced 10Vrms max), 1 x RCA pair (10Vrms max), 1 x 6.35mm headphone jack (1.5W into 16Ω)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: Line: 104dB ref 2.2V A-wtd volume at 0dB
Frequency Response: Line: 3Hz to 40kHz -3dB
Gain: Preamplifier at max volume: 15.5dB
Connectivity: 1x Micro USB socket (for updates)
Physical Weight: 24.25lbs (11kg)
Dimensions (HxWxD): 35/8x17x121/2″ (9.15×43.2×31.75cm)
Power Mains Supply: 115V or 230V, 50/60Hz
Power Consumption: Typical use consumption: 20W
Network standby mode consumption: <2W
Standby mode consumption: <0.5W
NAP 250 Specifications
Product Type: Power Amplifier
Damping factor into 8 Ohms: 36
Signal to noise ratio ref 100W 8 A-weighted: 111dB
Signal to noise ratio ref 1W 8 A-weighted: 91dB
Input signal for clipping: 1V RMS
Peak current into 1 (1kHz 1ms): +/-28 amps peak (780W peak power)
Burst power 2: 300 Watts 2 @1% THD+N (1kHz for 20mS, repeat 500mS IHF)
Audio Inputs: 2 x True balanced via XLR, 47k, 34k singled ended via legacy adaptor lead
Audio Outputs:
Crosstalk: 60 dB
THD + N: at 2/3rds full power 8 @1kHz (0.013%)
Power Output: 100 Watts 8 @0.1% THD+N (100W @0.1%) | 190 Watts 4 @1% THD+N
Frequency Response: -3dB @ 1.4Hz to 100kHz
Gain: +29 dB
Physical
Weight: 37.04lbs (16.8kg)
Dimensions (HxWxD): 35/8x17x121/2″ (9.15×43.2×31.75cm)
Power Mains Supply: 115V or 230V, 50/60Hz
Power Consumption: Passive consumption: 26W (idle), Standby consumption: <0.5W
