Entry Naim System: Nait 5Si & CD5Si Review

[@kbchristiansen]

Call me old school, conservative and and I still drink my coffee without hot milk but, of the systems that I have owned and still own I prefer my Naim/lp12/ATC system. I use Naim streamer and phonostages all powered by Hi-Cap/Flatcap and Natsc because I somehow get it from the Naim sales organisation. But it is somehow complicated at times. For instance I listen to a Systemdek II/Musical Fidelity/Kebschull (tubes) and Proac speakers in our Swedish summer cabin I sometimes are convinced that this system is better performing than the Naim driven system. But, when I come home and listen again to the Naim system, I get this little foolish smile on my face and I again love the naims/LP12 and ATCs. I am not complaining. It seems that I am always the place that I want to be :-) Thanks again for these lovely structured reviews where you share your deep knowledge and enthusiasm together with some of your background. Brilliant!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Kjeld. Very much appreciated. Great to learn about your systems 😊👍

[@brucehazen8982]

Tarun, great review. I'm a longtime Naimie, and my observations of the Naim sound are almost exactly yours. (I began 20 years ago with a CD5i and Nait 5i). I remain committed to the brand -- despite its shortcomings -- because it still presents music in such a unique, lifelike way. Another reviewer (I forget who) once said, "Most hifi kit tells you in detail how a recording sounds; Naim kit tells you what it means."

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Bruce. That is a great quote. Glad to know my experiences mirror yours 👍

[@ford1546]

Hello. Have you seen the inside of the naim CD5Si ?? It is an extremely poor and super cheep and simply built CD player with no quality! Almost nothing inside! Almost looks like my cheap DVD player inside! If you buy these two Naim products, you've just done something really stupid. You have bought low quality components!!!! I never really liked NAIM.

[@Audiorevue]

​@@ford1546Bear in mind I'm not advocating the brand or otherwise, but in my assessment any CD player that you buy under $2,000 is going to be mostly devoid of componentry. I mean if you don't believe me simply look at any brand on the market that sells CD players for under that amount and you'll see that virtually all of them are hollow and empty with no real substance. I mean I think that comes down to a optimization of componentry over time. Think about it, take a CD player from the early '90s that sold for let's say $700 and look inside it and it's filled with stuff. So you might be thinking to yourself" oh well that means it's great quality ", conversely look at a modern CD player at around the same cost and it'll just be basically a hollow empty shell when nothing but a small circuit board and the drive mechanism itself, and one could be forgiven for assuming and saying to one self " oh well this thing's low quality because it has no parts in it versus that '90s player which had a ton ". But you see it's really just optimization of parts, back in the 90s it took 15 circuit boards and 35 transformers to do the job that a tiny circuit board and one tiny transformer will do today. Not necessarily to say that one is better than the other but I have never owned a vintage CD player that was worth a damn in terms of longevity and quality of manufacture. On the contrary the majority of them that I've had from the likes of Sony or Rotel or Arcam or Marantz has been flawed and riddled with problems, in spite of them being crammed with componentry that represents supposed " quality".

[@gibbolp7618]

Hi Tarun, thanks for the great videos. I first heard the Nait 5si two years ago when I was looking for an upgrade on my Yamaha AS 501. I demoed several amps at just under or about £1k (through Kef LS 50’s which are my speakers) with a very patient dealer but was totally undecided. He then suggested that I listen to the 5si even though it was just over the £1k spend limit. Wow! Thirty seconds in, I loved it! It just seemed to really kick a#*e in comparison to the other amps. The Naim was the one and it came home with me that day. A second hand CD5si soon followed. Whilst I have a Bluesound Node 2i I like owning my music on CD and vinyl. I can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed this system. So much so that a few weeks ago when I was offered a fantastic deal on a used Supernait 3 I was compelled to do some frantic eBaying which sadly included parting with the 5si to fund the Supernait 3. Thankfully it was a good move. The Supernait 3 provides everything the 5si did to the power of 10. I’m really interested in your observations on soundstage Tarun as I really value that and now can’t help but wonder if the sheer body and excitement that the 5si delivered at the dealership caused me to overlook the soundstage. All I can remember is that it was no contest the moment I heard the Naim. The other amps auditioned were: Arcam SA20, Roksan Atessa and Rega Elex R. Thank you again for your great videos and also for your help in the past when I reached out to you and you kindly helped me locate a connector I couldn’t source.

[@firebladeclements]

Hi Gibbo, don't be afraid to experiment with power cables and conditioners to enhance the performance of the supernait. Naim discourage this, but I have had great results myself. Especially in soundstage depth, width, and clarity. With the forward nature of the naim sound, I've achieved a holographic 3d room filling sound without loosing any of the naim tendencies. Just my 2 cents. I have a supernait 2, ndx streamer, naca 5 cables, b&w 802d2's. Get a used ndx, price is right for the quality and performance.

[@gibbolp7618]

Hi Mike, thank you very much for your suggestions, I’ll definitely look into them. I have some second hand naca 5 cable I have yet to try with the system and as soon as time permits I’ll be giving that a go to see how that affects the sound. I also think I have a lot of experimentation to do with speaker placement as well. Thanks again. John

[@gibbolp7618]

Hi Mike, thank you very much for your suggestions, I’ll definitely look into them. I have some second hand naca 5 cable I have yet to try with the system and as soon as time permits I’ll be giving that a go to see how that affects the sound. I also think I have a lot of experimentation to do with speaker placement as well. Thanks again. John

[@firebladeclements]

@@gibbolp7618 I just picked up a used Transparent Powerisolator Reference 4 outlet conditioner and it does wonders for naim equipment. In itself, the improvement was more evident than one single decent powercable at the same price point of $1150. I did have 3 decent powercables to get it running at the next level though. There's that cost also.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Gibbo. Much appreciated. Great to know you enjoyed your Nait 5Si and are enjoying the Supernait even more 😊👍

[@gavinzimmer1162]

Love your Reviews and you speak very well and very calm. Most reviewers are in a hurry. I have the original Naim 5i and would never sell if. It’s 50 watts and just so dynamic. They build them to last and they are so simple inside. I just need plug a Wiim Pro into the tuner RCA and it’s amazing. Thanks again for your Review. Gavin from Australia

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Gavin. Much appreciated. Great to learn about your experiences 😊👍

[@warfam_clan6933]

One brand that I have always had somewhere in my systems since the 1990's is Tannoy. Partnered with the correct components, these speakers for example Revolution XT series, scale so well that in blind audition you can be fooled into thinking they are worth multiple times their actual price. I have a pair of XT 8f powered by Willsenton r800i. The combo is something to behold. When you power this set of Tannoys with a high quality tube amp like the r800i it would not be hard to believe that you were listening to a set of speakers in the 5000-10000 price range. In my opinion Tannoy are legendary in a way very few other audio company's can ever aspire to be. They know how to make speakers at most price levels. Ps. My mate has 10k worth of Naim amps and 7k worth of Sonus Faber speaker and it sounds artificial and flat compared to mine.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

As far a legendary brands, they don’t come much better than Tannoy 😊

[@edverbeek6292]

Legendary brands? In the early nineties I was astonished/shocked by the sound quality of the Rotel 840BX series, combined with entry level Focal (JM Lab) speakers.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@MandyFlame]

Long time NAIM owner, having upgraded from my Audiolab 8000A /EPOS system to a NAIM 72/90 olive shoebox, then to 82/180 with Ruark’s then finally to 52/135’s/CD-S. I’ve downgraded since back to an 82/HiCap/CDi and kept the 135’s. Love me some Olive, they’ve kept me well entertained for three decades. I recently added a Unity Core and XS2 streamer as the CD player and Nakamichi Dragon are reaching the end of their serviceability - time to digitize the collection.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Mandy. Great to know you are enjoying Naim products old and new 😊

[@DouweBuruma]

Switching between speakers, I bought a pair of cheap secondhand Neat Critiques for temporary until I buy the speakers I was saving up for. But to my surprise, this little speaker in combination with my Naim Nait XS2 sounds great. I stopped saving, and I am now just enjoying listening to music.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@robk5745]

I had the amplifier and it was really nice, bass and pace and midrange were great. To me, it fell mostly short in soundstage and top end openness. I’ve since moved to the Audiolab 8300a and it really improves on staging, air and top end articulation while still having good British sound. 8300a is less money and quite a bit more amplifier, feels more powerful too, fully balanced.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Rob 👍

[@thepuma2012]

very interesting, Rob,. I am orientating on amps and speakers, and was very interested in those two amps. Remarkable to hear from you that you would prefer the 8300A. I haven t heard them yet. Taking my time I was watching reviews on them. Which speakers do you have?

[@enjoyunreality]

I had a audiolab 8300a too but for me nait5si is better. It has more punch and it is more organic sounding from bottom to top. Yes 8300a has more resolution but it is slower and kind of flat. Also it is thinner overall and more analytical. Naim is like hear to your music and dont think about hifi.

[@thepuma2012]

@@enjoyunreality thanks for your view on those

[@robk5745]

@@enjoyunreality definitely not thin or analytical, what speakers and source do you have?

[@TheRealWindlePoons]

Thanks, Tarun, another enjoyable and informative review. I love the fact that you take off the cover off to show us the internals. As an amateur amp builder, it is fascinating to see what goes into commercially built gear. I started my building decades ago with kit amps. The kit designer lives a mere half hour from me and he once demonstrated two identical power amps: the only difference was that one had a mains transformer nominally twice the VA rating of the other. The one with the bigger transformer showed more control and poise throughout the frequency range. I am not even slightly surprised that Naim do the same.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you John. Very much appreciated 👍

[@rjy8960]

It was a pair of Quad II / 22 driving the original electrostatics playing Dire Straits "Tunnel of Love" on a Realistic (Sharp) CD that got me hooked into the hobby and I've always enjoyed valve amps since. The guitars sounded so amazing....

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great 👍

[@domfjbrown75]

Bloody amazing track...

[@dougg1075]

Best shots of these components, I’ve never seen them in person but now I feel I have. Texture on front for instance.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

They have a very nice textured finish 😊

[@dougg1075]

I’m digging that watercolor behind you. Cool review and good to know my Wilsenton is hanging in there.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Doug 👍

[@johnnydeutschemark3620]

I own these two and really (was) happy with them until the CD5Si stopped playing CD's. I can still play vinyl thru the amp with a PS lll phono preamplifier attached and it's chugging along. All in all, I will be overjoyed if I can get the CD player repaired reasonably and my system back in full function. Also have the 5 pin proprietary connector and Niam speaker-cable ( not mentioned here! ) paired to KEF iQ5 All in all, it is a nice system that didn't break the bank it just broke my heart...

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing. I hope you get the CD player fixed 😊

[@danielaquino9120]

Hey Tarun I really like the way you conduct your audio equipment reviews, very educative and informative, really enjoy your KZbin channel by the way I have a SuperNait 3 paired with Dynaudio Heritage Special and the combination is Superb. Thank for your time.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Daniel. Very much appreciated 😊👍

[@Senna-xi1gr]

Thanks for this video, well done. I have had lots of kit over the years but my Naim Uniti will be with me for a very long time. 👍🏆🇬🇧

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@stephencallil6512]

Brought a Naim 5si for $ 2250 [au's] new I extremely happy with it The sound is great and you can listen to all day without feeling fatigued. The NAIM is hooked up to a set of Spendor A2 Speakers ; Rega Planet cd player @ Kenwood KT - 815 tuner

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Nice system 😊

[@fuckinellitsraymo]

Good to see an accurate review that mirrors my views. I own a Naim Uniti 2 which is basically a more powerful Naim Nait 5si and the CD5si in one box as the Uniti uses tweaked versions of these inside the casework. The thing I like about the amplifier is the outline or sharp edges of all notes and voices that appear to give it more speed and one of the main contributors of the PRAT. I had a Hegel H95 and found myself looking out of the window whilst playing music, it just didn't stir the senses. The Nait does that and really gets your toes tapping. Most Naim fans (Myself included) don't really have soundstage width as main priorities as that's a false impression anyway, the Naim makes you think you are at a gig enjoying the music rather than listening for low level detail. The CD player is a little lean in the bass and a little small in scale compared with their older CD5 but eminently listenable through the amp. It's a pity Naim are sticking with the analogue only inputs though as I'm sure it would appeal to a much larger audience if it came with several digital inputs

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Great to learn about your experiences 😊

[@brando8923]

I’m writing this sitting across from my nair 5si, a great review and I couldn’t agree with your points more

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Brando. That is great to know 😊👍

[@villageroma]

I remember that hera mid 80s to mid 90s.. I had the ESB series 7 as speakers and a Luxman hybrid LV 105 and matching cd player. That match was made in heaven. I remember ok the Nad 3020. The Naim Nait. The Dynaco amplifier 30 watt el34 tube amplifier a champ at his game. I remember that we had hifi stores.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@robertwilson214]

That was a trip down memory lane for what hifi readers.I had pioneer a300,mission 760 and the wonderful marantz cd52ii.Was on a yts so couldn't afford an arcam pairing.I too err on the warm side for components.Found Rotel,Cambridge audio fatiguing,bright.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing Robert 😊

[@zindahoon]

Excellent review once again Tarun .. brilliant way to explain things with your own experience.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Atri. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@JohnSmith-of4vh]

Yes I agree, what a good review of these entry level Naim separates. I think we can say these units have this brands in house sound. With components further up the range you do get more. The comment concerning not much width is often the case with lesser products. To attain width & depth think of spending considerably more money.

[@davidfreeman3472]

I've had both Naim Nait 5Si and the CD5Si, Loved them. I now have the Naim ND5XS paired with the Leben CS300XS Amp and the Harbeth 7ES-3 speakers - great combination. I had the Harbeth's when I had the 5Si pairing, Harbeth's and Naim go well together, as do Harbeth and Leben... You may want to try the Auditorium 23 speaker cable also, I've had them for 10 years now, throughout the Naim Harbeth and Leben journey, I like them a lot, and I think it is the longest time I have had any speaker cables! Anyway that is my 2 cents.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing your experiences David 😊

[@jimhughes659]

Good review. Back in the late 1990s, when I was putting my first real system together, I listened to both Naim and Linn and found them to be very different. The Naim had great pace and timing, but it was just too forward for me and I thought too fatiguing. The Linn system was much more laid back, some say dry and clinical, but I found I preferred that sound. I put a Linn Activ system together and I still have it 20 years later. My brother, on the other hand, has a Supernait and Harbeth speakers and he loves it.

[@davidthom7127]

What speakers were you using with the Naim ?

[@jimhughes659]

@@davidthom7127 I can't remember for sure, but I think I auditioned an all-Naim system, including Naim speakers. I have Keilidh's in my Linn system.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Jim. My experience of old Naim and Linn system pretty much mirror yours 👍

[@Michael-xz1nk]

Hi Jim…who knows what anyone hears? I would never say my Linn gear is dry and clinical. But to each their own. It’s all personal preference. Like you, I love my vintage Linn. I’m sure your brothers’ Supernait / Harbeth combo is sweet too. What’s not to love with any classic / iconic brands? And in the end, its all about music enjoyment….exactly why I never suffered from upgrade fever. Cheers!

[@clearterrain]

Excellent review! I purchased a used 5Si when you first started your channel. You recommended it as a step up from the iota. I love the amp! I had a habit a changing amps every 4 months or so but I’ve stuck with this one. I would love to hear the supernait though.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. I would like to review the Supernait. The 5Si is a very good amp. Glad you are enjoying yours 😊

[@miltonballester1826]

I own a Supernait 3 with a Hicap DR. It’s an excellent combination for my Proac’s D20R. I’m sure you will love it!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I hope to find out 😊

[@adeypoos]

Nice review Tarun. Pretty much on the money. The soundstage aspect really moves up a gear when you listen to the Naim XS3 or Supernait 3. I have recently upgraded my “lifestyle” Uniti Nova with a NAP250DR power amp from Naim. Night and day difference! Using the Nova as a preamp retains the flexibility of streaming/app use whilst giving a real taste of the Naim amp sound and is a joyful musical experience when driving my Proac Tablette 10 Signatures with a REL sub. Isn’t that what music listening all about.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great Adrian. Thank you for sharing 👍

[@williamtaylor5193]

I was wondering about this combo with the Nova. Does the NAP250DR replace the 80watts provided by the Nova, or add to it? (I'm an easily confused newbie). Do you have a CD5si as well?

[@NatMart9394]

I’ve always wanted a 250dr but just bought a good deal on a used Nova. Did I choose right ?

[@andrewbrazier9664]

Demoed the NAIT 5 against Roksan & NAIT XLS2 amplifiers a decade back. Supernait way out of budget.(still is today @ £4K!) I thought the XLS2 sounded best for my pop tastes & more detailed than the other two. Just went with a mid range Onkyo cd player as Naim was around £1K. Then added Focal Floorstanders after listening to several brands. This was before the Naim/Focal partnership Still my main system today 👍

[@kirlu50]

Nicely balanced review as always. I know OF Naim, but I have never heard a Naim system. Over here across the North Sea, the Naim brand is not considered to be iconic - well respected, but not iconic. But I guess most respected brands have a cult-like status in some circles. Tarun, should we keep holding our breath for a Gryphon Audio amplifier review?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. I am working my way up to that price point 😊

[@billywindsock9597]

Tarun listening to Naim. My goodness, I never thought I’d see the day. 😃 I had an 8000A. Loved it.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. I got there in the end 😉👍

[@surf6d769]

Good review and down to earth insight again. Looking forward to your Neat Petite Classic review!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you my friend 👍

[@beaucauchemar]

Another thorough and pleasantly engaging review. Shopped this and the Musical Fidelity M5si for my nearfield setup (LS50 Metas and Denafrips Ares II). Ended up going with the M5si and for many of the reasons that are in line with the findings in your review and am quite happy with the result. For me it came down to balancing the synergy with the Metas along with the added albeit non-fatiguing detail retrieval and increase in soundstage width and depth. Curious if you’ve had any experience or interest in the Musical Fidelity offerings, but I would definitely give them a listen if the opportunity presents itself.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you James. I am due to review some MF amps next year 😊

[@alfonsomuskedunder4592]

Thanks for a very interesting review! I'm very much looking forward to your review of Neat's Petite Classic speakers you mentioned before your conclusion. I auditioned them recently and liked them very much.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

The review is out now. I hope you enjoy it 😊

[@DJWerkz]

Great honest review as always Tarun. Never been a fan of the Naim sound myself but interesting to understand what they are doing

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you buddy 👍

[@Z-u-m-a]

Solid review as always. Never owned any Naim but familiar with some in bits - including these. Agree re the lack of air in the CDP in particular, but at least it makes things easy and relaxing to listen to which can be a bonus. In terms of other brands I've had some recent-era Quad and Audiolab products and to be honest there have been some build quality/reliability issues which have put me off going there again. I also see very little innovation or originality in so many new mainstream products - closely related or very similar stuff coming out with latest claims and casework, but little progression once you get used to a slightly different sound. Especially re foreign/conglomerate ownership trading on established names. Sorry if that sounds a bit cynical. Been very happy with the Exposure amps I've had. Croft too; and various Audio Note bits. Chord DACs have been a personal game-changer also.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing Rob 😊

[@jeffkalina7727]

Another well done video. Is this the first time for Naim? Naim is a US retailer favorite brand it seems. I heard the Unity Nova Streamer paired with the KLH 5s last Christmas and was shocked by the width of the soundstage. They do everything reasonably well and look sexy. The Naim/Focal pairing seems like a centerfold. That said I do not have a single audiophile friend who uses Naim gear. Old electronics brands that still sound as good todays gear? Is Pass Labs old enough?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing Jeff 😊

[@borishenkel9703]

Naim 5si with System Audio's Saxo 40 speakers sounds good in small room. I recommend you this combo.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎 thank you 👍

[@hansoosterwal4073]

Well balanced, highly informative, intelligent review. (As far as I am able to judge...)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Hans. Very kind 😊👍

[@bradleydurbin6784]

Cool! I was just googling Creek. They have some new projects including a cdplayer. I’m looking forward to you reviewing one if it becomes available to you.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Bradley. I did contact them some time ago. Time for a follow up 😊

[@patthewoodboy]

the old Naim sound was based on the power amps that were "ringining" , the overshoot on transients was part of the Naim sound

[@paultasker7788]

I remember my dad getting his first Naim amp, upgrading from a musical fidelity trivista. It was clearly more engaging and detailed. I like the Naim sound. Interestingly I tried his amp with the PMC fb1 speakers I had and sounded unpleasant! Those are bright speakers with a bright amp. Not a good combination. The PMC worked better with my musical fidelity xa1 despite being much cheaper. Musical fidelity much smoother signature sound. I’d call that an iconic brand. We tried the audio lab 8000a as an upgrade from nad I think it was at the time and it sounded too clinical and cold sounding after the warm nad despite much more detail

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing Paul. I agree, Naim and PMC would be a bright combo 😊

[@TheCharlesAtoz]

The brand looks good, but I've never been drawn to the brand. However, I'll check it out now.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Always worth a listen 😊

[@Borednlonely]

Old school Naim is legendary for a reason. I don’t understand how people find it bright.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

It is legendary but some people do find it bright 😊

[@PeterJones-yq1xw]

I had many items of Naim Hifi between 1989 and around 2016/17. Fronted for the most part by my Linn LP12. They do have a certain character that I once found addictive, but eventually lost interest in when I reached the 252/300 level. I would totally agree that Naim gear is well made, well thought out and has plenty of ongoing support including servicing. However, I enjoy listening to my albums far more these days having moved away from Linn and Naim. Current brands in use now include Leben, Well Tempered Labs and Harbeth. True musical joy at long last 😉 Harbeth make the wonderful P3s. A small speaker with amazing bass for its size. As for my Leben CS600. Truly musical and a stunning amp to look at and listen to. End game system for me? Quite likely……except for tweaks perhaps.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing Peter 😊

[@Fr4gg3r2]

I started my Naim journey 1,5 years ago.. I can agree that the character is addicting for me atm, and I'm constantly searching pairings that emphasize the Naim signature sound. Though I do not like the price tags and Apple-like status it holds in audiophile community, so I am constantly open minded to jump on something else, if I ever find something more appealing. So far I haven't found anything as immersive, punchy and in-your-face as Naim, but I remain hopeful. I feel like it makes music more like an experience. I'll probably try to explore Exposure and Lyngdorf next.

[@thetragicyouth]

Which WT Labs turntable do you have?

[@PeterJones-yq1xw]

@@thetragicyouth The Versalex and Dynavector 17DX.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@Fr4gg3r2 thank you for sharing. The Exposure won’t give you the punchy more forward sound that you enjoy from your Naim 😊

[@33RPMVinyl]

My Nain CD5i drop dead a few weeks ago. Took it to the shop. They informed me that the laser was shot. Phillips made the laser but have discontinued it, so the unit cannot be repaired. Basically a $2K paper weight. Replaced it was a Marantz. Half the price with just as a good sound as the Naim. BTW - I'm not an audiophile, I just like to spend my money foolishly.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Oh dear. That is a shame. Nice to know the Marantz slotted in nicely 😊

[@plasticpenguin1]

Going on to speaker matching for the Naim. I would seriously urge you guys demo Harbeth P3 esr xd. They are in my top 5 of fav small speakers. I was absolutely impressed by their natural presentation. However, a word of caution: they don't impress on the first day or so, they are slow burners. I had a pair on home demo for nearly 2 weeks and it took a few days to really shine or adjust to their presentation. Once hooked they should 'shine' with Naim equipment.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I can see how that pairing would work 😊

[@kevincottingham9731]

I had a demo pair of the Harbeth P3 esr xd's being used with my Supernait 3 & CD5 XS, looking to replace my ProAc Tablette Signatures. After a period of time I then did a straight A/B comparison with the Falcon Acoustics LS3/5A, the Falcons blew the Harbeths out of the water in terms of performance. Unfortunately the Harbeths went back to the dealers.

[@plasticpenguin1]

@@kevincottingham9731 I'm not familiar with Falcons, but I'm confident the Harbeths tonally is a good match for Naim stuff. As we all know, though, hi-fi is soooooo subjective.

[@nickm3861]

For me Nakamichi was the brand I lusted after in the early 90's.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I dreamed of owning a Nakamichi Dragon cassette deck. It was way out of what I could afford at the time 😊

[@nickm3861]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Out of curiosity I checked what they go for today... Around 2000 pounds.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@nickm3861 ouch! But I am not surprised and I can see them continuing to go up 😊

[@Jim-ri6vc]

I have a Crimson Elektrik pre and power amp set up from new which dates back to the late 1970s. Crimson could, at that time, be purchased in kit form or fully assembled. Sounded great back then and still does, after a comprehensive refurb by Brian Powell the original designer it is a thing of beauty to the eye and ear.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎 thank you Jim. 😊

[@adrianadrianp5305]

I remember Crimson, great affordable amps. Musical Fidelity started from a similar start to Crimson, both small but good sounding affordable British HiFi

[@winstonsmith2079]

The Pioneer A400 was a giant killer. My first ever amp partnered with a PHILIPS CD850 MKII CD-PLAYER and Rogers LS3/5A speakers. Magnificent

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@davidhaslett9777]

The Pioneer A400 was very good, so I bought one. However, my original Mission Cyrus 1 phono stage was so good that I used it as a phono stage for the A400. The Cyrus phono stage beat the CA, Rega, and others without issue, the CD input on the Cyrus 1 was harsh. When I got a Nait5 and a stageline, I found something that was as good as the Cyrus phono stage. My Naim amplifier is now a 202/250.2 combination after a number of upgrades over the last 20 years or so. I had a British built Naim CD5, but I stream now. The CD5si/Nait 5si I believe have the PCB's made in China.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@davidhaslett9777 thank you for sharing your experiences 😊

[@neilcoligan8621]

Hi Tarun thanks for the Naim review. My hifi experience has taken me many places, mostly through buying used gear. I once had a Sugden A51/P51 set up with the matching tuner. It was a stunning combo for the time, but keeping in good repair proved difficult in Toronto in the 80s. When I moved to Winnipeg to work in television I downsized considerably going with a NAD, then a brute of a vintage Marantz which kept the room warm in winter. Now I have a Naim Unitilite and a Uniti-Star with the Core for ripping and FLAC storage. The bug is always there to try something "new", but in retirement I have to be more frugal with my audio fetish.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Neil. One of the great things about having this channel is that I get to play with different gear all the time 👍

[@studer3500]

Sugden - a very under rated company. All handmade equipment and no hype like Linn.

[@markusschulzbro]

Thank you! Great review! Please do Cambridge cxa81 review 🙏

[@adamcfada5071]

I agree. I'd like to see a comparison between the Cxa81 the older Azur 851a that has less features but has the class XD tech used in the much more expensive Edge.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. I hope to get to it 😊

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

Very expensive in the United States, even at entry level. Still, undoubtedly legendary, & I still think exceptional value in the UK.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I suspected they would be more in the USA 😊

[@papasnejk87]

I'm a hifi collector also but it makes me want to laugh out loud listening about all of that >>super star, hi-fi, 4k super-duper features

[@michaelb9664]

Agreed this subjective pre biased twaddle is exactly that.

[@connorduke4619]

Denon and Luxman have got to be up there as legendary brands, each being around 100 years old.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

True 😊

[@stefbogdanovic]

Finally some new look on classical naim stuff. Thank you for this clear review, I find it very interesting. Does anyone have some hands-on experience with paring this Naim with Kef R11 or Monitor Audio silver 500 series? I currently have Yamaha a-s1200 and kef but considering switch to Naim. Unfortunately supernaits are more than I am willing to pay right now, and for the 5si, I am not sure if they are good enough for these speakers…

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Stefan. The Nait 5Si is a very good amp but I wouldn’t switch from an A-S1200 😊

[@idlohtrab]

any chance of a supernait 3 review ? trying to decide on that or Hegel h190 ,keep up the great work very few reviews of the supernait 3 on KZbin

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I hope to get to it in time 😊

[@shanflash6893]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Or may be a Nait XS3... I wonder how Exposure 2510 would compare with it.

[@pew32]

great review,as i own an older 5i not sure if it sounds the same as the 5si, but i my thoughts on the sound are the same as yours. as for the cd5si i have not bought one for the very reasons you set out in your review

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you my friend. Glad to know your experiences mirror mine 😊

[@TheWeardale1]

nice review... i always thought the naim sound was quite in your face (from what i read on forums) and seemed an expensive setup to implement with all the power supplies etc... I'm happy with my cairn setup now (4808a amp, mea mono blocks, and fog 2 cdp - they look and sound amazing!) , but in the past I've owned (in no particular order) - marantz pm17 mk11, looked amazing, but sounded a bit too clean? nad c270 and c350 - not the best looking, but sounded amazing, and worked well with my then AV setup...but right channel broke so sold it on.. some mryrad amp and power amp - sounded terrible, think one of the owners smoked as they were slightly different colours despite being matching pairs - bought them separately.. musical fidelity a3.2 cdp and matching dac - lovely sound, but big beasts..! then got some nad cd players too.. i'd buy all my stuff second hand from either the hifi forums, or the likes of ebay... most recent items were a bluesound node 2i to replace my audioengine B1 (part exchange) - but the 2i sounded harsh, so i bought a new B1 and the 2i does sound better as did a side by side comparison, but the BluOS controller is horrendous for playing amazon music...

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@sogyal51]

Love your stuff Tarun,started out with audiolab c+p,rotel cd and musical fidelity mc2’s with linn sondek front end-the glory days,go record shop on Friday payday come home skint! Later on upgraded to rega Saturn,musical fidelity m6 and monitor audio gr10 which was a real eye opener and showed me how important synergy of components was,n ow running full Auralic system-Aries,Taurus,Vega,Merak ,monitor audio gold 200 5th gen ,only thing left to complete system is CD player ,any suggestions? Would love for you to review musical fidelity vastly underrated in my humble opinion,any chance?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. I hope to review more CD players. Then I should be in a better position to advise 😊👍

[@ebenezerjebaraj]

Hi Tarun, thanks for the excellent review. I am considering buying either Nait 5si Or Audiolab 6000a to pair with my Wharfedale Evo 4.2 speakers. Which amplifier would you recommend? (My source is Ifi Zen Stream + Smsl D300 DAC)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Different presentation with relative strengths and weaknesses but both good options 😊

[@greenlanternseven]

Here is something people probably don't know....The fet transistor output stages are made by SK aka Sankin aka Sanyo

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I didn’t know that 😊

[@philvale5724]

Hi Tarun , I hope you are keeping well, I have a very large attic, approximately 11 m long 7 m wide 6 m to the bridge opens in certain places the closest thing to the floor is about 4 m, And I am thinking of turning or building a music room, do you think I should build a room or have the hole attic as a music room, Phil FROM THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOULIN FRANCE.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I think you could make it work. Lofts can present some challenges acoustically due to the vaulted ceiling. Speaker and listener positioning is going to be key 😊

[@philvale5724]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hi Tarun, Thank you for your reply, I think that I might put a false ceiling in around 4 m height and in that case. I think it will be a challenge to get the materials up there as well three flights of stairs, Obviously heating it, I think a project for next year, should keep me occupied open all year. Thank you once again for your Audiophile info, PHIL FROM THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOULIN, MUSIC 🎶

[@danjo9520]

hi, would you prefer this naim amp or the exposure 2510? thank you

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

The Nait 5Si is a very good amp but I still prefer the 2510 😊

[@danjo9520]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 thank you for the striaght answer sir.

[@dazznoff7393]

I own talk electronics hurricane 5 pre amp/ tornado 5 mono pair, also talk electronics hurricane 4 pre amp/ 2 sets tornado 4 mono pairs. Reliability was never great on these items so now live in the loft waiting to be repaired one day.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@dazznoff7393]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 thank you for your acknowledgement, they were fantastic sounding amplifies with very little data or reviews around about them now. They just seemed to lack a little bit of reliability, i have owned probably 10 different item's of there's most developed so sort of problem after about 10 years. They were used on a range of speakers from castle seven 2 and castle harlech also epos es22 and es30 speakers. I don't know If anyone else remembers these amplifiers and speakers back in the 90s.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@dazznoff7393 I do remember selling Talk Electronics amps back in the 90s. Kevin Edwards (founder) is still around making product under the brand Edwards Audio 😊

[@dazznoff7393]

@@abritishaudiophile7314I think sevenoaks were a big retailer of talk electronics at the time, i know what hifi highly rated a lot of there products back in the day. I miss the days going to their stores to audition hifi equipment. I do own a Edwards audio headphone amplifier.

[@paulcalabrese]

How about a review on a Primare i35 integrated Amp please! Thanks

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I hope to get to it in time 😊

[@paulcalabrese]

Amazing! Thank you Tarran. Great work.👏🏼

[@aussie8114]

I auditioned Naim several years ago, compared to the other amps being auditioned at that time I immediately noticed no obvious soundstage. The guy told me they are known for timing rather than soundstage. I was not impressed in the lack of soundstage, sounded very 2 dimensional.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That seems to be the consensus. Great PRaT but limited soundstage 😊

[@davidspendlove5900]

There is no music without timing , soundstage is pretty much an artefact important to some.

[@naradaian]

There’s a reason people,used Quad els 57’s etc with original NAIMs and it was depth and soundstage …but as a lifetime Naimee AND a valve set up I admit the maim sound is different and soundstage is best really

[@steveee2511]

own the naim nait 5si but not matching cd for streaming and cd i opted for marantz

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@tubesticker]

Hi Tarun! Which would you pair with the Wharfedale Lintons or Dentons: - Exposure 2510 - Naim 5si - Atoll IN 200 (signature) - Roksan K3 - Yamaha A-S1200 - Willsenton R8

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

There are lots of good options but they sound great with Audiolab gear 😊

[@MODAC]

I bought a used 2021 Nait 5si a few months ago for my desk system. I like how cool it runs and it sounds great with my ProAc R 2.5s. Did you encounter the common transformer hum? I’m very satisfied with it.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing. There was a slight transformer hum but nothing too unusual 😊

[@MODAC]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 because it’s on my desk, the hum was very audible. I bought an iFi DC Blocker to remedy the issue.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@MODAC Interesting, I live in the middle of the countryside, it may be an issue for people who live in more built up areas where their main isn’t so clean 🤔

[@MODAC]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 that could be it. It’s a known issue that’s mentioned in the owners manual. Naim’s solution is to move it out of earshot, or install a dedicated line into your listening room.

[@edisonsong1186]

I got a ex-demo 5si last week and yes the transformer hum just there everytime I power on the amp and sometimes it went to louder with few seconds😂.

[@remiwjuniski1808]

Very interesting ! How does it compare with the Rega elex mk4? In Europe the rega elex is 1200€ and the Naim 5si 1450€ trough my dealer where I live. The speaker I use are focal aria 906

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I haven’t compared them 😊

[@elgrage]

Hi Tarun and all. I own an Hegel H95 paired with a pair of Splendor A1. The sound is quite well but I want to make a change to a "British" sound amp like Naim, Exposure or Musical Fidelity. I consider Atoll too. Do you thing is worth to change H95 by the Nait 5Si? Thank you!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I would stick with the H95 until you can jump up a level 😊

[@elgrage]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 thank you!

[@bob3rson]

How would you compare 5si to SuperUniti? I am wondering if these 80w per channel in SuperUniti can drive Monitor Audio Silver 8 and present better sound stage than 5si? Is the Naim good fit overall with Silvers? Greetings from Poland.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I can’t say without testing it 😊

[@tonyhodgkinson4586]

I had the bait 5i, very good starter amp. Now have 250dr into a 272. Naim is a marmite brand. I like it and also like big Jap integrateds. It all comes to partnering with the right speakers. I don’t accept Naim gear doesn’t do soundstage, I did a experiment and moved my speakers to the short wall either side of a bay window. The speakers were Bout two feet from the wall either side of the bay window and the rear soundstage was as deep as I’ve ever heard. I may consider keeping them in this arrangement.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊

[@KITFLETCH1]

I have a general question. Would you recommend different source and or equivalent for listening to live music as opposed to that recorded in a studio?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

No, I would just get the best source you can justify 😊

[@KITFLETCH1]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Many thanks!

[@darko4489]

Hi Tarun ,which sounds better Nait 5Si or Cambridge axa35

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Nait 5Si as it should, given the price difference 😊

[@VinodKumar-gx7wj]

How does the Naim Nait 5Si compare with Audiolab 6000A in terms of sound quality? Which one will be more value for money?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

The Nait 5Si is has a different presentation and is more resolving but the 6000A represents better value for money in the U.K. 😊

[@jameschan2404]

What about Carver Magnetic field amplifier do you consider it as Legendary brand.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Bob Carver is worthy of legendary status IMHO 😊

[@marcusgronqvist]

Could I pair this combo with Tannoy speakers? Tannoy Eaton 89 db and in a small room

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I haven’t tried it 😊

[@darrelladrian5744]

any plans to review the naim nd5 xs 2 network player

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I hope to get to it in time 😊

[@MaxZappa1]

Did you use the recommended NACA 5 cable?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I used the Linn K20 which has a similar construction 😊

[@MaxZappa1]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Just checking. LOL😁

[@infn]

Still haven't had the opportunity to listen to any Naim gear (even at local hifi shows), despite there being a bit of a cult following around these parts. I've been considering trying out a cheap used power amp but I've always been held back by the talk about Naim not being so compatible with 3rd party preamps and sources.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I would go Naim pre and power, if you decide to go down that route 😊

[@infn]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 My concern is warranted then. Thanks Tarun!

[@murrayalex4843]

Is that a J Smedley Dorset polo?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

It is. How did you know? 🤔😊

[@murrayalex4843]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I've got about 75 John Smedley's...including a couple of Dorsets...lovely colour, what is it called...Indigo?☺☺

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@murrayalex4843 it is an indigo type of colour but I wouldn’t know for sure. I have a few of there tops/jumpers. They are just beautifully made from really fine wool 👍

[@plasticpenguin1]

Well, have to say Naim amplification and CD playback doesn't cut the mustard for my taste. The only Naim that was half impressive was the original XS powering Dynaudio Contour S1.4 speakers. My amp has the PR@T and a midrange richness of any of the Naim sub 2k amps: The MK1 Leema Pulse powering my Dali Rubicon 2. Warmth of Arcam & PR@T of Naim

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Dynaudio and Naim seem to work really well together. I have heard them a few times at shows. Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊

[@plasticpenguin1]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks for your comments. In my opinion, I would class Naim as a "instant impact" brand. By that I mean they have the wow factor for the first 30 minutes or so. After that they become cloying and become fatiguing. Before buying the Dalis, I demoed Neat SX2, Iota Alpha, Amphion Argon 1 & Harbeth P3 XD. All wonderful speakers but the Dali Rubicon 2 had the X-Factor. The realism is mesmerising. How the Rubis would sound on the latest Naims, really don't know.

[@cobar5342]

I have had some name gear (I still have a Nait 5i... err, giving 'hifi' to the garage. I really like it but find the prices way too high

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Good that you are still enjoying your Nait 5i 😊

[@CinemaDemocratica]

In my personal experience, the Nait 5si is an absolute category killer. Quick, controlled, PRATy and yet inherently, toe-tappingly musical. The CD5 was far less engaging in my system, surrendering top honours in almost every category to the Arcam FMJ CD23. Tip for viewers who've been exasperated by the Nait's reversed speaker couplings: Flip your interconnects instead, and connect your speakers conventionally, and you'll encounter far fewer problems with added RF and capacitance from crossing wires.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@robertmarshall7712]

I have no idea what you mean by "flip your interconnects"

[@cambodragonaudiophile8475]

@@robertmarshall7712 Connect the left RCA from the source to the right RCA input of the amp, and vice-versa. That way the signal will already be reversed, so that you don't have to cross the speaker cables: You can hook the one labeled "left" to the right side speaker, and vice-versa.

[@GazMoore]

I have received some B&W PM1's about 7 month ago from a rich friend and i don't really know what to do with them as I am on a budget 🤣🤣🤣

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

The Cambridge Audio AXA35 might be worth a try 😊 You may want to check out my review kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5rPgYt9nNWigJY

[@davidphillips7309]

Depending on what speaker cables were used, naca5 would be the minimum. I have heard this system with other name brand and more expensive cables, but always went back to naca5, and at least a 3 meter length. Tellurium Q was another one that sounded right. The way I understand it, the naca5 cable capacitance is considered as part of the design, rather then having an amp with an added on variable of capacitance and resistance.

[@Calisto123123]

Thats true for the old olive boxes and correspondingly the old Naim sound, but that design feature was removed with the black series.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

The old Naim (and Exposure) amps had no Zoble network on the output stage. As a result they needed to be used with a high inductance cable to present a certain load. 3m minimum of Naca 5 or equivalent figure of 8 cable. I use a Linn K20 of 5m length for precisely that reason to run my Exposure XXI/XVIII Supermonos 😊

[@Linux_Lucy]

In the past few years Naim have 'Scaled Back' their product range .. A LOT ! ! .. They have binned all their higher end CD players in favour of Streaming Products. U mentioned the CD5si doesn't have Digital Inputs. I'd go the 'other way' . Naim, as this is now your ONLY CD Player, why the Heck does it NOT have Digital 'Outputs' ! ? You seemed to like the Amp. Yes I have heard it. Er, it's OK but, I'd say it's Over-Priced for what it offers ! ...Now, I know Naim 'Dealers' are supposed to sell at the 'Retail Price' ... However, I had 'TWO' dealers offer me the excellent ( New / Sealed Box ) Nait XS3 for 1999 UK Pounds .... Pay the extra and get the XS3 ( No Brainer ! ) The XS3 is on a Different Planet compared to the 5si .... That segways into ... I think the Nait XS3 would make a GR8 'Next Naim Product' Review Video ... Oh, and yes. After comparing the XS3 to the new Rega Elicit Mk5 ... I 'Purchased' the XS3 ... 🙂

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊

[@sonichammer8695]

Naim became an expensive Cambridge Audio. 😅 Exposure hifi offers sooooo much more for the money. 🤔

[@draganantonijevic2441]

Let's not forget the Cyrus, let's not forget the Cyrus ... The Arckam 290, Audiolab 8000 and Cyrus III were a trio of British musketeers in '90 that competed at around the £500 level, with the Cyrus being "to taste" somewhere between the previous two, and could be instantly upgraded with a power supply and climb to a much higher level (from around £800) and even beat the Naim Knight... So much for "HI FI history". Cheers!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@mrkitewine7700]

Great to see this review Tarun, I was considering this pairing when I bought my system last year. I’m looking forward to your review of the Neat Petite Classics, I really like my Motive SX3s and I’m curious to hear your thoughts on these new reissues. To me, Neat speakers just sound “right” and I end up just enjoying the music rather than analysing the hi-fi.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great! The Neat Petite Classic review should be done soon 👍

[@archonblaze]

I too have the SX3's and concur with your just sound 'right' opinion. They are musical, not hi-fi, and I listen to more music on them than my previous speakers.

[@paulk9534]

I have a CDX2 and love it, certainly great to support UK manufacturing. If you haven’t already, could you review the best streamers please as would love to add one (the Naim maybe) to our system.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Paul. I am due to review more streamers 😊

[@lizziedripping71]

Just added the Naim streamer to my set up. Simply stunning

[@paulk9534]

@@lizziedripping71 which one did you buy? What else is on your set up? I’ve got a listening session booked this week so keen to hear the differences

[@geographyinaction7814]

Great review! Hi-Fi snobbery from some in the industry aside, I think that any introductory system should at least consider and add an internal DAC. Audiophiles may not agree, but then many audiophiles will save their money and get a higher end product in this case, a higher end Naim with emphasis on phono, and CD. With the advent of Roon and Tidal, the ability to play high-quality music through streaming is now possible, to exclude this due to the ideal of audiophile snobbery is a mistake.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you, well made points. I think there is no shame in adding a streamer to this setup 😊

[@mrsinghsstereos6662]

It’s not really snobbery . The reality is that analogue and cd replay sound better than streaming in many high end systems .

[@steven2809]

@@mrsinghsstereos6662 In your opinion...of course technically that's not possible. 🙂

[@serloinoflamm1119]

I’ve always aspired to a mid-range Naim system. One day, when I retire….In terms of iconic brands, Musical Fidelity. Often overlooked, but back in the 80’s I bought their A1 amp and it changed my life. Have stayed with their amps for years (some not as good as others) and am currently running a MF Nu-vista 800 amp. Love it.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Musical Fidelity have made some great amps over the years. My friend had an A1 and loved it too 👍

[@markcarrington8565]

You beat me to this one! In the budget category, I owned the X-150 which is a mini classic. They virtually never surface on eBay but I’m sorry I sold it. I now have the A308 which is a 150wpc, 23Kg beast with simply effortless sound. In my second system, I have the Elektra E200 preamp which exudes sophistication too. Being a perpetual tinkerer, I’ve spent a good deal of time fettling these amps and whilst they sound amazing and look incredible, I’m not wholly convinced that some of the internals are all that they should be at the price. I’ve pulled apart much more prosaic kit with higher quality circuit boards. If the new owners have addressed this niggle, I can see me being very hard pressed to switch away from this brand in the future.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@markcarrington8565 thanks Mark. There should be some MF reviews from me next year 😊

[@mrsinghsstereos6662]

@@markcarrington8565 which classic MF pre Amps would you recommend? And do they pair well with non MF power amps ?

[@administratormagmamin8397]

@@mrsinghsstereos6662 Most MF preamps of the period are good. Even the Typhoon. But they do add color to the sound and their gain is not same as other preamps. Would be great to audition - in your system if possible - whatever preamp you are interested in....They also have pretty decent phono stage if that interests you.

[@user-ys4og2vv8k]

I had this Naim combo some time ago (in the "i" version), and I completely agree with your findings. BTW, I have a suggestion for a record to help you test your gear - fantastic music and fantastic recording: "Malia & Boris Blank - Convergence"

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you a1. I shall check it out 👍

[@gt4viking789]

Last 2 tracks Tarun 👍🏼 ATB Peter

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Thanks for the video - wish the cd player had digital outputs 😥 Love the look of Naim they do have a very good Rep for reliability . 😆

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Tee-Jay 😊

[@hoowiegalooie]

If money was not an object, which do you prefer - the Naim 5Si or the XS3?

[@GenWivern2]

Thank you, Tarun, that was interesting. In the 1990s I decided that there were compatibility issues between Naim equipment and my ears - it would be quite nice to have a listen to the recent gear and find out what's changed. My system is very British, with a couple of the other classic names: Quad and Royd. Since you ask for viewers' experiences, I'd say that a powerful Quad flux dumping power amp (606 Mk1 in my case) is a friend for life - great big unflappable brute of a thing it is, but unobtrusive too. As for Royd, my Minstrel SEs were only meant to be an interim solution, but they're still here and thriving in an improbably large room. There's nothing state-of-the-art about my set up, but I must have got lucky with the synergy.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Great to learn about your experiences. Quad and Royd are legendary brands in my opinion 👍

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

TARUN 🤗 WE LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY 👍AND WE WANT TO SEE YOUR CHANNEL GROW 😁💚💚💚

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is much appreciated 😊👍

[@shuckylad]

A couple of years ago I had an xs2 amp on trial for a few weeks, it really grew on me and was close to keeping it but there was an audible hum that put me off. I just couldn’t get past spending that amount of money on a product, then having to make a separate Earth plug between the amp and my power strip for it to function with no hum. Brought a Rega instead.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Interesting. Thank you Stuart 😊

[@Michael-xz1nk]

I have heard a few complain online about the Naim hum. I guess most owners live with it since they love the kit so much and some like you can’t accept it. It’s certainly interesting

[@CheekyFest]

I got the next level up models (XS CD + amp) 9 years ago. Still happy with them. I might look for a matching DAC and or power amp at some point. I wish Naim still offered simple, stand alone CD Players at the higher level instead of only cd ripping / storage / streamers.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊