The tradition continues Naim Nait 5

PEAKS

VERDICT The Naim magic continues into the new millennium. Unassuming, functional styling conceals a surprisingly visceral and impactful performer. True class tainted only by steep asking price

PRICE R11 850 SUPPLIED BY Extraordinary AV (021) 704-2885 WEBSITE www.extraordinaryav.co.za

There's always been something quaint and otherwise about Naim's approach to audio - and I mean this in the best possible way.

Near-fanatical followers of the marque couldn't care a hoot about the industrial design, the workmanlike paint finish or the garish Naim logo. In fact, these idiosyncrasies became Naim hallmarks cherished by its supporters, together with other eccentricities such as the locking DIN input and output sockets.

The advent of the new millennium has also brought with it a new look for Naim. Clearly in deference to traditionalists, the change is hardly awe-inspiring, but still significantly different to mark a greater awareness of aesthetic needs.

The Naim Nait 5 is what the company would term its bread-and-butter integrated amplifier. However, the price from a South African perspective, what with exchange rates and import duties, positions the unit much higher up the hi-fi pecking order than its specification would appear to warrant.

The styling still prioritises black in a display of dogmatism that would have made automotive pioneer Henry Ford proud. But the casing is no longer just a bullet-proof box: the laterally tiered fascia, round soft-touch selectors and relief-styled logo speak of a much more progressive cosmetic approach.

The green illumination is garish, but perfectly suited to the Nait 5's non-conformist character. Remote control is a further new-age touch that will probably irk hardened traditionalists, but greatly enhances user-friendliness.

Which doesn't mean that the Nait has severed its ties with tradition completely. Those horrible locking DIN connectors may be technically superior, but demand a level of brand loyalty that those new to the brand will consider more than just a little arrogant.

At best, it'll cost you several adapters. However, Naim encourages the use of its proprietary cables and interlinks, which means even more money spent. In mitigation, the NAC A5 speaker cable and Black SNAIC interlinks are top-league products exceptionally well suited to their intended application.

It's the technical execution of the Naim that elevates it well above the norm. The volume control, for instance, is a discrete resistor ladder device with premium components and solid-state switches operated by the amplifier's microprocessor.

The power amp stage is based on Naim's flagship NAP500, boasting ultra-fast signal transition and improved noise rejection. The beefed up power supply features separate windings for the pre-amp and power amp stages, while anti-vibration and anti-resonance measures have been built into the casing of the Naim.

All this still doesn't explain why anyone should spend in excess of R11 000 on a modest 30 watts RMS per channel amplifier. Until you power up the unit, wait for operating temperature to be reached, and then settle down for some serious listening.

I say settle down because no session in the company of the Nait 5 will ever be a short one. The amplifier's delivery is just too beguiling, too intoxicating to cut short. Once you've started to realise just how much more music and emotion it seems to extract, the addiction has already taken effect, and there simply is no way out.

Naim fans will tell you that there's nothing unusual about a 30-watter that seems to have more impetus, control and dynamics than amplifiers three times its rated output. Nor that the tonal range seems to link subsonic to supersonic in a seamless arc of textured, near-tangible sound.

And when you marvel at a soundstage effortlessly larger than the physical listening venue, when you're smitten by the way each instrument is allowed the space to bloom and blossom, when you've finally conceded that the Nait 5 sounds like no other 'baby' solid-state design, all you'll get is a smug I-told-you-so expression.

The Naim Nait 5 performs all these feats with an articulate ease that will drop jaws and stop conversations. It is certainly no ordinary 30-watt amplifier - and yes, even cash-strapped South Africans will understand that you're paying for a lot more than the rated power.

It's clear that the Naim magic is very much alive and well in the 21st century. While the price will prevent many an enthusiast to own one, the Nait 5 is an inspirational product, and one that furthers the cause of stereo in an increasingly AV-oriented market better than most.

Deon Schoeman

 Back to review Page