The Naim Nait

Over the years, my preferences for the looks of these three incarnations have changed. I used to like the Black Nait 2 best, followed by Olive, then the Nait 1. These days my preferences have totally reversed and the Nait 1 is definitely the best looker AFAIC.

I agree Mr Robertson. 

They just aren’t the same company since JV passed away. Their products don’t sound the same either, nor do they have the sort of mindset that saw things like the SNL, IBL, Nait and Aro. JV made things he liked and wanted to make. Often unconventional but often seemed to do something worthwhile imo. These days they are just expensive black boxes.

 Your wish is my command Jammy. Only been to one bake off party and that put me off for life. 

Naim Nait (i have a 2 which was given to me not working - one broken solder joint fixed that) is an ok amp but no better than that imo. Under powered and lacking in texture but then the olive naims were mostly like that. It is a cute little amp though. Thing is i dont listen with my eyes.

Go for it. What you need is a very big house and bottomless pockets. Buy loads of kit and keep it all. Swap things in and out at will.

You could try all the combinations and have endless fun. I wouldnt get out the door to work.

Wife swapping?

Nobody in sandals then?

Tragic dress sense is an epidemic man, you can't single out hi-fi enthusiasts for that.


You need to go to the bake offs with us old cynics where no-one can be arsed to argue about it.

Having steadfastly avoided getting involved with Naim gear, I can't really comment here. 

Heard loads on a regular basis. That's why I've never bought any. 

My mate was a Linn/Naim buff. Had Saras with NAP250, it sounded interesting, horrible, but interesting.

The following 135 monos driving the first AE1's was an even more 'interesting' combo. I'd swear you could have used the sound for some sort of dental treatment. Still, he liked it and it was just pocket money to him. Unlike the huge ATC/Levinson system that followed. He always bought new by the way. Yes, he was loaded, probably dead now, major piss-head! 

Sounds like he enjoyed life though, Geoff?

The big Naim rig I heard was not unpleasant, but it always seemed a bit on the edge. Although it never went over I kept expecting it to so I couldn't really relax to it. And that was with quality recordings, didn't hear it with anything sub-optimal.


The original Nait intrigues me, but otherwise Naim isn't what I'm looking for.

Yup, he definitely did. Also spent hundreds of thousands on bikes. Endless Ducatis and Moto Guzzis, often several at a time and all the latest top model bought new.

He sold up and moved to a new house in Spain and vanished.

My mate just grabbed a Nait 2. I’ve asked for first dibs on it when he is finished with it. I’ve never had one before so it should be interesting,

Nait 2 arrived just as I was leaving working in hifi shops. First impressions from staff working there was that it wasn’t quite as good as the Nait 1. History seems to have elevated it to a slightly higher status. Unless I get a Nait 1 as well, I guess I will never know for sure because auditory memory is often unreliable IMO. I can save myself the bother of comparing either with Nait 3 which I have had a few examples of and always found to be pretty poor.

I also compared LK1/2 to a naim 62/hi cap/250 with a CDI and SBLs. I also preferred it, the Exposure 3 and 4 tiopped both of them though.