Интегральные усилители — Naim NAIT 50

The NAIT 50 is a limited edition integrated amplifier from Naim Audio, built in a run of 1,973 units to mark the company's fiftieth anniversary and handcrafted in England. It is modelled on the original NAIT 1 of 1983, keeping the small half-width casework and the simple control layout of that model while updating the circuitry. A US price of USD 3,599 was quoted, and Naim shows the model as out of production on its own product page.

Key specs that matter

Rated output is 25 W per channel into 8 ohm at 0.1 % THD+N, 40 W into 4 ohm at the same distortion and 60 W into 2 ohm at 1 %, with short-term peaks up to 225 W. THD+N at the rated point is 0.015 %. The rear panel carries a single RCA pair for MM phono, set for 5 mV input and two 5-pin DIN stereo inputs at line level, selected as Phono, Stream and Aux. The 6.35 mm headphone jack at the front supplies 1.5 W into 16 ohm. The case is 20.7 cm wide, 8.7 cm high and 32.1 cm deep and weighs 4.5 kg.

Engineering and use context

Naim builds the MM stage from discrete transistors, and it gives 40 dB of gain at 1 kHz with RIAA equalisation. Its cartridge loading capacitance is 100 pF, and its phono path reaches 84 dB signal to noise A-weighted, referred to rated output, with a bandwidth of 6 Hz to 30 kHz at -3 dB. The headphone amplifier is also a discrete transistor circuit. Gain is split between 16 dB in the preamplifier and 29 dB in the power section. Mains voltage is selectable between 115 V and 230 V, at either 50 or 60 Hz, so one design serves both major world mains standards. Consumption is 20 W in normal use and below 0.5 W in standby. Naim includes its Power-Line Lite mains lead in the box. Naim describes the amplification as fully regulated. Input impedance of the phono socket is 47 kohm.

Pairing

The DIN inputs follow Naim practice, so a Naim streamer or source with DIN output connects without adapters, while other sources need a DIN to RCA lead. Any MM cartridge connects directly without an outboard phono preamp. With this modest output, speakers of decent sensitivity in a 20 m2 listening space make the natural partner, and the rising output into lower loads leaves some reserve for speakers whose impedance falls lower.

Alternatives

The Naim SUPERNAIT 3 is a larger integrated that adds five line inputs to its MM phono stage, rated at 80 W per channel.