Предусилители — Naim STATEMENT

The NAC S1 preamplifier is the control unit of the Statement system from Naim Audio of Salisbury, England, announced in April 2015 together with the NAP S1 mono power amplifiers after roughly ten years of development. Naim describes Statement as the pinnacle of its engineering knowledge, and the NAC S1 shares the vertical architecture of the NAP S1, with the power supply in the lower section, the sensitive audio circuits at the top and an acrylic centrepiece separating the two. The UK list price is GBP 74,999.

Key specs that matter

Audio inputs comprise three DIN, three RCA and two balanced XLR sockets, and one input is labelled Phono. Outputs are one balanced XLR set and two unbalanced sets on 4-pin DIN sockets. The volume control runs in 100 steps, and input gain can be trimmed by plus or minus 7 dB in 1 dB increments, with a unity gain mode for integration with a home cinema processor. The unit stands 940 mm high, 270 mm wide including its stabiliser and 412 mm deep, and weighs 61.5 kg. A 4,000 VA transformer feeds the regulated power supply.

Engineering and use context

Signal paths inside the NAC S1 stay balanced along their whole length, from every XLR socket to the outputs. Naim's dual volume control combines a stepped attenuator built from 100 resistors with chip-based control, so level changes are made by switching precision resistors rather than through a conventional potentiometer track. To keep mechanical vibration away from the audio electronics, the circuit boards are bolted to heavy brass plates that are suspended on springs, and the transformer core is set in resin. The transformer sits in its own housing coupled to the floor, away from the signal circuits. The outer shell is formed from 20 mm thick aluminium plates. A large white backlit dial on the top panel turns on precise bearings to set the level, and a row of white LEDs along the upper edge of the front panel shows the volume. A solid remote control is supplied, and the preamplifier can also be operated from an Android or Apple tablet app. Naim ships the NAC S1 with a Powerline mains cable and a 0.5 m Statement balanced interconnect.

Pairing

The natural partners are two NAP S1 mono power amplifiers, linked through the balanced output with the supplied Statement interconnect, and Naim quotes system gain as 15 dB plus 30 dB. The mix of DIN, RCA and XLR inputs accepts Naim streamers and DACs on DIN leads as well as sources from other makers on RCA or balanced cables.

Alternatives

The Naim NAC 552 is the brand's two-box preamplifier from its 500 Series, placed below the Statement range.