Nait XS2 review

Naim was introducing their new amplifiers for Finnish retailers a few weeks ago. They wrote an article about it on a Finnish hifi website called audiovideo.fi. They did a small comparison between the new amps and used 300/300 setup as a reference. You can read it through google translate here:

http://goo.gl/gesjWI

I read the comparison part and even though there are some problems with the translation, you get the point well enough.

Reviews can be missleading... for example.. What HIFI in the summaries section...

NAIT XS  £1500 -  5 stars 

NAIT XS2 £1595 - 4 stars - comment  "Not the most detailed, but still an improvement over the XS"

So for an extra £95 What Hifi are admitting you get an improvement, plus you get a very good headphone output thrown in, yet it gets less stars !!

The mind boggles...!!!

Ha ha that indeed is quite strange? And their comment for the XS-1 for it's loose of grip with the deepest bass notes is strange also? I never heard that problem.

Problem could be that Naim don't advertise to their full satisfaction

Why? It could have been two completely different reviewers. Nothing mind-boggling about that.

Garbage. Don't start bringing this kind of crap up unless you can prove it.

Hello!

I’m new user of this forum so I'd like to join to this thread.

I’m interesting in to buy this configuration:

1. Naim NAIT XS 2 2. Naim CD5 XS With 3. Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M speakers.

What do You think about of compatibility these components – specially about : 1. Do Nait XS2 is powerful enough to drive these speakers?! 2. The sound quality of this system?!

Marcin.

I have just got hold of the latest WHF review of the Nait XS 2. While it is generally a fairly complimentary review, they once again make the same criticism that they made in their review of the Nait XS. They say that it 'loses grip just a little at the very bottom'. Now I have not heard the XS, so I may have taken what the said about it as true, but having recently had the Nait XS 2 on loan, I can honestly say that I don't know what WHF are talking about. The XS 2 is about as tight and controlled at the lower end as it possibly could be.In fact I reckon that the control and accuracy of the bass is one of it's stand out features.

 At the moment I have the Nait 5si on loan. I was hoping that it would be so similar to the XS 2 that it would save me some money. Tonally I find the 5si very similar to the XS2. It has the 'Nait ' family sound, but this is one area where WHF are correct, in their review of the 5si. They say that the bass is a bit on the lean side. It is. The XS 2 goes allot deeper. It sounds bigger and more dynamic. So, there goes £1595. Never mind.

Good choice. If the XS2 is an improvement over the original XS, then it's money well invested. The original XS is a cracking amp. All one could ever wish for, unless you are of the insatiable type that is. But as they say, the appetite surges while dining, if ever such a saying existed in English... In summary, the trick is not to constantly look at the menu but to enjoy your dish instead. And the XS, fronted by a good source, serves it well.

Enjoy!

Well, I enjoyed the NaitXS, but despite its bounce and PRaT i felt it did have a slightly loose bottom end.  ... 

BTW in my expierience bad sibilence is usually from a poor DAC, RF intermodulation, poorly aligned FM tuner or badly tracking cartridge.

I think filtering your amp, speakers or interconnects to mitigate is papering over the cracks. I would try to remedy the sibilence and let your replay chain do its stuff without smothering it.

Simon

You're already spoiled though Simon 

Hi Simon,

 as I have said, I think the word 'sibilance' was a bit strong.It's just that the Nait xs 2 is much clearer, more revealing of the recording than the old Arcam alpha 9.

 The DAC I have on loan is the Arcam irDAC. It gets good reviews, but I think that maybe the Rega DAC would be more suitable for me. I know a dealer that has an ex-display Rega DAC for about half price, so good value too.

I'd be surprised if the Naim Dac didn't solve it David.

Chris

So would I chris, but just having bought the Vienna's [second hand] £995, then the XS 2 £1595, the Dacv1 would be just too much to justify at the moment. I may well get one later, but for now I would like something good but cheap-ish.

Hi, vic575, i haven't heard the Arcam DAC, but was quite impressed with the Rega DAC.

Still puzzled by your post earlier. An overly etched or defined top hard does not always lead to sibilance, but if you notice unduly the s's and sh's then it is usually an indication of HF distortion or smearing, and if you are like me it will increasingly irritate until fixed.

A slightly overly etched HF can be solved with speaker placement, or if very subtle I have found trying different cable on the tweeter biwire jumpers can be effective. However any hardness or distortion will still remain.

Totemphile.. I admit I have arrived at a great sounding system for me, but it's been quite a journey and I certainly wouldnt presume I have come to the end... But I found on more humble electronics sibilance or undue hardness (or bloated / soft bass) was something I didnt have to accept and could be largely removed... You just needed to audition carefully.

I have compared Rega DAC and Naim DAC shortly with my friends system. Rega DAC performed very well and the sound signature was similar to Naim's. It actually came very close to Naim DAC but sounded slightly flatter in comparison. Naim had more dynamic sound. Considering the price, Rega DAC would be a great purchase.

Fair enough. I had the full-width Naim dac in my mind as I don't see the point in effectively having two pre-amps.

Congrats about the XS2 btw. I remember well the feeling of owning the product-of-the-moment.

Chris

Vic  this may be an off the wall suggestion, but why don't you buy something like a Denon DNP720 streamer for under £200.  That would give you time to save for a better DAC or even an ND5XS to match your Nait.

I owned the Denon before my ND5XS  and they are surprisingly good.  You can also plug into the Denon's dac too.

Just a crazy suggestion !!

A bit of a late posting but has anyone auditioned the new Nait XS2 - 70 watt amplifier with built-in headphone amp against the current Nait XS2 - 60 watt amplifier. I auditioned both and found the new Nait XS2 to be more refined but with flat stage presence and not as musical as the current model. Maybe time will improve the sound. What are your findings?

Nick

Hi Nick,

 I have not heard the recently replaced XS, but I have had the XS 2 [70w] on home demo. I have also had the Nait 5i and currently the Nait 5si.

 So firstly, I reckon that the 5si is much better than the 5i. The 5si has the same family sound as the XS 2 [70w], but sounds less dynamic, smaller and with much leaner bass. The XS 2 [70w] I had was the dealers demo one, so was well run in. It sounded wonderful. I have demo'ed many amps recently and I have to say that the XS 2 blows them all away. The sound stage was certainly not flat. I thought I might have been able to get away with a 5si, but having had the XS 2 first, then the 5si, it was clear that I have got to have the XS 2.

 If you read the WHF review on XS 2, you will find that they describe it as being much the same as the XS, only a little better.  

I have owned or listened to the old and new 5 and XS series. 

After some hesitation I ended up getting the XS2.

Without having done any major changes upstream or downstream in my system this is the first time in years that I've been able to listen to just about any recording without cringing.

To sum it up - in my opinion the new XS2 is simply a better all rounder than the others.

I also tried the SN2. When compared to the XS2 it definitely has a cleaner presentation and tighter bass but I'm not sure it would be as forgiving and as musical. Same goes for the Rega Elicit R.

I'm a bit late to this thread but on the point of sibilance: I find it unbearable and it's the first thing to switch me off. My Audiolab cdq, XS and Neat motive 3's simply have no sibilance whatsoever, so I'd suggest that it isn't the amp. Female vocal is sublime. I added an early hicap which has added some lovely authority to the bass, but I'd never have bought the XS if I'd heard sibilance.

I have the new Nait xs 2 home for an audition.I won't be bringing it back to my dealer. I think it sounds absolutely  gorgeous !!!! Balm for the ears. Wonderful synergy with my Harbeth 30.1speakers. For pure musical enjoyment I personally much  prefer XS 2  to my original Supernait which I just sold.The old Supernaiti definitely has more muscle, but  doesn't capture instrumental timbres and  subtleties the way the XS 2 does.   The XS 2 has a far  more  expressive / sweeter mid range then my original Supernait IMO.  The XS 2 has balls too! For all you Jazz and Classical lovers I don't think you could want for more. I haven't heard the Supernait 2.

To clarify. The Supernait 1 is an exciting listen. It communicates in big broad strokes. IMO it doesn't capture natural timbres and  subtleties of the human voice , reed and brass instruments like the new XS 2 does.Important for us Jazz lovers. The new XS 2 isn't  all about refinement though. It  has balls too. The XS 2 for my ears has much  more expressive , sweeter mid range then the old Supernait. As I said previously , I have NOT heard the new Supernait 2. This is all subjective on my part. No  offence to any current owners of the Supernait 1. As has been mentioned previously , I'm  bewildered as to why WHF  downgraded the XS 2 to 4 stars in comparison to the old XS  's 5 stars ??? Oh well. I prefer Stereophile. LOL.  Listening to the Late Great Abbey Lincoln album " A Turtle's Dream " . Aural heaven through the Nait XS 2 ! Check it out.

"The source was a Naim NDX Network Player, which was powered by a 555PS power source. The power supply is marrying the philosophy of an extremely critical part of the range of devices and, therefore, it may upgrade to a better sound sex."

hmmm.....

G