Nait 3 and loving it!

I have a Thorens TD150 mk2 AT95E with Nait 3 driving Quad ESL57 (one thing audio rebuilt) Rel T1 sub all sat on a wicker basket (serious)

the sound is amazing and I have absolutely no regrets and don't miss selling my expensive system

Roksan TMS2 82/Hicap/135s on six tier Mana rack DBLS on stage 2 Mana stands

Sounds like a fun combo!

It is it just works so well together...I wish I had discovered this system 30 years ago before getting on the Linn/Naim upgrade merry go round...the nait 3 will give you 90% of the bigger amps at a bargain price... You have a great amp and don't be tempted to jump on the upgrade path just buy more vinyl or cds and sit back and enjoy ��

I have the impression that the Nait 3 is the least revered integrated that Naim have made. I never had one, but I did have a 92/90 for some time, which is basically a Nait 3 split into two separate boxes. With an LP12/Ittok front end and a pair of Royds, this system was very enjoyable, despite being built around Naim's least revered pre/power amp!

Nice amp, owned two Nait3s over the years and was my first introduction to Naim amps.

First system KI63 Cd player, Nait3 and Dynaudio 40 speakers and NACA5 cable, cable I still use today.

ChrisSU posted:

I have the impression that the Nait 3 is the least revered integrated that Naim have made. I never had one, but I did have a 92/90 for some time, which is basically a Nait 3 split into two separate boxes. With an LP12/Ittok front end and a pair of Royds, this system was very enjoyable, despite being built around Naim's least revered pre/power amp!

No that's the Nait 5.

I ran a NAIT 3 in my den for many years. Paired with the right speakers in a small space, its micro-dynamics were addictive.

I really like the Nait 3 - I wish I could find a used 3R for my bedroom system - I always thought it was a really musical amp, and even kind of sexy looking too with the slim-line, rounded corner olive case look.

Package it with an olive FC and a CD3 with some nice small speakers and you have a slammin' little system that does punch well above its weight.

yeti42 posted:

ChrisSU posted:

I have the impression that the Nait 3 is the least revered integrated that Naim have made. I never had one, but I did have a 92/90 for some time, which is basically a Nait 3 split into two separate boxes. With an LP12/Ittok front end and a pair of Royds, this system was very enjoyable, despite being built around Naim's least revered pre/power amp!

No that's the Nait 5.

True.  And far from fair, as the NAIT 5 has its own unique charms among the NAIT lineup...

I had a 5 and got rid of it after a month, maybe there was setup issue but I preferred my old Sansui AU217 despite its lower resolution. There was something processed about the 5 that started to rankle after a while.

Just shows Yeti, how different we all are. My brother had a 3, I knew it had something. But I liked the 5 I subsequently bought more. It seemed less edgy. And it was my first Naim, so bound to hold some affection for it.

David Price wrote quite an interesting and nicely balanced opinion piece looking back on the NAIT 5 on his zStereo site.   

Sound-wise, while it's excellent in isolation, I agree it can be a little underwhelming compared to the other NAITs but it can also be rather more forgiving too.  However, adding a Flatcap2 to it really brought the NAIT5 alive and most of the criticisms you could level at it were reduced by a significant degree.

On matching, Im using a pair of IPL (kit built) transmission line floor standers and a Pioneer Legato Link cd. Not sure why this works but it sure does!

Clive 

Richard Dane posted:

yeti42 posted:

ChrisSU posted:

I have the impression that the Nait 3 is the least revered integrated that Naim have made. I never had one, but I did have a 92/90 for some time, which is basically a Nait 3 split into two separate boxes. With an LP12/Ittok front end and a pair of Royds, this system was very enjoyable, despite being built around Naim's least revered pre/power amp!

No that's the Nait 5.

True.  And far from fair, as the NAIT 5 has its own unique charms among the NAIT lineup...

I stand corrected! Strange that the 3 was from the same generation as the 92/90, as well as having the same olive case, whereas the 5 was a later tryptich amp from around 2000 I think.

My first foray into Naim was with an Arcam Alpha 5 CD player/Rega RP3 into a Nait 3 with Rega Ela2 speakers with NacA5. Loved that system for years. Got the itch and changed to a UQ2 into the Ela's...then onto my current system. Must say the Nait3 had bags of musicality

Nait 5: very versatile and humble amp. I use one with an AV2. Watching mostly the Berliner Philharmoniker on the tv, and audio supplied by the AV2 and Nait 5. Very good. Capable enough to fill my 8 sqm TV room.

Sonic signature very much like my Supernait 1, but it misses the beef / guts / dynamics. Is someone able to confirm this observation?

Still dreaming to pair it with a Stageline (can be powered directly by the Nait 5) / TT. Given the relatively bad mains power in my house, I expect to get rid of all kind of noise compared to my Project phonostage with crappy powersupply.

I did pair the Nait 5 with my Hicap DR for testing some months ago. By doing so, the DR virtues get introduced like lower noise floor, and more tranparency. I concluded after some weeks that after intensive listening there was something sharp / edgy in the treble. Possibly the weakness of the pre amp stage of the Nait 5 got visible by the introduction of the Hicap DR. Nothing serious though, maybe this problem would have been solved by a better source. It was a nice experiment.

Very interesting analysis...

Since 1999. Never had the urge to change anything.

Richard Dane posted:

David Price wrote quite an interesting and nicely balanced opinion piece looking back on the NAIT 5 on his zStereo site.   

Sound-wise, while it's excellent in isolation, I agree it can be a little underwhelming compared to the other NAITs but it can also be rather more forgiving too.  However, adding a Flatcap2 to it really brought the NAIT5 alive and most of the criticisms you could level at it were reduced by a significant degree.

Well, Naim *corrected* Nait 's shortcoming by coming up with Nait 5i which is far livelier than a 5 without giving up anything. That amp did not need an external PSU to bringing from the dead. 

I had an inkling that Naim was trying to gain new customers by make it a bit smoother than the 3s. I actually recommended it to one of my round earth friends and he loved it saying much livelier than the amp he was using. ( everything is relative I suppose )

Haim Ronen posted:

Since 1999. Never had the urge to change anything.

I do like your system Haim. 

james n posted:

Haim Ronen posted:

Since 1999. Never had the urge to change anything.

 

I do like your system Haim. 

Thanks, James. I just arranged today with our local Naim dealer to re-cap the two Flatcaps which had been working for 17 years without a glitch. The Nait had been serviced in  2009.