Nait 5i Weaknesses

few more to add to this list:

- no ability to split pre/power sections
- no ability to use external PSU
- fewer inputs than Nait5
- no ability to power Stageline

Maybe Naim should bring back the vanilla 5?

-- woody

quote:

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- no ability to power Stageline

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Woody, Kirk

See my post "An IMPORTANT piece of info".

looks like Naim is planning to fix this particular drawback.

regards
GEOFF

Could you make a list for the CD5i vs the CD5


Ps: geoff, you have a PM to read

NAIM: NAIT5 / REGA:Radio,Planet /
CHORD: Cobra 2 / Dynaudio: Natural One

To add some balance maybe we should mention the significant increases in power delivery and the not inconsiderable cost reductions w.r.t to the 5?

Here's the link to Geoff's IMPORTANT thread about the 5i and Stageline:

Stageline with the 5i

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

I had two faulty nait 5i's before I finally got a working one. The Nait's would go into program mode and the display would start to flash if I used the track search feature whilst using the 5i's remote control when listening to my CD5. Even my CD5 remote control would make this problem happen. So it was impossible to skip through a track to your favourite section. I was not happy as you can imagine and was about to give up on Naim were it not for the fact that I'd already bought a CD5 and Flatcap but I'm pleased I perservered as my new Nait 5i is sounding stunning. Its taken nearly ten weeks to come on song (is this a record) and I still feel it's not quite there yet. To my ears the 5i is noticeably better than a friends straight 5. It just sounds more transparent, focused and less processed as if a layer of grunge and hash has been removed from the signal path. Maybe the passive preamp section helps? The 5i also has some serious grunt. I'm beginning to wonder if it is possible to drive it into clipping. It just gets louder and louder the more you push and doesn't seem to lose control. So overall the 5i definately has some negative points as mentioned above but for me on a sound per pound basis it comfortably outperforms the outgoing Nait 5.

How about Nait 5i versus Nait 5+FC2?

-- woody

koe!k,

obviously we are concerned to hear of your experience with the volume control and interference with the display turned off. This is not normal and I assume that you have spoke with your dealer and he has arranged to replace your unit forthwith. If not, then I advise you to speak with him as soon as convenient and we'll get a new unit sent to him.

On your other points, the casework is not constructed the same way as the the older 5 series equipment but the materials are same very high quality die-cast zinc and aluminium extrusions.

Like all our equipment, the Nait 5i uses an oversized toroidal transformer for the best possible performance. Toroids can have a tendency to buzz under certain mains conditions, high DC levels being particularly bad, but we stringently test all our transformers for noise and any that exceed a certain level are rejected. We actually end up scrapping a very high proportion of the transformers we have made for us purely based on noise performance. Having said that, no toroidal transformer can be guaranteed to be absolutely silent under all mains conditions but the best news is that it does not impact on performance.

Now, for the most interesting point.... By pressing and holding the CD input button while switching on the NAIT 5i you inadvertedly put it into a special diagnostic "Soak" mode. This exercises the volume control (i.e. it will start turning up and down) and also cycles through all the inputs. To exit this mode one has to switch off the unit, then press and hold both the CD and the AV inputs and then switch on. The unit then needs to be re-booted by switching off and then on again. Before doing so TAKE NOTE: the volume control may be all the way up so it's best to turn it down or ensure that there's no signal before re-booting. Obviously we don't recommend that users implement the diagnostic mode....

Richard

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Obviously we don't recommend that users implement the diagnostic mode....

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Richard, I suspect that every 5i owner who reads this thread now, will rush home tonight and try it out just to see what happens

David

David,

yes, it did occur to me which is why I decided to put very specific instructions as to how you get it out of Soak mode... So, please, everybody, I know that curiosity will no doubt get the better of you but if you absolutely MUST do it then follow my instructions (usual disclaimers apply... ) carefully. Again, I reiterate, implementaion of soak mode by the end user is not recommended...

Richard

Richard,
Thank you!
Yes, I spoke with my dealer and i will get a new Nait in the next days.
I read in the owner manual of my CD5: By pressing and holding the ? button while switching on the CD5 you can change the user interface mode. I tested it, but without result.
I was not pleased about the crazy handset volume control of the Nait5i and then I had the idea: pressing and holding the CD input button while switching on ...
Is there another(normal) mode for the handset volume control?
Kirk

I love all this "secret world of the hidden pre amp functions" stuff. Like the record lock on 52/82. And now the 'Soak' function on the 5i.

I wonder what else is hidden in those secret combinations. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us Richard? If I hold down "mute" on my 52 and then press "display" on my CDS2 rapidly three times in succession will a giant blow-up Isabella Rossellini emerge from the left hand SBL? And if not, why not?

Tim

All this hidden stuff...

...Makes me wonder if HiFi turning into a video game.

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

"Nait 5i interference with the display turned off"
Addition: Yesterday I discovered, interferences are only audible, if the cd5 stacked atop nait5i.

Kirk