Naim Nait 3- CD Input

Posted by: Shane. on 23 October 2015

I've just recently acquired a 1994 vintage Nait 3.

I've been using two non Naim CD Players with this Nait 3. I find that the volume starts to get loud from 7 o'clock to very loud around 8.

Having owned two 5i in the past. I never experience this problem.

Have some of you tried using the -15dB RCA-Din attenuated interconnect? Flash Back Cables sells them for not too much money.

Posted on: 24 October 2015 by BigH47

Worth a try but often people report a loss of SQ when using attenuated cables.

Don't be tempted by the variable input boards NA 328 they sound very poor and are very difficult to get a balanced sound as well.

YMMV of course.

Posted on: 24 October 2015 by Steve J

Many years ago I had Graham's make me an attenuated lead for this very reason but, as Howard mentioned, there was a drop in SQ. You get used to the narrow volume spread after a while. Just be careful if you've been listening to a vinyl album at high volume and then switch to CD. Ouch!

Posted on: 24 October 2015 by ianrobertm

Yup. Have had this. Quite usual, for non-Naim CD's feeding an older Naim line input. These were really designed for Tuners or Tape Players, with max outputs of 250mV order - not 1V or more. Hence, the tendency to be too loud.

I had this with an Arcam Alpha 9 and a Rega Apollo, running into a Naim 102. I tried the FB attenuated cable and it helped, certainly. Having changed to a CDX2, the problem went away.

Previously, I had used an Arcam Alpha 5 into a Naim72, with NA328 adjustable gain boards - which also fixed the problem - they didnt sound poor to me. But YMMV.