Nait 1 prices

Not sure where your forum posts are declaring £300 as a ridiculous price. Naits, both 1 & 2 have been commanding £350-£800 for several years now, and rightly so in my opinion. The top end obviously via certain auction sites and usually reserved for the best conditioned samples. Supply and demand is all, and they are in demand.

Kulashaker posted:

I recently bought a CB red light Nait 1 amp.  (Loving it but not sure my revolver RW33s are quite right for it) ..... 

Nice speakers but I have similar reservations. Have heard them sounding good with Sugden A21 and valve amps at my dealer's.

Enjoy your Nait 1. When was it last serviced?

Well, I paid £500 from a specialust Linn/Naim dealer, and it was recapped by them.  I'm not exactly sure when/if it was serviced though.  Would Naim be able to tell me?  I'm new to the world of Naim - I bought a Muso and have been blown away by it.   I wanted to get back into vinyl too, so bought an SRM Arezzo and thought I'd go for a "vintage"Naim amp, and couldn't resist this one.  I thought I'd paid over the odds for it, but honestly there is not a mark on it.  It thumps a bit while it warms up, but since I decided to leave it powered up now, thats not a problem obviously, and it seems to have opened up the sound somehow.  I have NACA4 cable into my Revolver speakers, which I have had for a while and I love them, but wonder if there is more to come from the partnership with the Nait ( is there a run-in time with new caps?) or if I should listen to something else.  Naim have suggested Neat Motive for slightly more bass extension, for instance.

Just to answer a query, the forums Ive read regarding prices are a few years old.   

I guess theres another question then - why are they suddenly in demand?  Is it folk like me getting back into vinyl?

I think you've done pretty well. I also think the more traditional cone material of the Neats may match the Nait's character more. You'd have to try it.

C.

Demand for the early half-width NAITs has always been strong, and demand has only increased over the past decade. Quite apart from being cool looking iconic period pieces, they are beautifully built, still sound really good in a way that is remarkably hard to find elsewhere these days, and they are still supported by their maker.  The NAIT, whether the original or later NAIT2, is a bona fide classic and highly covetable.  So much so that Naim had to remove the knobs and lock it's own R&D example of the NAIT2 away to ensure it didn't accidentally go walkies.  I remember it came out for comparisons in the factory dem room when the NAIT5i was being developed, but then afterwards quickly disappeared back to its secret hiding place.

Despite having lots of the half-width "chrome bumper" kit, including a fully rebuilt CB NAIT2, I have long hankered after an original NAIT.  Last year, I finally cracked when a very early example came up for sale just down the road.  Yes, it was crazy money for a 32 year old second-hand integrated amp that originally cost £180, but I couldn't resist.  And I guess that somewhere in this tale lies the reason why people want them and are prepared to pay handsomely for one.

Kulashaker, they are not suddenly in demand, they have been for the last 10 years. 

Kulashaker posted:

Just to answer a query, the forums Ive read regarding prices are a few years old.   

I guess theres another question then - why are they suddenly in demand?  Is it folk like me getting back into vinyl?

I think a lot of us have owned one in our youth and want one again for nostalgic reasons, perhaps together with a turntable playing those old vinyls in a second system. And the cost of a Nait 1 still isn't that high that it wouldn't fit in a second system.

Then I think the look of the Naim chrome bumper are modern again, there are some wonderful setups shown in the System pics thread. Personally I just love a chrome bumper unit on a dark wood shelf.

And finally Naim, a company who actually can offer service on discontinued products which is just amazing.

/Mike

I think you paid a nice price for a serviced unit through a dealer. Enjoy what you have, it is likely better than maybe you realised, if you are new to Naim. Match the right speakers (part of the trick), and you may never want for anything 'better'.

I have seen the one you describe @ 899, it was previously £999 but it didn't sell, this will tell you something.  I personally think it's overpriced and the seller is dreaming.  However, if someone pays that for it then good luck to him.  Generally the best example Nait 1's fetch 600 tops in my experience (on said auction site) and I monitor  this closely.  The Nait 2 is also highly coveted, regularly fetching between 500 - 900 for a good one.  They are very difficult to find in lovely condition so I guess as others have stated its a case of supply and demand.  There are many rough examples that have been tinkered with, so always best to be selective and buy from a trusted seller.

Who'd like to clue me in on some likely speaker contenders?  Bearing in mind I live in the hifi wilderness of North East Lincolnshire?  I know its a little subjective, but its always nice to get a shortlist based on others recommendations and experiences.

Rega Ela, Royds, Neat Motive, Naim NSat, Naim Credo, Rega RX1, Naim SBL (in a small room), Shahinian Arc, Quad ESL, Russell K Red 50...... and the list goes on.

If new is what you want, get Russell K Red 50 right to the top of your list. An amazing little loudspeaker by any standards.

Never heard of those - I'll get clued up

Thanks to all who have replied with advice and encouragement!

My first amp was a Nait 1 bought used in 1993.  I never missed it after trading it in for a Nait 5 10 years later.  Much better sound and no more loud pop when the mains button was pushed or constant hiss from the speakers.  The Nait 1 was great for what it was - an entry piece that was a ton of fun.  

Right now on a Canadian site I frequent there is a Nait 1 on for $750, a Nait 3R for $700, a Nait 5 for $875 and Nait 5i for $1,100.00 (all CDN $).  

The half-width chassis pieces have an undeniable appeal but some of that can be chalked up to nostalgia but given the choice between the four listed above I'd put it last in terms of VFM in 2016.  

love my nait 1 -- has been factory refurbed, and Martin Colloms reviewed it in HifiCritic some months ago. Cracking little thing.