The most soft sounding naim? does it exist?

Atef, I'm not sure whether 'soft' is the word you really mean here.  'Soft' usually describes an amp that lacks definition at frequency extremes, and lacks dynamics - applied to a Naim amp this usually indicates an amp in need of a service. Naim don't do 'soft' amps.

However, if you mean which Naim amp has the sweetest most rolled off top end then that's rather different.  You'd probably be looking at the original NAIT 5.  However, it's still a Naim amp, so if it really is softness you seek then you had better look elsewhere or else figure out what in the system, setup or space is so unbalanced as to warrant a 'soft' amp to try to make things sound right.

Ive never found naim kit soft and rolled off at the top end. Years ago when auditioning naim against linn I found that was my opinion of the linn kit. If you are finding the naim sound a bit harsh then it may be in part due to set up. Naim kit is notoriously fussy to get the best out of set up wise. Uprating the mains helps too.

Hooking in on what Richard says, I've both the original Nait 5 and a SuperNait 1. The SuperNait 1 is far from soft. It is a slavedriver being graceless to its connected speakers. If you want soft, dont go for the SuperNait.

My Nait 5 is currently happy in the AV setup. I had it with Linn K20 speaker cables and now Nac A5. Nac A5 did improve the top and lower ends by quite a step - it will probably be less soft to your ears now.

I love the Nait 5 because it still has a Naim signature (whatever you throw to it, it will handle it well and when you turn the volume knob high, it will stay in control unlike many other amps e.g.). The Nait 5 is also very versatile. There is a link plug so that you can use it either as an integrated amp, or connect a PS (flatcap) or use either the PowerAmp or PreAmp section with an external device.

You can have a Nait 5 these days for between GBP 300 and 400 and is far better than anything you buy in a casual hifi shop. It might need a service. Mine needs, not for its poweramp section but for the pre-amp.

Recommended!

Soft? That spells entry-level to me. Best compromise of transient speed, grip, musicality, and listenability for me among the later Naim integrateds would be the original Nait XS. Just right adding a FCXS.

Yes as others say, it depends what 'soft' is supposed to mean, but I found the Nait XS2 one of the most bouncy and rhythmic  flowing of the current Naim amps, with nicely smoothed top ends... ok such a sound is not so good for immersive listening sessions, but it is entertaining and accommodating  to listen to .. I really liked it.. it was just not ideally matched power wise for my older generation ATCs I then had. (Bass went a little soft)

Stageline or the older Naits 1,2 and 3 are a bit rolled off in the treble frequencies. A SuperNait certainly is not, it is the best Nait. 

If soft means subdue HF, then they all do that as you get older. (You, not they!) So it is merely a matter of waiting a few years...

Thank you all for sharing your experiences, I highly appreciate your replies. I do not like to try any thing other than Naim, the sound is so much believable and natural and I like the overall pace and character of the Supernait, but what concerns me is the high frequencies, and  I do not have a chance to have a home demo. In the same time I do not want to buy an old amp as I do not like to go into maintenance stuff. So I have to choose from the more recent ones, i.e. Naim Nait 5si, Naim Supernait, Naim XS ...

so if anyone had compared them or passed through different Naim system upgrades, please share your thoughts regarding that, a non-hissing Naim. Cheers.

Between the Nait 5si, SN2 and XS2 the one that's closest to ''soft'' would be the XS2. But it's nowhere near typical vintage or tube ''soft'' in that it still retains the Naim speed. It just doesn't have the nailgun transients and bass of the other two. Personally I find it to be easier to live with if somewhat less exciting.

THE NATURE of naims are very different in presentation than the early days, they are more in line with many modern amps

Soft sounding Naim amp?.

That would be an amp in need of a service.

Might be worth looking at some of the earlier Quad stuff, such as 33/303 or 44 range which always provided a lovely mellow sound

Yes, the XS amp when I used it definitely had a rolled off hf.  Think it stops at around 18 mhtz or something. The high end separates goes further, but still not like a lot of other stuff out there that seems to want to impress elephants and bats.

dark but not soft ??

Iconoclast posted:

Between the Nait 5si, SN2 and XS2 the one that's closest to ''soft'' would be the XS2. But it's nowhere near typical vintage or tube ''soft'' in that it still retains the Naim speed. It just doesn't have the nailgun transients and bass of the other two. Personally I find it to be easier to live with if somewhat less exciting.

what about the Supernait 1?

TOBYJUG posted:

Yes, the XS amp when I used it definitely had a rolled off hf.  Think it stops at around 18 mhtz or something. The high end separates goes further, but still not like a lot of other stuff out there that seems to want to impress elephants and bats.

dark but not soft ??

Soft highs, highs are there, but not hissy, dark would mean laidback and boring to me.

The good old 160 was soft using 32.5 as preamp, nevertheless a great amp

The Nait 5 and 5i is on the soft side but it all depends on which source and speakers too

I would look at Rega to get a warmer softer tone, the little Brio is wonderfull

Softness could also be adjusted by various cables, something like Chord Epic is softer than say Naim A5

Hissy highs went out when they discovered how to do inky blackness a good few years ago.

only hiss most experience these days are from tinnitus. Or from running incompatible gear with output sensitivity syndrome.

You can use cables to tweak later, to get the soft highs that you desire, with any Naim amp. Or a thick rug between the speakers and listening chair.

In my experience, Linn K20 reduces lo and hi and makes music a bit softer. Also, however I'm far from a specialist here, I think that older aluminium domes are softer than e.g. the diamonds, recent aluminium domes or ribbon tweeters.

b_lund posted:

The good old 160 was soft using 32.5 as preamp, nevertheless a great amp

The Nait 5 and 5i is on the soft side but it all depends on which source and speakers too

I would look at Rega to get a warmer softer tone, the little Brio is wonderfull

Softness could also be adjusted by various cables, something like Chord Epic is softer than say Naim A5

While the Brio may be soft(ish) to me the Elex-R is more Naim sounding than the Nait XS2.  

Does 'soft' mean not sharp/brigth ? These properties are increasingly characterized by the speakers imho.

It sounds to me that the OP is really in search of a valve amp.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by soft. Do you have a system now which you feel has a problem? If so, what is it, and how is it set up? In my experience, harsh treble is as likely to be caused by poor equipment support, room acoustics and speaker/room interaction as by an amplifier. 

Atef posted:

Thank you all for sharing your experiences, I highly appreciate your replies. I do not like to try any thing other than Naim, the sound is so much believable and natural and I like the overall pace and character of the Supernait, but what concerns me is the high frequencies, and  I do not have a chance to have a home demo. In the same time I do not want to buy an old amp as I do not like to go into maintenance stuff. So I have to choose from the more recent ones, i.e. Naim Nait 5si, Naim Supernait, Naim XS ...

so if anyone had compared them or passed through different Naim system upgrades, please share your thoughts regarding that, a non-hissing Naim. Cheers.

Have you actually listened to a NAIM amp, especially the integrated? Was it set up properly, with correct speaker cables?

Atef posted:

Iconoclast posted:

Between the Nait 5si, SN2 and XS2 the one that's closest to ''soft'' would be the XS2. But it's nowhere near typical vintage or tube ''soft'' in that it still retains the Naim speed. It just doesn't have the nailgun transients and bass of the other two. Personally I find it to be easier to live with if somewhat less exciting.

what about the Supernait 1?

I have one. I think it's well balanced with thunderous dynamics and bass power and great bass and treble extension. It sounds fresh, fast and deep with excellent PRAT and pin point soundstage. Furthermore it is very revealing. Any change in cables, source, recordings is clearly audible. So soft sounding? No it is not, not at all.