The insides of a Naim Nait 5i Amp.

If anyone is considering buying a modern day Naim amp, or more specifically, the Nait 5i amp, better take a look at this pict....



Note, I couldn't see any of the typical Power Transistors unlike the older Naims and their beefy Quasi-Complementary push-pull designs. Maybe they're hidden on the circuit board's underside and screwed to the chassis as heatsinks...? Or maybe its become totally IC chips driven !


The pre-amp stage looks very "slimmed down". Connected to lots of I/C chips.
Could be a good thing? could be a bad thing? ... Only way to know is to have a listen!

Look at the Power reserve capacitors.... kinda wimpy too.

This is all in context on the $$$ Premium one would pay for a "Naim" branded product.


Don't ask me how it actually sounds, but if this is an indication of new generation Naim amps, then it could kinda coincide or explain what I have been hearing from these Naims in action at CMY showrooms lately. Was not Impressed by the Nait XS at all.

Just a Critique for the night. Feel free to disagree here.

Looks more like my CD player guts ?

That's part of the reason why my hardware are aged equipment.

Sounds much warmer and full bodied, to my ears.

cheers

Looks like there are 4 transistors mounted on the underside of the PCB. U can just make out the securing bolts to the left of the caps.

How much is this selling for ? I hope not more than RM2K...

mugenfoo wrote:If anyone is considering buying a modern day Naim amp, or more specifically, the Nait 5i amp, better take a look at this pict....



Note, I couldn't see any of the typical Power Transistors unlike the older Naims and their beefy Quasi-Complementary push-pull designs. Maybe they're hidden on the circuit board's underside and screwed to the chassis as heatsinks...? Or maybe its become totally IC chips driven !


The pre-amp stage looks very "slimmed down". Connected to lots of I/C chips.
Could be a good thing? could be a bad thing? ... Only way to know is to have a listen!

Look at the Power reserve capacitors.... kinda wimpy too.

This is all in context on the $$$ Premium one would pay for a "Naim" branded product.


Don't ask me how it actually sounds, but if this is an indication of new generation Naim amps, then it could kinda coincide or explain what I have been hearing from these Naims in action at CMY showrooms lately. Was not Impressed by the Nait XS at all.

Just a Critique for the night. Feel free to disagree here.

hahahaha , yah if selling for RM2K, i wont complaint. But knowing Naim pricing in MY.... mebbe selling for RM6K+ or above!! Anyone knows??

last year the retail price is RM5500 for naim 5i.

I saw its a £725 price tag. For all its worth its, relative to Malaysian Ringgit 700 worth of amplifier and thats it. Of course you convert to RM + tax + dealer margin, you vomit lah.

So, that's the current Naim Nait 5i model?
Basic-est design for basic-est model. (Basic-est Engrrishie)

Anyhow, we do not have such privilege like in other countries where they pay lower price for hifi stuffs.
Tough luck for us Msians. Sigh.

Of course you don't expect prices of these stuff to the prices of PC computer boards or even VGA cards which may have been manufactured with similar automated machines and similar PCB sophistication. The difference is that PC stuff are manufactured by the thousands or millions, thus sold cheaply. Naim or others don't make thousands in a week but for a 700 buck amp.. still within some logic.

You're paying for the 'name' (NAIM)..

CMY is selling at RM4 800

Main reason why I didn't purchase the Nait XS. I think its overpriced. Furthermore Naim is charging an addition GBP100 for a fascia upgrade to brushed aluminium. You can decide for yourself if this extra charge is reasonable.

dennis611 wrote:CMY is selling at RM4 800

For this price, the Exposure 2010S series-2 at RM3800 (i think) would be a much better buy. Higher power-rating than the Nait 5i as well.

Some say Naim are not about watts but still, RM4800 for what looks like the contents of a budget bento box... I'd take my KFC X Meal over this anyday!

But I betcha the Chinese have already cloned and are busy mass producing container loads of these for their next made in china Naim clone. 名 Neit 55iL anyone? RM1,888 only.

NAM NAT Super! RM888.88 after very generous discount! Cash only!
UPgrade SUper Anodized aluminum face plate (any color of your choice)... add RM88 only.

P.S. Numerous quality?? China made audiophile caps used... Gareleenteed never to explode or bulge.

I wonder the insides of this Naim Nait5i is similar to oldie Exposure XX amp.

reminds me of an upgraded version of marantz cd63 once i saw back in 06 avshow.. anyway i does look cheap for 5 grand

For Naim'ies out there, should check this link out!

http://www.teddypardo.com/

He makes 3rd party power supply units for Naim amps.
Claims that for a fraction of the naim flatcaps/hicaps/supercaps/dupercaps/etc.... he can deliver much more performance!

Now thats gotta be worth something to shake down NAIM's "premium prices" !

Perhaps Naim has new innovations to their amplifier technology that has been under the radar all this while?
Or perhaps Naim is using the Class-T technology in this amplifier?
http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/t-amp_e.html
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/sonicimpact/t.html

Sometimes, the simpler the circuit, the better the product. It all depends on the design and the technology. But in the end it is our ears and mind that determine its worth.

Is it worth the $$ Naim is asking for?
Every individual will have his/her own opinion. But to make that opinion, one will have to give the product a listen, irrespective of brand name (or naim).

I don't think naim using class-T. They may be class B amp.


Look at naim nait xs design.So, I don't think naim simplify the circuit of 5i because of sound quality.

Sorry to say, but look like my RM165.00 Sony DVD player...

kancan wrote:Sorry to say, but look like my RM165.00 Sony DVD player...

Interesting. Your RM165 Sony DVD player has a toroidal transformer and number of caps these size? Also carefully look at how the PCB is mounted on the chassis. Granted Naim are pulling their branding on pricing but they still do know what they are doing..

Naim is VERY class-B . Old-school style.

They have already R.O.I.'ed on their R&D years ago and they just keep updating the components here and there only.

Not much innovation from them lately except for some digital HDD media players etc. And they charge a crazy premium for it too.
They've also gone more "mainstream" lately, by offering "audiophile" AC cords, RCA jacks, Digital outputs. This is a total stray-away from JV's design philosophies.

if not have transformer and cap, almost look like my DVD player...hahaha..

kancan wrote:if not have transformer and cap, almost look like my DVD player...hahaha..

So does this. You can google up how much it costs..

mugenfoo wrote:Naim is VERY class-B . Old-school style.

They have already R.O.I.'ed on their R&D years ago and they just keep updating the components here and there only.

Not much innovation from them lately except for some digital HDD media players etc. And they charge a crazy premium for it too.
They've also gone more "mainstream" lately, by offering "audiophile" AC cords, RCA jacks, Digital outputs. This is a total stray-away from JV's design philosophies.

The Ovator S-600 is pretty innovative imho. JV's been long gone (10 years) and Naim is no longer the underdog and little punk kid it once was..

llsaw wrote:

kancan wrote:if not have transformer and cap, almost look like my DVD player...hahaha..

So does this. You can google up how much it costs..

in anyhow, it's still look like my Sony DVD player...it's fact..sorry lisaw

you pay for the brand

kancan wrote:

llsaw wrote:

kancan wrote:if not have transformer and cap, almost look like my DVD player...hahaha..

So does this. You can google up how much it costs..

in anyhow, it's still look like my Sony DVD player...it's fact..sorry lisaw

No you don't get my point. Almost all PCB will look similar. But do they sound the same and most importantly does look alone justify the value and sound?

bro, my point is clear...it what i see in my two eyes, if not know what brand..but surely Naim was amazing hifi stuff..sure sooner or later im might get one...

kancan wrote:bro, my point is clear...it what i see in my two eyes, if not know what brand..but surely Naim was amazing hifi stuff..sure sooner or later im might get one...

Whether Naim is amazing or not would depend on your ears only..

mugenfoo,

u r right abt not much innovation from naim.
i think that is the problem with hi fi companies founded by one man and the designs are based on his philosophies, standards and preferences.
naim was julian vereker's baby.
another good example is michell. ever since john michell passed away, the company has not come out with exciting products.
one more company that will go down that road is thiel...

Look more like a class D to me. Sorry not so good in Electronics, but class D amp has about the same or smaller PCB foot size.

Wouldnt that be a way of reducing noise,RFI, EMI? as the whole circuit getting smaller and lesser component. Hmm.. the price is certainly a bit contradicting.

Judging from the image above, the integrated consists of 3 PCBs. The top big piece is the audio + power supply PCB, lower left mini-PCB is for the volume and lastly, hidden behind the front panel is the PCB mounted vertically for the display and IR commands.
Imho, Naim separated all these PCB for their audio signals purity (i assumed), as some components might generate some noise, EMI & RFI.
If you guys joint it all up together, then you'll see one big piece of PCB ,
if that's how you justify VFM electronics...

The Naim Nait5i and Bryston are at least better than the Goldmund Universal player gua...

not sure if it is related.any sifu here can enlighten me pls.

when my previous NAD3020A sort of mulfunction.
i found that the speaker terminal actually has some voltage output. when the amp is on. and no signal is played. ranging from 0.03V-0.1V. i worry the voltage might heat up my voice coil as sometime i leave the amp on over night.

so i head out to CMY hope to purcahse the nait 5 i.
but i measure the new amp that on display of cmy. i can register a 0.06V of output on left side. and 0.04V on rightside of speaker terminal (measure from signal to ground (+ to -)

and i measure cambridge audio . it register 0 voltage output. when the amp is on. and no signal is played.

so i head back to my home. instead of buying new amp. i try to adjust the voltage back to 0 with a screw driver on the know nearby to op amp. lol. reference voltage?

1. why naim new amp can output the voltage? isn't it ideally shall be 0?

2. does the 0.1 volt of electricity will spoil a speaker? if i never off my amp. or leave it on for more than 10 hours.

adrian4454

some class d amp modules are about the same size as a credit card.

PcWork wrote:not sure if it is related.any sifu here can enlighten me pls.

when my previous NAD3020A sort of mulfunction.
i
found that the speaker terminal actually has some voltage output. when
the amp is on. and no signal is played. ranging from 0.03V-0.1V. i
worry the voltage might heat up my voice coil as sometime i leave the
amp on over night.

so i head out to CMY hope to purcahse the nait 5 i.
but
i measure the new amp that on display of cmy. i can register a 0.06V of
output on left side. and 0.04V on rightside of speaker terminal
(measure from signal to ground (+ to -)

and i measure cambridge audio . it register 0 voltage output. when the amp is on. and no signal is played.

so
i head back to my home. instead of buying new amp. i try to adjust the
voltage back to 0 with a screw driver on the know nearby to op amp.
lol. reference voltage?

1. why naim new amp can output the voltage? isn't it ideally shall be 0?

2. does the 0.1 volt of electricity will spoil a speaker? if i never off my amp. or leave it on for more than 10 hours.

anything less than or around 0.1V is actually very harmless..
Just do a simple Ohms law calculation.
V=I x R,
P=I x V,
P=(I^2) x R,
P=(V^2) / R,


What is the power sent to a typical 8 ohm load at 0.1V ?

Next to nothing!

Furthermore, this is DC. The losses in the crossover boards will help to suck up the DC components as well.

Totally nothing to worry about.

On the subject of over-valued products, do a search about Oppo and Lexicon together ...

Ah, what the heck, here you go:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/transports/high-definition-dvd-players-hd-dvd-blu-ray/lexicon-bd-30-blu-ray-oppo-clone/oppo-inside-lexicon-outside-1

bassraptor wrote:Ah, what the heck, here you go:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/transports/high-definition-dvd-players-hd-dvd-blu-ray/lexicon-bd-30-blu-ray-oppo-clone/oppo-inside-lexicon-outside-1

Amen to that !

Shame on Lexicon!!!! Same goes for Goldmund too !!!

Stupid Rip-off brands!

I think there are multiple threads about this item & seems quite interesting & disturbing at the same time.

Not all Naims are poor. Last couple of months I heard some Naim amplification with PROAC speakers (D18, 28) & they sound pretty decent. I don't do Naim so I don't know what model it was.

Comparing their house look now & the previous generation - sky & earth improvement.

bassraptor wrote:Ah, what the heck, here you go:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/transports/high-definition-dvd-players-hd-dvd-blu-ray/lexicon-bd-30-blu-ray-oppo-clone/oppo-inside-lexicon-outside-1

wasnt this like crown & amcron?

mugenfoo wrote:

anything less than or around 0.1V is actually very harmless..
Just do a simple Ohms law calculation.
V=I x R,
P=I x V,
P=(I^2) x R,
P=(V^2) / R,


What is the power sent to a typical 8 ohm load at 0.1V ?

Next to nothing!

Furthermore, this is DC. The losses in the crossover boards will help to suck up the DC components as well.

Totally nothing to worry about.

phew..thanks for that. lol.
now i can on my setup for overnight when i about to sleep without worries.

The Naim Nait 5i Volume component looks delicious. It is a square type, guess a lot of sonic improvement come from this. You guys are right about RFI and EMI in the circuit. Some design even have EMI jacket from the transformer power line to PCB.

There is always a certain gain in sonic when EMI is keep to minimum inside the amp...