Naim Supernait 3 Integrated Amplifier
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- Опубликовано: 8 окт 2020
- Packing a lot into a relatively slim chassis, Paul Rigby reviews this solidly built integrated amplifier, priced at £3,499: www.naimaudio.com/product/sup...
Contact Naim on: www.naimaudio.com/product/sup...
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Origin Live Sovereign turntable
Origin Live Enterprise 12″ arm
Van Den Hul Crimson XGW Stradivarius Cartridge
McIntosh MCD600 CD Player
Leema Quasar amplifier
Icon PS3 phono amplifier
Aesthetix Calypso pre-amp
Icon Audio MB845 Mk.II Monoblock Amplifiers
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Blue Horizon Professional Rack System
Harmonic Resolution Systems Noise Reduction Components
CAD GC1 Ground Controls
Gutwire Consummate Grounding Cable
Air Audio AC-2K Balanced Transformer
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Fantastic review of a great amp. Glad to see it's really made in England. It's moved into top spot for my next amp. Thanks.
Supernait 1 was my first amp, and I still feel a pang of regret for selling that beautiful piece. It brought so much joy and warmth to my listening experience. I moved on to an Accuphase, but it left me disappointed. Now, I've switched to an all-in-one solution with the NAD M10. It's convenient, but I know deep down that if the NAD ever fails, I'll go back to the Supernait. That amp was unparalleled, giving me countless hours of relaxation and joy, even at low volumes. The rhythm and style of the classic Naim are simply unbeatable, and you can find them second-hand in superb condition. Plus, it pairs perfectly with my British Spendor D7.2.
I don't understand the fascination with tube amps. Every time I had the chance to listen to them, I felt they offered less control, more distortion, and were overpriced. I also don't get where the idea comes from that they're difficult to drive speakers with. In my 30m² room, even with several speakers, I barely hit the 12 o'clock mark on the volume regulator. The Supernait had everything I needed and more, and it remains unmatched in my heart.
I have the sn2 with hicap. Your review articulates much of what I've found with that previous model. It has proven to be a solid chunk of granite in the heart of my system and a keeper.
Thank you sir Paul very nice and honest review. Stay safe and god bless.
Had Naim before , this is a very fair review as very much everything I could say go and try you wouldn’t be disappointed.
I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your reviews and keep them coming.
That’s very nice of you Joe. Thank you.
@@TheAudiophileMan he's attracted to you, as am I! But not as much as I am the amp!
A balance control is certainly no gimmick. It's very useful for "room correction / speaker placements".
Great review!
I have read your reviews in the past & it is nice to now see you in person on this tube. What you say about the sound of this Naim amplifier extends to much of their equipment. If an audio consumer likes this kind of sound look no further.
Thanks John - glad to see you here.
Super review 👍
Nice review and great metaphors, I don’t have the supernait but I have the Naim 5si which has many of the same characteristics as this unit. I want one! Lol
Intriguing, again, the continued avenue of an AUX input for those of us with Phonostage and an MC setup. Think I will stick with Yamaha DSP-Z9 in Pure Direct mode...thanks☺
I can see the blue Cble of the Balance LED...(:
...in a +$3000 Product 😅
Had the original Supernait with Triangle Antal ESW floorstanders. Lovely sound but took two weeks to get to optimal temp for the sound to flesh out. What was a pain was the upgrade path. Endless power supply boxes for the cd and Amp. Why not just build it right the first time and charge a bit more. I have active KEF's now and have never looked back
I had a demo of this amp recently, and whilst I agree with what you like about the product, for me the Cyrus ix9 XR was much better in terms of involvement. I note your views on higher end amps including a phono stage. Not everyone feels the need for a moving coil. I don't. And aesthetically, a 3K plus amp with a phono stage built-in, is tidier than having yet another box, and shelf to put it on, and more wires. I have recently purchased a higher end CD player and higher end speakers. For my had-it-awhile mid range turntable, a phono stage in my amp is what I am looking for. And to my ears, the vinyls I play sound on a par with the more expensive CD player (which I truly love).
good to the point video i would think that your thoughts on the balance control/moving magnet are present for a very good reason which only naim could justify because in many years of naim use i know everything they do is considered and implemented for a very good reason which not always iimmediately apparent. with my predominately naim system for many years i was frustrated by lean bass which was cured by much fiddling but the biggest leap was with best pre amp which only presents bass if it is actually there! i read somewhere that most recorded music is 90% mid/high with 10% bass content so if it ain’t there you shouldn’t hear it!
A classic integrated, along with its smaller siblings.....what's not to love?
The stupid balance knob!
Loved this video. I am currently using the Audiolab 8000a with x2 power amps, Castle Harlech speakers and a Roksan Kandy CD player. If I was looking to incorporate this fine amp into my system would it fit well do you think? Thanks, Mark👍🏼
Does anyone know if you can use any speaker cables with the SN3 or you still have to use Naim's own Nac A5 cables like on many of their amplifiers?
Hi paul Having seen this often as a recommended goto answer for top end performance, i was intrigued when you highlighted those bizarre features. It does seem a classic case of design over function. But could prove a bit annoying to live with . When you get into this sort of price range ,theirs a lot to choose from . So it begs the question would Mr Paul look 👀 in a different direction? Sorry couldn’t resist the thought 🤣. All the very best to you Regards Mike in the Uk
Great paul remember when the first bait was £225. Nearly got one.
I wish I could compare this amp with my upgraded classic Nait 2 chrome by AV Options. Which would be more fun?
mamma mia - I can see so many comments on this HUGHE balance knob. NAIM has a tradition and the balance knob is a thing to keep.
I bet - 99,9% never heard this beast...
nice review. I have xs2 and I love it and I think you did dicribe the sound very well, however I also think that based on description it is dificult to imagine the sound and the listen is necesary. This is more rule here than with other brands. The only thing that boders me on supernait 3 is that at this price they should manage the balance between r/l channel better than only by alps potentiometer, Which practicaly i do not think is a big issue, but many of us have kind of OCD with hifi staff and I think it would be great to have this. Rega aathos, gato amp 150, hegel, acuphase 280, yamaha they all do. That sad, the sound on naim really is fantastic to my ears and it really involves into the any genre of music by music not by efects.
I note that one of the pictures (at the end of the New Order segment) did NOT have the balance control. A good review nonetheless
You're right, Chris! Good spot, that man - somehow an image of a Naim Nait XS 3 has sneaked in there. From this time hence, that image in that video will be forever known as 'Chris Warburton's Revenge'.
At 12:45 is the image of the internals of the amp the SN3 or something different, as I cannot see the balance knob? Great review really like Naim stuff every opportunity to listen to them is taken but unfortunately the gear is out of my price range but who knows maybe the lottery numbers will fall nicely for me.
It's partly my mistake and partly to encourage comments like this one, Martin :) And thank you.
my naim 5si sounds great but the noise all newer naims make is the problem i will change it soon for or a unison reasearch hybrid or a copland
It’s out of my price range but your review is exceptional….I now feel I’m missing something….🤣🤣🤣
This review would have been ok if there was a mention of speakers used right at the outset of the sound quality section, as it is, there is no mention. Sound of components are always taken in the context of the associated system it's tested with, without it, comments are not very helpful. So are we going to assume that this was tested with the Quad ESLs as mentioned in the reference system under the video description ?
Great review, as always. Small point but I noticed that the still image used at 13:04 is not the SN3. There is no balance dial on that image. Maybe the Nait 5i or Si?
Yes thanks. I've talked about that in the comments earlier but it was a mishap on my part.
Hi Paul, appreciated your thorough review, would you recommend this or the Hegel H390 for musical, layered and 3D representation of music? I have Rosso Fiorentino Elba 2 and looking for the right match, thank you!
That's a tough one because I haven't properly listened to the Hegel. From what I have heard and having talked to colleagues, it does offer a balanced and airy performance compared to the possibly more forceful and bold Naim. Not sure if that helps in any way?
@@TheAudiophileMan thank you Paul, appreciate the honesty
Nothing wrong with having tone and balance controls mate, as long as there's a direct mode too. All well designed power amp circuits sound virtually identical anyway.
How do you open a naiM? which screws must be unscrewed?
Interesting review. Not sure how “almost restraint” fits with “forceful”, “full of detail”, “driving”... used as well...? I would be curious about other info om the system,the SN3 has been used. Also, how should an amp actually sound like? Tx :)
Hi Gio - 'restraint' in terms of the potential power on offer and 'forceful' when required. Apologies for not listing the review system. I've listed that now, in the description.
Is nobody going to mention the blue wire sticking out of the balance control knob?
Its not good thing that kind price.
No
Because it's overpriced crap.
Crazy, very bad looking
Hello
Is Kimber 8tc speaker cable usable with Supernait 3 without any damage to amp?
Шикарный выбор использую его с Naim Nait 5 si ,зучит мягче и приятнее чем родной NACA5.
Nice review. But a balance is not completely useless. In my setup I need to set the balance a bit more to the left, to get the image in the centre. Maybe because of the L-shape of my room. Did liked the review and love the brand 😁
Thanks FE and, as I say elsewhere in the Comments, any 'balance' feature doesn't have to take up so much build budget and chassis space by using a massive/expensive Alps controller. A tiddly knob by the left-mounted buttons would have sufficed.
I haven’t heard the SuperNait 3, but I have its little brother the XS-3. I used to be a tube guy. I use it to drive a pair of Russell K Red 50’s on SolidSteel stands. The speakers are invisible and the soundstage is enormous, no make that ridiculous. It sounds like a tube amp, except it’s more accurate, which I prefer. It has many of the attributes you describe, its virtues are challenging to convey, but it is insanely musical. I haven’t read the manual.
I have an XS3 what speakers do you have and how big is your room? My dealer likes pairing Dynaudio and Dali with Naim I live in the US.
Richard Peters Naim pairs exceptionally well with PMC speakers. I have also paired it with Dynaudio >> indeed also a very good match
@@richardpeters2193 I am using Russell K Red 50’s on Solidsteel stands.
I pair it with Ryan speakers and have been happy for a few years.
It’s rather strange that looking from the front, the right speaker terminals are on the left and the left are on the right; forcing the speaker cables to be crossed (assuming the amplifier is placed between the speakers)
So there’s a powerswitch at the back: is there also a standby switch somewhere / or does the remote provide a button for that?
I'm afraid not - you can kinda do that yourself with the volume, mute and you can turn off the display. So...sorta.
Naim recommends that you leave their amps and cd players switched on all of the time. Only switch off at the mains when not listening for any extended period. That is why the display can be turned off using the remote.
Would love to see a super-integrated shootout with the SN3 vs the Rega Aethos and an outsider, the Heed Lagrange. Can you get your hands on a Lagrange for review Paul?
Not sure about the shoot out but a Heed review is a possibility.
@@TheAudiophileMan I've seen soon glowing reviews in German, French & Polish but haven't seen any from english speaking publications/reviewers yet. Love my Elixir but might upgrade one day.
Anyone compared yamaha as2200 vs naim supernait 3 ?
I've heard this amp with the Dynaudio Evoke 20's and what a THING!!.. if you can find a better performance for less than 4K then I don't believe you 😂😂😂
How does a budget amplifier like 6000A compare to this? Is this really worth 3000 pounds more? Thanks. I have KEF LS50's.
Any comparison would be unfair. In general terms, you get what you pay for. Doesn't always work out that way of course, which is why reviews exist and I'm in a job but generally, that's the rule. Please see my respective reviews to hear my comments on both amps.
I still have a Linn Sondek and Asak MC. Will I need a separate phono amp for this as I still love listening to vinyl?
Yes indeed.
@@TheAudiophileMan Thanks. I forgot to mention I also use a Revox B77 open-reel deck. Could I connect that fairly easily?
@@willbuckley54 That depends on the amplifier - what are you currently using?
@@TheAudiophileMan I'm using an old Meridian 101 pre amp and 105 mono blocks - connection via DIN
@@willbuckley54 Meridian 101/105 or 101/M2 is undoubtedly one of the best setups under £1000, let alone the £500 or less that they cost. If you want to go into naim I would recommend that you keep the 105s and buy a naim preamp
How does a rega aethos compare to SN3, one of these two amps is going in my rack.
Depends on your sonic requirements, David. The Naim has muscle. The Rega goes for greater clarity.
@@TheAudiophileMan sound like naim is a pa amp
Thanks for the review, always interesting agree 100% the manual is a total car crash. Balance control is at least a quality one same as the volume alps blue velvet, can be useful for headphone use if you have a slight acuity issue one side to the other but also because rooms are not always symmetrical and often the furniture placement dictates the position of the speaker system in many homes, it is not always possible to arrange for the listening position to be centered exactly between the two main channels. So although not the opitmal solution its purpose is to equalize the output levels at your listening position even when its not centered between the two main channels. I take issue about Internal phono stages though they can be an after thought, its often not the case nowadays and there are some excellent MM cartridges on the market as well as some superb vintage ones like say the Shure V15 mk3. I'd much rather they include MM than a compromised MM/MC it seems to fit the price placement well. I have two preamps with internal phono stages and both are superb the EAR 912 and EAR 868PL both would equal or better most anything out there.
So much effort put into how inside of the amp looks but so little into the manual.
Cooling looks underwhelming. How is the amp performing under long high volume listening?
I didn't find any issues, long term.
Did you get a chance to compare with the Nait XS 3 ? Has less power, but might be singing even more than its bigger brother, the Supernait.
Turns out even better in some setups, provided that the speakers are sensitive enough.
Afraid not - but thanks for the info.
at 13:10 the balance control went missing... maybe the dude who did the sloppy manual also did the renderings? ;-)
Very insightful review though, makes me lusting to hear a Supernait.
Don’t blame Naim for that, blame me. My stupid fault for using a wrong image. Apologies.
@@TheAudiophileMan ... oops... not really wanting to blame anyone. Cheers, have a good day!
@medonk12rs no that’s fine. It’s tough to edit vids once they’re up though. And if I took this one down and reposted a newly edited version I’d lose all the SEO benefits of the initial vid so these video postings tend to be a one hit thing unfortunately. Otherwise I would have corrected it. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday :)
I’ve naim stuff , it’s like a guessing game how to connect and work everything,,,,,,Richard
"A fool and his money are soon parted"!
Did you enjoy it though?
Absolutely, within the caveats drawn up in the review.
You ask a lot of questions about the manual! LOL. I usually just hit buttons and hope for the best
My driving is a bit like that.
Blue wire sticking out!😱😱
Talking of Naim build quality as we were, did anyone else notice the loop of blue wire playing peek-a-boo from behind the superfluous balance control knob? (3:45) If you watch on you will note that it incongruously flops about during operation, not a good look for such an expensive product.
Looks pretty bad, moving wire - and that will cause problems at some point. To be honest the build quality inside looks rather underwhelming as a whole. Messy, cheap and DIY-style.
I know Naim amps are pretty good, and have a big fan base - but to me it looks like they got stuck in the 90s - and the manual looks like that way too. At that price, a lot more quality can be bought.
A balance control would drive me nuts!
Hmmm, ...I'm curious why having a balance control would drive you nuts? As both balance and tone controls are really useful features and options to have - which can be used to tailor the sound to your specific hearing and tastes...or left alone if not needed or required!
Having some slight hearing loss in one ear I have both balance and tone controls on my pre amp, and even have left and right gain controls on my power amp. Which I can quickly and easily set up and adjust to my personal tastes.... and then pretty much leave as is!
But I still occasionally adjust the tone controls (usually treble) for really bad, grating, crappy or poor recorded music of artist I really like...which unfortunately is all part of the hifi game and reality!
But the underlying truth is ... we know when things either sound spot on or somehow wrong ...so being able to correct things to taste is a bonus
@humanitech ocd! I would obsess about the balance knob being exactly right...even if right was actually wrong. It's the same reason tube amps would drive me crazy. I'd always be focused on the tubes. Of course, I'm not you. And I do appreciate balance and tone controls are useful and desirable on amps.
@@timothyfreeseha4056 Thanks for the response... it's interesting how different we are to certain things... but I appreciate and respect your position too! i had a friend who was given a 16 band graphic equaliser...nearly drove him crazy!
Why show a different amp at 12 mins ?
Yea, from memory I think I talked about this when the video was released. It was a rogue Naim image I recall but it was too late to change when the error was found. Such is life on the RUclips roller coaster.
@@TheAudiophileMan Good review nontheless. Followed your advice and bought the Audiolab 6000 cdt. Amazing kit. My friend who has a 150k system has instantly bought one after hearing mine
A bit strange that it is only banana plugs for speaker terminals. Good review.
Indeed! And thank you.
Every non entry level preamp from Naim has a balance control. Hard to understand why a person wouldn’t want one.
Mate, you didn't actually say whether you liked it or not?😉
I beg to differ, Leo. I spent hundreds of words explaining my thoughts on the amp. If you're going to spend thousands of pounds on an amp, I think you deserve more than a simple 'I like/dislike it'. I always try to go into great detail and then let you decide whether the list of pros and cons are worth it for you. Maybe my style is not to your taste? No worries, if that's the case.
wrong picture at 13 min
The Manual needs completely re-writing, agreed.
Just buy a Rega Brio and spend the money you’ve saved on speakers and a quality source.
I couldn’t live with it after seeing that user manual.
I like you..Numanoid.
Manual
Multilingual. It contains as well aramaic language. The product is unjustified expensive.
I did listened to separate ones... together with separate power supplies.... Overall, for this kind of money I wasn't impressed.
The world of BUZzźing transformers!
All of the Supernait versions, and their Classic series Pre-amps have had a large balance control since the early 2000s. Their manuals have been like that for longer. Half of this review is pure waffle.
...and it was wrong then, as it's wrong now. A stretch of time doesn't somehow make it right.
I was using Naim in the early 90s but not everyone is as familiar with the brand, its quirks or the details of the same. Hence, I stand by the review content.
Since the early 80's, love that feature! Back then you had to get off your arse to adjust it though.
Remote controls for amps are used frequently and should be good looking. But this one looks like one for a cheap TV.
why cant they change the look a little. it look just like the previuos model
I suppose it's because they have a Naim identity 'thing'. It can be a bit Marmite, I agree.
I think the assumption is that youd use a sut. Come on. Use your noggin.
Horrible user interface design, horrible instructions on how to use said interface, absurdly good audio performance. That's Naim in a nutshell.
PRESENT NAIM IN 3 WORDS OR LESS: Low build quality. Must be left on constantly drawing massive electric current. Expensive recapping REQUIRED every 10 years. Use of overpriced DIN cables. Always an option to buy a new PSU for "better sound". Proprietary star-grounding mess equals incompatibility with other equipment without hum. Loudly humming toroid transformers. Famous Naim speaker hiss can be heard from 3 meters away with 87db speakers. Zero soundstage, only pounding exaggerated mid-bass. Naim "PRaT" is a marketing gimmick. Cold, steely, metallic and abrasive sound equals immediate listening fatigue. Naim repair service requires several months of unit immobilization. Naim has lost 3 CEOs, 2 Marketing Directors and countless technical engineers in the last 2 years. Naim INSISTS on using ALPS blue velvet potentiometers for balance and volume control which are ALWAYS imbalanced and SKEWED either left or right. It impossible to have a centered musical image for stereo listening with Naim equipment. Naim STILL will not update the omerta on using non-Naim speaker cables as they threaten this will "blow up" your amplifier because of inductance, resistance and capacitance values. Naim is now obligated to demo with Focal speakers, and vice-versa, due to the unnatural and illogical marriage of two brands managed by Vervent Audio Group. This entity is managed by Cedric Boutonnet from Saint Etienne, France and who doesn't give a SHIT about Customers in general and the Naim brand in particular. It is a well-known and well-documented fact that Naim and Focal do not work together and should never be in the same system. Imagine associating Naim with beryllium tweeters = instant ear bleed. Shall I continue? There's lots more to be said
That balanced knob is one of the stupidest controls I've seen. Same size as volume knob, and right next to it! 🤦
Amen.
I don't think it's stupid.
rfbead321 connect some v sensitive speakers and play some loudly mixed stuff in the wee hours at very low volume and you might notice your well aged amp‘s volume potentiometer has a balance issue. Well, my old XS does have .. a bit.
@@gioponti6359 ok, so put the adjustment on the back so you do it once and leave it...or, make that knob much smaller if you want it on the front panel. In this case, I would also make it so that you have to engage the control to make adjustments...yep, it's a stupid design as is...
These pots can drift or see a Chanel drop in gain at low volume settings. The balance can be helpful for quiet listening vs serious listening. It’s a worthwhile inclusion.
Because audiophiles don't have the experience or education to understand what matters (the skill of the original recording engineer, the choice of loudspeakers, their placement in a room and the acoustics of that room), audiophiles spend fortunes on the wrong things, which are the high-profit-margin and well advertised items like cables, power conditioners, amplifiers, power cables, connectors, resistors, and just about everything that has almost nothing to do with the quality of reproduced music - but makes loads of money for the people selling these fetishes.
Some of the best mastering engineers in the world disagree with you.
Naim I'm sure make great sounding products but they're whole range is the ugliest equipment I've ever seen, anyone agree? Looks more like an xbox than a hi end amp. As a consumer I'd actually like some colour options. Also something like the Audiolab 6000a always you to press in the volume knob to double up as balance control, so much more refined. I understand it's subjective but feel like product aesthetic is seriously lacking.
Naim looks understatedly sexy AF!
@@ericjensen9091 No. That's the Audiolab 6000a
Couldnt disagree any more. The whole reason i prefer naim is because it looks as good as it sounds. Absolutely stunning.
If you want colours and flash lighting go get a McIntosh , it has plenty lights and colours to distract you....
@@nelsta77u.k53 I know it's personal taste but there are many, many better looking amps in my eyes. Green and black is an odd colour to sit with many home interiors in my opinion
That "balance" knob is pretty much unnecessary and useless. Should look more like XS3. No need for balance knob.
I have it - and I love every little detail as well as the balance... why useless? you can finetune if you like... this is a funktion and not useless - xs3 is a Golf . SN3 is a V8 Truck
The balance nob and wonky power lead puts me off totally