Supernait integrated amplifier

This one deserves a page of it's own. The Supernait ploughs it's own furrow by offering an in-built digital to audio converter (therefore several digital inputs) along with normal analogue sockets too. It has a headphone socket and a mini jack input on the front panel.

On the other hand it dovetails with the other Naim products by having a feed for the outboard phono stage and allowing for power supply upgrades and an output for an external power amplifier. Very nice it is too. Slightly softer and kinder than it's siblings, so that it will not make too much of limitations in lesser sources. It comes over as more of a softer focus than a veil, but it carries this off with a very musical delivery. A well judged package with a gutsy 80 watts per channel output.

NAC 202 preamplifier

So now we are on to the serious stuff. The 202 pre with 200 power is our best selling amplifier combo.

Adding a PSC to separate the digital control circuits from the signal path pays dividends, reducing 'glare' and opening up the resolution. Add a HiCap power supply for increased scale, refinement, dynamics, even more resolution.

This really is a very fine piece of kit and it should be on the auditions list for anyone looking at this level. Best seen as part of a Naim based system, the addition of an external PSU such as the HiCap would allow it to be used with other manufacturers power amplifiers.

NAP 200 power amplifier

The natural partner to the NAC 202 above. The is the highest level Naim power amp to have a power feed for the pre-amp. From the 250 onwards you will need a separate power supply for the pre-amp.

Viewed as a combination with the 202 pre, this gives a very compelling £3050 amplifier which can be upgraded as demands and funds allow. The rated output of 70 W per channel should be disregarded. It sounds like a whole lot more. The overall coherence from bass to treble is impressive, as is the bass control and resolution. With Naim amps you can hear what the bass is, be it electric, acoustic or percussive. The natural sense of timing makes music flow in a most addictive way.

Speaker matching seems to be pretty easy with masses of good results from Neats, ATC, Harbeths, B+W's, JM Labs . . bring them on!

NAC 282 preamplifier

The next level to the 202, the most obvious physical differences being that the balance control is a knob on the front (the 202's is remote control only) and the record output is selected separately (second row of buttons). But that is not important right now! The real difference is the resolution, refinement, image scale, dynamics, timing, sheer musicality. You might as well get used to this, as the differences between all of the pre-amps are in much the same areas.

It is a good sign when the manufacturer understands their products to this degree (far more the exception than the rule, we can assure you). The Naim upgrade ladder is (mainly) well spaced and the expenditure usually seems quite modest measured against the improvements involved.

In truth, the 282 makes more sense of the next level of power amp (the iconic 250) but it nevertheless opens up the 200 in a dramatic way. It can be used with power amp power from the 200, from a single Hi-Cap, from two Hi-Caps or from a SuperCap. As ever, the improvements brought by the improved power supplies easily justify the investment. The PSC that transforms the NAC 202 is part of the basic kit, by the way.

NAP 250/II power amplifier

Yet again, a natural partner. This time for the NAC 282. At this point, you will need a separate power supply for the pre-amp. Benefits over the NAP 200 are tighter control, slam, resolution, sheer exuberance. After all, it does have an extra 15 watts at its disposal! Yet again, Naims rated output (this time it's 85 Watts) sounds like a printing error.

Strangely, this particular product is a little less easy going in the speaker matching department than the 200 below and 300 above. Get it right, and it is very much the right stuff, set alight by the terrific 282 preamp. Get it wrong and it is dry and relentless.

But we are here to help get the match right.

CD X2 CD player

It might cost £2925 but the CDX2 is our best selling Naim CD player. A very worthwhile step up from the CD5X (even with added Flatcap), this is where CD replay starts to allow the mid range Naim electronics to show what they can do.

It works well with the standard (and included) DIN lead but third party cables such as Nordost's high value Heimdall interconnect can make real strides forward. The Hi-Line is more than justified too.

The standard CDX2 is big, bold, subtle, refined, just plain expressive. In works well as a stand - alone CD player in other brands systems, with ATC active systems being particularly receptive. It even resolves spatial cues extremely well, something Naim is just not supposed to do.

NA XPS2

And this is popular too! The XPS2 upgrades the power supply for the CDX2 to dramatic effect. It is also required for the next level CDS3 to function at all.

The improvements to the CDX2 are in all the predictable departments (cut and paste 'resolution, refinement, image scale, dynamics, timing, sheer musicality' for the umpteenth time!). The surprise is the amount of change.

In reality, this is many separate power supplies in one box. The 'burndy' cable that links it to the CD player is something to behold.

NA HiCap

Along with 'NAP250', one of the most famous Naim names.

The HiCap can feed a stageline phono preamp, a CD5x, a NAC 112X, a NAC 202 or a NAC 282. And it makes a fine investment .

NA PSC

The 'no brain' upgrade for the 202 preamp (it is standard with the 282), the NA PSC can also power the headline headphone amp and, and . . . . no, that's about it.

For a Naim power supply, it is quite inexpensive though.

NA SuperCap

Takes the NAC 282 to a new level. And the minor downside is that it empties your pocket in the process. This is really part of the 'large pocket edition' products but since it upgrades the 282, it is listed here.

For our part, we would probably go upwards on the CD front before adding the Supercap but it does do great things and, if you play mainly records, the Stageline phono stage gets its own power supply upgrade for free.

Serious stuff.

<small pocket guide to naim < >large pocket guide to naim>