The Naim Supernait 3 Integrated Amplifier Review! I Did Not Expect THIS! 

Have you ever tried Hegel H390?

I'm not sure if you had commented on this combo, since you use the bigger Pass amps now. But would a Pass INT-25 do well enough to drive those Fleetwoods in a medium room to relatively loud levels?

Ever tried Lejonklou or Linn? If you like Naim I'm sure you will like them.

Hello, I just purchased second hand xs2 and I love it. I thing for this obvious reason that it is not kind of amplifier that does some kind of show but it just wants to play the music right. This is how I see it. Actually I am challinging the bass because with my moderate speakers which I have at home some dificult orchestra passages with many chellos produces somwhat thick omph which is not nice so tommorow I am going to check for some speakers if they can play it nicely together with naim, lets see.

What speakers are you pairing it with?

the reason why there are not so many reviews about NAIM is simple. Naim doesn't push social medial influencers.

Awesome!! Happy listing 👍

@@BerndtNorten totally agree 👍

Leaving it on actually INCREASES an amps longevity as most wear / damage is caused by the shock of switch-on.

You can reverse the interconnects going into the unit and then connect the speaker wires conventionally.

Why did you leave Naim ?

@@Skyouu i owned the nac 282/hicap, nap 200. Great sound. But I upgraded to the integrated amp Gryphon Diablo 120. The gryphon also plays with PRAT, but a little more like live sound, and also better finesse (subtlety)

@@henriksrensen3220 currently, looking for a amplifier for my Triangle Comètes 40th anniversary edition. The 5si (or XS3) could be my future buy... Edit: I'm looking reviews on the Triangle/Naim matching

@@Skyouu the xs is a great amp. And you can upgrade with flatcap power supply

@Henrik Sørensen do you think the power supply is a nice benefit ? are they like some power conditioner or its a stock of energy with capacitors?

Apparently Naim amps are fine on high efficiency speakers but one needs the appropriately matched Naim speaker cables.

what did you get?

@@sarahX.. I had those Naim cables, I guess they want you to use them because of capacitance.

I also own the Kinki EX-M1+ because of Steve's review and I absolutely love it.

I'm eyeing the Aethos. I like this sound signature: full prat type.. I absolutely adore the rega brio but haven't heard a thing above that. I'm looking supernait 3 or Aethos as my next move but can't hear both - any input is appreciated!

@@erics.4113 go for Rega it has lovely natural sound

Those sound INCREDIBLE

Nice 👍👍

Well put.

I love my SN3 + HiCap DR with full WitchHat Morgana loom (Phantom speaker Cables and Spectre preordered 😉)!

@@DBravo29er I hear ya! I also have the Phantoms and love them. Couldn’t quite commit to the Spectre just yet. Congrats!

@@scslite5206 The Spectres are definitely more $$$ than I expected. I've been super happy with the Phantoms, and can return the Spectres if I don't find them worth it,

Luxman - sweeter top end.

@@connorduke4619 What do you mean by sweeter top end? Less aggressive ?

One of the best Jazz nights I ever experienced, when he brought his Liberation Music Orchestra here to Edinburgh.

No, it really doesn't.

Hicap or supercap?

It does for the earlier generation of Supernait. The SN3 already has DR technology in its internal PSU, so I believe the addition of a HiCap DR is not so significant. I have the HiCap DR on my SN1 and the upgrade was a big step up.

HiCap DR on my SN3 was an obvious uplift. So worth it!

@@DBravo29er same here, SuperCap DR is over kill though

Spotify hifi ? We are waiting for too long...

Can't answer the first question. But the Naim will be plenty for medium sized rooms and speakers at least 87dB sensitivity. The original Supernait was tested by Stereophile to be 90wpc into 8 ohms and 140wpc into 4ohms. This won't be any weaker than that... likely a little stronger. Kinda like many tube amps, it sounds much more big and powerful than the wattage rating suggests.

I am using SN3 with Dynaudio Focus 160, room size is 40 m2. SN3 can deliver current for Dynaudios. In Sweden there is a audio shop dedicatec to Naim + Dynaudio. For comparision Musical Fidelity M6 500i sounded thinner, though it has a lot of more power.

I have the SN1 with 20 year old Dynaudio Audience 50's. A stunning combination, so I would expect the heritage to work with the heritage specials

@@stuartbridger5177 Great! The Heritage Special is a more difficult load but if it has a lot of current i guess 80 watts will be enough. Strangely i don't like these speakers with powerful class d amps. It seems they like class a or a/b with ab torodial transformers. Does anyone know what the VA rating is of these transformers is in naim gear? They usually don't mention this in tech specs.

​@@GentielioGamingSupernait 3 is 400va

The one you like the sound of better 😜

I think these two would be a strange cross-shop unless you were considering quite different presentations

Naim is way way better. I bring my s400 mark ii to local shop test out m1+ and naim vocal , bass more inpact even just 80w just better

​@@Stephenwongdirectimaging ever tried hegel？I lean to hegel a little bit between these two amps. But I haven't heard naim supernait3(no local dealer provide that service).Thanks.

Kind of hard when the listening position is 8 feet away :) I would still prefer a click, personally.

They are actually silver banana receptacles. You are correct, spades will not work.

Not a new thing. Naim has made amps like this for years.

Same here on NAP 300 DR. If you stand behind the amplifier the channels are in correct order.

Very different, I’d say. The Cambridge is a very called able amp… but the Naim’s are SO musical. Give one a try if you can.

Probably made from copper. With connections on both ends. Just a guess of course.

Yes. Focals and Naim are an amazing synergy. I've heard that Focal tailor there sound with Naim in mind and that they are related companies.

The lowest cost Pass integrated is the INT-25 and that is a Class A amp. The Naim is a class B amp. Completely different types of sound. The Pass pieces cost more and will have a much larger soundstage, be more holographic, more spatial, richer and with more depth. The SN3 will not be as refined but will have more punch and kick.

Could you please share the solution you came up with for the Hum? My Nait amp exhibits the same issue. 🙏🏼

However?

DC blocker fixed the hum. It's from DC on the AC line.

@@DBravo29er is it possible that a teddy pardo power supply can fix this issue as well

@@anjovandijk9797 Not this issue. Teddy Pardo's are usually there to create DC power from AC. I actually use a VERY large Topaz Ultra isolation transformer (5.2kVa), which blocks DC by default. The bigger iso doesn't hinder dynamics. But it's 111lbs.

Or Dynaudio even though it's Danish dynamics in buckets...

Harbeth, Graham, Dynaudio, KEF, DeVore, AudioNote, even KLH V or Wharfedale Linton. All sound superb with the SN3.

@@DBravo29er I auditioned the SN3 at a local store with a pair of ATC speakers. It was a great match. I bought the speakers. Now I want the Naim. :)

@@thebestoffools ATC makes some absolutely killer speakers, as well. 👍🔥

I bought ne naim to drive my klipsch cornwall iv but this amp works so much better with my vintage spendor bc1

Naim fans are like Apple fans. It’s a feature not a flaw.

👍

HiCap DR pow

power supply

@@Michael-xz1nk cost of this seperately?

I believe its $2,859 in the US. I do not own one but a friend does and raves about it.

As always, try at home to be sure its for you.

Jay's iyagi did some comparisons between these two brands a few years ago iirc - you can check that one (if you didn't do that already). - my bet is that both are perfectly fine amps - the sound signature is just different - and it will be a matter of personal taste - and of course possible pairing synergy (or not) with the rest of the system. Your Hegel has a lot more power - with harder to drive loudspeakers extra power can never hurt.

I had both at home on trial. Both fantastic amps but I love the Naim sound more.

It won't. Hegel is better

Its subjective. And the h390 costs 25% more.

Falling off a cliff what a nightmare

He's now on the 4th dimension astral plane in perfect health, going to class and preparing for his next life. Life is not a tragedy but a never ending story. Mediums have even interviewed Beethoven and Mozart about their creative process.

@@connorduke4619 mediums! Seriously?

@@pandora8478 You still think humans are mortal and soulless. Seriously?

Nice one 👍 I'm fortunate to live in the UK so Naim kit is cheaper over here.

I have a topping LA90, hard to beat at any price.

Which speakers do you use with the 5si ?

I ask you that, because I'm looking on the 5si and the XS3 for my Triangle comète 40 th anniversary edition. I don't really know if the 5si could be efficient on them, those speakers need current.. I think the XS3 is more capable...but I don't know for the 5si with his 2x60w/300VA...

@@Skyouu not sure are they stands 6 oms for 6 ohms like the evoke 20 im not sure on watts i know only for 8 ohms its 60W for 4 ohms like the sonus fabers 90 or 95 W

I heard them both side by side a couple of times and prefered the Luxman everytime... So much so that I actually bought it.

@@yantrussart6584 Thanks for sharing. And Luxman is more detailed I think.

@@susokraut3169 you know there are better ways to seek attention, right?

@@yantrussart6584 yet the 590 is over 2k more in stores

Yo. Luxman is arright. Naim sn3 is way cool though.

Plus per my minute experience Pass Labs class A sound is too relaxed. Perhaps after another 10 years, I would accept it. Time being, I stick with class A/B & D with a value pre-amp

And before that Line Magnetic 219, Vinnie Rossi, Pass, etc. it’s hard to believe a reviewer who keeps saying the latest gear he reviews is the best

Lyngdorf are top dogs right now for sure.

I respect Naim for their point of view that there’s 2 solutions to the problem: room correction software, or just correcting your room 😅 . If you like the sound of your hifi that’s the main thing. 👍🏽

@@toucheslapper well yeah. I mean Naim is quite an established player.. Kinki Studios has been on the scene all of..........15 minutes?

Kinki Studio amps, are leaning more towards the so called "swiss sound, more transparent, more analytical, more clean and lean. Naim (in general terms) is more musical, organic, dynamic and less analytical.

+1, Naim is a bit pricy...

Yes. Im running some tunetots with this- Its remarkable.

I get the feeling you paired it something it didn't match with then had a bad experience trying to return it. One thing that may help you to know is every component must have the right synergy with the other components in your system. This will make or break any system. And buy from a reputable dealer for a happy experience 😁

@@ReferenceFidelityComponents bro, stop, just stop

The same guys that give you cheap interconnect flanges? YMVM but I think (As a long time Naim user) they cheap out on a lot of things. Cables matter but not as much as your amp does.

That is not true at all, the reason why they are the other way around is that Naim used to make studio gear where the back is facing you, then the terminals are the correct way around. They just stuck with it.

Can you not visualise how this does not change anything, or reenact it with some cables on your desk? Also, it is a terrible idea because it adds a mile to your speaker cable lengths, which you want to keep as short as possible.

Which was better?

@@rog86 I think he is trying to say "then" for "than"...I made a direct comparsion with the Brio R to Naim XS. Naim was better in some areas but no every and was 3x times the price. I replaced my Brio R for the Naim but always missed the Brio an never was totally happy with Naim...The Naim was replaced for a Reisong A10 that have been replaced for a Synthesis Roma 96. Never looked back to Naim...that said if i coud have 4 diferents amps to change probably one could be a Naim but never would be my first option or my favorite.

@@germanmenendez1401 Naim is very over priced

I familiar with those two. They are not comparable models. Naim is better in many ways. Brio is a fun lil amp that packs a nice punch but it really is not in the same class, you'd have to higher up the Rega chain to compare similar model amps.

92 dB is not "low"....I mean 85db and less is low... 85 -->92 medium , and upper than 92 high ... No ?

@@Skyouu something like this I think

@@ducmoto1975 ok, do you know the matching with triangle and Naim?

@@Skyouu long time ago I my naim nail 2 drove triangle comets. I liked it a lot. later I bought Harbeth M30 speakers und upgraded with NAC72 and NAP140 because I couldn't use the potential of the Harbeth with the NAIT2. anyway two years later I bought the NAP250 olive and the Harbeth starts to shine. 10 Years later I bought the Cornwall 4 and replaced the vintage NAP250 with a Supernait 3. Great improvement but in my opinion too much current for the Cornwall 4. Today I drive my BC1 with the Supernait 3 and my klipsch with my NAIT 2 both sounds great. all I wanna say - it`s a journey. NAIM was never disappointing.

@@ducmoto1975 do you think the 5si could drive the comete 40th anniversary speakers ? Or it's better to go on the XS3 ? About the preamplifier of the SN3,it's the same about the 500 series.. do you think the XS3 have the preamplifier of 200series ? Thanks to your feedback on the Triangle/Naim association, I were sure it was a nice match.

is this a first world problem?

Overpriced

What difference?

@@trowdwp it sounds a lot better, the pre sektion get it’s ovn psu.

“Flat” = lifeless to many of us. Some prefer warm and rich, while others like bright and airy.

It lets the character through. Most other amps don’t, that’s why they sound dull in comparison. I am a Naim owner. Same kit for decades. I’ve not felt the need to change it. That’s value and reliability

@@maxine2798 Naim equipment seems to appeal to the same people who like Rolex watches, Porsche cars, Chris Reeve knives, Leica cameras, etc. Its of a similar aesthetic.

Thats why i use Lowther speakers with a computer sound card.. no DAC. With the cheapest leads I can find with a FM radio

Brittle harsh and underpowered at the price

Yep I found it a little harsh and underpowered. It was 4 year old when I bought it. Sold it on within 6 months

@@sbwlearning1372 Then it wasn't a SN3. They came out in 2019

@@sbwlearning1372 Just curious, what speaker did you have at the time?

Maybe try the naim streamers as well to compare to lina, and you get to use the din cables, also try speaker cables, din cables, power cables made for naim. Try the power supplies like hicapDR, the whole SN3 upgrade path..etc etc.. It gets way better. Go down the naim rabbit hole.. Lol. Enjoy!

@@joseestrella334 true but it can get terribly expensive too.

@@shivmirchandani9723 very much so yes! And terribly rewarding as well. Cheers!

Absolute nonsense Jose. 😂

@@joseestrella334 that's the fun of it 🤣 love Naim even their circuits are very very geeky 😃

Many high-end amplifiers omit the added complication (and additional devices in the signal path) line Naim. And, with the amount of current being pushed through modern output devices, tiny fuses can still have their spark gap jumped even after blown. I've seen it personally in a new Parasound A21+. Speakers still toast. It happens, unfortunately. Having "protection" circuits or features are no guarantee. The entire shell of the Naim is a single 7lb piece of billet-machined aluminum. This entire case is directly coupled to the output devices and is elegantly used as the heat sink. Not many amps, especially INTEGRATED amps, have 7lbs worth of heat sink/thermal mass. I've hammered on my Supernait 3 even with 83dB sens speakers and have yet to have it get more than slightly warm. The only shut-downs I've seen are when using high-capacitance speaker cables like Kimber 12TC. But those same cables also cause high frequency oscillation and instability in Pass Amps, Parasound, Krell, Mola Mola, NAD, Rotel, Adcom, etc. Aside from clipping the amp on a test bench for hours at a time, the thermal management is fully adequate for the real world. So, we've established that you've never owned a Naim amp and you just used two make-believe examples as "flaws". Have you ever even used a Naim product?

20+ year Naim owner. Never had a problem with any Naim amp I've owned. The amps are very reliable.

I take it that you've never actually owned a Naim then? I've owned Naim gear over the last 40yrs. Never had one shut down. Never had one fail. My brother still uses my 30yr old Nait2 everyday and it still sounds wonderful.

Frankly that's nonsense

That idiotic. My naims have been dependable and sound fantastic.

how would Rega compare to the Exposure?