What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
13 SEP 2003
Naim Nait 5i
Naim has always been a high-end hi-fi brand, so its NAIT amp is usually described as 'entry-level'. Leaving aside the sheer gall involved in calling an amp costing £725 'entry-level'; the good news is that the 5i is the best NAIT yet.
And yes, the name is confusing: the previous version of this amplifier was called the NAIT 5i. Which means the only thing that identifies the new version is the italicised 'i'. Thanks, Naim...
However, that's about as much as you're going to hear from us in terms of complaints, because the NAIT 5i is an absolutely stunning amplifier. Its sonic style achieves a rare balance of focus, precision and realism. It has more than enough punch to keep your feet tapping, while never compromising the sonic richness and harmonic detail of individual instruments.
Listening to a recording of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, we were somewhere between stunned and overwhelmed at how much it sounded as though we were actually in a room with a piano. As a listening experience, it's blissful.
The 5i has four sets of line inputs – plus one set of tape loop outputs – and delivers 50 watts per channel. It also (unlike its predecessor) has a handy stereo mini-jack input on the front fascia, so you can very easily plug in your laptop, iPod or other MP3 device.
Appealing to a wider market
We get the feeling that that input is one of several ways that Naim is using this amp to try and appeal to a wider audience. Where once the company insisted on those (in)famous DIN inputs, now you get a choice of DIN or the more conventional RCA phono sockets.
And Naim is at pains to point out that you can use a wide variety of interconnects and speaker cables with the NAIT 5i – once upon a time, the company was very sniffy about you using any cable but its own.
We're glad Naim is reaching out in this way, because a product as good as this deserves a wider audience. Sonically, it delivers a level of refinement and vivid musical realism that makes its price tag of £725 look very reasonable indeed.
From the multi-layered soul samples on Kanye West's Graduation to the delicate instrumentation and keening vocals on PJ Harvey's White Chalk, the Naim attains a finely judged and extremely musical presentation, staying precise and faithful to the recording at all times.
There's usually a balance to be struck between harmonic richness and exact precision, and the NAIT 5i walks this fine line with genuine aplomb. The Naim is a great amp – and while it may not be 'entry level', it's still a snip at the price.