Naim, vanguards of Hi-Fi - the High Priests of High Fidelity, the P.R.A.Ts (Pace, Rhythm And Timing) with a prowess for clarity and the one of the final words in audio engineering excellence. How does the New Classic 200 Series shape up?

This year is a big year for the Salisbury outfit - celebrating 50 years of audio reproduction mastery and the 30 year anniversary for Naim Records. Those early adolescent years, under the charismatic Julian Vereker, were confident, unorthodox, quirky, with tongue-in-cheek advertising and a freshness of vision that captivated the Hi-Fi world. As Naim grew up, so did their reputation - making their mark on the world with the 2011 Statement Edition.

Gone is the Green - 200 SERIES: Welcome to a new era in sound

The new 200 Series line includes the NSC 222 preamplifier and streamer, the NAP 250 power amplifier, as well as the uncompromising NPX 300 power supply.

With obvious design cues from the Uniti range, this is the future of the Naim Classic series. The front panels are treated with solid 20mm-thick aluminium billets; heat sinks frame the side panels (careful these are a little sharp) and 5mm plates cover the top and bottom surfaces of the products. The aluminium is brushed, sandblasted and anodised to guarantee unalterable beauty throughout the product's life. Gone is the classic tuned ringing of casework, replaced by a solid inert thud.

The NSC 222

Naim have not had an integrated preamplifier and streamer in the line up for a number of years. The last one launched was in 2015 the NAC N 272 and this is a completely new ground up design.

The versatility of the NSC 222 cannot be underestimated. It fills a very important gap in Naim's range between All-In-One, to full separates system. It is as close as you can get to a full separates sound without the box count. The 222 has 2 USB Type A socket, 4 digital inputs comprising of 2 Optical TOSLINK (up to 24bit/96kHz), a coaxial RCA (up to 24bit/192kHz, DoP 64Fs) and a coaxial BNC (up to 24bit 192kHz, DoP 64Fs). On the analogue side there is a handy moving magnet phono stage and 8-pin DIN (compatible with 5-pin DIN cables) and a pair of RCA stereo Line level inputs (RCA/DIN): Impedance 47k, 2.2V typical, 7.5Vrms Max 8 pin DIN has +/-18V for compatible external phono stages such as Solstice NVC TT.

On the streaming side, all the usual suspects are handled - play all your favourite radio stations non-stop, as well as any music you choose from Spotify Connect, Apple Music, TIDAL, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, UPnP™ servers, USB key, Roon Ready, and more. handling bit rates of up to 32bit/284kHz.

The headphone socket is not an add on. Full Naim technology for headphone listening is inherited from the Uniti Atom Headphone Edition.

The NPX 300

This optional separate power supply incorporates a new transformer, which works with six exclusive Naim power regulators (using DR technology - Discrete Regulator), providing a cleaner power to your system. Less “noise” means a better sound. It works perfectly with the 200 Series products, and is also compatible with the NDX2 or even the NAC-N 272 – you just need the specific cables.

The NAP 250

First appeared nearly 50 years ago and recent incarnations have featured trickle down from the Naim Statement. Today, it delivers more power than ever and offers more flexibility within a complete system. The cutting-edge engineering work involved in the NAP 250 results in unrivalled performance. It delivers 100 watts of A/B class power per channel, fully adjustable to set your music free in the most remarkable way.

The addition of symmetrical XLR connections (yes, you read that right) and a series of technologies derived from Naim's iconic Statement amplifier, including a eddy current separator available between the loudspeaker outputs. It also incorporates the Naim Audio DR (Discrete Regulator) technology found in the Statement.

A note on connectivity, after years of making a din about din - Naim seems to be being a little hushed now, which makes for a lot less of a headache when connecting up different bits of kit. The NSC 222 still has an 8-pin DIN (compatible with 5-pin DIN cables) - useful for older sources compatibility.

Setup and listening

Sources used:

Linn LP12; Majik Edition with Adikt Cart
Linn Selekt DSM - Standard DAC
Innuos Zen Mini
Audio Note TT Three - with IQ III cart

‌Speakers

Harbeth SHL5
Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3
Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4
ATC SCM 19
Sonus Faber Olympica Nova III‌
ATC Active 50ASLT

This has been a full on at least 8 hours a day for the last 4 weeks of constant playback on the shop floor. And yes we are floored. This is Naim. Do I need to elaborate (maybe for the word count) .

Straight out the box the system needed about a week to settle down - mid range seemed a little strained and grip and drive a little hard. Since then just on keeps getting better. Mid range is now beautiful, texture of treble and bass are absolutely superb. The power and grunt is there and will happily drive the Bowers & Wilkins 804.

Firing up GoGo Penguin’s “A Humdrum Star” album - the separation pace and precision is excellent. The Manchester based trio - aka “the Radiohead of British Jazz” , the most notable is the separation between the instruments - double bass and kick drum remain clearly distinguishable even when the going gets very busy. The match with the Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 really gave a sense of attack and urgency without sounding forced and confused - plenty of vigour and life.

Moving to Classical and Murray Perahia, “Bach: Goldberg Variations”, BMV 988, released in 2000 on Sony Classical - the delicacy and virtuoso performance of Perahia is excellently handled. Certainly with the Harbeth’s that natural tone and fleshy emotions all bear fruit in an exquisite synergy. Perahia precision, linearity are all etched with an emotional clarity that is sublime.

I will make a note that the NSC 222 with the ATC SCM50 Active Towers is an extremely accomplished system and if you want to limit the box count, but still have huge grunt and input flexibility, then the 222 is the way to go. A dedicated preamp of around £2,000* is still not as good as the NSC 222, and yet it has the sources…

Turning to phono stage performance - The on-board phono stage is a delight, not just a convenience and sounded excellent with the Linn Majik. The more exotic Audio Note TT Three - with IQ III cart improved performance vastly and showed just how good the onboard phono stage is.

Compared to Older Naim

Looking at the pricing points the new Naim 200 series system with the power supply comes in at just over £17K. The legacy equivalent would be the Naim ND5 XS 2 - £2,500*, Naim 282 - £4,800, Naim Hi Cap - £1,699, Naim 250DR £4,499 - that system comes in at £13k.

But, then we have just switch the system over to the Naim NDX2 £6,000* Naim 252 £7,700, Naim SuperCap £5,300 , Naim NAP 300 with PSU 300 - £8,600 - that’s a £28,000 Naim system and we can attest that there is not a lot in it. I would argue that the new Naim 200 classic is closer to a 300 system than an old 250!

Naim have seriously excelled with the new 200 series. Certainly, putting the Naim NDX2 into the NSC222, reducing it’s duties to just pre amp, provided insightful - a firming of transients and clarity that, from the outset you would not know you were missing - such is the balance of the 222.

In Summary

If you have a NAC N-272 the upgrade to the NSC 222 is without question a huge step up in performance. Reducing your box count from ND5/282 to the 222 is another worthy upgrade. The tantalising nomenclature of the NPX 300 points to further products in the pipeline.

The green may have gone from Naim, but their competitors will be green with envy at such an accomplished system. Call us or book a dem to experience the all new Naim 200 series

Thanks for reading.

Justin, Max & James - Audio T Bristol

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

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