Naim kicks off its 50th anniversary in style at CES Las Vegas with not one, not two, but three all-new hi-fi components in the Classic range – each fully redesigned with a fresh look and additional connection options, including balanced connections.
The respected half-decade audio company invites you (come to CES if you feel like it) to start your musical journey with the Naim New Classic with the NSC 222: a streaming preamplifier that keeps things simple without compromising on sound. You get Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz and other baked goods right away, plus a world of internet radio, or maybe plug in one of the best turntables to hear more from your vinyl collection?
The NSC 222 is also equipped with Naim’s latest headphone technology (as is the case with the excellent Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition) for an even better solo listening experience.
Everything you listen to is also displayed on the NSC 222’s 5.5″ color screen. Control it easily with the Focal & Naim app (which we really enjoyed testing the Focal Bathys headphones), the smart Zigbee remote (not line of sight required) or the device itself: Naim assures us that the illuminated volume control is a joy to use.
Naim explains that the NSC 222 can be used on its own or as part of a multi-room setup with other Naim streaming products – including the excellent Mu-so speaker family – as well as other AirPlay and Chromecast products.
To take your speakers (and music) of your choice to new heights, Naim suggests pairing the NSC 222 with its ideal partner: the NAP 250 power amplifier.
Now that separate hi-fi is a superstar, friends. In continuous production since 1975, the NAP 250 is now a cult audio set. And this new sixth generation iteration uses trickle-down technology derived from Naim’s flagship Statement amplifier, delivering more power (100W per channel) and promising even better performance and greater system matching flexibility.
Ready to complete the package? This will be the NPX 300 power supply, which Naim explains is an immediate upgrade from the above NSC 222 streaming preamplifier. Why? It turns off the internal power – instantly further reducing the noise floor – and promotes better, cleaner power.
The Naim Audio NSC 222, NAP 250 and NPX 300 are available to order now for a suggested retail price of $8,999 / £5,700 / €7,000 each (or around $13,140).
Naim has also created a range of cable options that allow the new models to be easily integrated with previous Naim products to ease the upgrade path.
Opinion: With so many options in one box, the Naim sets seem to be the best hi-fi buy
You don’t have to look far to find audio products that supposedly do it all without any extra boxes, from the best Bluetooth speakers and wireless speakers to party speakers looking to add to your lighting as well as music support. Even Naima’s great Mu-so (2019) was an all-singing, streamed, one-box marvel.
It’s refreshing to see three hi-fi units separate from Naim – albeit improved, updated solutions with streaming capability and fresh compatibility options.
But this is CES, the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas, baby! We’re used to seeing self-driving cars and huge 120-inch prototype TVs at CES. And despite a bold 2011 merger with high-end French audio specialist Focal (see Sopra 2 and Cleer Mg to start), Naim Audio is a British hi-fi manufacturer based in Wiltshire, UK, founded in 1973.
But this is the land of audio. Here, the continued resurgence of vinyl happily coexists with high-resolution digital audio, and while some opt for one of the best portable players on the market, others prefer to stay home and plug a set of the best over-ear headphones into their multibox. -fi systems. 2023 is good – let’s hope it always stays that way.
Naim celebrates its 50th birthday at CES. You love watching it.