Naim Nait 5i

I've experimented with, and owned, numerous amplifiers over the years, including other NAIM gear, and most recently AUDIOLAB. I have much exposure to NAIM gear through a retail store I have a privileged relationship with.

The NAIT 5i-2 is so far removed from the competition that there is no comparison at all. I've trialled the Rega amps extensively, and owned, very, very briefly, an exposure 3030. None of these other amps project music in terms of depth, spread, timing , and cohesiveness in the way the NAIM does. I can pick the NAIM in a blind test with any ancillary equipment.

NAIMs ability to drive complex loads is a function of superb power supply design, and 1 NAIM WATT is worth 10 of anybody elses. See what it can deliver into a 4 ohm load. Most of all, listen to the music, and try it with TOTEM Dreamcatchers ( amazing) Mites, Arros or Rainmakers. Satisfaction in a small room, for sure.

Worked fine until i bought the Naim 5i CD and it died! Mother board had to be replaced.

The Naim Nait 5i is the best integrated amplifier available on the market.

Fantastic sound on the Naim Nait 5i Amps- beats the opposition hands-down! Demo'd the Rega, Audiolab 8000, Cyrus. Only Cyrus came close (but because of the way the Cyrus looks, you have to but the CD player at the same time and that's a £1300 outlay - I had enough trouble hiding the £700 from the wife as it was). Traded up from a NAD C304 which was a cracking amp for the 8 years I had it, but the Naim is something else - It's like having your ears waxed! Got £250? Buy NAD. Got £700? Buy Naim. Gonna sell my telly and buy more CDs now...

I had previously owned an Audiolab 8000A for around 12 years and been very pleased with its sound, reliability and its comprehensive facilities, but musically there was always something missing that I could not quite put my finger on. I currently own an Arcam CD73T CD player and have auditioned the A85 and the FMJA32 amplifiers in Arcam's range - neither improved on the Audiolab's sound in my view, different but not better!

Then my hi-fi dealer plugged in the Naim Nait 5i - wow!

Suddenly I was listening to music and instruments with the harmonic richness of the real thing. If you like live music with real dynamics and punch then you will love this. If you want lots of inputs, tone controls and a headphone socket then you won't. Compared to the Audiolab or Arcams, musically, it's like freshly ground coffee compared to instant. If you haven't auditioned this amp yet then all I can say is - wake up and smell the coffee!