Naim 200 Series - The new generation of the Naim Classic Range

Foto © Naim Audio Ltd. | Naim 200 Series - Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier, Naim NAP 250 Power Amplifier and Naim NXP 300 Power Supply

The new Naim 200 Series features three systems: the Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier, Naim NAP 250 Power Amplifier and Naim NXP 300 Power Supply.

Naim Audio Ltd. describes the new Naim 200 Series, which was presented for the first time at CES 2023 in Las Vegas, as a new era in outstanding sound. It’s interesting to see how this range will be put together at launch, as the British high-end hi-fi company is focusing on a pre-amplifier with integrated streaming client, a perfectly matching power amplifier and an optional power supply in the form of the Naim NSC 222 Streaming Pre-amplifier, the Naim NAP 250 Power Amplifier and the Naim NXP 300 Power Supply.

Naim 200 Series – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Naim Classic Series

Naim Audio Ltd believes that the Naim Classic Series systems have always represented the very best in hi-fi components combined into a coherent system.

Naim Audio Ltd was founded in 1973 and over the years Naim Classic Series solutions have always played a major role. So it’s no surprise that Naim Audio Ltd has chosen the Naim Classic Series to kick off the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2023.

The latest generation is therefore intended to be something quite extraordinary, in order to do full justice to this 50th birthday. The company therefore speaks of timeless products, designed and developed by the engineers of Naim Audio Ltd. in Salisbury, and representing the result of the unique competence and experience of the Englishmen. The new Naim 200 Series thus represents the state of the art in innovation and technology, guaranteeing years of listening pleasure at the highest level.

Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier

The Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier is clearly the central interface of the latest generation of the Naim Classic Series, and the name of this solution clearly indicates where the emphasis has been placed in its development, namely streaming.

Nevertheless, the Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier also offers a range of inputs, both digital and analogue. There are four S/PDIF interfaces, both BNC and RCA, as well as two TOS links for digital sources, and a pair of 8-pin DIN and RCA sockets for analogue sources. There is also a phono preamplifier, although this is reserved for MM cartridges.

The Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier offers a pair of RCA sockets for unbalanced and a pair of XLRs for balanced signal routing.

By the way, there is also a connection for headphones, which can be found in the form of a 6.3 mm stereo jack directly on the front and which is supposed to be of a particularly high quality, as the manufacturer promises. There is even a comparison with the Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition.

According to Naim Audio Ltd, the streaming platform is the latest generation developed by the British company, the Naim NP800 Streaming Card, whereby the Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier can initially function as a dlna-certified UPnP streaming client as soon as it has been integrated into the network via an RJ45 Ethernet interface or WiFi in accordance with IEEE 802.11ac.

More exciting, of course, is the support for Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect. The Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier is also Roon-ready and supports multi-room audio streaming in hi-res audio via the Naim App for Google Android or Apple iOS, as well as access to numerous other streaming services such as internet radio, podcast and services such as Qobuz or Apple Music.

Bluetooth is not missing, so that smartphones and tablets, but also portable hi-res audio players can be used directly as a source without a network. Unfortunately, only aptX is supported as a codec in addition to SBC and AAC, so that only “CD quality” is achieved.

A USB port, which should not be forgotten, can be used directly as a source for corresponding storage media.

The Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier processes audio data in Linear PCM format at up to 32 bits and 384 kHz, as well as DSD up to DSD128. The preamplifier uses a Texas Instruments D/A converter, a TI PCM1791A DAC.

The new Naim NSC 222 streaming preamplifier features a circuit design that has been optimised down to the last detail, and has a timelessly elegant aluminium cabinet.

Four buttons, a 5.5-inch colour display and a rotary encoder are available for direct control of the device. A matching remote control is included in the scope of delivery, which interestingly relies on the ZigBee protocol and the manufacturer thus refers to it as a ZigBee RF bi-directional remote control. In addition, it should be mentioned once again that the Naim App is available.

With a width of 432 mm, a depth of 317.5 mm and a height of 91.5 mm, the Naim Classic Series preamplifier weighs in at 11 kg.

Naim NAP 250 Power Amplifier

The Naim NAP 250 Power Amplifier represents the latest generation of a solution first launched in 1975, with Naim Audio Ltd saying that the Naim NAP 250 has become a true cult favourite over the decades.

Now in its sixth generation, the new model offers more power than ever before. Its state-of-the-art technology delivers unrivalled performance and system flexibility. The new Naim NAP 250 Power Amplifier is promised to work with essentially any loudspeaker system.

This Class A/B power amplifier delivers 100 watts per channel to speaker systems with an impedance of 8 ohms, and 190 watts per channel if the speakers have an impedance of only 4 ohms.

The basis for this is said to be a sophisticated circuit design, as well as Naim DR Technology, which according to Naim Audio Ltd. guarantees a stable, always reliable power supply and thus high power reserves.

The inputs here are designed as XLR sockets and of course various trigger connections for central control with other components should not be missing.

With dimensions of 432 mm in width, 317.5 mm in depth and 91.5 mm in height, the stereo power amplifier weighs 16.8 kg.

Naim NPX 300 Power Supply

Optimised performance and power is to be achieved with the new Naim NPX 300 Power Supply, which interestingly is not designed for the Naim 200 Series power amplifier, but rather for the source devices and preamplifiers in this product line, in this case the Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier. The PSU upgrade is connected to the preamplifier via two Burndy cables, one for the digital components and the other for the analogue components.

The Naim NPX 300 Power Supply deactivates the internal power supply, which according to the manufacturer drastically reduces noise, and thus provides a superior, clean power supply.

The power supply features a newly developed transformer that works in conjunction with six exclusive Naim power regulators with Naim DR Technology (Discrete Regulator) to achieve the desired result. Primarily, of course, the Naim NPX 300 Power Supply is designed for use with Naim 200 Series solutions, but it can also be used with the Naim NDX2 or even the Naim NAC-N 272, simply by using the appropriate cable, according to Naim Audio Ltd.

The power supply weighs 14.4kg and measures 432 x 317.5 x 91.5mm.

Pricing and availability

The new Naim 200 Series should be available from specialist retailers as early as these days, as the English company confidently announced in Las Vegas on the occasion of its presentation at CES 2023. The pricing is quite ambitious, as not only the Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier will be offered at a recommended retail price of € 6.999,-, but also the Naim NAP 250 Power Amplifier and the Naim NXP 300 Power Supply.

Getting to the point

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Naim Audio Ltd. and the Naim Classic Series in particular, the British high-end hi-fi manufacturer is launching the new Naim 200 Series and with it the “new” Naim Classic Series at the beginning of the year. The Naim NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier, Naim NAP 250 Power Amplifier and Naim NXP 300 Power Supply are set to usher in nothing less than a new era.