Naim have brought out a new range called the XS series which is the first slim-line series to carry a brushed anodised black fascia.
The new XS Series from Naim is the next step up from the entry level Naim i Series. The XS series consists of CD5 XS CD Player, NAT 05 XS FM Tuner, NAIT 5 XS Integrated Amplifier, NAC 152 XS Pre Amplifier, NAP 155 XS Power Amplifier, and FlatCap XS Power Supply.
UK Prices are respectively £1750, £990, £1350, £895, £1025, £675 including VAT.
The XS series has a slim line non-magnetic low-resonance chassis, machined from solid brushed and anodised front panel and aluminium case, decoupled connectors and the new bayonet PCB mounting for critical boards.
Naim retailers will have the XS series on demonstration by the end of July.
CD5 XS CD Player
The £1750 CD5 XS Naim player has the inclusion of a transformer-coupled digital output, and swing arm beam with enhanced triple bracket mounting points.
Most of the Naim CD5 XS is new apart from the transformer and mechanism but you have an all new motherboard which has been redesigned, and is now a four-layer design for better signal transmission, and the analogue board is updated.
- Switchable S/PDIF – analogue out or digital out (75 Ohm BNC for impedance match)
- Switchable Din or RCA analogue output
- New low impedance power supply for digital clock, hard-wired clock power supply regulation
- Transformer decoupled digital output – isolated from zero volts and chassis
- 210VA toroidal transformer
- Swing arm CD Tray for optimum isolation
- Swing arm Beam strength mounted with enhanced triple bracket mounting points – increased rigidity
- New display and display PCB for lower noise
- Upgradeable with FlatCap XS
- Redesigned mainboard – now 4-layer for improved ground planes.
- Rear 3.5mm jack for infrared – takes modulated and demodulated inputs
NAT05 XS FM Tuner
The £990 NAT 05 XS tuner is also an all-new design, using Naim’s bayonet mounting PCB for the sensitive audio circuitry. The new compliantly mounted tuner head, improved circuits and new display board bring worthwhile improvements to what was already a great leading tuner.
Upgradeable with FlatCap XS.
- New high performance ALPS tuner head
- The tuner head is sensitive and microphonic so it is rigidly mounted to a highly compliant bracket
- All new circuit for improved performance
- New display and display PCB for lower noise
- Upgradeable with FlatCap XS
- Switchable Din or RCA analogue output
- Naim-designed software
- 210VA toroidal transformer
FlatCap XS Power Supply
The FlatCap XS power supply £675 has significant changes to the decoupling/isolation of the supplies.
- Two separate Dual Rail 24V supplies
- 215VA toroidal transformer
- Can power two separate XS products or both outputs can be used on NAC 152 XS
NAC 152 XS Preamplifier
The £895 NAC 152 XS preamp has the same parallel DIN and RCA inputs and 3.5mm autoswitching front-panel input seen on the Nait XSA simpler more direct signal path together with an improved gain structure and the possibility of upgradability with both 24V dual rail outputs from a FlatCap XS delivers even more than before.
- Line level output for headphones
- New main board
- Controlled compliance mounting of sensitive audio circuitry
- Handwiring to potentiometer to reduce microphonic effects
- Same gain structure as NAIT XS better low level listening with modern sources
- Upgradeable with FlatCap using one or both outputs – analog and digital switching
- 6 line inputs: 4 x RCA/DIN, 1 x RCA/3.5mm jack, 1 x powered input for phono stage
- Auto switching 3.5mm stereo jack socket for iPod/MP3 player input on the front panel
- Aux 2 power for phono stage
- AV unity gain option (AV bypass switchable)
- Full bandwidth stereo subwoofer output
- Preamp similar to SUPERNAIT
- Remote control for volume and input selection
- Programmable Auto Input Switching (AIS)
- Upgradeable to full RS232 control
- Short signal path design
NAP 155 XS Power Amplifier
The £1025 NAP 155 XS power amp has new reservoir capacitors derived from the Supernait, castellated heatsinking for better thermal performance, and a 20% hike in power output, to 2×60W. A larger improved power supply with more direct connection. Water analogy: larger shorter pipes
- 60WPC into 8Ω or 90WPC into 4Ω
- Single sided board
- New 400VA transformer
- New set of reservoir caps (same as SUPERNAIT)
- Castellated heatsink allowing shorter paths reducing power supply impedance
- Transistor rooms for long-tailed input pair to ensure thermal tracking
- Earth reference routing improved to lower impedance
- Simplified layout
NAIT XS Integrated Amplifier
The £1350 NAIT XS Integrated Amplifier space has been fully utilised within the slim-line case optimising the signal path.
- Upgradeable with FlatCap, HiCap or SuperCap power supplies
- 6 line inputs: 4 x RCA/DIN, 1 x RCA/3.5mm jack, 1 x powered input for phono stage
- Auto switching 3.5mm stereo jack socket for iPod/MP3 player input on the front panel
- Aux 2 power for phono stage
- 60WPC into 8Ω or 90WPC into 4Ω
- 380VA toroidal transformer
- 5 separate secondary windings: 2 x L&R power, 1 x pre, 1 x display, 1 x relay switching
- AV unity gain option (AV bypass switchable)
- Full bandwidth stereo subwoofer output
- Preamp similar to SUPERNAIT
- Can be split to use as a preamplifier or power amplifier
- Remote control for volume and input selection
- Programmable Auto Input Switching (AIS)