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Naim NVC TT MM/MC

Phono stage

Relative price

typical

Among the 44 phono stages in the catalogue, this one is typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

Designed for Naim "New Classic" architecture: NSC 222 / NAC 332 / NPX TT power it via 8-pin DIN; SuperLine remains the senior model.

Pre-set out-of-box to MC mode, 100Ω/1000pF, high-gain — sensible default for typical low-output MCs (Hana ML, Apheta 3, etc).

Competition record

Assessed against 9 rivals across the sixty systems: 16 head-to-heads won, 28 lost.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • quietness at rest ×12
  • low-level clarity ×8
  • tonal body ×7
  • depth of bass ×6

Where it holds its ground

  • low-level clarity ×5
  • quietness at rest ×4

Who it comes up against

Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC

15 lost· 1 won · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path, Twin Arms

Against the Anchored brief, the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC keeps the slot clearly.

With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gives up most on depth of bass.

On its own merits the Naim NVC TT MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the NVA P50SA MKII gives up depth of bass under the Anchored weighting.

seemingly infinite bass responseEnjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (system)

EAR Yoshino 88PB MM/MC

4 lost · Artisan, Reference, Twin Arms

Against the Artisan brief, the EAR Yoshino 88PB MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the van den Hul The Colibri, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Naim NVC TT MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Colibri gives up quietness at rest under the Artisan weighting.

a pitch-black background, even when no record was playingEnjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (with NPX TT PSU)
a pitch-black background, even when no record was playingEnjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (with NPX TT PSU)

Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII

3 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Naim NVC TT MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

Whest Audio 60Se Pro

2 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio 60Se Pro keeps the slot decisively.

With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Naim NVC TT MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

Cyrus Classic PHONO

2 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Cyrus Classic PHONO keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Naim NVC TT MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

seemingly infinite bass responseEnjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (system)

Whest Audio TITAN Pro II

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio TITAN Pro II keeps the slot decisively.

With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Naim NVC TT MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

Michell Apollo + Muse PSU

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Michell Apollo + Muse PSU keeps the slot decisively.

With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Naim NVC TT MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

a pitch-black background, even when no record was playingEnjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (with NPX TT PSU)

Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl

0 lost· 8 won · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic

Against the Anchored brief, the Naim NVC TT MM/MC takes the slot clearly.

With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Naim NVC TT MM/MC is the stronger phono stage for that brief.

a pitch-black background, even when no record was playingEnjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (with NPX TT PSU)
a pitch-black background, even when no record was playingEnjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (with NPX TT PSU)

Rega Aura Reference MC

0 lost· 7 won · BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference

Against the Intimate brief, the Naim NVC TT MM/MC takes the slot by a whisker.

With the van den Hul The Crimson, the pairing gains most on rhythmic grip.

With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Naim NVC TT MM/MC is the weaker phono stage — yet it wins here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Crimson gains rhythmic grip under the Intimate weighting.

a pitch-black background, even when no record was playingEnjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (with NPX TT PSU)

Systems it is part of

What the reviewers said

Naim mid-tier MM/MC phono Naim NVC TT positioning· Timing precision
a pitch-black background, even when no record was playing Enjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (with NPX TT PSU)· Electrical noise floor
seemingly infinite bass response Enjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (system)· Tonal body
micro- and macro-dynamics reproduced realistically Enjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (system)· Micro-dynamic resolution
separation rendered at such a high level Enjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (system)· Spatial resolution
RIAA tracking within +/-0.1dB SPEC: RIAA accuracy +/-0.1dB (manufacturer)· Tonal body
0.005% THD — vanishingly low distortion SPEC: THD 0.005% (manufacturer)· Electrical noise floor
0.005% THD — vanishingly low distortion SPEC: THD 0.005% (manufacturer)· Harmonic texture

How it scores

Clarity

  • Electrical noise floor 80 from listening evidence
  • Spatial resolution 74 from listening evidence

Voice

  • Tonal body 80 from listening evidence
  • Harmonic texture 72 from listening evidence

Rhythm

  • Timing precision 71 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Micro-dynamic resolution 74 from listening evidence

Specifications

mm capableTrue
mc capableTrue
mm gain db42
mc gain db61/67
mm load resistance kohm47
mm load capacitance pf100
mc load resistance options ohm1000/600/430/330/250/215/185/165/150/140/125/115/105/100/90/85
mc load capacitance options pf100/400/700/1000/1300/1600/1900/2200/2500/2700/3100/3400/3700/4000/4300/4600
riaa accuracy db0.1
snr db83
thd pct0.005
input overload mv8200
output level mv8000
output impedance ohm600
balanced outputFalse
dimensions mm214/70/317
weight kg3.4
psu externalTrue
psu optionsNSC 222 / NAC 332 (host preamp powers it via 8-pin DIN), or NPX TT dedicated upgrade PSU (separate analogue + digital feeds, DR regulators)
notes