Phono stage
above typical
Among the 44 phono stages in the catalogue, this one is above 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.
Two-stage single-ended Class A discrete amplifier, part-passive RIAA, 25 internally regulated supplies. Transistor "quiet room" thermal isolation from NAP 500 power amplifier programme.
Massive sub-chassis with high-Q spring suspension — first Naim phono stage to use the technique.
Duplicate phono + BNC inputs (BNC for Naim Aro tonearm). Cartridge impedance matching via four "loading plug" sockets.
Variants: standard (64dB MC), E (high-output 58dB).
TAS Reference: cited as showing what scaled-Naim PSU upgrades can do to a single phono stage. Cymbiosis (UK Linn dealer) has documented extensive Airplug loading experiments.
Assessed against 10 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 60 head-to-heads.
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
16 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Naim NVC TT MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Naim SuperLine MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.
RIAA accuracy ±0.1dB 20Hz-20kHz, 25 internal regulated suppliesNaim SuperLine technical specs
16 lost · 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 decisively.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on bass weight.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gives up most on depth of bass.
On its own merits the Naim SuperLine MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Frog gives up bass weight under the Anchored weighting.
unmistakable naturalness records can deliverNaim SuperLine documentation + dealer reviews
8 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on bass weight.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on depth of bass.
On its own merits the Naim SuperLine MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Frog gives up bass weight under the Anchored weighting.
unmistakable naturalness records can deliverNaim SuperLine documentation + dealer reviews
7 lost · BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the Rega Aura Reference MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Crimson, the pairing gives up 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 SuperLine MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
RIAA accuracy ±0.1dB 20Hz-20kHz, 25 internal regulated suppliesNaim SuperLine technical specs
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 tonal body.
On its own merits the Naim SuperLine 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.
RIAA accuracy ±0.1dB 20Hz-20kHz, 25 internal regulated suppliesNaim SuperLine technical specs
unmistakable naturalness records can deliverNaim SuperLine documentation + dealer reviews
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 SuperLine MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
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 SuperLine MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Goldring Eroica HX MC gives up low-level clarity under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
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 SuperLine MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
unmistakable naturalness records can deliverNaim SuperLine documentation + dealer reviews
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 SuperLine MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Goldring Eroica HX MC gives up low-level clarity under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
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.
On its own merits the Naim SuperLine MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Goldring Eroica HX MC gives up low-level clarity under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
timing, pitch accuracy, clarity, detail Naim Audio + Tom Tom Audio review· Timing precision
unmistakable naturalness records can deliver Naim SuperLine documentation + dealer reviews· Tonal body
RIAA accuracy ±0.1dB 20Hz-20kHz, 25 internal regulated supplies Naim SuperLine technical specs· Electrical noise floor
external PSU required, HiCap/SuperCap optimum Naim SuperLine PSU hierarchy documentation
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
| mm capable | False |
|---|---|
| mc capable | True |
| mc gain db | 64 |
| mc load resistance options ohm | 100/220/500/1000/10000 |
| mc load capacitance options pf | 100/1000/5600/10000 |
| riaa accuracy db | 0.1 |
| snr db | 82 |
| thd pct | 0.005 |
| input overload mv | 5 |
| rumble filter | True |
| output level mv | 800 |
| output impedance ohm | 600 |
| balanced output | False |
| dimensions mm | 207/87/314 |
| weight kg | 7.7 |
| psu external | True |
| psu options | NaimUniti/NAIT-XS/SUPERNAIT/152XS/202/282/252/552/FlatCap-XS/HiCap/SuperCap |
| notes |