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Naim Supernait 3

Integrated amplifier

Relative price

above typical

Among the 59 integrated amplifiers 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.

Competition record

Assessed against 19 rivals across the sixty systems: 1 head-to-head won, 59 lost.

Where it gives ground

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

  • low-level clarity ×9
  • tonal body ×4

Who it comes up against

Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units)

13 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic

Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.

NVA S80 Stereo

8 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path

No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.

Audiolab 9000P

5 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic, Silent Path

Against the Characterful brief, the Audiolab 9000P keeps the slot decisively.

Sugden ANV 50

4 lost · BBC Sound, Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Sugden ANV 50 keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Naim Supernait 3 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.

Leema Hydra II

4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic

Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Hydra II keeps the slot decisively.

NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan)

4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference

Against the Intimate brief, the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) keeps the slot decisively.

Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150)

3 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150) keeps the slot clearly.

With the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII, the pairing gives up most on tonal body.

On its own merits the Naim Supernait 3 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.

Audio Note P1 SE

3 lost · Intimate, Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Audio Note P1 SE keeps the slot decisively.

EAR Yoshino V12

3 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First

Against the BBC Sound brief, the EAR Yoshino V12 keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

With the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Naim Supernait 3 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.

EAR Yoshino 890

2 lost · Intimate

Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot decisively.

Chord ULTIMA 6

1 lost · Cavity-Native

Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Chord ULTIMA 6 keeps the slot decisively.

Exposure 3510

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Exposure 3510 keeps the slot clearly.

On its own merits the Naim Supernait 3 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.

Sugden A21 Signature

1 lost · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Sugden A21 Signature keeps the slot decisively.

With the Naim NVC TT MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

With the Harbeth P3ESR XD2, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Naim Supernait 3 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.

Leak Stereo 230

1 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Leak Stereo 230 keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Naim Supernait 3 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.

Creek 4040A

1 lost · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Creek 4040A keeps the slot clearly.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Naim Supernait 3 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.

With the Falcon Q7 Complete@Home, the pairing gains most on bass control.

Quad Artera Stereo

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Quad Artera Stereo keeps the slot decisively.

Rega io

0 lost· 1 won · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Naim Supernait 3 takes the slot clearly.

On its own merits the Naim Supernait 3 is the weaker integrated amplifier — yet it wins here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.

What the reviewers said

entertaining yet informative integrated amplifier What HiFi Awards 2019 winner + Hi-Fi+· Timing precision
80W/8Ω, 130W/4Ω, authoritative bass What HiFi Supernait 3 review· Physical impact
built-in MM phono, RIAA between classic and IEC curves Hi-Fi+ + Steve Huff Photo + Sound Advocate reviews· Presence & articulation

How it scores

Voice

  • Presence & articulation 74 from listening evidence

Bass

  • Bass control 69 from specification
  • Physical impact 74 from listening evidence
  • Bass extension 63 from specification

LowerVolume

  • Low-level noise floor 72 from specification
  • Micro-dynamic resolution 72 from specification
  • Tonal consistency 72 from specification

Specifications

power 8ohm w80.0
power 4ohm w130.0
power classAB
damping factor330.0
line inputs5
line input sensitivity mv130.0
line input impedance kohm47.0
has phonoTrue
phono mmTrue
phono mcFalse
phono mm load47kΩ + 470pF
pre outTrue
pre out level v0.775
pre out impedance ohm50.0
pre power separabletrue_break
internal bass managementnone
headphone outTrue
power consumption w400
notes