Naim Audio supernait 3

Naim Audio Supernait 3 integrated amplifiers

The SUPERNAIT 3 is an upgraded integrated amplifier with significant new performance features, including a built-in phono stage, making it an ideal partner for turntables, as well as for streamers, CD players, and any other music source you wish to listen to.

Features

With our typical obsessive attention to detail - all in the service of achieving the most authentic musical performance - the SUPERNAIT 3 boasts the following features:

• Class A headphone amplification
• Alpine blue velvet volume control
• Reed relay input selection
• Ceramic isolators for the power transistors
• Galvanically isolated microprocessor control section
• Microphonically isolated PCB mounts
• Upgrade from the NAIT XS3 to the SUPERNAIT 3 and you get a range of superior features, all designed to deliver even better sound quality:
• Integrated 24V DR module: enjoy the purer power and improved performance of Naim's discrete control technology for the entire preamp stage.
• Larger toroidal transformer in the power supply: provides superior power and speed of recovery
• Additional through-hole components in the signal path: further minimize the negative effects of vibration and transient thermal conditions
• Chassis-mounted input jacks hand-wired to circuit boards: provides better vibration isolation
• Complete balance control of the Alpine Blue Velvet.

Technologies and craftsmanship

Updates in more detail:

Our R&D team found a way to more than double the speed of the voltage gain stage, which in turn doubles the speed at which the speaker output stage can respond.

The transistors in the second gain stage have been optimized, so they no longer need to be shielded by a cascode stage transistor. The removal of the cascode means that less stabilization of the amplifier is required: this doubles the slew rate and improves the sound quality.

The phono circuit topology consists of 3 stages: the gain stage, the passive equalization and the final gain and active equalization. This allows for excellent noise performance, extended RIAA equalization beyond the audio band and a large overload margin.

All RIAA equalization capacitors and RIAA resistors are "through-the-hole" film designs, with low microphone pickup and excellent transient performance. Since the phono stages are 1000 times more sensitive than other inputs, this greatly benefits the sound quality.

The input impedance is 47 kΩ in parallel with a 470 pF capacitive load; the gain is perfect for 5mV moving magnet cartridges.