Sitting in front of my MacBook, my deadline looming large, I find myself distracted by the hefty discount currently available on Naim’s limited edition Nait 50 integrated amplifier. It was priced at £2699 in the UK when it launched in mid-2023, but it's now available at a whopping £1000 off at numerous outlets. I'm old enough to remember the original 1983 Nait model it pays home to, so this product has plenty of emotional pull on someone like me – just as the company intended, of course! Admittedly, I’m tempted.
The Nait 50 may look close to the mirror image of the original, but inside is an all-new design. Having heard it, I can confirm its ability is everything a modern Naim integrated amplifier should be, even if the sonic presentation has been tweaked to echo that of the 1980s Nait. Compared with Naim's current Nait XS3 and SuperNait 3 duo, it's more characterful, sounding appealingly direct, if less mature, than its more mainstream siblings.
