The Preamble

1974 seems like a long time ago for some, for Hi-Fi maker Naim Audio 1974 was their first year of business after founding the year prior in 1973 and - relevant to today’s blog - it's when they first introduced the NAC 12 preamplifier, which subsequently resulted in the release of multiple award-winning preamps over the years, that are still sought after by Hi-Fi aficionados the world over.

Naim are never a company to rush a new product to market. Their range has steadily developed from the original NAC 12 / NAP 200 combination over the last 50 years. The route of their design and philosophy has slowly progressed, and today we are celebrating the new NAC 332 preamplifier. A powerful design that bases itself on state of the art electronic design developed for the cool quarter of a million pound Naim Statement amplifier. The traditional black die cast enclosure sleeve has had a major upgrade to its design, as has the facia and electronics. Only the footprint remains similar to Naim's traditional separates range.

The Presentation

The fascia is balanced on the right-hand side by the rather pretty function buttons. The box design is broken up with a strip of high-quality perspex that extends across the top and down the fascia, with a bright and clear (and dimmable) Naim logo right in the middle. Rather than the rather solid, and rather staid-looking black cast sleeve, that has been a hallmark of the vast majority of Naim designs over the past 45 years, the construction of the '332 is much more esoteric in both design and quality of materials. Various high-quality anodised panels make up the lid and base, with a pair of complementary 'heat sinks' on either side. Nobody would or could ever accuse Naim of skimping on the build of their products, but these latest designs (including the NBC-TT phono stage, NSC 222 streamer/preamp, NSS 333 streamer, NPX 300 power supply and finally the NAP 350 mono-block power amplifiers) raise the design game by an utterly enormous magnitude. They look amazing, are built amazingly, which of course helps and aids the sublime sound quality.

The Preliminaries

The new volume control dominates the fascia. Not only is it pleasing on the eye, but Naim's volume control is pleasing on the ear too. For generations conventional volume controls have been based on a potentiometer, literally the volume control is a resistive element wiped by a pointer. This simple arrangement was used back in the 1920s, and despite being heavily refined over the years, there are always mild errors which translate to poorer sound. Electronic alternatives rely on either electronic switches, resistor ladders, relays, or even specially-made integrated circuits for the job. Each design has its own quirks, and Naim have cleverly combined two types into one control; the resistor ladder and the integrated circuit. The ladder network offers the highest fidelity, and is the most costly. On the negative side, the network can make clicks when adjusting the level. The integrated circuit has much poorer sound, but is devoid of clicks. Naim have cleverly combined both, so you have the best sound of the resistor ladder, but the noise free option of the integrated circuit. Of, course, this tech was taken from the Naim Statement.

The Preconnections

Connections on the rear include fully assignable phono sockets and XLR connections, with outputs and inputs in both those formats. There are also 'Burndy' connections for power supply upgrades, and more traditional Naim DIN connectors to connect to the matching NBC-TT phono stage, which can be powered from the '332, and of course both designs can be upgraded with the appropriate matching power supplies.

Prepare yourself

Of course these physical design upgrades would be pointless if there wasn't such a huge upgrade within the handsome solid case. As previously mentioned, the new '332 borrows heavily from the top of the line Naim Statement, and being blunt about it, is a huge upgrade on previous classic Naim preamplifiers. The sound is more open, wider and more detailed, without losing the classic Naim pace rhythm and timing... the unit's sonic qualities are simply sublime. Matched with the complementary and equally impressive NAP 350 power amplifiers and NSS 333 streamer, the NAC 332 comes closer to that Naim statement than ever before… And for around a tenth of the price!

We have ours set up in Manchester, so come along and talk to us about a personal demonstration.

Thanks for reading

James, Munir, Haden & Dave - Audio T Manchester

Come along and speak to Munir, Dave and James at the store to arrange a demonstration.

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